I just returned from helping teach a 2 ½ day intensive training workshop for trial lawyers. The workshop focuses on how to better use technology in the courtroom and to persuade generally. The workshop and program, called FedTechU, is put on by the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (better known as the FDCC and of which I am a proud member). It is held annually; of course, this is the first workshop in a couple of years due to Covid.
The goal is to help participating FDCC members learn to use technology better to persuade everyone. Lawyers not only use persuasion in front of juries but also with everyone from mediators, opposing counsel and clients. The workshop was developed because we discovered that there was no actual program for lawyers devoted exclusively to best practices for using state of the art technology. I comprehensivly discussed FedTechU in a previous post.
The FDCC is “composed of recognized leaders in the legal community who have achieved professional distinction, is dedicated to promoting knowledge, fellowship, and professionalism of its members.” Membership is for trial lawyers and in-house counsel and is by invitation only. Candidates are rigorously vetted to be sure they are outstanding lawyers but also good people. The group is close-knit, highly collegial, and dedicated to making certain its members are the best trial lawyers. Most importantly, FDCC members try cases. Lots of cases: it’s not unusual for members to try at least one case a month and sometimes more.
As I said, several years ago, FDCC leadership looked around and didn’t see any resource available for trial attorneys to identify persuasive technologies. Or to teach them how to best use them. FDCC leadership also correctly realized that effectively using technology particularly in the courtroom and elsewhere would
