Prominent trial attorney Gerry Spence conceived of and formed the Trial Lawyers College in 1994 to share his experience and methods for success developed in his nearly forty years of practice with lawyers dedicated to obtaining justice for the poor, the injured, the forgotten, the defenseless and the damned and to train them to be better advocates for people. The Trial Lawyers College trains a new breed of lawyer - a warrior who is a person first, who passionately fights for and believes in justice and, who loves his or her clients.

At the Trial Lawyers College, both young and old warriors are given the opportunity to rediscover themselves. In addition, and just as important, they learn how to crawl into the hides of their clients, to feel and experience their pain, to understand and care for their opponents. In the course of their training, they become the judge, and also experience how it feels to be a juror.

Over the course of the Trial Lawyers College session, the warriors gradually, very gradually, become human beings again. Having learned to love themselves, they are more able to love their clients.

Before the session is over, the warriors have learned to sing again, for their voices are the principal instrument with which the songs of justice are sung. A trial lawyer cannot argue a client's case with a one-stringed fiddle.

They also paint. Lawyers painting? The act of casting the first stroke on a blank canvas is akin to choosing the first word spoken in the courtroom. The picture must be painted for the jury. The last word must eventually be chosen, the last stroke, the time to say no more must be recognized. Through painting, the warriors learn with canvas and brush, that one stroke, one word too many, can ruin the picture.

By the end of their Trial Lawyers College experience, we have witnessed a miracle. Nearly every attendee has entered into the most sacred realm of human experience - what Spence calls personhood. The warriors have learned to tell the truth, not only about their case but about themselves. They have learned the power of credibility. They have learned by repeated efforts in the makeshift courtrooms - how to select and connect with a jury, how to make an effective opening statement, how to deliver a winning final argument and empower a jury to give justice to their clients.

They have learned to trust themselves, to trust each other, and to trust juries. By the time the session is over, the warriors have learned more about the essential ingredients of trial lawyering than most lawyers learn in a lifetime.

The trial lawyers who attend the Trial Lawyers College learn to fight for justice and to help the people realize that in America the law can still deliver justice and free the people.

Contact Us | Program Applications

Proceeds from the sale of books, DVD's and other merchandise on this web site benefit the Trial Lawyers College. All of the lawyer faculty volunteer their time to teach at our programs and pay their own expenses.