Pozner on Cross: The Chapter Method Learn step-by-step techniques to recognize, write and deliver powerful cross-examinations.
Saturday, April 18, 2026, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., IN-PERSON AND LIVE VIRTUAL OPTION
Conference location: In-person: 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON M5C 2B8
CPD: 6 hours substantive
Pozner on Cross: The Chapter Method, is a unique and entertaining program that teaches the most efficient methods to recognize, write, and deliver powerful cross-examinations. Building on principles of neuroscience and behavioral psychology, Pozner will explain how to make cross into storytelling, and how those stories will control witnesses while causing jurors to focus on the facts of out choosing. These modern techniques allow us to use the prosecution witness to prove much of our case, and potentially eliminate our need to call the defendant or other defense witnesses.
Pozner on Cross: The Chapter Method, is an outgrowth of Pozner’s book Cross Examination: Science and Techniques (Lexis 3rd edition 2018, Pozner and Dodd). His book and seminar revolutionized our profession’s view of the purposes and methods of modern cross. Here, in one day, is the speedily learned and easily applied method to control the witness while teaching our best facts.
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DRAFT AGENDA:
Continental breakfast - 8 to 8:55 a.m.
Live presentation and live webcast begins at 8:55 a.m.
Cross examination: a set of techniques, not an art form.
- Understanding cross as established techniques.
- Learning cross without trials.
- Expanding our comfort zone.
The science behind Chapter Method cross-examinations.
- Behavioral economics: how people take shortcuts to decisions.
- Cognitive neuroscience: how the brain processes information and can tire.
- Cognitive psychology: how the brain prefers to acquire information.
Using storytelling to teach your case.
- Construction of a cross-examination story.
- How jurors harmonize with the emotion of a story.
- Chunking facts to aid understanding.
Morning break - 10:15 to 10:30 a.m.
Live presentation 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Chapter Method cross-examination.
- How to build chapters of cross with examples.
- The mental economics of chapter method preparation and presentation.
- Building chapters to achieve factual goals.
Gathering facts into chapter bundles.
- The advantages of telling big stories through linked smaller stories.
- Viewing an event as a series of smaller events.
- Examples of chapter bundles.
Asymmetric cross-examination.
- Focusing the jury on issues that favor us.
- Goading the opponent to tackle losing issues.
- Defeating the “beyond the scope” objection.
Buffet lunch from 12 to 1 p.m.
Live presentation from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Constructive cross-examination.
- Using the opponent’s witnesses to tell our stories.
- Lessening our reliance on our client and witnesses.
- Asking safe questions when we do not have the fact in discovery.
Sequences of cross-examination.
- Placing chapters in a persuasive order.
- How to begin and end the cross.
- Staying on track when witnesses evade.
Afternoon break - 2:30 to 2:45 p.m
Live presentation from 2:45 to 4 p.m.
Page preparation of chapters.
- The architecture of a page of Chapter Method cross.
- Page format samples.
- Making impeachment instant and easy.
The only 3 rules of question structure.
- Delivering questions that deprive the witness of time to deceive.
- Forming questions that shrink the field of evasion.
- Group facts to use opponent’s witnesses to tell our stories.
Controlling anxiety.
- How prepared chapters make cross more predictable.
- Using Chapter Method cross to ease juror anxiety.
- Inducing anxiety in the deceptive witness.
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SPEAKER
When we say that someone “wrote the book” on a subject., we are usually speaking figuratively. In this case it is literally true. Larry Pozner is America’s authority on cross-examination. His book Cross Examination: Science and Techniques (4th Ed., NACDL, by Pozner and Dodd) and his seminars, Pozner on Cross: the Chapter Method, revolutionized our profession’s view of the purposes and methods of modern cross. His second book; Larry Pozner’s Red Book; Lessons in Advanced Cross-Examination, (2025 NACDL, by Larry Pozner ) collected several of his columns that further explored the science of cross-examination. Pozner has long been recognized in Best Lawyers in America in Criminal Law—both white collar and non-white collar, and in civil “Bet the Company” litigation. He is a Past President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and began his career as a Colorado Public Defender. Pozner was trial counsel for more than a decade for the Denver Broncos franchise and its owner, Pat Bowlen. Pozner won the jury trial that challenged Pat Bowlen’s purchase of the Broncos. Pozner recently won and collected a $111 million judgment against a national bank for breach of trust. L S Pozner, PLLC www.pozneroncross.com
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REGISTRATION
The price for in-person and virtual is the same enabling registrants to switch preference up to 48 hours in advance with no penalty (space pending for in-person). There are no refunds. Recordings, pending quality, will be made available for viewing to registrants only up to August 31, 2026 (there is no extension). We will not be selling access to the recordings separately. There are no refunds.
- $200 plus HST: CLA Junior Active, Junior Observer, Student, and Articling Student Members
- $300 plus HST: CLA Senior Active, Senior Observer and Affiliate Members
- $800 plus HST: Non-members – open to all legal professionals*
* Not a member? Join online by going to https://members.criminallawyers.ca/joinus