Agenda Faculty CLE Hotel Exhibitor/Sponsor Scholarships Pricing Register Online Register by PDF
Join NACDL in Baltimore this Spring for a transformative CLE experience designed to inspire and ignite your passion for defense advocacy and redefine how you practice law.
This inaugural event brings together a powerhouse faculty—NACDL's Best of the Bar 2026—to share cutting-edge strategies, bold insights, and practical tools to help you Evolve your approach to trial, Expand your Impact, and Elevate your courtroom presence. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside the nation’s top criminal defense minds.
LOCATION: Baltimore, MD
DATES: May 14-16, 2026
CLE Credits: Approx. 13 Credits
Discover Baltimore—a vibrant harbor city where history meets creativity. Stroll along the iconic Inner Harbor, explore world-class attractions like the National Aquarium, and dive into the city’s rich cultural scene with museums, galleries, and live music. Savor famous Chesapeake Bay crabs, wander through historic neighborhoods like Fell’s Point and Federal Hill, and experience the unique energy that makes Charm City a must-visit destination.
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Thursday, May 14, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 3:00-6:00 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| Friday, May 15, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:15 am | Welcoming Remarks – NACDL President Andy Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) and Event Moderator Larry Pozner (Kailua Kona, Hawai'i) |
| 8:30 am | Words With Impact: The Keys to Influence With Storytelling - Eric Davis (Houston, TX) |
| 9:30 am | Creative Pre-Trial Motions: Making Motions Matter – Steven Epstein (Garden City, NY) |
| 10:30 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:50 am | Voir Dire: The Importance of Consciousness When Speaking With Jurors – Andrea Lyon (Chicago, IL) |
| 11:50 am | Using Authenticity to Craft Effective Opening Statements – Juanita Kimble (Atlanta, GA) |
| 12:50 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:20 pm | The Art of Indirection: The Secret to Direct Examination – Guy Cardamone (Madison, WI) |
| 3:20 pm | Songs of Freedom: Making Your Client’s Story Sing at Sentencing – Tim Zerillo (Portland, ME) |
| 4:20 pm | Effectively Communicating Your Case in Closing Arguments – Alice Fontier (New York, NY) |
| 5:20 pm | Adjourn for the day |
| 6:00 pm | Networking Reception |
| Saturday, May 16, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:45 am | Morning Remarks and Announcements |
| Full Day | Pozner on Cross-Examination: The Chapter Method |
| 9:00 - 10:30 am | The Science Behind The Chapter Method of Cross-Examinations – Larry Pozner |
| 10:30 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:45 am - 12:15 pm | The Chapter Method and Constructing Chapter Bundles – Larry Pozner |
| 12:15 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 1:45 - 3:15 pm | Constructive Cross and Sequences of Cross – Larry Pozner |
| 3:15 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 3:30 pm | Page Preparation of Chapters, The Only Three Rules of Cross, and Control and Use of Anxiety – Larry Pozner |
| 5:00 pm | Seminar Adjourns |
Faculty
Guy Cardamone (Madison, WI) *NACDL MEMBER
Eric Davis (Houston, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Steven Epstein (Garden City, NY) *NACDL MEMBER
Alice Fontier (New York, NY) *NACDL MEMBER
Juanita Kimble (Atlanta, GA) *NACDL MEMBER
Andrea Lyon (Chicago, IL) *NACDL MEMBER
Larry Pozner (Kailua Kona, Hawai'i) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
Tim Zerillo (Portland, ME) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
CLE Information
NACDL is an accredited provider of CLE in all states requiring mandatory CLE Training. NACDL will apply for at least 13.00 credit hours in every state requiring pre-approval. Approved hours for each state will be identified at the seminar. Some states, IL, GA, NE, NM, PA, SC, TN and UT require additional fees by the attendee in order to receive credit.
Hotel
Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards
110 South Eutaw Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Online Reservations: coming soon
Phone Reservations: coming soon
Group rate: $189 + tax
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...
Welcoming Reception:
still available...
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
still available...
Tote Bag Sponsor:
still available...
Exhibitors:
Scholarships
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 April 14, 2026.
NACDL MEMBERSHIP AND RESERVATION AT THE HOST HOTEL ARE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.
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, President's Club, and Sustaining | $419 |
| NACDL Members: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, "New Lawyer", International and Military | $319 |
| Non Members (includes 1 year membership) | $758 |
| Non-Member Public Defenders | $339 |
| ALL Maryland, DE, PA, VA, and WV Lawyers (Residents Only) | $329 |
| 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 |
| Non-Attendee Materials / 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 to cancel@nacdl.org by 5:30 pm E.T. Friday, May 8, 2026, 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.
Learn More