<p>Law students looking to build courtroom trial skills heard a valuable hour-long talk on the art of persuasion recently from one of the top prosecutors in central Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>Dauphin County District Attorney Edward M. Marsico Jr. gave the E. John Wherry Jr. Trial Advocacy Lecture as part of the <a href="ipl://333//W10=">Intensive Trial Advocacy Program</a>. Known as ITAP, the program is a two-week, boot-camp-style summer course that teaches law students skills they need to succeed in the courtroom, such as how to admit evidence, how to cross examine a witness and how to deliver a powerful closing argument.</p>
<p>Marsico followed a theme of persuasion and offered useful advice &ndash; &ldquo;the more prepared you are, the more you&rsquo;re going to relax&rdquo; &ndash; from the jury selection process right through closing arguments. He touched on everything from how to move around a courtroom to get a witness to connect audibly with a jury, to when it is appropriate for a trial attorney to show emotion in court. He amplified his points with anecdotes from real cases in his career.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It was mind opening,&rdquo; student Dwight Quichua said. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s strategy to everything.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Marsico lauded the students for enrolling in ITAP and working to build the skills necessary to succeed as trial attorneys.</p>
<p>&ldquo;As someone who looks at resumes, cover letters and hires people, ITAP stands out. Widener has developed a great reputation with this program,&rdquo; Marsico said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to give you a leg up.&rdquo;</p>