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VIRGINIA COLLEGE OF TRIAL ADVOCACY
at the College of William & Mary
May 21 & 22, 2010
the country’s experts on Focus Groups:
the philosophy, the approaches, the how-to’s
with
Rodney Jew, Debra Miller and Jim Lees
DAY ONE - A full day of Rodney Jew, Debra Miller, and Jim Lees,
showing you how and why the process works. Eyewitness opportunity
to watch a live Focus Group as they discuss a real liability case.
DAY TWO – Develop strategies and learn how to revise the case
based on Friday’s insights, and then watch a second Focus Group deliberate,
sitting as a jury while you watch them.
REGISTER HERE
Because of the nature of information presented, this seminar is open
only to lawyers who represent injured persons. click here for a certification form
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Full Program Agenda
for additional speaker information, click here
Friday, May 21 |
9:00 am |
Reverse Planning and Focusing on Kill Shots
How you can use Focus Groups to
• Do reverse planning
• Find the fatal flaws in your case
• Assess landmines
• and Reformulate your goals
Rodney Jew – heads CDS, a California litigation strategy firm. He has more than 30 state records for the largest result. Reverse Planning, his comprehensive process, turns conventional trial preparation on its head.
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10:15 am |
Focus Groups – How (and How Not) to Create Them
• Types of Focus Groups
• Mechanics of finding jurors
• Settings
• Conducting the Focus Group

Debra Miller – Miller, Malekpour and Ball, Consultant and Jury Researcher for David Ball’s renowned Jury Research firm. Her focus is helping lawyers develop compelling narratives that transcend the courtroom walls.
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11:00 |
Break |
11:15 am |
How They Work – What You Can Learn and What You Can’t Learn
• Common biases in jury pools
• How to confront them
• Hidden biases that can surprise you

Jim Lees-Hunt & Lees, Charleston, West Virginia “Commanding the Courtroom,” his video “how-to” series with Greg Cusimano, has won high praise. Lees taught persuasion techniques at Harvard Law School and his expertise in using focus groups to formulate presentation strategies is widely recognized.
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12:15 pm |
Lunch - included in program fee |
1:30 pm |
Active Participation
• Finding the landmines in the case
• Understanding them
• What will really cause you to lose the case
Rodney Jew
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2:00 pm |
Focus Group I
Watch a Focus Group’s in-depth discussion of the case, on a live feed from the “jury room.” The Group will be led by Jim Lees and Debra Miller.
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4:00 pm |
Break |
4:15 pm |
What we have learned from Focus Group I
The experts will show you how to make the most of the Group’s discussion, and how to understand the hidden issues.
Rodney Jew
Debra Miller
Jim Lees
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5:30-
7:00 pm |
Reception - Meet the Experts |
Saturday, May 22 |
9:00 am |
Rethinking the Strategy
New case strategies will be created, based on yesterday’s insights, and the Plaintiff’s lawyer will be shown how to “re-tool” the case for a new jury.
Rodney Jew
Debra Miller
Jim Lees
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10:00 am |
Focus Group II
Watch Plaintiff and Defense attorneys present the re-tooled case, and see a new Focus Group deliberate, functioning as a jury.
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12:00 pm |
What We Have Learned from Focus Group II
Rodney Jew
Debra Miller
Jim Lees
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1:00 pm |
Adjournment |
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