Agenda Faculty Hotel Exhibitor/Sponsor Scholarships Pricing Register Online Register by PDF
We're Choosin' Texas – Can You Tell?
Some cities inspire greatness. Austin, Texas is one of them. Austin has always been a place where legends are made. This spring, NACDL brings the same bold, electric spirit of Austin to one of the most powerful criminal defense training events of the year — and if you're serious about your craft, this is exactly where you need to be.
Welcome to Advanced Advocacy Skills for EVERY Lawyer: Preparation, Presentation, Performance & Persuasion.
WHAT THIS SEMINAR IS ALL ABOUT?
Great criminal defense advocacy isn't accidental. It's built — deliberately, strategically, and skillfully — from the moment you take a case to the second the verdict is read. This seminar is designed to make you a sharper, more effective, and more persuasive advocate at every stage of that journey.
Through dynamic presentations from experts and seasoned practitioners, you'll master the foundation of elite criminal defense: the 4 P's of Advanced Advocacy.
- PRE-TRIAL PREPARATION: Winning cases before you ever set foot in the courtroom. Learn how to investigate smarter, build a compelling case theory, anticipate the prosecution's strategy, and construct a defense framework that holds up under the toughest scrutiny. The best trial lawyers know that preparation isn't just part of the process — it IS the process.
- COURTROOM PRESENTATION: How you present your case is just as important as the case itself. Discover proven techniques for organizing and delivering your narrative in a way that resonates with judges and juries alike. From opening statements to closing arguments, you'll learn how to command the room and control the story.
- PERFORMANCE: The courtroom is a stage, and the most effective advocates know how to own it. Sharpen your instincts, your timing, and your ability to think and pivot on your feet. Whether you're examining a witness, challenging evidence, or responding to the unexpected, your performance under pressure can make all the difference.
- PERSUASION & COMMUNICATION: At its core, criminal defense is about convincing people — jurors, judges, clients, and colleagues. Elevate your ability to connect, communicate, and persuade with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Learn the science and art behind compelling storytelling, body language, and the psychology of persuasion.
Running through every session is a singular, unifying focus: how to build and develop a winning case strategy. You'll leave Austin not just with new skills, but with a complete, cohesive framework for approaching every case — from intake to verdict to sentencing — with greater intention, creativity, and confidence.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
YOU. This seminar is built for every criminal defense lawyer — whether you've been in the courtroom for 30 years or 3. If you want to be better, bolder, and more effective for your clients, Austin is calling your name.
AUSTIN AWAITS
Beyond the curriculum, you'll enjoy the unmatched opportunity to connect, network, and build lasting professional relationships with fellow defense attorneys from across the country — all set against the backdrop of one of America's most vibrant and exciting cities.
Great food. Live music. World-class legal education. Everything really is bigger in Texas.
Register today — because when it comes to your practice, your clients, and your craft, Choosin' Texas is the easiest decision you'll ever make — CAN YOU TELL?
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Wednesday, March 3, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 3:00-6:00 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| Thursday, March 4, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks – NACDL President C. Melissa ‘Missy’ Owen (Charlotte, NC) & CLE Program Co-Chairs Steven Epstein (Garden City, NY), JoEllyn Jones (Bridgeton, NJ), Eugene Oliver (Harrisonburg, VA), and Molly Parmer (Atlanta, GA) |
| 8:15 am | Finding a Pathway: Developing a Case Theme & Strategy to Prepare a Defense When There Isn't One – Carmen Roe (Houston, TX) |
| 9:15 am | Building Client Relationships: Laying the Groundwork for Difficult Decisions – Leslie McNair-Jackson (Camden, NJ) |
| 10:15 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:35 am | Strategic Use of Parallel Proceedings – Sonya Pfeiffer (Charlotte, NC and Toronto, CA) |
| 11:35 am | Motions In Limine: You Can't Unring a Bell – Angelica Cogliano (Austin, TX) |
| 12:35 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:05 pm | Working With Experts – Emily Prokesch (Atlanta, GA) |
| 3:05 pm | Ethical Use of Recordings – Doug Ramseur (Richmond, VA) |
| 4:05 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:25 pm | Cross-Cultural Communication – Natasha Dartigue (Baltimore, MD) |
| 5:25 pm | Adjourn for the day |
| 7:00 pm | Welcoming Reception - TBA |
| Friday, March 5, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Morning Remarks and Announcements – CLE Program Co-Chairs Steven Epstein (Garden City, NY), JoEllyn Jones (Bridgeton, NJ), Eugene Oliver (Harrisonburg, VA), and Molly Parmer (Atlanta, GA) |
| 8:10 am | Connecting With Impact: Using Personal Stories, Space, Status, and Presentation to Communicate Effectively – Matthew Taylor (Denver, CO) |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Committee Meetings Throughout the Day |
| 9:40 am | Creating Unforgettable Riffs with Universal Truths – Fredilyn Sison (Asheville, NC) |
| 10:40 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:50 am | Storytelling With Digital Evidence: Weaving Digital Evidence into a Clear, Compelling Narrative – Brian Chase (Tucson, AZ) |
| 11:50 am | Theater, Choreography, and Persuasion in the Courtroom – Keith Belzer (La Crosse, WI) |
| 12:50 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:00 - 3:30 pm | BREAKOUT: Persuasion Through Narrative (Limited to 20 Participants): Work with Matthew Taylor to improve your storytelling in this hands-on workshop |
| 2:30 pm | Changing the Law with Motions – Zachary Stern (Salem, OR) |
| 3:30 pm | Persuasion at Sentencing – Andre Vitale (Jersey City, NJ) |
| 4:30 pm | Seminar Adjourns |
| Saturday, March 6, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Exhibit Hall Open |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Midwinter Membership and Board of Directors Meetings (All are encouraged to attend) |
| 1:00 pm | Enjoy Austin! |
Faculty
Keith Belzer (La Crosse, WI)
Brian Chase (Tucson, AZ)
Angelica Cogliano (Austin, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Natasha M. Dartigue (Baltimore, MD) *NACDL MEMBER
Leslie McNair-Jackson (Camden, NJ)
Sonya Pfeiffer (Charlotte, NC and Toronto, CA) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
Emily Prokesch (Atlanta, GA) *NACDL MEMBER
Doug Ramseur (Richmond, VA) *NACDL MEMBER
Carmen Roe (Houston, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Fredilyn Sison (Asheville, NC) *NACDL MEMBER
Zachary J. Stern (Salem, OR) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
Matthew Taylor (Denver, CO)
Andre Vitale (Jersey City, NJ)
Hotel
Hyatt Regency
208 Barton Springs
Austin, TX 78704
Online Reservations: https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/AUSRA/G-NACD
Phone Reservations: 888-421-1442 - Please mention G-NACD to receive applicable discount rate.
Group Rate: $259 + tax (expires February 9, 2027)
Rooms/discounted group rates are not guaranteed once the block has been filled.
Sponsorship and Exhibits
Disclaimer: NACDL does not necessarily endorse or guarantee the quality, applicability, or discounts of the products and/or services of its exhibitors. Users of these products and/or services do so at their sole discretion and NACDL assumes no responsibility for them.
For information on exhibiting or sponsorships, please contact NACDL's Sales and Marketing Manager Jason Petty at jpetty@nacdl.org or call (202) 465-7637.
NACDL would like to thank the following sponsors, exhibitors, and affinity partners for their support and contributions:
PLATINUM Sponsor:
still available...
GOLD Sponsor:
still available...
SILVER Sponsor:
still available...
BRONZE Sponsor:
still available...
Sunday Night Reception:
still available...
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
still available...
Tote Bag Sponsor:
still available...
Exhibitors -
Scholarships
NACDL offers a variety of scholarships for this event ranging from partially discounted to fully funded. Each type of scholarship has different application requirements. To apply for any of the following scholarships, please follow the instructions for that specific scholarship.
OPTION 1: Needs-Based Scholarships
Based on need, scholarships are available to NACDL members for up to 50% off the standard seminar fee of $419. Approved recipients are responsible for the remainder of the tuition fee, which is $210 (all other expenses are not included). The reduced scholarship fee includes seminar tuition, admission to all evening social events, and downloadable seminar materials. Travel, hotel, and other costs are not included.
To Apply: Prepare and e-mail a letter of no more than two pages explaining the reason why you believe you should receive the grant to: NACDL Senior Director of Events Akvile Athanason, at aathanason@nacdl.org.
All applications must be submitted before registering for the seminar and received by January 31, 2027.
NACDL MEMBERSHIP AND RESERVATION AT THE HOST HOTEL ARE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
OPTION 2: Public Defense Scholarships
As a result of generous grant funding, NACDL is able to offer scholarship assistance to public defense providers to attend this NACDL training program. Scholarships will be awarded in the form of full or partial reimbursement of the registration costs of the program. Limited travel reimbursement stipends may also be awarded to qualifying individuals to help defray the costs of travel and lodging.
Completed public defense scholarship applications should be emailed to: PDTScholarship@nacdl.org
Apply for a Public Defense Scholarship
Pricing
Register Online Register by PDF
Members of NACDL enjoy exclusive registration rates for our seminars along with all the benefits from joining.
| Registration Fees | |
|---|---|
| NACDL MEMBERS: Regular, Life, and Sustaining Members | $419 |
| NACDL MEMBERS: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, "New Lawyer", International, and Military Members | $329 |
| Non-Members Private Practitioners (includes 1 year membership) | $768 |
| ALL Non-Members Public Defenders | $369 |
| ALL Texas Lawyers (Residents Only) | $229 |
| ALL Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Lawyers (Residents Only) | $359 |
| Groups of 4 or more PDs (must register at the same time; 1 payment; no changes or cancellations allowed). To register a group, please visit: http://www.nacdl.org/PDGroups | $299 |
| Recordings | |
|---|---|
| Audio Recording of Seminar (pre-sale) | $225 |
| Video Recording of Seminar (pre-sale) | $299 |
CANCELLATIONS: There is a $75 cancellation fee. Cancellations must be received in writing via e-mail by 5:30 pm E.T. Friday, February 26, 2027, to receive a refund, less the cancellation fee. No refunds can be issued after the cancellation deadline.
Code of Conduct
NACDL endeavors to foster a working, learning, and social environment free of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and insult. To that end, NACDL has adopted a Code of Conduct for Affiliated Persons that applies to all attendees and participants of any kind at all NACDL sponsored events.
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