The Trial Lawyers Summit returns to Miami Beach on January 24–27, 2027, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, the 16th annual gathering of civil plaintiff and criminal defense attorneys, paralegals, and legal service providers hosted by The National Trial Lawyers. The four-day Summit draws more than 1,600 attendees and 150 speakers and offers over 24 CLE credits. Hennessey Digital and a regular at the Summit’s Business of Law track, will be attending the 2027 event.
What Is the Trial Lawyers Summit About?
The Trial Lawyers Summit is the largest annual conference for civil plaintiff and criminal defense trial attorneys in the United States, with 1,600+ attendees, 150+ speakers, 90+ exhibit hall vendors across four days. It is hosted by The National Trial Lawyers every January.
The dual focus (plaintiff and defense) is also unusual for a legal conference. Many events pick a lane. This one covers both, and has done so for 15 years.
Programming is split across three tracks: Courtroom Playbook (trial skills and advocacy), Business of Law (law firm management and marketing trends), and Expanding Your Practice (strategies for growth and client management, plus workshops).
Among serious trial lawyers in the U.S., the Summit has become the January conference you plan the rest of your schedule around.
When and Where Is the 2027 Trial Lawyers Summit?
The 2027 Trial Lawyers Summit will take place from Sunday, January 24, through Wednesday, January 27, 2027, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel at 1601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida. Thursday, January 28, is for checkout and departure.
What are the exact dates of the 2027 Trial Lawyers Summit?
The Ethicspalooza Broadcast and the NBL Hall of Fame Ceremony is on Sunday. The last full day of sessions is Wednesday, January 27.
Where is the 2027 Trial Lawyers Summit being held?
The Loews Miami Beach Hotel, 1601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. The Loews is the Summit’s longtime home, both the event venue and the recommended host hotel, with sessions, meals, and networking all in one place.
Is the Trial Lawyers Summit in-person only?
Yes. There is no virtual attendance option. Select session recordings will be available after the conference through the Connect.law platform.
What Does the Trial Lawyers Summit Cost?
The registration pricing for the 2027 summit is available on the official NTL Events portal at ntlevents.com/Summit2027. Standard registration includes all 4 days of programming, 24+ CLE credits, breakfast and networking lunches, and admission to networking receptions. It does not cover ticketed dinners and accommodation.
How much does Trial Lawyers Summit 2027 registration cost?
There are four tiers based on when you register:
- Early Bird: $995 (ends February 28, 2026)
- Priority Access: $1,295 (March 1–September 30, 2026)
- Early Access: $1,495 (October 1, 2026–January 4, 2027)
- Standard: $1,695 (January 5–24, 2027)
The pricing for law firm staff (paralegals, assistants, firm administrators, media teams) is $795 through January 4, 2027, and $895 after. Student registration is $495 with a valid school-issued email address. Legal service providers who are not exhibiting or sponsoring pay $3,500. Criminal defense attorneys can contact NTL for a promotional discount code and attend the conference for $650.
Are there NTL member discounts?
NTL members should register using the email address associated with their membership to receive their exclusive member price.
What’s included, and what’s extra?
Registration covers all sessions, CLE credits, daily breakfasts, networking lunches, and the general networking receptions. The two ticketed dinners (the 8th Annual Golden Gavel Awards and the NBL Hall of Fame Celebration) are separate purchases. Hotel accommodations are booked separately through the Summit’s Accommodations page.
Who’s Speaking at the 2027 Summit?
The Trial Lawyers Summit features more than 150 speakers across four days of concurrent sessions, including trial advocacy veterans, criminal defense specialists, law firm growth consultants, and a keynote at the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon.
How many speakers are at the Trial Lawyers Summit?
Over 150. Sessions run concurrently across the three tracks, so in any given time slot there are multiple speakers presenting on trial skills, business-of-law topics, and criminal defense simultaneously.
Who delivers the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame keynote?
The 2027 keynote speaker has not been confirmed. Past keynotes have included Spike Lee, Nick Saban, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Alisyn Camerota, Al Franken, and Robert Griffin III.
What topics will the Summit speakers cover?
Topics span trial advocacy (trucking and auto litigation, TBI cases, settlement and mediation, trial skills), business of law (digital marketing, law firm management, technology, firm growth), and criminal defense (the dedicated Criminal Defense Summit track and advanced techniques programming).
Can I apply to speak at the Summit?
Yes. The National Trial Lawyers accepts speaker applications through ntlsummit.com/become-a-speaker.
What’s the 4-Day Agenda?
The Trial Lawyers Summit 2027 will take place over four days with concurrent track programming. Sunday is a soft kickoff with the Ethicspalooza Broadcast and the NBL Hall of Fame Ceremony; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are the main programming days.
Sunday, January 24, 2027: Soft Kickoff
Registration and badge pickup from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The afternoon programming begins at 2:00 PM with Ethicspalooza, a video broadcast covering legal ethics. Sunday evening is the NBL Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, a ticketed dinner honoring African-American legal trailblazers with a cocktail reception and seated dinner.
Monday, January 25, 2027: Summit Day One
Full programming begins at 8:00 AM across all three tracks. Sessions run through the afternoon. Evening events include the Summit Kickoff Party on the Loews’ Americana Lawn (with live music, food, and drinks) and the First-Time Attendees Networking Hour.
Tuesday, January 26, 2027: Summit Day Two
The Summit’s most packed day, with sessions on Settlement & Mediation Advocacy, Law Firm Management, and Growth & Technology. Midday brings the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon with the celebrity keynote.
The afternoon schedule includes the Ask the Experts panel, continued Business of Law programming, and Women’s Leadership Forum, with the 8th Annual Golden Gavel Awards in the evening.
Wednesday, January 27, 2027: Summit Day Three
Programming includes Nuts & Bolts Trial Skills Workshops, Valuable Partnerships for Firm Growth, Peak Paralegal Workshop, and Young Lawyers Networking Hour. Wraps up with the President’s Reception with live entertainment.
Thursday, January 28, 2027: Checkout
Hotel checkout at 11:00 AM (standard). CLE forms must be submitted online on Thursday morning. Late checkout is subject to availability.
How Many CLE Credits Can I Earn?
Attendees can earn over 24 CLE credits across the four-day event. Specific accreditation details and state-by-state credit values are provided closer to the event date.
How many CLE credits does the Trial Lawyers Summit offer?
24+ hours of CLE credits, plus ethics. Sessions run concurrently across three tracks for three full days of programming.
Will CLE credits transfer to my state bar?
CLE accreditation in the United States is handled state by state, and there is no nationwide accreditation system. Accreditation details and credit values for the 2027 Summit will be provided closer to the event date. Attorneys should check with their state bar to confirm whether Summit credits will count toward their CLE requirement.
How do I claim my CLE credits after the event?
To obtain CLE credits, attendees must submit the CLE form after the event. The process is handled digitally. Attendees can also visit the Registration/CLE desk at the conference for any questions.
Will Hennessey DigitalBe at the Trial Lawyers Summit 2027?
Yes, Hennessey Digital will be attending the Trial Lawyers Summit 2027 in Miami Beach. The Summit’s Business of Law track includes digital marketing and law firm growth programming that aligns with what Hennessey Digital does for its clients: law firm SEO, AI Search visibility, paid media, and performance-driven web strategy for mid-to-large law firms.
Hennessey Digital has been a regular presence at the Summit for years. Founder and CEO Jason Hennessey has spoken on SEO panels, presented at the Golden Gavel Awards, and spent time in the room with the trial lawyers and firm operators who attend this event. If your firm is trying to figure out how to get found by the people searching for an attorney in your practice area, this is a good place to have that conversation.
Who Should Attend the Trial Lawyers Summit?
Civil plaintiff attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, paralegals, future legal professionals, and legal service providers (solo practitioners, small firms, large plaintiff shops) should attend the Trial Lawyers Summit. The content is aimed at both seasoned trial lawyers and newer attorneys early in their careers.
Is the Trial Lawyers Summit right for me?
If you try cases (or want to), manage a firm, or support the people who do, this event was designed for you. With three concurrent tracks, you can spend four days on trial skills, firm growth, or criminal defense or mix them up depending on what you need that day.
Should I attend if I’m a new attorney?
Yes. The Summit has previously had programs explicitly for newer lawyers. The First-Time Attendees Networking Hour provides a dedicated space for new Summit attendees to meet peers and mentors. The Young Lawyers Networking Hour targets newer practice owners and attorneys under 40. And the session content itself ranges from foundational trial skills to advanced techniques, so there is room to grow into the programming over time.
Can my paralegal and support staff attend?
Yes. Paralegals, case managers, assistants, firm administrators, and media teams have a separate registration tier at a lower price point ($795 early/$895 standard). The Summit includes a dedicated Paralegal Cocktail Hour and the Peak Paralegal Workshop within the programming schedule.
The Signature Networking Events You Shouldn’t Miss
The Summit packs in more than 10 networking events across four days, one of the largest networking programs on the legal conference calendar. Several of these events have become the reason people come back year after year.
Summit Kickoff Party
Live music, food, drinks, and oceanfront entertainment on the Loews’ Americana Lawn. It’s the Summit’s biggest party. Top trial lawyers gather in a casual setting.
Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon
The Summit’s most anticipated session. Past celebrity keynote speakers have included Spike Lee, Nick Saban, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The 2027 keynote has not been announced yet.
Comedy & Cocktails
Live stand-up comedy performance with cocktails and conversation. This has become a Summit tradition.
Golden Gavel Awards by The A-List
Ticketed separately. Three-course dinner and awards show celebrating legal marketing excellence. The dress code is cocktail attire.
NBL Hall of Fame Celebration
Ticketed separately. This is a cocktail reception and seated dinner honoring African-American legal trailblazers.
Women’s Leadership Forum
A networking and cocktails program for women trial attorneys.
First-Time Attendees Networking Hour
A dedicated space for new Summit attendees to meet peers and mentors.
President’s Reception with Live Entertainment
The closing celebration with live music, food, and drinks on the Americana Lawn.
Paralegal Cocktail Hour
Dedicated networking for paralegals, case managers, and support staff.
Young Lawyers Networking Hour
Networking event for newer practice owners and attorneys under 40.
How to Get to the Loews Miami Beach Hotel
The Loews Miami Beach Hotel is at 1601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139. It is approximately 20 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA) and roughly 45 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Rideshare, taxi, and private car services are all readily available at both airports. Some attendees prefer FLL for cheaper flights, but MIA is the more practical option for the Loews.
Where to Stay in Miami Beach
The Loews Miami Beach Hotel is both the Summit venue and the recommended host hotel. Attendees who book at the Loews stay where sessions are held, with no transportation needed between the hotel and venue.
The group rate is $374++ per night for a standard guest room. Attendees should book or modify their accommodations through the Summit registration portal (not through the hotel directly) before the January 4, 2027 deadline. Starting January 5, 2027, any changes will need to be made directly with the hotel.
Things to Do in Miami Beach
If you’re extending your trip by a day or two on either end of the Summit, you can explore South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District along Ocean Drive, Cuban food and culture in Little Havana, the Pérez Art Museum, the Wynwood Walls, and Coconut Grove. January weather in Miami Beach typically runs in the mid-to-upper 70s, providing a decent change of scenery if you’re flying in from a northern state in the dead of winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who hosts the Trial Lawyers Summit?
The National Trial Lawyers, a membership organization for civil plaintiff and criminal defense trial attorneys in the United States. The organization also manages the “Top 100” and “Top 40 Under 40” member designations and hosts regional events throughout the year.
How many attendees are expected at the 2027 Summit?
Over 1,600. It is the largest annual conference of its kind for trial lawyers in the U.S.
Are there group or firm discounts?
Yes. NTL offers group packages through a Group Manager who can purchase multiple registrations across categories (attorneys, staff, guests, students) and assign them later. Contact NTL directly to set up a group package.
Is there a virtual attendance option?
No. The Trial Lawyers Summit is in-person only. Select session recordings will be available after the conference through Connect.law.
Will Hennessey Digital be at the 2027 Summit?
Yes, Hennessey Digital has been a regular presence at the Summit for years and will be attending in 2027.
Will CLE credits transfer to my state bar?
CLE accreditation in the United States is handled state by state. Accreditation details and credit values for the 2027 Summit will be provided closer to the event date. Attorneys should check with their state bar to confirm whether Summit credits will count toward their CLE requirement.
How to Register for the Trial Lawyers Summit 2027
Registration for the Trial Lawyers Summit 2027 is open at ntlevents.com/Summit2027. NTL members should register using the email address associated with their membership to receive their discounted price.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Ticketed dinners (Golden Gavel Awards, NBL Hall of Fame Celebration) need to be purchased separately from your main registration.
- Hotel booking is handled separately through the Summit’s Accommodations page.
- Miami Beach hotels in late January fill up quickly, so make sure you register early.