08/12/2026
A huge thank you to Philadelphia Bar Association, and everyone who made the Young Lawyers Trial Academy such an incredible experience.
This was truly an outstanding program. The opportunity to spend an intensive week developing and sharpening trial skills—culminating in full trials at the Criminal Justice Center and City Hall before sitting judges—was an experience that is difficult to replicate.
The program challenged us to become better advocates in every aspect of trial practice, from opening statements and witness examinations to evidentiary issues, objections, and closing arguments. More importantly, it provided the opportunity to get on our feet, make mistakes, receive meaningful feedback, and become more comfortable and confident in the courtroom.
I’m grateful to have been a part of this year’s class and look forward to putting everything I learned into practice. Programs like this are a great reminder that becoming a strong trial lawyer requires not only preparation and knowledge, but experience—and there is no substitute for getting into the courtroom and doing it.
A special thank you to Marc Zucker for the tremendous amount of time and effort he put into organizing this program and for his commitment to developing the next generation of trial lawyers. Thank you as well to all of the judges, attorneys, faculty, witnesses, jurors, and fellow participants who dedicated their time and made the week so valuable.
