This handbook addresses the practical and strategic aspects of handling a case during trial. It covers the traits and skills of an effective trial advocate, the jury, the opening statement, presenting testimony, preserving the record during trial, presenting the case-in-chief, motions during and at the close of the plaintiff’s and defendant’s cases, motions at the close of all the evidence, the closing argument, jury instructions and special interrogatories, return of the verdict and entry of judgment, and posttrial motions.
Chapter 1 — The Trial Advocate: Purpose, Talent, and Philosophy
Robert L. Byman and Reid J. Schar, Jenner & Block LLP, Chicago
Chapter 2 — The Jury: The “Right” to It and the Selection of It
Robert Marc Chemers, Pretzel & Stouffer, Chartered, Chicago
Chapter 3 — Opening Statement
Telly C. Nakos, O’Connor & Nakos Ltd., Chicago
Chapter 4 — Presenting Testimony
Robert L. Byman and Andrew W. Vail, Jenner & Block LLP, Chicago
Chapter 5 — Preserving the Record During Trial
Richard L. Miller II, Miller PC, Chicago
Chapter 6 — Presenting the Plaintiff’s Case
Richard L. Miller II, Miller PC, Chicago
Chapter 7 — Motions During and at the Close of the Plaintiff’s Case-in-Chief
Andrew P. Shelby, Novack and Macey LLP, Chicago
Chapter 8 — Presenting the Defendant’s Case
Stacie R. Hartman, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Chicago
Chapter 9 — Motions During and at the Close of the Defendant’s Case-in-Chief
Michael C. McCutcheon, Kyle R. Olson, Laura A. Kelly, Shane Kelly, and Farah A. Chalisa, Baker McKenzie, Chicago
Chapter 10 — Motions at the Close of the Evidence
Richard L. Miller II, Miller PC, Chicago
Chapter 11 — Jury Instructions, Special Interrogatories, and Verdicts
John J. Byron and Cara A. Lawson, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Chicago
Chapter 12 — Closing Argument
Andrew P. Shelby, Novack and Macey LLP, Chicago
Chapter 13 — Return of the Verdict and Entry of Judgment
Cynthia N. Pietrucha, Pietrucha Law Firm, LLC, Naperville
Chapter 14 — Posttrial Motions
Elizabeth C. Curtin and Isaac Green, Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago
