This basic-to-intermediate level program is designed for paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries and other members of the law office support staff who want to sharpen their skills in every aspect of trial preparation from start to finish.
I. INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION
A. Conducting the Initial Client Interview
B. Investigative Techniques
C. Obtaining Authorizations
D. Setting Up the Case File
E. Managing Issues of Privilege As Identified by the Supervising Attorney
F. Drafting the Initial Pleadings
II. POWERFUL DISCOVERY TECHNIQUES
A. Your Role in the Discovery Process
B. Working With the Client to Get What You Need
C. Using Informal Discovery and Public Sources of Information
D. Using Formal Discovery Methods
1. Interrogatories and Requests for Admissions
2. Handling Requests for Production of Documents
3. Identifying Issues in Motions
E. Assisting in the Deposition Process
III. EFFECTIVE DOCUMENT CONTROL AND ORGANIZATION
A. How to Organize Your Case Documents
B. Developing Information Retrieval Systems
C. Digesting, Abstracting and Indexing Documents
D. Using Technology in Document Control
IV. GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WITNESSES
A. Identifying Potential Trial Witnesses
B. The Client Witness
1. Preparing Your Client to Give Deposition Testimony
2. Preparing Your Client to Testify at Trial
C. Working With Expert Witnesses
1. Locating the Qualified Expert
2. Deposition Preparation
3. Trial Preparation
V. ADDRESSING QUESTIONS OF ETHICS
A. Avoiding Situations That May Expose You to UPL
B. Requirements for Attorney Supervision
C. Evaluating Conflicts of Interest
VI. SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUES FOR USING EVIDENCE AND EXHIBITS
A. Rules of Evidence You Need to Know About
B. Gathering and Organizing Evidence During Discovery
C. Preservation of Evidence
D. Creating Demonstrative Evidence for Use at Trial
E. Preparing Trial Exhibits That Get Results
VII. SETTLING THE CASE
A. Tips for Assisting With Settlement Negotiations
B. Mediation or ADR
C. Drafting Strategies