The clock is ticking…and while you have meticulously planned out every detail up until this point, everything will continue to become more and more chaotic up until the day of trial. Ask any successful paralegal what the two key elements of trial preparation are, and they'll tell you this: organization and flexibility. When put to the test, are your skills everything they should be? Let us help you take a closer look at the specialized realm of paralegal responsibilities leading up to trial right from the convenience of your desk. Your role is important, so take the next step toward maximizing your effectiveness. Make sure you can confidently fulfill your key trial responsibilities – order these vital reference materials today!

1. Useful Discovery for Trial
2. Tips for Assisting With Settlement Negotiations
3. Effective Use of Evidence
4. Preparing Your Witnesses
5. Creating a Trial Notebook
6. Succeeding at Trial

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. USEFUL DISCOVERY FOR TRIAL
   9:00 - 10:00, Christine M. McCain
   1. The Complaint
   2. Requests for Admission, Requests for Production and Interrogatories
   3. Bates Numbering
   4. Digesting, Abstracting and Indexing Depositions
2. TIPS FOR ASSISTING WITH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
   10:15 - 11:15, Stephen P. Watkins
   1. Preparing Your Client for the Mediation
   2. Should a Presentation be Made? What Should It Say?
   3. What Are the Elements of Emphasis
3. EFFECTIVE USE OF EVIDENCE
   11:15 - 12:15, Stephen P. Watkins
   1. Choosing Your Technological Direction
   2. The Power of the Exhibit List
   3. Preparing Documents and Demonstratives
4. PREPARING YOUR WITNESSES
   1:15 - 2:15, Shelley L. Kaufman
   1. Creating Witness Lists
   2. Trial vs. Deposition Preparation
   3. How Preparation Varies Between Clients, Non-Expert Witnesses and Experts
5. CREATING A TRIAL NOTEBOOK
   2:15 - 3:15, Christine M. McCain
   1. Advantages and Disadvantages of a Litigation vs. Chronological Notebook
   2. Key Sections and Their Development
   3. Cross-Referencing
6. SUCCEEDING AT TRIAL
   3:30 - 4:30, Shelley L. Kaufman
   1. What if You Don't Go to Trial?
   2. Court Rules and Practices You Need to Know About
   3. Differences Between Federal vs. Local or County Court
   4. Assisting With Jury Selection
   5. Tips for Working in the Courtroom
      1. Anticipating the Needs of Your Attorney
      2. Working With Opposing Counsel, Court Staff and the Judge
   6. Surviving the Trial

SHELLEY L. KAUFMAN is a senior attorney at Geragos & Geragos and specializes in civil litigation, including, complex litigation, class actions, products liability, civil rights and catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death cases. Ms. Kaufman has tried more than 50 cases in both state and federal court and has achieved settlements in excess of $1,000,000. She was a lead attorney in bringing about two historic class action settlements for $37.5 million against two prominent insurance companies on behalf of Armenian Genocide descendants. Ms. Kaufman has an intense passion for civil rights matters and has fought on behalf of civil rights litigants for more than a decade on issues from wrongful detention to wrongful death. She has presented arguments before the California Court of Appeal, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Ms. Kaufman recently obtained a verdict of $1.32 million in a civil rights wrongful arrest case against the Glendale Police Department and, negotiated a $5 million settlement in a catastrophic wrongful death case involving a mother killed by a run-away school bus. She represented two survivors of the San Francisco Zoo tiger attack and successfully negotiated a settlement on their behalf. In addition to managing a busy litigation schedule, Ms. Kaufman has conducted numerous seminars discussing sexual harassment and other such work related issues, as well as seminars in civil litigation. She earned her bachelor's degree from Pitzer College in Claremont, California and her J.D. degree from Southwestern University School of Law's two-year accelerated program. Ms. Kaufman is admitted to practice in the state of California and has appeared in federal district courts throughout the state of California and North Carolina.

CHRISTINE M. McCAIN is a paralegal and office administrator with the Law Offices of James P. Wohl, where her work is focused in the areas of civil litigation and business litigation. Her duties include helping prepare client intake, discovery preparation, research and writing of briefs and documents and preparation for trial dispositions. Ms. McCain teaches paralegal and legal secretary courses at the Los Angeles Community Colleges on the topic of civil litigation and has previously lectured for the Institute for Paralegal Education on trial preparation, litigation case management and legal drafting. She earned her B.A. degree from Idaho State University and she attended Los Angeles Valley College, where she was valedictorian of her class. Ms. McCain is a member of the National Notary Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

STEPHEN P. WATKINS is the director of legal affairs at Hydra, LLC, an internet affiliate network company, where he handles litigation, regulatory compliance and other legal issues related to an internet-based company. His professional paralegal experience is comprised mainly in litigation ranging from simple commercial disputes all the way to complex multi-district federal lawsuits. Mr. Watkins has handled trial preparation, discovery, legal research and writing, initial client intake interviews, and communications with opposing counsel, judges and court administrative staff. He has helped craft settlement agreements and has assisted in using strong evidentiary showings to support settlement negotiations. Beyond Mr. Watkins' in-depth litigation experience, he has done extensive work in corporate/transactional matters, and has been involved at the entrepreneurial level as the president/CEO of TransTech Industries Philippines, Inc., putting together a $241 million cement factory project from 1992 to 1997 with full responsibilities for regulatory compliance. He was a diplomat for the Southern California Foreign Trade Association, Customs Law and International Trade, in 1979. Recently, from 2004 through 2006, he taught paralegal students at Platt College and Intercoast College, teaching beginning through advanced courses in paralegal studies. Mr. Watkins earned his teaching credential through the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, and his B.A. degree from California State University at Los Angeles and his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from U.W.L.A. School of Law.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com