LITTLE ROCK, AR – Melody Pruitt Guffey, an Associate in the Medical Malpractice Group, recently demonstrated her litigation skills at the prestigious ABOTA National Trial College, hosted at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago. This invitation-only program, which selects top attorneys based on their significant litigation experience, offered an intensive week of instruction and hands-on practice.
The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) is a leading organization committed to preserving Americans’ Seventh Amendment right to a civil jury trial, promoting judicial independence, and upholding professionalism within the legal profession. Selection for the ABOTA National Trial College is a distinguished honor.
During the week-long program, Melody engaged in comprehensive training that covered every aspect of trial practice. This included instruction and demonstrations by expert faculty on key trial components such as voir dire (jury selection), opening statements, closing arguments, and both direct and cross-examinations of lay and expert witnesses. Participants, including Melody, were then required to perform these tasks, receiving valuable critiques to refine their techniques.
The program culminated in a full trial conducted before real jurors and a sitting judge. Each team member was responsible for a specific part of the trial, with Melody skillfully executing the direct examination of the plaintiff, while her teammates handled other key trial components such as opening statements and cross-examinations.
In her role at the firm, Melody focuses her practice on defending hospitals, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals in malpractice litigation. Melody graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. During her time there, she served as Associate Editor and Compiler of the UA Little Rock Law Review. Her involvement in ABOTA National Trial College reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professional development of its attorneys.