PLEASE NOTE
The Trial Academy is now full. Should you wish to be put on a waitlist in the event a cancellation occurs, please contact Maddie Pangyarihan, Meetings Coordinator, at mpangyarihan@iadclaw.org.
As the “Crown Jewel” of the IADC, the Trial Academy is one of the oldest and most respected programs for developing defense trial advocacy skills. Perfect for those looking to learn and practice the fundamentals and for those seeking to refine their techniques and tactics and take their trial skills to the next level, students will learn by doing.
This seven-day, intensive workshop blends faculty instruction and demonstration with individual student participation in the setting of a mock trial.
Program Brochure
VIEW Full academy details including schedule and faculty information.
The Academy's faculty includes:
- Director Edward S. Sledge, IV, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Birmingham, Alabama USA
- Director-Elect M. Warren Butler, Starnes Davis Florie, LLP, Mobile, Alabama USA
- Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten, Foley & Mansfield, PLLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
- Sharon L. Caffrey, Duane Morris LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
- Robert L. Christie, Christie Law Group, Seattle, Washington USA
- Shayna Cook, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP, Chicago, Illinois USA
- Christopher S. Drewry, Drewry Simmons Vornehm, LLP, Carmel, Indiana USA
- Zandra E. Foley, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Iron, LLP, Houston, Texas USA
- James B. Hood, Hood Law Firm, LLC, Charleston, South Carolina USA
- Lee Mickus, Evans Fears & Schuttert LLP, Denver, Colorado USA
- Eric Todd Presnell, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP, Nashville, Tennessee USA
- Jason C. Rose, Venable LLP, Baltimore, Maryland USA
- Robert L. Shannon, Jr., Carlton Fields, Atlanta, Georgia USA
- Junior Sirivar, McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Toronto, Ontario Canada
- Amy M. Stewart, Stewart Law Group, Dallas, Texas USA
- Phillip S. Sykes, Butler Snow LLP, Ridgeland, Mississippi USA
Asim Desai Memorial Trial Academy Scholarship

The IADC Foundation has started a Trial Academy scholarship in honor of Asim Desai, beloved IADC member and two-time Trial Academy faculty member. The scholarship will cover tuition and room and board for a worthy candidate who works for a small firm (30 or fewer attorneys), solo practice, government or non-profit entity, and/or is a diverse lawyer.
If you know of a candidate, please encourage them to apply. Click for the guidelines and application form. Applications are due by April 10, 2023.
Asim’s law firm, Gordon & Rees, has generously funded the first year of the scholarship. We are raising funds to enable the scholarship to continue for several years. To give, go to the donation page on the IADC Foundation website, and where is says “My donation is for” choose “Asim Desai Memorial Trial Academy Scholarship” from the drop down menu.
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Questions? For questions on registration, please email Maddie Pangyarihan, Meetings Coordinator. For all other questions, email Amy O'Maley McGuire, IADC Trial Academy Staff Liaison.
Health and Safety
The IADC is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for meeting attendees and will follow all local requirements with regard to COVID-19. At present, that does not require attendees to be tested for COVID-19 before attending the meeting nor are masks required in any public spaces. However, we support everyone doing what makes them feel comfortable with regard to mask wearing, shaking hands or hugging, and we ask attendees to respect the choices of others. If you are not feeling well, please refrain from attending IADC events, and we encourage you to bring and utilize COVID-19 rapid tests if you are symptomatic.