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Puerto Rican Bar Association hosts two-day trial advocacy program

August 1, 2017 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) hosted a two-day CLE seminar last week on “The Nuts and Bolts of Trying a Case” at Brooklyn Law School. Pictured from left: Frank Melendez; Hon. Luis Gonzalez; Jesus M. Zeno; Hon. Wilma Guzman; Carman Pacheco, president of the PRBA; Hon. Reinaldo Rivera and Hon. Sallie Manzanet-Daniels. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese
The Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) hosted a two-day CLE seminar last week on “The Nuts and Bolts of Trying a Case” at Brooklyn Law School. Pictured from left: Frank Melendez; Hon. Luis Gonzalez; Jesus M. Zeno; Hon. Wilma Guzman; Carman Pacheco, president of the PRBA; Hon. Reinaldo Rivera and Hon. Sallie Manzanet-Daniels. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese
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The Puerto Rican Bar Association (PRBA) hosted a two-day trial advocacy Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar that was aimed at teaching “The Nuts and Bolts of Trying a Case” to both newly admitted attorneys and more experienced ones who want to know more about trying a case.

“This is the first time the PRBA Litigation Committee, whose [stewards are] Frank Melendez and Jesus Zeno. They have put an incredibly wonderful program together,” said Carmen A. Pacheco, president of PRBA.

“We want people to learn about trying cases from people who are out there doing it all the time,” Pacheco continued. “It’s the tricks of the trade, and you get a great point of view from the judges and people who have been doing this for decades.”

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The program, which was the first of its kind hosted by PRBA, was run by the Litigation Committee, including co-chairs Melendez and Zeno. They were assisted by Pacheco, immediate past President Betty Lugo, President-elect Hon. Wilma Guzman and CLE Chair Jeannette Espinoza.

Melendez served as the host of the event and introduced an impressive list of faculty members, which included Appellate Justices Hon. Sallie Manzanet-Daniels, Hon. Reinaldo E. Rivera, Hon. Luis A. Gonzalez and Hon. Ariel E. Belen. Other justices included were Hon. Doris M. Gonzalez, Hon. Francois A. Rivera and Hon. Joseph A. Zayas.

Experienced trial attorneys who participated included Andrea Alonso, Laura de los Rios, Dario Perez, Manuel A. Romero, Alberto Casadevall, Corwin del Toro, William Pagan, Fidel Gomez, Karen Saab-Dominguez and Lourdes M. Ventura.

“I’m honored to be able to introduce all of our speakers,” Melendez said. “Please understand that we are well-represented by some great judges and experienced attorneys. Most of our attorneys had practices that started in the ’80s and have helpful advice that they’ve picked up from over the years.”

The event was held at Brooklyn Law School, and since it took place over the course of 12 hours it really served as an overview of how to run a trial. With so many younger and more inexperienced attorneys in attendance, lecturers tried to impart practical advice on issues that aren’t necessarily covered in law school.

Topics covered included how to pick a jury, how to conduct good opening and closing statements as well as redirect, motions and cross-examination. Many of the judges discussed mistakes that they see inexperienced attorneys make and addressed practical methods to avoiding such pitfalls.

“When picking a jury, you have to really try to put yourself in their shoes — do not be condescending and realize that jury duty is horrible,” said Alonso. “Raise their expectations. Make sure that they feel that their job is important.”

“It is very important that whatever pitfalls that your case has is addressed in your opening statement,” Perez recommended. “Otherwise you leave yourself open to a good defense attorney jumping all over it.”

“The best trial attorneys are the ones who tell a good story,” said Hon. Manzanet-Daniels. “You’d have to tell a good story that’s better than the ones that they’re missing at home.”

PRBA is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary. It plans to hold a Diamond Jubilee Gala on Oct. 20, 2017 at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. It will honor the NYS Court of Appeals’ 170th anniversary, as well as Elisa D. Garcia, chief legal officer at Macy’s; Robert L. Haig, of Kelley Drye & Warren; and the CUNY board of trustees.

“We’re really looking forward to the gala, our Diamond Jubilee Gala,” Pacheco said. “We’re celebrating our 60th anniversary and we really want to pay tribute to those who started the PRBA in 1957.”

 


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