The Division of Administrative Hearings’ Trial Academy, an intense, week-long course intended to simulate a real administrative hearing and teach litigation skills, was recently held at DOAH’s Tallahassee headquarters with approximately 40 students.

The program began with an address from Pete Antonacci, DOAH’s chief judge, and was followed by a full day of lectures from administrative law judges on topics including opening statements, writing proposed orders, evidence, depositions, examining lay witnesses, experts and trial notebooks, and building a record of the hearing.

The students were divided into teams of six to seven people and spent the next two and one half days in intensive workshops to practice basic trial skills such as taking depositions, direct examination, cross-examination, and questioning expert witnesses.