Investing in Future Talent: 2022 Morgan Lewis Trial Academy

Morgan Lewis lawyers are leaders in their profession. And we believe in providing the next generation of lawyers with the proper tools to succeed. One of our premier training programs is the Morgan Lewis Trial Academy, which provides an opportunity for senior associates to sharpen their trial advocacy skills.

Morgan Lewis trial lawyers—both partners and associates—dedicate significant time to this training program, which culminates in full mock trials, complete with jury deliberations and verdicts. Throughout the weeklong, hands-on program, associates will hear from some of the firm’s nearly 1,000 litigators, who include leading courtroom lawyers, former general counsel and associate counsel, and former high-ranking government lawyers.

After valuable time spent with firm leaders and mentors discussing trial advocacy and approach, best practices for developing and delivering opening and closing arguments, and how to engage with witnesses, there are three days of mock trials. Each attendee is afforded the opportunity to act as counsel, witness, and juror.

Our lawyers share what the Trial Academy means to them.

Michael Banks

Partner and Trial Academy dean

“After more than 40 years as a Morgan Lewis trial lawyer, nothing is more important to me than training our next generation of advocates. Watching our incredibly talented associates thrive and grow is uniquely fulfilling, and worth every bit of the time commitment.”

John Goodchild

Partner and lead Trial Academy course planner

“The Trial Academy is more than just trial training. It’s important to mix discussion and demonstration opportunities with those parts that are not exercises or full trials. At the end of the day, the event is designed to facilitate interaction both between the participants and the faculty and among the participants, all of whom are colleagues . . . . Our goals are focused on development: helping our participants become even better courtroom lawyers, encouraging peer and mentoring relationships, and strengthening our culture through shared experiences.”

Minna Naranjo

Partner and Trial Academy fellow

“I learned two lessons from my time in the Trial Academy: The first was that considering different perspectives—especially those of your audience—before creating a plan is mission critical for the best product, and second, with a positive attitude and a bucket of coffee, one team can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time.”

Shannon Ammon

Associate and 2022 Trial Academy participant

“At the Trial Academy, I spent a week learning from our firm’s great trial lawyers and growing my advocacy skills in a way that would have taken years in practice. The access to and commitment from the firm’s top trial lawyers demonstrate Morgan Lewis’s investment in our professional development.”