Litigation & Appeals

NJ Specific

4.45

New Jersey Civil Trial Skills

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
6 hours 3 minutes
William Kuzmin
Scott Piekarsky
Peter Lembesis
Andrew Kyreakakis
Mark Vespole
With William L. Kuzmin from Cohen, Placitella & Roth P.C. + 4 others
Recorded June 11, 2025
Product ID 100111

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Overview

Real-World Insights on Jury Selection, Evidence, Cross-Examination, and More!

Countless hours in building a solid case theme and supporting it with admissible evidence are about to crescendo in the all-or-nothing storytelling contest. Are you ready? In this online seminar, experienced trial attorneys will reveal their hard-won insights and show you how to deliver your side of the case to the decision-makers with clarity, persuasion, and force. Gain the edge with these tried-and-true trial skills - register today!

  • Prepare a trial notebook that provides all the documents and info you need at a moment's notice.
  • Learn how to flush out jurors' true biases and attitudes during voir dire.
  • Discover the recipe for opening statements that resonate with jurors.
  • Get practical pointers on introducing exhibits and responding to objections.
  • Refine your direct and cross-examination skills with tips from veteran trial attorneys.
  • Make the most of your last arguments before the jury head into deliberations.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Creating a Trial Notebook - Your Blueprint for Trial
  2. Direct Examination: Top 15 Tips in 30 Minutes
  3. The Secrets to a Powerful Opening Statement
  4. Evidence Presentation, Objections, and Admission
  5. Closing Arguments and Jury Instructions
  6. Key Cross-Examination Strategies Every Lawyer Must Know
  7. Voir Dire and Jury Selection Tactics
  8. Ethics for Trial Lawyers
Product ID 100111

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in
  1. Creating a Trial Notebook - Your Blueprint for Trial

    1. Countdown to Trial: What You Need to Do and When
    2. Traditional vs. Electronic Trial Notebooks
    3. What to Include, What to Exclude, and How to Organize
    4. Developing Key Sections of the Trial Binder
    5. Using the Notebook and Troubleshooting From the Courtroom
  2. Direct Examination: Top 15 Tips in 30 Minutes

  3. The Secrets to a Powerful Opening Statement

  4. Evidence Presentation, Objections, and Admission

    1. Rules and Procedures Governing the Introduction and Exclusion of Evidence
    2. Motions in Limine: The Trial Lawyer's Best Friend
    3. Using Documentary Evidence
    4. Spotlight on Email, Social Media, and Smartphone Evidence
    5. Lay and Expert Witness Testimony
    6. Demonstrative and Illustrative Evidence
    7. Hearsay and Other Objections: When to Use Them and How to Respond
  5. Closing Arguments and Jury Instructions

    1. Do's and Don'ts of Closing Arguments
    2. Organizing Your Closing Arguments
    3. Effectively Using Evidence
    4. Rebutting Arguments and Addressing Bad Facts
    5. Practical Insights on Discussing Damages
    6. Concluding Your Closing
    7. Jury Instructions: Standard and Special
  6. Key Cross-Examination Strategies Every Lawyer Must Know

    1. Preparing for the Cross-Examination
    2. Maintaining Control of the Witness and Direction of the Examination
    3. Cross-Examining Experts
    4. Tips for Cross-Examining Difficult and Special Witnesses
    5. Witness Impeachment Tactics
  7. Voir Dire and Jury Selection Tactics

    1. The Written and Unwritten Rules of Jury Selection
    2. Juror Questionnaires and Research Tips
    3. How Jurors Think: What You Need to Know
    4. Building Rapport and Getting Jurors Talking
    5. Asking the Right Questions the Right Way
    6. The Big DON'Ts of Voir Dire Questions
    7. Avoiding Socially Desirable Response Bias
    8. Jury Selection Strategy: Who to Strike and How
  8. Ethics for Trial Lawyers

    1. Ethical Duties Toward the Tribunal
    2. Ethics of Evidence
    3. Improper Arguments
    4. Communicating With Witnesses
    5. Ex Parte Communications
    6. Juror Investigation, Contact, Bias in Jury Selection, and Jury Tampering

Who Should Attend

This basic-to-intermediate level online seminar is designed for attorneys.

Speakers

William L Kuzmin
William L.
Kuzmin
Cohen, Placitella & Roth P.C.
Scott B Piekarsky
Scott B.
Piekarsky
Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law
Peter Lembesis
Peter
Lembesis
Dunn Lambert, L.L.C.
Andrew J Kyreakakis
Andrew J.
Kyreakakis
Weiner Law Group LLP
Mark Vespole
Mark
Vespole
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Speaker bio
William L Kuzmin

William L. Kuzmin

Cohen, Placitella & Roth P.C.
William Kuzmin

is a member with Cohen, Placitella & Roth P.C. in Red Bank, New Jersey. He focuses his work on representing those injured through mass tort, with a specialty in asbestos related disease, medical malpractice, and catastrophic incident personal injury. A member of the New Jersey State and Pennsylvania bar associations, Mr. Kuzmin has actively litigated matters venued in state and federal court in those jurisdictions, obtaining numerous positive outcomes for his clients. He has served as lead counsel on several mass tort cases in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. An active participant in the courtroom, Mr. Kuzmin is experienced in all facets of trial practice, including pre-trial preparation, voir dire, and direct and cross-examination of witnesses. He is a member of the American Association of Justice and New Jersey Association of Justice. Mr. Kuzmin earned his B.A. degree from Rutgers University and his J.D. degree from the Rutgers University School of Law-Newark.

Speaker bio
Scott B Piekarsky

Scott B. Piekarsky

Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law
Scott Piekarsky

is principal at Offit Kurman, Attorneys At Law, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of licensed professional matters, insurance law, general negligence, small business representation, real estate and community association law. He regularly handles cases involving general corporate and business law, professional liability, attorney ethics and professional licensing representation, expert review, community association, real estate, chancery, commercial collections, probate and appellate law. Mr. Piekarsky is a certified civil trial attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, a Rule 1:40 mediator, a Rule 1:40 mediator mentor, and a mortgage foreclosure mediator. He is a former member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Women In The Courts. Mr. Piekarsky earned his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from Ramapo College of New Jersey and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Speaker bio
Peter Lembesis

Peter Lembesis

Dunn Lambert, L.L.C.
Peter Lembesis

is an attorney at Dunn Lambert, LLC. He is a certified civil trial attorney who has represented Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller corporations and individuals in a wide range of litigation matters. Mr. Kyreakakis has represented clients in commercial litigation, products liability, toxic torts, estate litigation, partnership and shareholder disputes, professional malpractice, business consumer fraud, manufacturer-distributor litigation, real estate litigation and personal injury matters. He has extensive trial and appeals experience, both in federal and state courts. Mr. Kyreakakis has 37 reported decisions, including cases in the New Jersey Supreme Court and New Jersey Appellate Division, and in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He represented a national company in several hundred cases in a major products liability matter captioned as the New Jersey Breast Implant Litigation. In 2012, Mr. Kyreakakis obtained an important victory from the New Jersey Supreme Court where the court set forth important guidelines as to the time a party has to file a claim for misappropriation of customer accounts and other proprietary assets of a business. He recently represented a major book publisher in a case filed under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Mr. Kyreakakis has won several multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients, some of which are reported decisions, and he has also obtained numerous dismissals and no causes for clients he has defended. He earned his A.B. degree, summa cum laude, from Rutgers University and his J.D. degree from Yale Law School. He is the author of New Jersey Trial Practice and Procedure published by ALM Books.

Speaker bio
Andrew J Kyreakakis

Andrew J. Kyreakakis

Weiner Law Group LLP
Andrew Kyreakakis

is a partner at Weiner Law Group LLP. He is a certified civil trial attorney who has represented Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller corporations and individuals in a wide range of litigation matters. Mr. Kyreakakis has represented clients in commercial litigation, products liability, toxic torts, estate litigation, partnership and shareholder disputes, professional malpractice, business consumer fraud, manufacturer-distributor litigation, real estate litigation and personal injury matters. He has extensive trial and appeals experience, both in federal and state courts. Mr. Kyreakakis has 37 reported decisions, including cases in the New Jersey Supreme Court and New Jersey Appellate Division, and in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He represented a national company in several hundred cases in a major products liability matter captioned as the New Jersey Breast Implant Litigation. In 2012, Mr. Kyreakakis obtained an important victory from the New Jersey Supreme Court where the court set forth important guidelines as to the time a party has to file a claim for misappropriation of customer accounts and other proprietary assets of a business. He recently represented a major book publisher in a case filed under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Mr. Kyreakakis has won several multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients, some of which are reported decisions, and he has also obtained numerous dismissals and no causes for clients he has defended. He earned his A.B .degree, summa cum laude, from Rutgers University and his J.D. degree from Yale Law School.

Speaker bio
Mark Vespole

Mark Vespole

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Mark Vespole

is a partner at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP. He is a trial lawyer who also counsels and represents financial institutions, insurers and corporations and their employees in high-profile cases. Mr. Vespole draws on Wilson Elser's deep resources and national footprint to handle large, multijurisdictional and complex cases expeditiously and cost effectively. He combines sophisticated legal strategies with the firm's professional support to handle large-scale document processing and its technology resources to streamline communications and facilitate case management. Mr. Vespole is frequently invited to author books, articles and expert commentaries; and give presentations on issues relating to securities, insurance coverage and defense, professional liability, trial practice and significant cases pending in courts around the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Mark has authored or co-authored the Lexis-Nexis Practice Guides on New Jersey Civil Discovery (2007-2025 editions), New Jersey Pretrial Practice (2007-2025 editions), New Jersey Insurance Litigation (2008-2025 editions), New Jersey Trial, Post-Trial and Appellate Proceedings (2007-2025 editions, Chapter on Expert Witnesses), and the Lexis-Nexis Practice Guide on New Jersey Construction Litigation (2015-2025 editions).Mr. Vespole also has authored numerous expert commentaries on a wide variety of products liability, insurance and trial practice issues and decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and state and federal courts around the country. He has handled and tried cases involving corporate raiding, insurance coverage and defense matters arising out of a variety of exclusions, policy language and exposures relating to CGL, EPLI, professional liability, first-party property, personal lines and D&O insurance policies. Mr. Vespole's coverage experience ranges from rescission and reformation to exclusions, conditions and other policy language found in various kinds of standard and surplus lines CGL, D&O and professional liability insurance agreements. His defense practice has included representing financial institutions, insurers, lawyers, accountants, registered representatives, architects, engineers, insurance brokers, miscellaneous professionals, product manufacturers, contractors, commercial property owners and homeowners. Mr. Vespole earned his B.S. degree from University of Notre Dame and his J.D. degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.

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