FedTECH U

We Congratulate our newly certified

technology master advocates

class of 2019.

FDCC Evolve successfully completed the second FedTech U, graduating 19 more newly certified Technology Master Advocates.  The program was incredibly well received.  The faculty of 11 led our group through over 20 hours of intense training and presentations.  In a collaborative and small group environment, members demonstrated their use of information presentation technologies to enhance their already powerful story telling skills.  Everyone left FedTech U as a better lawyer than when they arrived, grasping the power of a visual mindset.  

Here are the names of our 19 new FDCC certified Technology Master Advocates, each having completed the required coursework and attended/completed FedTech U 2019:

• Amanda Cialkowski: Nilan Johnson Lewis, PA, Minneapolis, MN

• Mary Ellen Conroy: Cipriani & Werner, Philadelphia, PA

• Andrew Cooke: Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC, Charleston, WV

• Joe Fasi: Gass Weber Mullins, Miami, FL

• Marc Harwell: Leitner Williams Dooley Napolitan PLLC, Chattanooga, TN

• Eric Jenkins: Goebel Anderson, PC, Salt Lake, UT

• Craig Marvinney: Walter Haverfield, Cleveland, OH

• Dan McCune: Childs McCune Attorneys, Denver, CO

• Don Myles: Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C., Phoenix, AZ

• Park Priest: English Lucas Priest & Owsley, LLP, Bowling Green, KY

• Hank Ros: Currie Johnson & Myers, PA, Jackson, MS

• Johnny Sarber: Carr Allison, Jacksonville, FL

• Kevin Scanlan: Duke Scanlan Hall, Boise, ID

• Paul Schumacher: Dickie McCamey, Cleveland, OH

• Charles Stewart: Bradley, Birmingham, AL

• Ann Trivett: Christie Law Group, PLLC, Seattle, WA

• Kile Turner: Norman, Wood, Kendrick & Turner, Birmingham, AL

• David Van Dyke: Howard & Howard PLLC, Chicago, IL

• Lita Verrier: Roper Majeski Kohn Bentley, Boston, MA

The reviews are in. Here is what our members are saying about their experience at FedTech U 2019:

Amanda Cialkowski: "FDCC FedTech U is an exceptional program. Beside watching so many top-notch trial attorneys in action, the programs and software will greatly enhance my trial presentation skills. Highly recommend!!”

Dan McCune:  "The course was everything I expected and more.  It was both challenging and informative.  I was most impressed by how the instructors were able to tailor the course to accommodate the various skill levels of the attendees.  The attendees ranged from those who barely knew how to turn on an iPad to those who were quite adept at some of the programs.  Regardless of the skill level, however, everyone improved their courtroom technology skills substantially.”

Park Priest:  “I have attended many excellent programs in my 24 years of practice. I cannot think of any that provided as much practical, useful information in such a short period as FedTech U.  The format also allows you to work closely with and get to know your fellow FDCC members better as well.”   

Chuck Stewart:  “FedTech U provided me with the most important training that I have received in over 25 years. These skills are true game changers in staying competitive in the ever-increasing technological nature of the modern law practice. The faculty was wonderful, and there was plenty of one-on-one instruction. I have recommended this program to all the FDCC members of our firm as well as to any FDCC member I meet.”

Ann Trivett: "FedTech U was an incredible experience.  I learned so much in a short period of time, and I had a great time getting to know my fellow FDCC members.  This was one of the most valuable CLEs I have ever attended.  Thank you!"

Marc Harwell:  "The FDCC Evolve program was extremely helpful to my practice and just one week after attending has already made me more productive. And even though it was an intense working program, I also enjoyed spending the weekend with FDCC friends and making new ones!" 

Don Myles:  “An opportunity to learn about trial and presentation applications that will make you better prepared for depositions, arbitrations and in arguing  substantive motions.    The “tricks” learned will also make you a better lawyer and presenter.    The best seminar I have attended in 10 years!"

This group joins our class of 2018, listed below, bringing the number of FDCC certified Technology Master Advocates to 40!

• Mark Anderson: Goebel Anderson, PC, Salt Lake, UT

• Victor Anderson: Thompson Coe, Los Angeles, CA

• David Bertschi: BOS Law, Ottawa, ON, Canada

• Daniel Carter: Emerson Church Law, Fresno, CA

• Robert Christie: Christie Law Group, PLLC, Seattle, WA

• Rayma Church: Emerson Church Law, Fresno, CA

• Tom Cordell: Frailey, Chaffin, Cordell, Perryman & Sterkel LLP, Chickasha, OK

• Ned Currie: Currie Johnson & Myers, PA, Jackson, MS

• Jack Delany: Delany McBride, Philadelphia, PA

• Michael Denning: Heyl, Rooster, Voelker & Allen, Rockford, IL

• Robert DiSandro: Delany McBride, Philadelphia, PA

• Nicole Duffy: Delany McBride, Philadelphia, PA

• Steve Embry: Frost Brown Todd LLC, Louisville, KY

• Paul Finamore: Niles, Barton & Wilmer, LLP, Baltimore, MD

• Heidi Goebel: Goebel Anderson, PC, Salt Lake, UT

• Denise Jaffe: Robinson + Cole LLP, Hartford, CT

• Miranda Lundeen Soto: Shook, Hardy & Bacon, LLP, Miami, FL

• Gregory Varga: Robinson + Cole LLP, Hartford, CT

• Ben Watson: Butler Snow LLP, Ridgeland, MS

• Jimmy Wilkins: Watkins & Eager, Jackson, MS

• David Zizik: Sulloway & Hollis PLLC, Providence, RI

We thank our 2019 Tech U sponsors:  

SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 3-5, 2020

VERITEXT HEADQUARTERS PHILADELPHIA

Save the date for FedTech U, 2020.  Veritext has graciously agreed to provide us with their beautiful conference facility in downtown Philadelphia. We look forward to working with a new group of members, assisting them in distinguishing themselves professionally with the power of persuasion that comes from visually connecting your audience to your message.

The details

What is FedTech U?   

This comprehensive 2 1/2 day program is unlike any offered to lawyers in the world. It is the safest place possible for those members of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel that want to advance their exposure to information and presentation technologies. What does that include? Many of the apps and programs featured on this website are designed to present information in a more visually impactful way. PowerPoint is obviously one of these technologies, one we have all used. Learn how to use it better. But there is more out there. There are well-designed intuitive apps, primarily ones designed to run on an iPad, that allow you to display digital documents, video, and other media in a way that connects you with your audience. And while some of us actively try cases, many of us do not. FedTech U is for any member that makes presentations to people in any setting and would like to be better at doing so. So whether you make presentations in the boardroom, the conference room, at mediation, or in court, this is a way for you to get the personal attention you have never received from knowledgeable instructors to help you personally improve.

We limit attendance to 20 members. We work in very small groups, with lots of time for one on one instruction where no question is left unanswered. We would like our members that are planning to attend to spend some time working through the training modules that our education partner, Traveling Coaches, has built for us. Once you sign up you will get a link that allows you to access these materials online. Expose yourself to these modules and get a strong sense for how your device (your iPad) works how these apps function. Don’t worry if you get confused. We will help you at FedTech U.

There is power in group learning, especially in a supportive and collaborative environment. That is what we offer you.

What are the goals for the program?  

The Evolve FedTech U program allows members to improve their use of information presentation technologies and become a master at making their presentations more compelling and visually impactful. This is a hands-on collaborative seminar that teaches you how to set up and use visual technologies that will allow you to distinguish yourself professionally.  The program centers on small groups and one on one teaching. We combine this with demonstrations and performance workshops designed to enhance and strengthen your ability to develop a visual mindset and tech strategy to building presentations for use in any venue whether it is a conference room talk, an arbitration, a client update, a board roundtable, a mediation, a mock jury evaluation, or a courtroom.  Working in teams, members will collaborate and demonstrate their mastery of the information presentation technologies featured on FDCCEvolve.com and in the teaching and learning modules built by Traveling Coaches/Legal Mind, the FDCC’s education partner.  Members will come into the program having at least some time working through the learning modules.

What is a Technology Master Advocate?   

This is an FDCC mark of distinction, bestowed by our organization on members that have objectively demonstrated high proficiency in utilizing the various technologies--apps and software designed to make our presentations memorable to our varied audiences--featured on this website.  Technology Master Advocates are proficient at setting up the hardware necessary to utilize these presentation technologies.  They know how to use these programs to create powerful visual connections between the documents, pictures, video images, and locations that are part of a case and the audience that is being informed about the case.  These members have recognized the having a visual mindset and developing a tech strategy are fundamental to being effective advocates for our clients, and they have devoted the time and effort to excel at this component of good story telling.  Very specifically, to obtain this certification, members have completed all of the training and testing modules developed by our education partner, Traveling Coaches/Legal Mind, and have completed FedTech U.

FedTech U is for you even if you do not desire complete the additional work necessary to secure this certification. Your goal may be simpler—gain a good working knowledge of these presentation technologies and gain confidence that you could use some of these tools in a future presentation.

The FDCC certified 21 Technology Master Advocates in the Class of 2018 and 19 more in the class of 2019.  Be a member of the Class of 2020!

Where will Tech U be held?   

 Veritext Legal Solutions will again host FedTech U at their Philadelphia offices located in the heart of downtown at 1801 Market Street, Suite 1800.

When is Tech U?  

Tech U begins at 5:00 pm on Friday afternoon, April 3, 2020.  It will end on Sunday, April 5th, at 1:30.  So Friday will be a travel day, and we will gather that evening to get started on our program.  We will work all day Saturday, and be back at it Sunday morning, finishing on time for everyone to catch flights home.

What Apps do I need to download for Tech U?  

We will update this next year. For this year, all of the Apps used are those featured on this site under the Software/Apps section of this website.  

1. This suite of three Apps, bundled together and called "The Ultimate Litigation Bundle" by Saurian, consists of three separate Apps that work integrally; TrialPad, TranscriptPad, and DocReviewPad. This is the most expensive App you will be asked to purchase. The bundle is $299.

2.   Notability is an App that is great for taking notes and organizing information.  You also download it on your laptop and smartphone.  It seamlessly syncs your notes across all three devices and backs them up to your cloud program. It might be the best $10 you will ever spend.

3.   Timeline 3D by BeeDocs is an App for making visually impressive timelines that have a three dimensional appearance (hence the name) and an elegant way of moving from event to event. You can also download it on your Mac laptop if you have one. The cost is $24.99.

4.   Body Anatomy by Visual Body is a "comprehensive 3D atlas of the human body" as described by its developers.  It is a powerful App that allows you to view any part of the human body in perfect detail and in three dimensions.  You can manipulate the image--rotate it, flip it, enlarge it--in ways that are captivating.  You can also take an image from the App and insert it into PowerPoint or other Apps.  The cost is $24.99.

5.  StagePro is an App that makes your iPad into a full-blown document camera and whiteboard.  Use it with an inexpensive Belkin Light Table (don't worry, we will have light tables for use at Tech U, so don't bother bringing your own).  The cost is just $4.99.

6.  Teleprompt +3 turns your iPad into a full-blown teleprompter.  Combining it with the companion App on your iPhone gives you a remote control device that works seamlessly with your iPad as your teleprompter.  The cost is $19.99.

7. Google Earth is a free App that--well what do you expect from Google--just gives you THE ABILITY TO FLY AROUND THE WORLD AND GET THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGES OF ALMOST ANY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION ON EARTH. You can get street view images from most major cities.  Wow.

8.  POWERPOINT, and the Apple equivalent Keynote, are the foundation of any tech strategy.  It has been around for a long time, and is a versatile platform for organizing and presenting images, documents, video, and text.  Use it a whiteboard for assembling a comprehensive outline of your case.  It runs on any platform, Mac, PC, iPad, Surface.  We use it as part of Office 365, a subscription service with Microsoft that gives you access to PowerPoint and all the Office suite of programs, anytime, anywhere.

9. Haiku Deck is a simplified version of PowerPoint with pre-built slide backgrounds that are easy to use and visually dynamic. The program allows you to quickly access a vast library of excellent images to match your written content. You can build your deck online for free. The better use of the app is to buy a subscription (about $100 for a year), which allows you to download your decks and open them in PowerPoint for adding transitions and animation. 

Here is a slide built in Haiku Deck using one of the images from the online library.

Watch this short video for more information on this great app.