Criminal Law

4.6

50 Trial Mistakes Criminal Defense Lawyers Make (and Don't Even Know It)

Credits Available
Credit Status 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
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky 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
OnDemand
5 hours 48 minutes
Travis Sayre
Noah Weisberg
Cynthia Everson
Brian DeJean
Amy Scholz
With Travis Sayre from Sayre Law Services, PLLC + 4 others
Recorded January 14, 2026.
Product ID 101434

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Overview

Discover What Doesn't Work So You Can Use What Does

In criminal defense, winning isn't just important - it's everything. Every mistake, no matter how small, can be the difference between acquittal and conviction. Are you unknowingly making trial errors that are costing you victories - and your clients their freedom? This course dives deep into 50 trial mistakes that can derail your case and provides proven strategies to avoid them, ensuring you deliver the best defense possible. Don't let these hidden errors sabotage cases - register today!

  • Learn to avoid costly voir dire mistakes that lead to selecting the wrong jury.
  • Prevent deceptively minor yet significant mistakes in your opening statements.
  • Review the common mistakes defense lawyers make when introducing evidence.
  • Avoid the dangers of over-objection or failing to object when the opportunity arises.
  • Find the right balance in preparing witnesses so they don't appear under-prepared or over-rehearsed.
  • Discover what NOT to do and ask when cross-examining eyewitnesses, experts, and other witnesses.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Top 10 Trial Preparation Oversights That Will Cost You
  2. Opening Statements: 9 Small Mistakes That Can Have a Big Impact
  3. 5 Voir Dire and Jury Selection Insights You Miss: Unseen Biases and Misjudged Jurors
  4. 5 Evidence and Objection Pitfalls to Avoid
  5. 4 Damaging Missteps in Witness Prep and Direct Examination
  6. Cross-Examination Mistakes You Do Not Want to Make When Questioning These 7 Witnesses
  7. 10 Closing Argument Fumbles: Learning From Trial and Error
  8. Legal Ethics: The Line Between Defense and Deception

Related Topics

Product ID 101434

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status 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
Illinois CLE Approved 6 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Kansas CLE Approved 7 Total
Kentucky 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
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Top 10 Trial Preparation Oversights That Will Cost You

  2. Opening Statements: 9 Small Mistakes That Can Have a Big Impact

  3. 5 Voir Dire and Jury Selection Insights You Miss: Unseen Biases and Misjudged Jurors

    1. Misunderstanding Juror Psychology and Making False Assumptions
    2. Misreading and Overlooking Juror Body Language and Behavioral Cues
    3. What You're Not Catching in Voir Dire
    4. Voir Dire Questions That Miss the Mark: What You Should be Asking (But Aren't)
    5. Wasted Peremptory Challenges

  4. 5 Evidence and Objection Pitfalls to Avoid

    1. Failing to Lay a Proper Evidentiary Foundation
    2. Missing Opportunities With the Pretrial Motion to Suppress
    3. Failing to Effectively Challenge Forensic Evidence
    4. Overlooking Hearsay Objections
    5. The Dangers of Over-Objection

  5. 4 Damaging Missteps in Witness Prep and Direct Examination

    1. Choosing the Wrong Witness
    2. Over-Coaching or Under-Preparing Witnesses
    3. Failing to Effectively Address Cross-Examination Vulnerabilities
    4. Top Direct Examination Mistakes

  6. Cross-Examination Mistakes You Do Not Want to Make When Questioning These 7 Witnesses

    1. Eyewitnesses
    2. Expert Witnesses
    3. Police Officers
    4. Victim-Witnesses
    5. Co-Defendants, Informants, and Jailhouse Snitches

  7. 10 Closing Argument Fumbles: Learning From Trial and Error

  8. Legal Ethics: The Line Between Defense and Deception

    1. Zealous or Effective Representation vs. Deception
    2. Ethics of Evidence Handling
    3. Addressing Client Perjury
    4. Ethical Dilemmas in Jury Selection

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for criminal defense lawyers.

Speakers

Travis Sayre
Travis
Sayre
Sayre Law Services, PLLC
Noah D Weisberg
Noah D.
Weisberg
Weisberg & Weisberg, PLLC
Cynthia E Everson
Cynthia E.
Everson
Everson Law Firm PLLC
Brian DeJean
Brian
DeJean
DeJean Law Firm
Amy C Scholz
Amy C.
Scholz
Grieve Law, LLC
Speaker bio
Travis Sayre

Travis Sayre

Sayre Law Services, PLLC
Travis Sayre

is a trial attorney at his firm, Sayre Law Services, PLLC. He focuses his practice on criminal defense, civil litigation, and veterans disability. Mr. Sayre earned his B.S. degree from West Virginia University at Parkersburg and his J.D. degree from West Virginia University College of Law. He also received a Professional Certificate in Trial Skills/Law from National Criminal Defense College. Mr. Sayre is admitted to practice law in West Virginia.

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Speaker bio
Noah D Weisberg

Noah D. Weisberg

Weisberg & Weisberg, PLLC
Noah Weisberg

is a member of Weisberg & Weisberg, PLLC, where his practice areas revolve around preserving the rights and goals of individuals in criminal, traffic, family and personal injury law. He is admitted to practice in Virginia; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia; and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Mr. Weisberg is a member of the Virginia State Bar, Newport News Bar Association, Greater Peninsula Bar Association, and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He earn his B.A. degree, with honors, from the University of Michigan and J.D. degree from Dickinson School of Law.

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Speaker bio
Cynthia E Everson

Cynthia E. Everson

Everson Law Firm PLLC
Cynthia Everson

is an attorney at Everson Law Firm PLLC, where she provides private representation for federal and state criminal and civil matters, with an emphasis on indigent representation. Ms. Everson has defended people accused of gun crimes in both state and federal court, and has litigated issues related to the right to possess and carry firearms, as well as property issues related to retrieving firearms that were seized by law enforcement. She is an adjunct writing instructor at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in Concord, North Carolina and has been teaching there for two years. Ms. Everson earned her B.A. degree from Gardner Webb University; her M.A. degree from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte; and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the Charlotte School of Law.

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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; 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.

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Speaker bio
Amy C Scholz

Amy C. Scholz

Grieve Law, LLC
Amy Scholz

is an attorney at Grieve Law, LLC, and has earned her reputation as one of the top rising criminal defense attorneys in Milwaukee and Waukesha. Named a "Wisconsin Rising Star" by Super Lawyers, and also recognized by The National Trial Lawyers Association as a "Top 40 Under 40" in Wisconsin and a "Top 100 Trial Lawyer", she continues to earn accolades for the work she does for her clients Ms. Scholz puts her past experience as a State Criminal Prosecutor to work by aggressively representing her clients both inside and outside the courtroom. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law. Ms. Scholz is admitted to practice law in Wisconsin.

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