Noted trial attorneys to gather for trial practice, procedure course training, Dec. 19

Elon University School of Law will begin its Trial Advocacy Program in January as second-year students enroll in Trial Practice and Procedure courses. A distinguished group of legal professionals will teach the courses as adjunct faculty. They will gather at the law school Wednesday, Dec. 19 for a training course coordinated by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), based in Denver.

The group includes two nationally recognized trial attorneys, Don Cowan and Jim Williams; Federal Public Defender Tom Cochran; a leader of the Winston-Salem bar, Jim Fox; and former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Jim Exum, who serves Elon as Distinguished Jurist in Residence. Catherine Dunham, associate professor of law, serves as director of Elon’s Trial Advocacy Program.

Peter Hoffman, the Newell H. Blakely Chair in Evidence and Director of the Blakely Advocacy Institute at University of Houston Law Center, will lead the training session. Hoffman is a nationally-renowned leader in lawyering skills, particularly litigation and trial advocacy. He has taught more than 150 CLE litigation related courses.