IRT's actors come fully prepared with all the pertinent facts of character biography and case information memorized. Witnesses can be questioned in a realistic manner for information-gathering purposes, direct or cross examination or witness preparation scenarios. As plaintiff or defendant, expert or lay witness, our actors play lawyers, educators, business professionals, or blue collar workers and stay-at-home moms. We can be directed by faculty to be professional, chatty, obstreperous or hostile, in order to present challenges in controlling a witness for desired result.

"IRT actors/actresses have become an indispensable part of the programs that I direct for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. They play the part of witnesses in "mock" case files, bringing a real life element to the intricacies of preparing witnesses, deposing and defending their depositions. Our participants love that the IRT actors will play the same person in different ways - the crying witness, the witness who tells all, the sarcastic witness - and the young lawyers learn how to deal with all of those nuances. I couldn't do the program as well without their brilliant performances."

Marcia Levy
NITA Program Director