Live In-Person

LA Specific

Litigation & Appeals

Live In-Person

Killing it in Court - Litigation Tips from a Courtroom Comedian

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
New Orleans, LA
6 hours
Joel Oster
With Joel L. Oster from Comedian of Law, LLC

Fri, Nov 06, 00:00 AM – 00:00 PM

Product ID 103027

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Course Includes
$350

Live In-Person Seminar Registration

Course Book Download

OnDemand content will be available within 7 days of event date.

Overview

Case Studies, Humor, and Courtroom Skills You’ll Actually Remember

John Cleese of Monty Python fame once said, “He who laughs most learns best.” Who says that can't apply to CLE?

Start with ethics and lessons in honest lawyering from Honest Abe himself. Then discover how humor can break down barriers, improve communication, and even make you more persuasive—from client conversations to arguments before the court. From there, tackle the best (and worst) deposition practices with 10 Deposition Do's and Don'ts, and sharpen your cross-examination skills with lessons from the greatest legal movie of all time: My Cousin Vinny.

Finally, there's the dreaded “bench slap”—that memorable moment when a court is so unimpressed with an argument that the proverbial hand of justice comes down hard. Explore real-world missteps and practical oral argument tips for keeping yourself out of the judicial line of fire.

Earn CLE credit, sharpen your courtroom skills, and discover why a little humor may make you a better communicator, advocate, and lawyer. Join us for a CLE that proves learning the law doesn't have to be boring. Register today!

This program is presented in partnership by Joel Oster, Comedian of Law, and NBI.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. A Guide to Honesty From Honest Abe
  2. Using Humor to Persuade
  3. 10 Deposition Do’s and Don’ts
  4. Cross-Examination Tips From "My Cousin Vinny"
  5. The Greatest Bench Slaps—and How to Avoid Them!

The Location

New Orleans, LA

Holiday Inn Metairie/New Orleans
2261 North Causeway Boulevard
Metairie, LA, 70001
See Location

Related Topics

Product ID 103027

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alabama CLE Approved 6 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 6 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 6 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 6 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 6 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 6 Total
Texas CLE Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. A Guide to Honesty From Honest Abe

    1. ABA Model Rule 3.3: Candor Toward the Tribunal
    2. ABA Model Rule 4.1: Truthfulness in Statements to Others
    3. ABA Model Rule 8.4: Misconduct
    4. Case Studies of Lawyers Facing Discipline for Dishonest Conduct
    5. When Is It Ever Okay for Lawyers to Lie?
    6. Candor vs. Confidentiality: When Ethical Duties Collide
    7. Cases include: Varana v. FORBA Holdings, Morris v. Coker, Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland v. Thomas Patrick Dore, and many others

  2. Using Humor to Persuade

    1. How Can You Use Humor to Diffuse and Persuade?
    2. Where Humor Can Impact Your Legal Practice
    3. The 7 Rules for Using Humor in Your Practice
    4. Examples of Effective—and Disastrous—Uses of Humor in Court: Opening Statements, Closing Arguments, Cross-Examination, Oral Argument, and Client Relations

  3. 10 Deposition Do’s and Don’ts

    1. Rule 1 – Do Be Prepared; Don’t Wing It
    2. Rule 2 – Do Own the Deposition; Don’t Be Bullied
    3. Rule 3 – Do Use Your Documents
    4. Rule 4 – Do Use an Outline; Don’t Use a Script
    5. Rule 5 – Do Ask Open-Ended Questions; Don’t Ask Double Negatives
    6. Rule 6 – Do Exhaust and Drill Down; Don’t Fail to Get an Answer
    7. Rule 7 – Do Get Impeachment Nuggets; Don’t Disbelieve Great Admissions
    8. Rule 8 – Do Object as to Form; Don’t Make Coaching Objections
    9. Rule 9 – Do Take Breaks When Needed; Don’t Engage in a Witness Conference
    10. Rule 10 – Do Read and Sign; Don’t Agree to the Usual Stipulations

  4. Cross-Examination Tips From "My Cousin Vinny"

    1. The Problem With Modern Cross-Examinations—and Examples of Poor Questions
    2. Collecting Points for Your Summation
    3. 10 Rules for Killer Cross-Examination as Told by Vinny Gambini

  5. The Greatest Bench Slaps—and How to Avoid Them!

    1. Examples of Poor Oral Arguments to Avoid
    2. Great Oral Argument Tips From Old Wise Sayings
    3. Lessons From Walter Dellinger
    4. Lessons From Jeffrey Fisher
    5. Lessons From Chief Justice John Roberts

Who Should Attend

This live, in-person CLE seminar is designed for attorneys who want a more engaging CLE experience while sharpening practical deposition, cross-examination, oral argument, and persuasion skills.

Speakers

Joel L Oster
Joel L.
Oster
Comedian of Law, LLC
Speaker bio
Joel L Oster

Joel L. Oster

Comedian of Law, LLC
Joel Oster

is a litigator, national speaker, podcaster and stand-up comic. He is in private practice specializing in constitutional law, appellate advocacy, and attorney ethics. Mr. Oster regularly litigates First Amendment issues and has been lead counsel on two cases that ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court. He has argued a case before the United States District Court for the Western District of New York and the Second Circuit and was part of a legal team that successfully defended a case in the U.S. Supreme Court. He's also prevailed as lead counsel in defending a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Mr. Oster has spoken to thousands of attorneys across the United States and brings their combined practical perspectives to his seminars. He has presented at numerous bench and bar conferences and co-hosts the podcast DeBriefing the Law with Chris Marohn. The podcast covers current legal news and true crimes using their brand of humor. From the Supreme Court to O.J. Simpson, no legal topic is off-limits. Most importantly he is also a stand-up comic. Even though he has argued before numerous appellate courts, including Judge Calabresi of the Second Circuit, he said nothing compares to the nerves of trying to make a room full of drunk college kids laugh. He headlined the comedy tour "Presumed Funny" which featured random musings about the legal profession. Mr. Oster earned his J.D. degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. He is admitted to the bar in Kansas, Missouri, Florida and numerous federal courts.

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