This course is meant to break down depositions to the basics.  In it, we’ll discuss the basic legal framework of depositions, the context in which you should be considering depositions as part of the whole case, as well as many practical aspects of depositions, such as how you can use them in court and how to prepare.  With the help of Benjamin Jaffe, you’ll also gain useful insight on video depositions and the use of remote depositions.  This is a great course for criminal practitioners considering doing civil work as well as seasoned civil attorneys looking for a refresher.

James Abrenio
Abrenio Law

James earned his BA in Government from the University of Virginia and JD from Syracuse University College of Law.  Since 2008, he has been practicing criminal defense and personal injury law in Northern Virginia.  Currently, James owns his own law firm, Abrenio Law.  Prior to that, he worked at two private firms and served as an Assistant Public Defender for Loudoun County.

James regularly teaches about Virginia law. In 2024, he served as a Lecturer for the University of Virginia School of Law.  He also teaches Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses to fellow lawyers through various associations and programs. James has worked directly with the Virginia General Assembly.  Recently, James served as a Citizen Member for the Virginia Redistricting Commission.  He also served as a Citizen Member on the Joint Subcommittee to Study Barrier Crimes & Criminal History Checks. 

Benjamin Jaffe
Director of Operations
Neal R. Gross and Company

Benjamin Jaffe is a seasoned legal industry professional with extensive expertise in technology. Currently, he serves as the Director of Operations for Neal R. Gross and Company in Washington, DC. Previously, Benjamin worked as an industry consultant, collaborating with legal support firms and software developers to promote industry growth, develop training, and enhance legal technology. He also managed BlueLedge, an online training company specializing in court reporting and legal transcription. From 2014 to 2018, he led the legal technology team at Orange Legal, overseeing digital court reporting, legal videography, trial technology, and e-discovery. Benjamin has taught classes to thousands of legal professionals and has been approved to teach Continuing Legal Education classes in Florida, Georgia, and for the National Association of Legal Assistants as well as has been a regular presenter at American Association of electronic court, Reporters and Transcriber conferences. He holds an MBA from Rollins College and a BA in Communications from the University of Central Florida

Session Sponsor: Neal R. Gross and Company