Fall 2024 – Teaching the Next Generation of Trial Lawyers: What It Takes To Be a Trial Lawyer If You’re Not a Man

8:00 AM – 8:45 AM: Continental Breakfast 

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM: Opening Remarks
Dean Jamelle Sharpe, University of Illinois College of Law 

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Panel I – “Navigating Gendered Bias, Expectations, and Stereotypes in the Courtroom and Beyond”
Moderator: Lynn Murray, Shook Hardy & Bacon 
Natalie Ellis, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila 
Kelly Navarro, Director of Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Program, UIC Law 
Gabrielle Sansonetti, Leinenweber, Daffada & Sansonetti 
Justice Debra Walker, Illinois Appellate Court 

Session Description: Beyond dress, appearance, and mannerisms, female trial lawyers face unique challenges stemming from gendered biases, expectations, and stereotyping. This Panel explores how several of these challenges impact female trial lawyers. Specifically, it explores navigating pregnancy, maternity leave, and childcare all without losing cases when on leave. Further, it explores questions such as what are firm and government jobs that enhance careers for women? What are the pathways available to become a judge? Is business development/pitching/joining association different for a woman? How much time should be spent mentoring? Is imposter syndrome holding back women from jumping into first chair roles? What if witnesses and/or judges are rude, condescending, or inappropriate with female trial attorneys? And finally, what are some of the advantages of being a woman trial lawyer? 

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM:  Break

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM: Keynote Address I: Revisiting “What it Takes to Be a Trial Lawyer If You’re Not a Man” by Professor Lara Bazelon, University of San Francisco School of Law

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM: Break and Serving of Lunch (provided)

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Panel II – “Dress, Appearance, and Mannerisms – Seeking Authenticity in an Inauthentic Courtroom Space” 
Moderator: Professor Melissa Frydman, Director of Clinical Education, Family Advocacy Clinic Director, University of Illinois College of Law 
Megan Cunniff Church, MoloLamken 
Judge Martha-Victoria Jimenez, Associate Judge, Cook County, Illinois 
Elizabeth Kaveny, Kaveny + Kroll 
Adrienne Mebane, Director, Dan Webb Advocacy Center, Loyola University School of Law 

Session Description: Trial Lawyers are taught to be authentic in the courtroom. However, women face structural and institutional challenges in presenting authentically as trial lawyers. Female trial lawyers face pressure in what they wear, how they style their hair, how they present their gender, and how they perform femininity. They are taught that any divergence from certain societal norms may not only impact how they are assessed by the judge and jury, but that any deviance could negatively affect their client. Additionally, they are warned about their mannerisms in court, forced to walk a delicate balance between assertiveness and aggressiveness. This Panel explores the challenges female trial lawyers face in achieving their authenticity in a courtroom, focusing on challenges posed by dress, appearance, and mannerisms. It then suggests solutions as to how senior attorneys, the judiciary, and academia can provide mentorship, allyship, and opportunities to allow female trial lawyers to exercise true authenticity in the courtroom space. 

1:30 PM – 1:45 PM: Break

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM: Keynote Address II: What It Takes to Be a Trial Lawyer If You Are Not a Man, and You Are a Woman of Color by The Honorable Ann Claire Williams, Jones Day

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM: Break

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Advocacy Demonstration Through the Lens of Gender
Presenters:
Kimball Anderson, Winston & Strawn LLP 
Sandra Edwards, Winston & Strawn 
Lynn Murray, Shook Hardy & Bacon 
Justice Debra Walker, Illinois Appellate Court 

Session Description: The Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism strives to teach all students to be effective and competent trial attorneys. However, the experience of a male trial lawyer is inherently different from the experience of a female lawyer. How then should female trial lawyers be taught? This section provides an advocacy demonstration that should guide a conversation on how to teach female trial lawyers. The demonstration focuses on the direct and cross examination of an expert witness. After a demonstration of the direct and cross examination, the presenters will lead a discussion through the lens of gender and female trial advocacy. 

4:30 PM: Closing Remarks
Karen Anderson