Trial Skills Workshop

Education / HILLMAN ADVOCACY PROGRAM

The 2008 Hillman Advocacy Program will be held on January 23-25, 2008. It will begin with an afternoon session at the Courtyard by Marriot Hotel on Wednesday, January 23 and will continue through two days of workshop sessions held in the Federal courtrooms on Thursday, January 24 and Friday, January 25. In addition to the workshop sessions, the program will feature two faculty demonstrations in which experienced trial lawyers deliver opening statements and conduct direct and cross-examinations. Also featured will be Brian Johnson from Minneapolis, a national expert in communication techniques. The modest registration fee for this year's program of $300 ($350 for advanced sessions) is made possible through the generous financial contributions of many Western Michigan law firms and the Western Michigan Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
The FBA of West Michigan, together with the U.S. District Court for the W. D. of Michigan, sponsors and supports the Hillman Advocacy Program founded in 1981. Its namesake, retired Judge Douglas W. Hillman, responded to the call of (observation) then Chief Justice Warren Burger and an investigatory committee of the U.S. Supreme Court of "a need to take positive steps to improve the quality of advocacy in the United States District Courts." Judge Hillman was determined that such criticism should not be directed to the trial practice in the Western District, and so enlisted the aid of his fellow jurists and several leading trial lawyers to form an instructional workshop where young attorneys could learn by doing. In Judge Hillman's own words, "Trial lawyers are made, not born."

The Hillman Advocacy Program is similar in format and approach to other trial practice workshops, except -

The Hillman Advocacy Program faculty consists of volunteers - the leading trial lawyers in West Michigan from both the civil and criminal bar, as well as a nationally renowned expert of communication skills who, in addition to his opening instructional presentation, circulates among the courtrooms to provide one-on-one feedback to students.
Prosecutors and criminal defense lawyers, plaintiff and defense lawyers from the civil trial bar, work together with judges and magistrates in one forum for one purpose - to teach and improve the skill sets of new lawyers.
The FBA of West Michigan knows of no other program where the entire bench of a federal district court dedicates full attention, courtrooms and facilities for 2 ½ days to the mission of teaching and improving trial skills.
Typically, 5 to 6 basic classes of 10 students each and 2 advanced classes of 6 students each are offered. The advanced classes conduct a one-day jury trial and observe through close-circuit the jury's deliberations.
The student/teacher ratio, remarkably, is 3:1.
The Hillman Advocacy Program endeavors each year to achieve on the faculty a diverse representation by location within the Western District, gender, attorneys of color, and practice discipline.
Year after year, the Hillman Program teaches and mentors students from small firms and large firms, the U.S. Attorney's and State Attorney General's Offices, and even young attorneys still looking for professional assignments.
No student is turned away because of financial need. The Hillman Advocacy Program offers scholarships, and no legitimate scholarship has ever been denied.
In any event, the amount of tuition is remarkable - In 2003, $250 for basic and $300 for advanced, for 2½ days of intensive instruction and experience, resulting in guaranteed and consistent results.

The Hillman Advocacy Program has been financially supported over the years through generous donations from law firms, big and small, and solo practitioners. The Program has also benefited from a few, but very generous and important, corporate donations; notably, Meijer, Inc., Daimler Chrysler, and Goebel Insurance.