Register today!
WHEN: Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–3:15 p.m. ET
WHERE: In-Person at NACDL Headquarters, 1660 L St. NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC, 20036— Limited to 30 Live attendees
LIVESTREAMED Nationwide
Program Summary:
A 4-hour Year End CLE Masterclass featuring Eric J. Davis, a leading national voice on advanced trial skills and techniques.
One afternoon. Four hours. A complete trial-skills reset.
Sharpen your trial skills. Strengthen your strategy. Take control of your courtroom story.
Great trial advocacy is more than knowing the law—it is knowing how to build a case, develop a compelling narrative, and deliver that story persuasively from voir dire through closing argument. This focused 4-hour masterclass brings those essential skills together in one intensive training led by Eric J. Davis, a leading national voice on advanced trial skills and techniques.
From the earliest stages of pre-trial preparation to the final word to the jury, you will explore practical approaches to:
- Pre-Trial Preparation — Build a trial strategy and theory that informs every decision.
- Storytelling — Develop a compelling case narrative that gives jurors a framework for understanding the evidence.
- Voir Dire — Use jury selection to identify perspectives, uncover bias, and begin shaping your defense story.
- Opening Statements — Start strong and give jurors a roadmap for understanding your case.
- Cross-Examination — Develop purposeful questioning techniques designed to control the examination and advance your theory.
- Closing Arguments — Bring the evidence, themes, and story together into a clear and persuasive final argument.
These skills are interconnected. A strong trial lawyer doesn't simply prepare an opening, conduct a cross, or deliver a closing in isolation—the story, strategy, and purpose should carry through every stage of the trial. NACDL's trial-skills programming similarly emphasizes connecting storytelling, theory, voir dire, openings, cross-examination, and summation into a cohesive defense strategy.
Whether you're preparing for your next jury trial or looking to refine techniques you've used for years, this masterclass is designed to give you practical ideas you can take directly into your next courtroom.
Faculty
Eric J. Davis (Houston, TX / Washington, DC / Silver Spring, MD)
With over three decades of courtroom experience, Eric J. Davis has developed a reputation and career defined by principled advocacy and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the liberties of those facing intense legal scrutiny and high-stakes prosecutions. Having tried over 100 cases ranging from Capital Murder and other homicides, to complex multiple defendant federal fraud cases, to federal drug conspiracies, to misdemeanors; Mr. Davis brings his hard-earned experience to defending his clients. He has obtained acquittals in multiple federal medicare fraud cases, multiple murder cases, multiple sexual assault offenses and many other types of cases by combining his experience with hard work. He has also obtained dismissals in murder cases, sexual assault cases and various other types of cases over the years. He considers every client’s life and freedom a profound responsibility and an honor to defend.
Since 1994, Mr. Davis has built a distinguished legal career. From 2011 to 2026, Mr. Davis worked with the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, Texas. He helped establish the office and was the office's first Trial Bureau Chief. In this leadership role, he managed over 80 attorneys and 16 investigators while overseeing the Felony and Misdemeanor Divisions and directing daily operations, including training. Under his leadership, lawyers in the Felony Trial Division of the Harris County Public Defender's Office outperformed private court appointed lawyers and private retained lawyers (lawyers people hired) in dismissals and acquittals. This was something rarely, if ever, done by a public defender's office. In addition to his executive duties, Mr. Davis remained an active trial lawyer, frequently serving as lead counsel in multiple jury trials each year. He defended multiple cases that received national media attention. Cases he handled were featured on 48 hours, 20/20, in the Houston Chronicle, the New York Post, the New York Times, USA Today, Black Enterprise and other major news outlets.
Before his time in public service he led the three lawyer firm Davis & Associates, PLLC, in Houston, Texas. While in private practice, Mr. Davis defended people accused of crimes for over a decade. He also served his community by taking on pro bono assignments and cases of interest to the public. In 2003, his commitment to ensuring judicial integrity was honored by the Texas State Legislature. Serving pro bono as Special Counsel to the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct, he successfully brought a case that resulted in the permanent removal of an abusive judge from office. This high-profile achievement was featured extensively in major news media outlets. Mr. Davis' history of reform and justice includes the 2006 “Unsung Hero Award” and being named “Man of the Year” by the Houston Business and Professional Women's Association. Also in 2006, Mr. Davis gained national attention for his work exonerating a man who had spent 18 years wrongfully imprisoned. Through sheer persistence, Mr. Davis located DNA evidence long thought lost, proving his client’s innocence and later securing over $450,000 in compensation for his client. This client's case was featured in multiple front page stories in the Houston Chronicle and on television news programs around the country. The case is also featured on the sites of several organizations studying exonerations. Mr. Davis is mentioned by name on those sites.
In 2007, Mr. Davis notably defended a double homicide case where the prosecution claimed an acquittal was "impossible." He and his client rejected a 40-year plea offer and secured a “not guilty” verdict at trial. In 2009, he successfully countered bias in jury selection during a different murder trial, eventually obtaining an acquittal from a second jury after the prosecution's strikes were found improperly motivated by race with the initial jury. This landmark defense was a front-page story in the Houston Chronicle. In 2011, he secured back-to-back acquittals for clients in federal Medicare fraud conspiracies, defeating a specialized national task force that rarely lost cases. Both of his clients went completely free after facing the full weight of the federal government. A task force prosecutor confided in him that they quietly referred to him as “Taskforce Kryptonite.”
He continues his leadership today on the boards of both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Trial Lawyers College.
Drawn from a tradition of professional excellence, Eric's philosophy merges meticulous legal strategy with a passionate dedication to justice. Every case is treated as a critical defense operation, ensuring that individuals receive a high-fidelity representation designed to navigate the complexities of serious criminal allegations with precision and authority. Eric maintains a small caseload to enable him to communicate effectively with his clients and their families, giving attention to their needs. He believes that for a successful defense, client communication is key. Learn more about Eric at: https://www.ericjdavislaw.com/
CLE Information
The in person program is approved for approx. 4 - 4.8 hours of CLE credits depending on the state, where applicable. Approval is not guaranteed for all states and jurisdictions.
The in person program is eligible for credit in the following states: Alabama (pending), Alaska (4), Arizona (4), Arkansas (pending), California (4), Colorado (pending), Connecticut (4), Delaware (pending), Florida (pending), Georgia (pending), Hawaii (4), Idaho (pending), Illinois (pending), Indiana (pending), Iowa (pending), Kansas (pending), Kentucky (pending), Louisiana (pending), Maine (pending), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (4), Michigan (4), Minnesota (pending), Mississippi (pending), Missouri (pending), Montana (pending), Nebraska (pending), Nevada (pending), New Hampshire (4), New Jersey (pending), New Mexico (pending), New York (4.8), North Carolina (pending), North Dakota (pending), Ohio (pending), Oklahoma (pending), Oregon (pending), Pennsylvania (pending), Rhode Island (pending), South Carolina (pending), South Dakota (4), Tennessee (pending), Texas (pending), Utah (pending), Vermont (4), Virginia (pending), Washington (pending), West Virginia (pending), Wisconsin (pending), Wyoming (pending).
This livestream is approved for approx. 4 - 4.8 hours of CLE credits depending on the state, where applicable. Approval is not guaranteed for all states and jurisdictions.
The livestream is eligible for credit in the following states: Alabama (pending), Alaska (4), Arizona (4), Connecticut (4), Florida (pending), Georgia (pending) Hawaii (4), Illinois (pending), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (4), Michigan (4), New Hampshire (4), New Mexico (pending), Pennsylvania (pending) South Dakota (4), Tennessee (pending), Utah (pending), Vermont (4), Washington (pending), Wisconsin (pending), Wyoming (pending).
Pricing
Members of NACDL enjoy exclusive registration rates for our seminars along with all the benefits from joining.
| Registration Fees | In-Person | Livestream |
|---|---|---|
| NACDL Members | $189 | $219 |
| Non-Members of NACDL | $179 | $199 |
NOTE: All registrations are final and non-refundable.
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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