Legal experts from across the nation—including 40 LSU Law alumni—are converging at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center on Aug. 7-9 to lead rising third-year law students in intensive training sessions as part of the annual Trial Advocacy Program.
Held each year just before the start of the fall semester, the Trial Advocacy Program covers every aspect of trial practice, from jury selection through closing arguments. It regularly features some of America’s top trial lawyers and judges who work in small groups with students, and it was established with a major gift from Vinson & Elkins in 1987.
The trial lawyers and judges participating in the Trial Advocacy Program this year will lead approximately 70 LSU Law students in small groups, providing one-on-one skills development opportunities. In a simulated courtroom setting, students will perform direct and cross examinations, implement openings and closings, lay foundations, make objections, argue motions, conduct depositions, and engage in case negotiation. This year’s program includes an all-new criminal law section, in addition to transactional and civil law sections.
LSU Law thanks the following alumni and legal professionals for serving as section leaders and faculty at the 2023 Trial Advocacy Program:
Section Leaders
Brooke Bernal (’07) · Long Law Firm
James Brown (’84) · Liskow & Lewis
Larry Centola, Jr. (’71) · Blake Jones Law Firm
Scott Frugé (’92) · The Frugé Law Firm
Hon. Guy Holdridge (’78) · Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal
Frank Holthaus (’75) · C. Frank Holthaus
Barbara Irwin (’02) · Pujol Irwin
Catherine Maraist (’98) · Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson
Randy Roussel (’84) · Phelps Dunbar
Sharon Smith (’85) · Assistant U.S. Attorney, Department of Justice, Eastern District of Louisiana
Walter Sanchez (’84) · Sanchez Burke
Pat Talley (’82) · Phelps Dunbar
Faculty
Lee Ayres (’88) · Ayres, Shelton, Williams, Benson & Paine
Hon. Kelly Balfour (’01) · Louisiana 19th Judicial District Court
Joe Burke (’12) · Sanchez Burke
Robb Campbell (’02) · Williamson, Fontenot & Campbell
Brian Capitelli (’01) · Capitelli & Wicker
Scotty Chabert · Saunders & Chabert
Hunter Chauvin (’11) · Liksow & Lewis
Wes Clark · Long Law Firm
Sam Crichton (’14) · Assistant District Attorney, Caddo Parish
Hon. Scott Crichton (’80) · Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana
J. Cullens (’94) · Walters Thomas Cullens
Blake David (’01) · Broussard David & Moroux
Jamie Flowers · Criminal Chief, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the for the Middle District of Louisiana
Marion Floyd · Law Office of Marion D. Floyd
Kelsey Funes (’97) · Phelps Dunbar
James Gibson (’84) · Gibson Law Partners
Vance Gibbs (’82) · Kean Miller
Jerry Glas (’96) · Deutsch Kerrigan
Richard Haik (’05) · Morrow, Morrow, Ryan, Bassett & Haik
Hon. George Hanks · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Hon. Chris Hester (’08) · Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal
Stephen Huber · Huber Thomas
Sarah Hunter · Thompson, D’Entremont & Hebert
Hon. Daniel Knowles (’78) · U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
Gary Koederitz (’81) · Koederitz Law Firm
Anthony Lascaro (’09) · Bienvenu, Bonnecaze, Foco & Viator
Parker Layrisson (’02) · Parker Layrisson Law Firm
Madeline Lee (’90) · Bolen, Parker, Brenner, Lee & Engelsma
Hon. Jay McCallum (’85) · Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana
Hon. John Molaison · Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal
Hon. Brady O’Callaghan (’98) · Louisiana First Judicial District Court
David Ogwyn (’01) · Ogwyn Law Firm
Mike Patterson (’71) · Long Law Firm
Paul Scott (’08) · The Scott Law Firm
David Abboud Thomas (’93) · Walters Thomas Cullens
Charles Thomas (’08) · Huber Thomas
Mark Upton (’81) · Upton Law Firm
John Viator (’98) · Bienvenu, Bonnecaze, Foco & Viator
Ed Walters (’75) · Walters Thomas Cullens
Chris Zainey · Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso
