Criminal Law

4.27

Criminal Defense Trials From Start to Finish

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Upon Request 6 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 0 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 57 minutes
Brian DeJean
Kurt Nachtman
Timothy Fair
Phillip Geigle
Marissa Constant
Tristan Shaffer
Dorie Maryan
Claiborne Ferguson
With Brian DeJean from DeJean Law Firm + 7 others
Recorded December 10, 2025.
Product ID 101324

Buy This Course

Course Includes
$389

OnDemand Video

Course Book Download


or
Upgrade to Unlimited CLE and Get This Course
$129/month
All Inclusive CLE subscribers save an average of $3,000/year on CLE costs.

Overview

Real-World Insights and Actionable Tips From Trial Prep to Sentencing

From jury selection to sentencing, every decision in a criminal defense trial matters - and your strategy can be the difference between a conviction and an acquittal. Do you have the skills you need to build a defense strategy that resonates with the jury and effectively challenges the prosecution at every turn? This basic guide will provide you with real-world insights on what works, what doesn't, and what you need to do achieve the best possible outcome for your client. Develop your criminal defense trial strategies - register today!

  • Use motions to limit the prosecution's evidence.
  • Learn how to build a jury that will be most receptive to your defense.
  • Create openings that capture the jury's attention and set the tone for the rest of the trial.
  • Discover how to tear down the prosecution's evidence.
  • Deconstruct the prosecution's narrative and show the jury why they should find reasonable doubt.
  • Find out how to effectively advocate for leniency at the sentencing stage.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Trial Preparation: 30 Tips in 30 Minutes
  2. Jury Selection and Voir Dire
  3. Nailing Your Opening Statement
  4. Defense Evidence, Witnesses, and Expert Testimony
  5. Cross-Examining the Prosecution's Witnesses: Key Areas to Attack and Questions to Ask
  6. Closing Arguments: What Works and What Doesn't
  7. Sentencing Advocacy Pointers
  8. Legal Ethics
Product ID 101324

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 6 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 6 Total
California CLE Approved 6 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 7 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware CLE Approved 6 Total
Florida CLE Approved 7 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 6 Total
Iowa CLE Approved 6 Total
Idaho CLE Approved 6 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Maine CLE Approved 6 Total
Minnesota CLE Approved 6 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 6 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 6 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 6 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 7.2 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 6 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 6 Total
New York CLE Approved 7 Total
Ohio CLE Approved 6 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 7 Total
Oregon CLE Approved 6 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 6 Total
Rhode Island CLE Upon Request 6 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Utah CLE Approved 6 Total
Virginia CLE Approved 6 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 6 Total
Washington CLE Approved 6 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 7 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 7.2 Total
Wyoming CLE Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 0 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in
  1. Trial Preparation: 30 Tips in 30 Minutes

    1. 5 Tips for Case Strategy and Theme
    2. 7 Tips for Using Motions to Shape the Trial and Limit the Prosecution's Evidence
    3. 13 Tips for Readying Trial Notebooks, Exhibits, and Witnesses
    4. 5 Tips for Preparing Your Client
  2. Jury Selection and Voir Dire

    1. What to Look for in Potential Jurors
    2. How Much Case Information You Can and Should Introduce
    3. Asking All the Right Questions
    4. Challenging Jurors for Cause
    5. Strategic Use of Peremptory Challenges
    6. Batson Challenges
  3. Nailing Your Opening Statement

    1. Building the Defense Narrative
    2. Identifying Weaknesses in the Prosecution's Case
    3. Avoiding Common Pitfalls
  4. Defense Evidence, Witnesses, and Expert Testimony

    1. Challenging Evidence Chain of Custody
    2. Highlighting the Limitations of Forensic Evidence
    3. Effective Use of Experts
    4. Handling Character Evidence and Prior Convictions
    5. Defendant's Testimony: Weighing Strategic Considerations and Risks
  5. Cross-Examining the Prosecution's Witnesses: Key Areas to Attack and Questions to Ask

    1. Alleged Victims
    2. Eyewitnesses
    3. Law Enforcement Officers
    4. Expert Witnesses
    5. Co-Defendants or Informants
  6. Closing Arguments: What Works and What Doesn't

    1. Summarizing the Defense's Case
    2. Addressing Jury Instructions
    3. Reframing the Prosecution's Arguments
  7. Sentencing Advocacy Pointers

    1. The PSR: Using it to Your Advantage and Correcting Inaccuracies
    2. Presenting Compelling Mitigating Factors, Testimonials, and Legal Precedent
    3. Writing a Powerful Sentencing Memorandum
    4. Counterbalancing Victim Impact Statements: Dos and Don'ts
  8. Legal Ethics

    1. Zealous Representation Within the Bounds of Professional Conduct
    2. Client Confidentiality and Privilege
    3. Conflicts of Interest
    4. Duty to the Court
    5. False Evidence and Perjury

Who Should Attend

This program is specially designed for criminal defense attorneys. Paralegals may also benefit.

Speakers

Brian DeJean
Brian
DeJean
DeJean Law Firm
Kurt Nachtman
Kurt
Nachtman
Silverman Thompson Slutkin and White
Timothy B Fair
Timothy B.
Fair
Fair Law Vermont
Phillip A Geigle
Phillip A.
Geigle
Geigle | Morales, LLC
Marissa Constant
Marissa
Constant
Constant Law, PA
Tristan M Shaffer
Tristan M.
Shaffer
Axelrod & Associates, PA
Dorie A Maryan
Dorie A.
Maryan
Maryan Law, LLC
Claiborne H Ferguson
Claiborne H.
Ferguson
Ferguson McNeil Law Firm, P.A.
Speaker bio
Brian DeJean

Brian DeJean

DeJean Law Firm
Brian DeJean

is an attorney at DeJean Law Firm, where his practice focuses on alcoholic beverage control law and consulting, taxation, regulatory law, and transactional work. He is admitted in Louisiana. Mr. DeJean earned his B.A. degree in broadcast journalist and his J.D. degree from Southern University Law Center.

Speaker bio
Kurt Nachtman

Kurt Nachtman

Silverman Thompson Slutkin and White
Kurt Nachtman

is a partner at Silverman Thompson Slutkin and White, where he focuses his practice on personal injury, criminal defense, business litigation, administrative law, and the defense of licensed professionals. Prior to joining the firm, he served as the founder and managing partner of Eldridge, Nachtman and Crandell, LLC for 12 years, and spent five years as an assistant state's attorney for the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. Mr. Nachtman has successfully handled numerous jury trials and high-stakes negotiations, including securing a $1,000,000 settlement in a wrongful death case arising from a motor vehicle collision. He is recognized for his meticulous trial preparation, strategic litigation skills, and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. His government service includes positions in the Economic Crimes, General Felony, and Misdemeanor Trial Divisions, as well as serving as a law clerk in the Homicide Division. Mr. Nachtman is admitted to practice in Maryland. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law and his B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University.

Speaker bio
Timothy B Fair

Timothy B. Fair

Fair Law Vermont
Timothy Fair

is the founder of Fair Law Vermont. He has been a vocal advocate for both cannabis and overall drug policy reform for most of his adult life. Since becoming an attorney, Mr. Fair has been fortunate enough to be part of the statewide movement to legalize cannabis in Vermont. He has been featured on a number of podcasts and radio shows, including The Ganjapreneur Podcast, VPR's "Vermont Edition," "In The Weeds" radio show and Paris Marketing's "Creative Warrior" podcast. Mr. Fair has also been quoted in multiple national media sources including The Washington Post, Marijuana Business Daily and High Times magazine. He has spoken on the topic of cannabis law, including banking and tax, at numerous seminars and events across the country, and was recently tapped to help design and teach Vermont's first continuing legal education course on cannabis business law in Vermont. He earned his B.S. degree from Woodbury College and his J.D. degree from Vermont School of Law.

Speaker bio
Phillip A Geigle

Phillip A. Geigle

Geigle | Morales, LLC
Phillip Geigle

is a member of Geigle | Morales, LLC in Denver, Colorado. He has a diverse litigation practice that focuses on criminal defense, plaintiff-side civil litigation, business litigation, and domestic litigation. In Mr. Geigle's career, he has tried many high-profile cases to juries, including homicide, embezzlement, securities fraud, and violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA); and has tried more than 60 cases to verdict. He is perennially peer-rated as AV-Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell and a Super Lawyer in the area of white-collar criminal defense. In domestic litigation, Mr. Geigle represents individuals involved in dissolution proceedings involving significant assets and, in many instances, emotionally charged circumstances. Prior to forming Geigle | Morales, LLC, he served as a senior deputy district attorney at the Denver District Attorney's Office in specialty assignments with the Family Violence and the Economic Crime units. Mr. Geigle is admitted to practice in Colorado and Arkansas.

Speaker bio
Marissa Constant

Marissa Constant

Constant Law, PA
Marissa Constant

is a solo practitioner based in Polk County, Florida. She specializes in real estate, contract law, consumer disputes, and criminal defense. With nearly a decade of experience, Ms. Constant has built a strong reputation for providing dedicated representation while prioritizing her clients' needs. Before starting her law firm during the pandemic, she served as a public defender for over four years. Ms. Constant earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her J.D. degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. She is active in community initiatives; and is a member of the Junior League of Greater Lakeland (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board), Wilson Inn of Court, Polk Association for Women Lawyers (PAWL), and Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers (CFAWL).

Speaker bio
Tristan M Shaffer

Tristan M. Shaffer

Axelrod & Associates, PA
Tristan Shaffer

is an experienced trial attorney with more than 15 years of practice. He has a diverse background in criminal defense, appellate litigation, and civil matters. Mr. Shaffer brings this extensive courtroom and appellate experience to the firm's clients, focusing on complex criminal matters. He began his career with the Richland County Public Defender's Office, later serving with the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense as an Appellate defender where he argued multiple cases to state's highest courts. Mr. Shaffer has also served as the director of litigation for the Eighth Circuit Public Defender's Office. He gained valuable experience working for a boutique criminal defense firm. Mr. Shaffer also previously owned and operated his own law practice, handling a wide range of cases including criminal defense, post-conviction relief, and personal injury. He currently works for Axelrod & Associates, and is a contract public defender in the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Shaffer was named the 2021 Defender of the Year by the South Carolina Public Defender Association. He has also been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, Mr. Shaffer is a graduate of the prestigious National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute. Furthermore, since 2021 he has taught trial advocacy skills to young attorneys through the South Carolina Indigent Defense Academy. Over the course of his career, Mr. Shaffer has successfully litigated numerous notable cases, securing reversals of convictions and new trials. His work reflects a deep commitment to protecting the rights of his clients and achieving justice in every case. Mr. Shaffer earned his J.D. degree from the Charleston School of Law and his B.S. degree in psychology from Clemson University. He is admitted to practice in South Carolina, U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Speaker bio
Dorie A Maryan

Dorie A. Maryan

Maryan Law, LLC
Dorie Maryan

is a sole practitioner at Maryan Law, LLC. As an Indianapolis criminal attorney, she has handled cases that range from probation violation to murder, and she has defended clients in state and federal courts throughout Indianapolis, as well as in neighboring counties. Ms. Maryan is admitted in Indiana and the U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana. She is a member of Super Lawyers (2013 - present), been awarded Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Clients' Choice Award from Avvo (2013 - present) and The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100. She received her B.A. degree from the University of Illinois, in sociology, and her J.D. degree from Indiana University School of Law.

Speaker bio
Claiborne H Ferguson

Claiborne H. Ferguson

Ferguson McNeil Law Firm, P.A.
Claiborne Ferguson

is attorney with Ferguson McNeil Law Firm, P.A. He is a Memphis criminal defense lawyer who has been serving clients for over 15 years. Mr. Ferguson has been certified as a criminal trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, is associated with the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification, and has a membership with both the National College or DUI Defense and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He offers unique representation, having previously been trained in technology and medical science. Mr. Ferguson earned his B.S. degree from Rhodes College and his J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law.

Loading recommendations...

TOP FAQs

How do I access my courses?
Courses are available within your account. Simply login to your account and click on My Courses. If you require additional assistance please call our Customer Service Department at 800-930-6182.
Do you have options for attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing?
Closed captioning is available for all Live Webinars. After you've joined the event room, you can enable closed captioning by clicking the "cc" button in the lower right of the player.
What happens if my course is cancelled?
In the unlikely event that NBI cancels or reschedules an upcoming program, each registered attendee will be contacted via email by a representative of NBI. Outreach to attendees begins as soon as NBI is made aware that a program will not move forward at its originally scheduled date and time.
Are multiple attendee discounts available?
Yes, the more people you bring from your organization, the more you save. After the first registration, each additional attendee receives a special discount off of their total tuition.
When will the OnDemand be available and how long will I have access to the content?
The OnDemand Video will be available to stream within 7 days of live broadcast date. You will have access to the content for 6 months in your account. If you’re a subscriber, you’ll have access to your course recordings until 7 days after the expiration date of the subscription.
What is included with my course purchase?
When you enroll prior to the live event date you will receive access to the live-streaming webinar which will allow you to interact with faculty in real-time. With each course, you will receive access to the content via OnDemand Streaming and the Video Download. Course reference materials are included with each course purchase in a downloadable PDF format.
Will I receive a certificate of completion?
Yes, we'll email you a certificate of completion and store in your account for any future reporting needs.
Can multiple people watch courses and request credit?
While only paid registrants can receive continuing education credit for attending, there are no limitations to the number of viewers at each connection.

Have more questions? Please Contact Us