Skills Academy

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Upcoming Virtual Programs

Member Webinar: Diversity & Inclusion Member Program: Immigration Consequences of Criminal Offenses on DACA Eligibility | Tues. Jan. 26, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

CLE: Criminal Masters 2021: Attacking Racial Injustice in Criminal Prosecutions | Fri. Jan. 29, 2021, 8:55 AM - 4:15 PM

CLE: Employment Law 2021 | Fri. Feb. 5, 2021, 8:55 AM - 4:30 PM

CLE: Litigating Around Landmines: Your "Do This - Not That" Guide to Handling Personal Injury Cases in 2021 | Fri. Feb. 12, 2021, 8:55 AM - 4:30 PM

CLE: Ethics Hot Issues 2021 | Wed. Feb. 17, 2021, 8:55 AM - 12:15 PM

CLE: Mastering Complex Issues in North Carolina DWI Cases | Fri. Feb. 19, 2021, 8:55 AM - 4:30 PM

CLE: Discovery in Family Law Cases | Fri. Feb. 19, 2021, 8:55 AM - 4:15 PM

CLE: Back to the Basics: Medical Device and Drug Injury Mass Torts and Class Action Litigation | Thurs. Feb. 25, 2021, 12:55 PM - 4:15

CLE: Disbursements 2021: Clear as a Bell | Fri. Feb. 26, 2021, 8:55 AM - 4:30 PM

CLE: 3rd Annual NCAJ Women's Caucus Retreat | Fri. March 12, 2021, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

For a full listing of upcoming virtual CLE programs, visit the Education homepage.

Full Listing of NCAJ CLE

Meet Our Sponsors

In the fall of 2019, NCAJ leadership assembled two working groups to build a trial skills curriculum for civil and criminal practitioners. Through the efforts of that group along with NCAJ’s Education committee, the NCAJ Skills Academy was developed.

The goal of the NCAJ Skills Academy is to train the next generation of trial lawyers by offering affordable, on-your-feet training from some of the best trial lawyers across the state. The NCAJ Skills Academy will launch with 6 programs in the 2020-21 fiscal year including jury selection, direct and cross-examination, winning without trial for civil practitioners, and pre-trial preparation for criminal practitioners.

We are tremendously grateful to our presenting sponsor

Why NCAJ Skills Academy?

“Professional athletes don’t just play on game day. They train, they study, they practice. Professional musicians don’t just play at concert venues. They train, they study, they practice. Being a trial lawyer is no different. We practice law. And we must practice.”
- Vernon Sumwalt, 2019-2020 NCAJ President

“As trial lawyers we begin preparing each case for trial on day one. There are many steps along the path before getting to trial, and each step requires certain skills. The Skills Academy aims to provide today’s trial lawyers with the necessary skills at each step of the process by learning from established leaders and each other.”
- Ann Ochsner, 2019-2020 NCAJ VP of Education

“This innovative training program combines the best of mentorship, technology and smart collaboration allowing enterprising lawyers to develop effective advocacy skills to improve client outcomes and foster excellence within the profession.”
- Julie Beavers, Director of Client Services at Lawyers Mutual of North Carolina

2021 NCAJ Skills Academy Programming

March 26, 2021 | Basic Pre-Trial Preparation for Criminal Defense Practitioners

May 7, 2021 | Civil Jury Selection

May 7, 2021 | Criminal Jury Selection

Thanks to Our Sponsor