Click here for LSU Law Center article

Taylor Porter Partner Michael Walsh participated as a faculty member this week, Aug. 8-10, in the LSU Law Center's annual Trial Advocacy Program, a three-day workshop for third-year LSU Law students to “learn by doing” in different areas of law including cross examination to voir dire jury selection. Students role play and receive critiques from some of the nation’s leading experts in courtroom practices during the intensive three-day program. Participants act as trial counsel and simulate actual trial skills under the experienced eyes of the select seminar faculty.

“For 25 years, the LSU Law Trial Advocacy program has taught advocacy and persuasion skills to the rising 3L class. Many students have rated this program as the highlight of their legal education, because it allows them to perform future skills in a safe, encouraging environment,” LSU Law Trial Advocacy committee member and section leader Dean Sutherland said.

The program follows the methods pioneered by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and includes role playing, critique, videotaping of performances, videotape critique, lectures and demonstrations by the faculty. This year’s program has been substantially revised to comply with the new ABA standards for experiential learning, which will become mandatory in 2017. Instead of having students watch lectures and demonstrations from faculty members, students will have more time for hands-on learning by performing direct and cross examinations, arguing motions, and conducting opening and closing remarks themselves.

Legal professionals from around the country served as section leaders and faculty for the program. Section leaders and faculty of this year’s LSU Law Trial Advocacy Program were:

Section 1
Marion Floyd
Judge Shelly Dick (LSU Law Class of ’88)
William Sommers
Mike Walsh (LSU Law Class of ’83)
Michael West (LSU Law Class of ’11)
Karl Bernard

Section 2
Walt Sanchez (LSU Law Class of ’84)
Judge James Brady (LSU Law Class of ’69)
Larry Centola III (LSU Law Class of ’01)
Barbara Irwin (LSU Law Class of ’02)
Ron Sholes
Frank Holthaus (LSU Law Class of ’75)

Section 3
Dean Sutherland (LSU Law Class of ’75)
Judge Rich Bourgeois
Christine Lipsey (LSU Law Class of ’82)
Sharon Smith (LSU Law Class of ’85)
Judge Mike Hill (LSU Law Class of ’76)
Adrian Nadeau (LSU Law Class of ’02)

Section 4
Jude Bourque
Judge George Hanks
David Ogwyn (LSU Law Class of ’01)
Madeline Lee (LSU Law Class of ’90)
Patricia Jones

Section 5
Judge Durwood Conque (LSU Law Class of ’72)
Judge Jane Triche Milazzo (LSU Law Class of ’92)
Richard Sherburne (LSU Law Class of ’83)
Leah Barron (LSU Law Class of ’82)
Minor Pipes (LSU Law Class of ’96)
LaToya Jordan (LSU Law Class of ’10)

Section 6
Catherine Maraist (LSU Law Class of ’88)
Judge Danny Knowles (LSU Law Class of ’78)
Larry Centola Jr. (LSU Law Class of ’71)
Rock Palermo (LSU Law Class of ’92)
Brooke Barnett Bernal
Blake David (LSU Law Class of ’01)

Section 7
Mike Cash
Judge Hans Liljeberg
Allison Jones (LSU Law Class of ’85)
James Brown (LSU Law Class of ’84)
Scott Fruge (LSU Law Class of ’92)

Section 8
Judge Laurie White
Judge Williams Morvant (LSU Law Class of ’85)
Barry Marionneaux (LSU Law Class of ’69)
Richard Chopin
Abboud Thomas (LSU Law Class of ’93)
Anthony Williams (LSU Law Class of ’99)

Section 9
Vance Gibbs (LSU Law Class of ’82)
Judge Guy Holdridge (LSU Law Class of ’78)
Lexi Holinga (LSU Law Class of ’05)
J.R. Whaley (LSU Law Class of ’98)
Gary Koederitz (LSU Law Class of ’81)
Adam Hays (LSU Law Class of ’04)

Walsh is an adjunct professor of law at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he teaches a course on Professional Responsibility and Ethics, and he is a frequent lecturer on ethics, professionalism, and litigation skills.

At Taylor Porter, Walsh is the practice group leader of the firm's Investigations and White Collar Defense practice, and has more than 30 years of experience representing individual and corporate clients in complex criminal and civil litigation and enforcement cases throughout the country, with his practice involving public corruption, antitrust, healthcare, False Claims Act, Lacey Act, and environmental matters. His experience also includes federal and state trials, with primary trial responsibility in more than 100 cases including commercial, domestic, personal injury, federal civil rights actions and products liability cases. Walsh was ranked by Best Lawyers® as the Criminal Defense: Non-White Collar “Lawyer of the Year" in 2016, and he was selected by his peers among Louisiana Super Lawyers® in Criminal Defense Law.