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The 2026 AILA Chicago Courtroom Skills Workshop will take place on October 22 and 23 at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. It is open to both Chicago and non-Chicago AILA members. We encourage you to apply for this unique, in-person training suitable for all experience levels.
- Practice your direct examination “live.”
- Receive feedback from experienced practitioners from across the nation.
- Improve your responses to interruptions and objections.
- Apply storytelling skills in the courtroom.
- Learn to counter judges who excessively control direct examination.
The workshop primarily uses a mock hearing format and requires a few hours of preparation. Participants will be divided into small groups based on their experience level. In-person attendance is mandatory on both days.
The application deadline is July 24, 2026. The demand for the workshop typically exceeds the number of available spots, so you will be notified of your acceptance before you register.
Faculty Bios
Workshop Details
| Format: | In-person, mock hearing format |
| Dates: | Thursday, October 22, 2026, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday, October 23, 2026, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm |
| Attendance Requirements: | Full two-day in-person attendance is required |
| Location: | Chicago-Kent College of Law 565 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661 |
| CLE: | 14 hours of CLE requested |
| Cost: | AILA Private Bar – $625 AILA Non-profit – $525 AILA membership for the individual applying is required Open to Chicago and non-Chicago AILA members |
Limited to 48 participants.
Please note:
- Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by July 27.
- In-person attendance is required on both days.
- Once selected and registered, the registration fee is non-refundable.
Applications for financial assistance are available upon request.
Courtroom Skills Workshop, AILA Chicago 2026
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Conviser Law Center, 565 W Adams St, Chicago, IL 60661
Thursday, October 22, 2026
8:00AM to 8:30AM
Check-in/coffee
8:30AM to 9:10AM
Direct exam basics:
- Formulating questions
- Using improv techniques to improve listening skills
- Objections, interruptions & witness surprises
9:10AM to 9:20AM
Break/transition
9:20AM to 10:50AM
Small group session one
10:50AM to 11:00AM
Break/transition
11:00AM to 11:40AM
Using direct exam to create a scene (large group room 704):
- Who – characters
- What – conflict, action, and dialogue
- Where – place and setting
- When – date and time
- Why:
- Explanation of actions, dialogue, and thoughts
- Perception of other characters’ actions and dialogue
- How – adding detail with a frame-by-frame focus
11:40AM to 11:55AM
Lunch retrieval
11:55AM to 12:25PM
Faculty demos – scene creation with direct exam
12:25PM to 12:35PM
Break/transition
12:35PM to 2:05PM
Small group session two
2:05PM to 2:15PM
Break/transition
2:15PM to 3:45PM
Small group session three
3:45PM to 3:55PM
Break/transition
3:55PM to 5:00PM
Faculty demos – using storytelling to create a vivid opening scene
Thursday small group sessions will rotate topics:
- Improv
- Identifying storytelling elements (worksheet)
- Using direct exam to create a scene
Friday, October 23, 2026
8:30AM to 9:00AM
Check-in/coffee
9:00AM to 11:30AM
Small group session four – direct exam with an emphasis on a vivid opening and transitioning to difficult issues
11:30AM to 11:45AM
Lunch retrieval
11:45AM to 12:35PM
Faculty demonstrations – using storytelling to create a powerful closing scene
12:35PM to 12:45PM
Break/transition
12:45PM to 3:15PM
Small group session five – transitioning from difficult issues to a powerful closing scene
3:15PM to 3:25PM
Break/transition
3:30PM to 4:00PM
Best practices for direct examination with an emphasis on creating a powerful closing scene
4:30PM
Social Gathering