A record number of civil and criminal trial lawyers attended third annual Trial Lawyers Summit for three days of CLE and networking, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel from January 19 to 22. More than 40 featured presenters shared what they had learned about trials and discovery during their careers.
Sessions began at 6:30 AM with speakers on voir dire and concluded with “Criminal Defense: Tricks of the Prosecution.” A special program for the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America rounded out the event.
Famed civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred of Los Angeles, CA, kicked off a special bonus session of National Women Trial Lawyers. Quoting Mahatma Ghandi, she said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world” and described numerous cases she brought for women who were targets of employment discrimination. She was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, making her only the second lawyer to receive it.
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Criminal defense lawyer Mark O’Mara of Orlando, FL, who won the acquittal of George Zimmerman in July 2013 in the killing of Trayvon Martin, was honored as the Criminal Trial Lawyer of the Year. Robert Eglet, who has won $1.5 billion in jury awards for clients, was named the Civil Trial Lawyer of the Year.
It was a rare chance to see under one roof such legal stars as Mike Papantonio of Pensacola, FL (2012 NTL President) and Mark Geragos of Los Angeles, CA (2014 NTL president).
Jeffrey Toobin, the senior legal analyst for CNN, delivered a keynote address on the US Supreme Court, recounting several cases and stories about the Justices. Every evening there was an elegant reception where lawyers could easily network. On Tuesday evening attendees watched the Miami Heat defeat the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Arena.
More than 40 exhibitors filled the sponsor hall with information about litigation financing, branding and marketing, trial exhibits, mass torts, court reporting, expert testimony, and national law firm brands such as Jacoby & Meyers, The Cochran Firm and the Chavez Law Firm.
Numerous attendees reported highlights of the Summit on Twitter using #NTLSummit.
