South Carolina Bar Approved CLE Workshop
Improvisation for L.A.W.:
Becoming More Likeable, Adaptable, and Winning
3.5 CLE Credits for a half-day experiential workshop to strengthen core capacities using the tools of improv
NEXT CLASS:
Friday, April 17
9am - 12:45pm
Location:
Fee:
Register Here:
CLASS INFORMATION
The benefits of applying improvisational techniques to legal practice are extensive and immediately practical. This program is designed to strengthen the core capacities attorneys rely on every day: clear communication, adaptability under pressure, rapport-building, and persuasive presence.
Improvisation is not about performance or comedy. It is a proven method for sharpening the ability to think quickly and clearly, remain composed when the unexpected happens, and communicate with confidence in high-stakes settings. Improv strengthens active listening, enhances situational awareness, and supports rapid decision-making—skills essential to trial work, negotiations, depositions, and client interactions.
Attorneys frequently ask themselves: How do I connect quickly with a jury? What do I do when my planned approach stops working? How do I remain persuasive when confronted with an unexpected question? How do I stay steady under pressure while still adapting on the fly? This program addresses those concerns directly by equipping participants with the improvisational tools behind three essential professional qualities: Likeability, Adaptability, and Winningness (LAW).
Next Class:
Friday, April 17
9am - 12:45pm
Location:
Fee:
Register now:
Schedule & Agenda
Questions? Reach out!
This program has been approved for 3.5 hours of General CLE credit.
Attendance will be monitored in accordance with state bar requirements. Participants must be present for the full duration of the program to receive credit.
Partial credit will be awarded only where permitted by jurisdictional rules.
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Class Details
The majority of the instruction presented in this CLE is hands-on and interactive. Attendees will learn foundational improvisational skills that can be translated into every area of their practice.
Through experiential learning attendees will see firsthand what contributes to (or detracts from) likeability, adaptability, and winningness in others and will begin to embody LAW as they learn and practice improvisation.
Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to:
Identify the core components of likeability, adaptability, and persuasive presence and explain how they influence effectiveness in legal advocacy.
Apply foundational improvisational techniques to improve clarity, structure, and responsiveness in real-time communication.
Demonstrate active listening strategies that enhance understanding, reduce miscommunication, and support effective client, witness, and jury interactions.
Recognize and interpret nonverbal communication cues, including body language, tone, and emotional expression, and use them to strengthen connection.
Cultivate authentic presence by tuning into others with curiosity, empathy, and full attention to build rapport.
Utilize adaptability tools to remain composed, flexible, and effective when strategies must shift due to unexpected developments.
Implement the “Yes, And” orientation of agreement to support collaborative communication, even in adversarial or high-pressure contexts.
Practice spontaneous speaking techniques that support clear, organized thought without relying on notes or scripted material.
Employ strategies for managing difficult questions or objections with greater composure and clarity.
Evaluate personal communication patterns and develop an individualized plan for applying LAW principles (likeability, adaptability, and winningness) in daily legal practice.
Your Instructors
Holly Mandel
iMERGENCE CEO, Improvisation FacilitatorHolly Mandel is a nationally recognized improvisation instructor, keynote presenter, and founder of iMERGENCE, a corporate training firm specializing in improvisational methodology for workplace performance. A graduate of the world-renowned Groundlings School, she spent over a decade in the corporate sector before dedicating twenty years to teaching communication, agility, and leadership to attorneys, executives, and Fortune 500 leaders. She currently instructs at Pace University in Manhattan, where she designed the BFA program for Comedic Studies.
Ms. Mandel specializes in translating improvisational techniques into actionable skills for legal practitioners, focusing on active listening, strategic adaptability, and presence under pressure. Her work is grounded in the principle that the core components of effective advocacy—likeability, adaptability, and winningness—are learnable skills rather than innate qualities. Widely regarded for her practical and interactive teaching style, she helps attorneys connect more effectively with jurors, clients, and opposing counsel in unpredictable environments.
AttorneyRebecca Deupree
Rebecca Merritt Deupree is an accomplished attorney with extensive experience in complex class action litigation and mass tort settlements, including the BP Oil Spill litigation. A former clerk for the Honorable William H. Pryor Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, she practiced with Motley Rice and is admitted to the bar in Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida. Rebecca earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and Managing Editor of the Virginia Law Review, after graduating summa cum laude from Washington and Lee University. An alumnus of The Groundlings School and Theatre 99, she integrates her background in improvisation to help attorneys maintain a strong professional presence and communicate with clarity in unpredictable, high-stakes legal environments.
Next Class:
Friday, April 17
9am - 12:45pm
Location:
Fee:
David Kurzman,
COO of Litigation Support,
MAGNA LEGAL SERVICES
“These folks rock! Professional, high energy and educational! Thanks to the team for doing a great job helping us empower and connect our national consulting team!”
Cali Mazzarella,
Director of Professional Development,
KELLEY DRYE
