The way we use the internet today is leagues away from how it was being used even five years ago. In order to keep the pace, you need streamlined research skills that will make the internet an asset rather than a liability for your firm. How do your skills stack up? Do you know the best, most efficient ways to get what you need? Order today to find out how to harness the internet as an excellent resource.

1. How to Search Like a Pro
2. Finding Free Legal Research Sites and Free Case Law
3. Discover the Invisible Web
4. Government Internet Resources: Federal State and Local
5. Investigative Research: Public Records and “Publicly Available” Information
6. Locating Persons and Finding Background Information
7. Locating Companies for Due Diligence and Background Information

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. HOW TO SEARCH LIKE A PRO
   9:00 - 9:45, Mary Dryden
   1. What's the Difference Between a Search Engine and a Directory?
   2. How do Search Engines Really Work?
   3. Learn Boolean Logic to Create the Best Search Strategies for Finding Relevant Documents
   4. Which Search Engines are the Best?
   5. A Close Look at Google and Search Engines That "Think"
   6. Learn Browser Tricks - The Power of the "Find" Function to Scan Web Pages Quickly
   7. Managing Bookmarks
   8. Effectively Using RSS Feeds, Blogs and Podcasts
2. FINDING FREE LEGAL RESEARCH SITES AND FREE CASE LAW
   9:45 - 10:15, Brian Raphael
   1. Finding the Shortcuts to Legal Research: Free Legal Portals and Meta-Sites
   2. Finding and Using Free, Full-Text Case Law Sites
   3. Learn About the Free (Poor Man's) "Shepards"
3. DISCOVER THE INVISIBLE WEB
   10:30 - 11:00, Mary Dryden
   1. What is the Invisible Web?
   2. How Does it Differ From the Visible Web?
   3. Learn to Find "Invisible Documents"
   4. Where do Old Web Pages Go? Learn to Locate Them
4. GOVERNMENT INTERNET RESOURCES: FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
   11:00 - 12:15, Patricia V. Mayer
   1. Statutes, Bills and Legislative History
   2. Regulations and Agencies
   3. Find Court Opinions, Forms, Rules and Dockets
5. INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH: PUBLIC RECORDS AND "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE" INFORMATION
   1:15 - 2:15, Patricia V. Mayer
   1. Accessing Public Records
   2. Professional Licenses
   3. Criminal Records
   4. Vital Statistics: Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
   5. Real and Personal Property Records
6. LOCATING PERSONS AND FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   2:30 - 3:30, Bruce T. Smyth
   1. Phone Numbers and Addresses of Missing People
   2. Social Security Numbers
   3. Bankruptcies
   4. Neighbors, Relatives and Associates
   5. Mailing List Postings, Blogs, Etc.
   6. Attorneys, Judges and Experts
7. LOCATING COMPANIES FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   3:30 - 4:30, Bruce T. Smyth
   1. Company Web Sites
   2. Directories for Private, Public and Foreign Companies
   3. Stock Quotes - Current and Historical
   4. SEC Filings
   5. State Corporate Records/Registered Agents and Fictitious Business Names
   6. News and Information About Companies, Products and Executives
   7. Information From Government Agencies Regulating Companies

MARY DRYDEN is a reference librarian in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings LLP. Ms. Dryden's duties include legal reference and research utilizing print resources, paid databases and the Internet. She is a member of the American Association of Law Libraries and the Southern California Association of Law Libraries, having recently completed a two-year term as Executive Board Member. Ms. Dryden earned her B.A. degree from Scripps College and her M.Litt degree from The University of Edinburgh. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a member of MENSA.

PATRICIA V. MAYER is a partner and co-chair of the entertainment and new media practice at Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP. Specializing in entertainment law, Ms. Mayer represents major studios, independent financiers, producers and distributors of all media in the development, production, financing and distribution of motion pictures, television movies and series, music, home video, published works and interactive projects. She has additional expertise in the areas of intellectual property, copyright and unfair competition law. A former senior solicitor in the UK and former senior vice president at MGM, Ms. Mayer serves an international clientele and is particularly skilled in assisting foreign companies to do business in the U.S. and U.S. companies to operate. She received her B.A. degree from UCLA, her M.A. degree from Cambridge University in England, and her J.D. degree from UCLA.

BRIAN RAPHAEL is the assistant director of the USC Law Library and an adjunct assistant professor of law at USC Gould School of Law. Mr. Raphael specializes in print and electronic legal research and teaches legal research at USC Law. His scholarly work includes "California Case Law," published in Henke's California Law Guide, 8th ed., and "Basic Legal Research Techniques," in Locating the Law, 3d ed. Mr. Raphael also has published numerous book reviews. He earned his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he also earned his J.D. and M.L.S. degrees. Mr. Raphael joined USC Law in 1993 as a reference librarian and became an adjunct assistant professor of law in 1997. He served as head of reference/international law librarian before becoming assistant director of the USC Law Library in 1999. Mr. Raphael is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Association of Law Libraries, and is a past president of the Southern California Association of Law Libraries.

BRUCE T. SMYTH is a partner of the Los Angeles law firm of Charlston, Revich & Wollitz LLP, where his practice is concentrated in the areas of insurance coverage, business and products liability litigation. Mr. Smyth has lectured and written numerous articles on insurance and computer law and litigation topics. He earned his B.A. degree, with honors and distinction, from Stanford University and his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia, where he was on the Virginia Law Review . Mr. Smyth is a member of the State Bar of California.

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