Direct Examination: Making the Witness Look Good
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Speaker : MICHAEL DEBLIS
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When : Tuesday, September 09, 2025
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Time : 03 : 00 PM EST
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Michael is a trial lawyer. He graduated Cum Laude from The Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Summa Cum Laude from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law with his Masters of Law in Taxation. Michael is known for his charismatic personality and his unyielding dedication to his clients.
Michael spent the first six years of his legal career as a public defender in the NJ Office of the Public Defender, cutting his teeth on some of the most serious felony cases to pass through the state courts of New Jersey. He then joined his father's law practice, DeBlis Law, expanding the practice into civil tax controversies and international tax compliance. As a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College, Michael has trained under some of the best-known criminal defense attorneys in the country. When he's not in the courtroom, you can find Michael on stage. He is a professionally trained actor who has performed in off-Broadway productions and on stage at Shakespeare in the Park. Michael's passionate about helping trial lawyers harness the power of persuasion and positive communication in the courtroom in order to connect to the jury on a human level.
Michael's training as an actor allows him to combine a unique blend of left-brain thinking with right-brain artistry to make even the most dull and abstract areas of the law come to life. Michael is a prolific writer and a frequent lecturer at CLE and CPE programs throughout the country. He has written articles that have been featured in leading tax journals and "Law 360."
Michael
is a living example of the tremendous power that comes from combining
passion, preparation, persuasion, and positive communication in the
courtroom. His courage and relentless work ethic have earned him a
reputation as a zealous advocate and one of New Jersey’s rising stars of
the legal profession.
Experienced trial lawyers recognize that most trials are won on the strengths of their case and not on the weaknesses of their adversary's case. Direct examination that clearly and effectively presents the witness's observations through a narrative lens will have a decisive effect on the outcome of the trial. The attorney's job is to make the witness and the story she is telling interesting, compelling, and credible. Direct examination is a partnership in which one of the partners, the attorney, fades into the background so that all of the jury's attention can be on the other partner, the witness.
Areas Covered
- Courtroom
- Litigation
- Storytelling
- Criminal defense
- representing the criminal defendant
Who Should Attend
Trial lawyers, Criminal defense attorneys, Personal injury attorneys, ADR attorneys
Why Should You Attend
Course Objectives:
- What is the primary purpose of direct examination in a trial, and how does it differ from cross-examination?
- How can a witness's credibility be established during direct examination, and what techniques are most effective?
- In what ways does the attorney's preparation influence the outcome of a direct examination?
- What role does storytelling play in direct examination, and how can it impact the jury's perception of the witness's testimony?
- How should an attorney handle objections during direct examination, and what strategies can be employed to minimize interruptions?
- Discuss the importance of open-ended questions during direct examination. How do they differ from leading questions?
- What are some common pitfalls attorneys might encounter during direct examination, and how can they avoid them?
- How can visual aids or demonstrative evidence enhance a direct examination, and what are some guidelines for their effective use?
- In what ways does the demeanor of a witness affect the effectiveness of direct examination?
- How can an attorney effectively elicit emotional responses from the jury through direct examination?
- Discuss the significance of the order in which witnesses are presented during direct examination. How can this impact the overall case?
- How should an attorney prepare a witness for direct examination, and what key points should be covered in this preparation?
- What ethical considerations should attorneys keep in mind when conducting a direct examination?
- How can cultural differences affect the way witnesses respond during direct examination, and what should attorneys be aware of in these situations?
- In what ways can the use of technology, such as video depositions, influence the approach to direct examination in modern trials?
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$200.00
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