About
The Trial Practice Forum was created in 1988 by Judge Vincent A. Bifferato, Sr., who was then the Delaware Superior Court’s senior Judge.
Together with a steering committee comprised of members of the bench and bar, Judge Bifferato sought to find an educational and social alternative to the Inns of Court, which he felt was unable to meet the needs of young attorneys and those practicing in small firms or government.
In 2000, the name of the forum was officially changed to the Vincent A. Bifferato Trial Practice Forum to honor the founder and the inspiration of the forum.
The goal of the forum is to provide free continuing legal education (CLE) credits to those who are just starting out and to offer those young attorneys a chance to become acquainted with each other as well as with more experienced attorneys.
Originally, the focus of the forum was on both criminal and civil matters, but the steering committee changed the focus to concentrate on civil subjects because of a lack of interest in criminal matters. The current steering committee leaves open the possibility of including criminal matters if an interest is expressed.
In December, 2007, Commissioner Mark S. Vavala assumed the forum’s oversight role from Judge Joseph R. Slights, III.
Attend a Forum
The forums are presented in courtroom 8B of the New Castle County Courthouse. Traditionally, the presentation has been two hours in length and is scheduled sometime between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Please check the schedule for any changes to the regular start time, day of week, or courtroom for the Trial Practice Forum. Admission is free. Pre-registration is available, but it is not required. You will be required to sign-in when you arrive.
View the 2012 Forum Schedule and Register in Advance
Contribute to This Blog
In the spirit of helping other attorneys get started, The Trial Practice Forum welcomes you to contribute to the Delaware Trial Practice Forum blog. If you're an attorney licensed in Delaware, you may learn more about being a contributing author or register to post.
