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CAFFS Provides Deposition Trainings to Campus Free Speech Attorneys

About 24 people pose in group in the Sterling Law Building courtyard
Campus free speech attorneys were at Yale Law School for deposition training.

In June, the Center for Academic Freedom and Free Speech (CAFFS) brought 24 attorneys who handle academic freedom and campus free speech lawsuits to New Haven for a free two-day training on effective techniques for taking depositions.  

The program, led by Whitney Uptiedt, Allison Rocker, and Adam Shlahet — three experts from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) — focused on improving the skills necessary for lawyers to effectively take and defend depositions.

“The purpose of the program was to impact academic freedom and campus free speech litigation by helping the attorneys that take those cases get the most out of depositions,” CAFFS Executive Director Joe Cohn said. “If we can help them win these crucial lawsuits, there is no limit to the number of students and faculty whose rights their advocacy can secure.”

The 24 attorneys participating in the program represented a diverse group of nonprofits and private practices that litigate on behalf of students and faculty. The participants ranged from attorneys with decades of experience to those just beginning their careers. Between them, they are licensed to practice law in 16 states. Another benefit of the program is that through it, CAFFS is strengthening the community of attorneys who defend campus civil liberties. 

“Getting hands-on training from NITA experts was invaluable,” said Mytili Bala ’06, founder of Sitara Human Rights Law. “Beyond the training itself, spending time with First Amendment practitioners strengthened my network of colleagues defending student and faculty rights against rising authoritarianism on campus.”

I’m so grateful CAFFS is investing resources to help practitioners in small firms like mine that represent students and faculty.”

— Michael Thad Allen ’10

Michael Thad Allen ’10 of Allen Harris Law also found value in the program. 

“An effective deposition can really strengthen a case,” Allen said. “I’m so grateful CAFFS is investing resources to help practitioners in small firms like mine that represent students and faculty.”

At the heart of CAFFS’s mission is the dual goal of promoting campus free speech and defending academic freedom. 

“Academic freedom doesn’t defend itself,” CAFFS faculty director Keith Whittington said. “The skill of an attorney representing a faculty member can be the difference between a win or a loss in court. Our hope is that by helping these attorneys refine their trial advocacy skills, CAFFS will play a part in securing lasting victories for academic freedom from across the country.”