When researching information for a case, legal professionals often look to the internet as a primary source. If you want to get the most out of your internet searches, you need streamlined research skills that will help you to eliminate unproductive search time – and get the results you need. Let us show you how to harness the power of the internet and search like a pro.

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. Finding "Practice" Tools
7. Locating Persons and Finding Background Information
8. Locating Companies for Due Diligence and Background Information

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. HOW TO SEARCH LIKE A PRO
   9:00 - 9:50, Danielle A. Arteaga
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 Closer 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
   9:50 - 10:30, John K. Hanft
1. Finding the Shortcuts to Legal Research: Free Legal Portals and Meta-Sites
2. Finding and Using Free, Full-Text Case Law Sites
3. Monitoring Cases and Filings
3. DISCOVER THE INVISIBLE WEB
   10:45 - 11:30, Daniel Mead
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
   11:30 - 12:30, John K. Hanft
1. Statutes, Bills and Legislative History
2. Regulations and Agencies
3. Find Court Opinions, Forms, Rules and Dockets
4. What You Can Find in Administrative Law Materials?
5. INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH: PUBLIC RECORDS AND "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE" INFORMATION
   1:30 - 2:15, John Digiacomo
1. Accessing Public Records
2. Professional Licenses
3. Associations, Affiliations and Organizations
4. Criminal Records
5. Vital Statistics: Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
6. Real and Personal Property Records
7. Online Libraries
6. FINDING "PRACTICE" TOOLS
   2:15 - 2:55, Danielle A. Arteaga
1. Sample Briefs, Motions, Complaints and Settlements
2. Sample Forms and Contracts
3. Discovery Assignments and Filings
4. Uncover Jury Verdicts
7. LOCATING PERSONS AND FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   3:10 - 3:50, John Digiacomo
1. Phone Numbers and Addresses of Missing People
2. Social Media
3. Places of Business and Work History
4. Bankruptcies
5. Neighbors, Relatives and Associates
6. Mailing List Postings, Charitable or Political Donations, Etc.
7. Attorneys, Judges and Experts
8. Online Obituaries
8. LOCATING COMPANIES FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   3:50 - 4:30, Daniel Mead
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. Industry Specific Sites and Information
8. Information From Government Agencies Regulating Companies

DANIELLE A. ARTEAGA is Special Counsel with the firm of Archer Norris, where she also is a member of the firm's Insurance Coverage, Appellate and Litigation practice groups. She counsels and represents insurance carriers with respect to claims handling and coverage issues under a variety of policies, including commercial general liability, homeowners, business owners, and automobile liability policies. Ms. Arteaga's practice also includes representation of carriers in coverage disputes, in policyholder litigation, and in claims arising from agent/broker errors and omissions. She is a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California, and the Association of Defense Counsel of Nevada. Ms. Arteaga is an adjunct professor in the Legal Studies Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Management and an adjunct associate professor at California State University, East Bay. She is a frequent speaker on her areas of practice for such groups as the American Association of University Women, Los Medanos College, Oregon Mutual Insurance, John F. Kennedy University, and the American Association for Paralegal Education. Ms. Arteaga earned her B.A. degree from San Francisco State University and her J.D. degree from John F. Kennedy University School of Law.

JOHN DIGIACOMO is a litigation support specialist for Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley, A Professional Corporation, where his responsibilities include litigation, legal writing, case management, document management and research. Mr. Digiacomo earned his B.S. degree from Bethany College and his M.A. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

JOHN K. HANFT is the co-director of the Witkin Legal Institute at Thomson Reuters West, where he and his co-director supervise the writing and publication of the Witkin Treatises and oversee the programs of the Witkin Legal Institution. Mr. Hanft is the author of Legal Research in California (7th edition), published by Thomson Reuters West, and the co-author of Wills, Trusts, and Estates for Legal Assistants (3rd edition), published by Aspen. He has been a faculty member in the paralegal program at San Francisco State University since 1984, teaching courses in advanced legal research and wills, trusts, and estate planning. Mr. Hanft is a member of the State Bar of California. He earned his B.A. degree from Reed College, his J.D. degree from the University of Oregon, and his M.B.A. degree from Golden Gate University.

DANIEL MEAD is a paralegal in the law firm of Reed Smith LLP, where he practices in the areas of large case management and trial preparation. Mr. Mead has lectured before various professional groups on the topics of trial preparation, internet research and general litigation discovery. He earned his paralegal certificate from Merritt and his B.A. degree from the University of California-Davis.

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