VTACDL

Lori Jensen

Executive Director
90 Beech Street
Essex Junction, VT 05452

802-343-4628

vtacdl@gmail.com

www.vtacdl.com

President:

Joseph Strain

Past President:

Jordana Levine

President-Elect:

William Vasiliou

Secretary: 

Elijah Bergman



Treasurer:

Chris Davis

Public Defender Rep:

Zanna Bliss 

At-Large Directors:

(3-year term exp. 12/31/25 )

David Silver

Frank Twarog

(3-year term exp. 12/31/26)

Gary Apfel

Josh O'Hara

(3-year term exp. 12/31/27)

Devin McLaughlin

Dan McManus

NACDL Affiliate Liasion:

Jordana Levine

VTACDL'S FALL CLE

"ADVANCED TRIAL SKILLS SERIES"

Friday, November 7, 2025

9:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast, 9:30 am - 5:00 pm*  Program

Located at the Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, VT 

REGISTER NOW!

EARLY REGISTRATION RATES UNTIL OCTOBER 1Oth.

9:00 am - 9:30 am      Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:30 am - 9:45 am      Opening Remarks - Joe Strain, VTACDL President

9:45 am - 12:15 pm   Scene-Storytelling Techniques -

This training will demonstrate how to reframe advocacy in terms of visual goals, using scene-storytelling techniques such as blocking, concretization, role reversal, and the empty chair, to inject life into Direct Examination and Closing Argument. The session will include a live demonstration to emphasize how to bring these techniques into trials, sentencing hearings, and revocation hearings.

SPEAKER:  Jeff Lee, Esq.

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm    Lunch from The Village Butcher

1:15 pm - 2:45 pm      Effective Opening Statements - 

This training will focus on crafting effective opening statements in criminal trials. The session will cover the fundamentals of a strong opening, including theme and theory development, and explore techniques to capture and maintain the jury’s attention. It is designed to equip criminal defense attorneys with practical tools to deliver compelling and persuasive openings. 

SPEAKER: Amelia Blyth, Esq.

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm      Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm      Deselection of Voir Dire - 

This training will introduce the deselection method of voir dire, a strategic approach to identifying and removing jurors who ​may be unable to follow the law required for your theory of innocence. Participants will learn concrete, actionable steps to help ensure a fair and impartial jury. The session will include a live demonstration with audience participation to make the techniques discussed accessible and immediately applicable. 

SPEAKER: Amelia Blyth, Esq.

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm     *VTACDL Membership Meeting- members are encouraged to participate.

OUR SPEAKERS:

Jeff Lee, Esq. is a Certified Criminal Trial Specialist in Memphis, Tennessee. He has studied at the Trial Lawyers College, the National Criminal Defense College, and the Tennessee Criminal Defense College. He recentlyobtained an LL.M. in Advocacy from Stetson University College of Law and is working toward licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. He has worked both in private practice and as an Assistant Public Defender. He lives in Memphis with his wife, Lindsey, and their pug, Biscuit.

Amelia Blyth, Esq. is a Supervising Attorney working in the Pueblo, Colorado office. She started her career in the Colorado Springs office where she tried over one hundred cases in her tenure. She is on the faculty of the National Criminal Defense College, finalist for Public Justice's "Trial Lawyer of the Year", recipient of the "Colorado Springs Public Defender Attorney of the Year Award", the "El Paso County Criminal Defense Bar Attorney of the Year Award", and finally recipient of the "2023 Olom Award", the highest honor bestowed upon a defense attorney by the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar.

Questions? Contact VTACDL Executive Director Lori Jensen at (802) 343-4628 or vtacdl@gmail.com.

Questions?  Contact VTACDL Executive Director Lori Jensen at (802) 343-4628 or email vtacdl@gmail.com.

Thank you for registering for our CLE!