At Kilgore & Rodriguez, we are deeply committed to providing our clients with the most skilled and dedicated legal defense possible. A key part of that commitment is continuous professional development, and we are proud to share that one of our own, attorney Carlos Rodriguez, recently attended the prestigious Deryl Dantzler Trial Practice Institute at the National Criminal Defense College (NCDC).
A “Cadaver-Lab” for Criminal Defense
The Deryl Dantzler Trial Practice Institute is a transformative, two-week program held in Fairfax, Virginia, and is widely considered the gold standard for criminal defense lawyers. It is highly selective, admitting only 128 participants from hundreds of applicants from across the country. The program’s format is intense and immersive, designed to take trial skills to the next level. As described by Carlos Rodriguez, it is akin to a “cadaver-lab for surgeons.”
The program focuses on hands-on application, with participants studying multiple hypothetical case problems, which is how the true transformation happens. Participants perform different stages of a trial while being recorded and receiving live, individualized feedback from some of the nation’s best criminal defense lawyers and instructors. The use of professional actors to portray jurors, clients and witnesses provides a true-to-life, pressure-filled courtroom environment, ensuring the skills learned are immediately applicable in the real world.
Sharpening Skills for Our Clients
With a history of over 35 years and more than 9,000 alumni, the National Criminal Defense College is a testament to the power of continuous learning. Its time-tested, three-step process—creative lectures, on-your-feet small group exercises, and powerful demonstrations—is designed to teach and refine every necessary skill.
Attending a program of this caliber is a significant investment of time and resources. At Kilgore and Rodriguez, it is a testament to our firm’s belief that a lawyer’s education never truly ends – In order to be the “tip of the spear,” Kilgore & Rodriguez is committed to staying sharp! The skills honed at the NCDC directly translate into stronger, more effective advocacy in the courtroom. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of legal defense, and we will continue to seek out opportunities that ensure our team remains at the forefront of the profession.