The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York will conduct a Courtroom Skills Workshop on March 24, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

United States Bankruptcy Court for the
Eastern District of New York
Courtroom Skills Workshop

Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m.to 7:00 p.m. (In Person-Brooklyn and Virtual)

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York will conduct a courtroom skills workshop for lawyers, either in person or via the ZoomGov platform, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (EST). This Workshop is open to first year associates who have taken the Bar exam, more senior lawyers who have had limited or no courtroom experience and/or experienced lawyers who seek a refresher of their courtroom skills. Participants will argue actual motions that were filed in consumer and business cases previously pending before this Court. Motions may be argued with or without opposition.

Please indicate when registering if you wish to argue (1) with or without opposition or have no preference;(2) whether you wish to argue a consumer or business motion; and(3) whether you wish to appear virtually or in-person in Brooklyn.

In Person / Brooklyn

The motions may be argued in person before Brooklyn Judge Elizabeth S. Stong

Virtual

The motions may be argued virtually before Brooklyn Judge Jil Mazer-Marino and Central Islip Judge Sheryl P. Giugliano.

Participating lawyers will each be assigned a motion in advance. After argument, participants will receive feedback from the Bankruptcy Judge, bankruptcy lawyers who are members of the EDNY Chapter 11 Lawyers' Advisory Committee and/or bankruptcy lawyers who are members of the EDNY Consumer Lawyers' Advisory Committee. Approximately ten (10) minutes will be set aside for each participant to present their argument and receive individual feedback. After all motions on the calendar have been argued, the Judges and attorneys will take questions if time permits.

The Workshop will not be a competition or moot court exercise. It is designed to provide a "safe" environment to practice argument and improve your courtroom skills.

The Workshop is offered to help implement the policy adopted by the Court to provide opportunities for courtroom skills development, particularly for junior lawyers to gain experience and training in courtroom skills. This policy appears at https://www.nyeb.uscourts.gov/node/1659.

The deadline for registering is March 6, 2026. There are a limited number of argument slots.

You may also register as an Observer at this Workshop. Use this link to register for the EDNY Bankruptcy Court Workshop: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZKQZKKWWe use SurveyMonkey as a third-party application for registration. You may also register for the Workshop using the link posted in the "News & Announcements" section of the Court's website home page.

Register only if you can commit to participate. The Bankruptcy Judges are volunteering their time to prepare and preside at this evening workshop. When you register, please confirm on the registration form (unless you are a solo practitioner) that you have informed your supervising lawyers, partners or department heads that you are participating in the workshop, it's date and time.

Once you receive your assignment, approximately 2 weeks before the workshop, please do not cancel except due to illness or family emergency.

An Advisory Committee member will call you approximately one week before the workshop to answer any questions you may have about your assignment and re-confirm your participation. If you are arguing virtually, the invitation details to join the workshop will be sent one (1) day before the event.

If you have questions prior to the Workshop, or if you receive an argument slot but must cancel your appearance, please give at least 48 hours advance notice and send an e-mail to either [Rachel Blumenfeld] [email protected]; [Melanie Fitzgerald] [email protected]; [Mickee Hennessy] [email protected]; [William Heuer] [email protected]; or [Martin Bunin] [email protected].