Reaching civil litigation case resolution depends on your ability to present your case in the best possible light. Order today to receive practical suggestions for enhancing your courtroom performance - from discovery, to motion hearings, to evidence, to handling juries - and increase your chances of success in the courtroom!

1. Case Management and Pretrial Conferences
2. Scheduling Orders
3. Effective and Ineffective Discovery Practices
4. Motion Hearing - When, Why, and How?
5. Judges’ Views on Technology in the Court Room
6. Legal Ethics - The Judicial View
7. Voir Dire: Do's and Don'ts
8. Trial Practice Tips in Civil Court
9. Witnesses and Evidence: Mistakes to Avoid
10. Opening Statements and Closing Arguments

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

AM Session 9:00 – 12:00
Panel Members: Hon. Steven K. Austin, Hon. Laurel S. Brady and Hon. Gary Nadler. Moderator - Jane Curran Pandell.

1. CASE MANAGEMENT AND PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
   1. Case Management
   2. Tips for a Productive Settlement Conference
   3. Mistakes to Avoid at the Pretrial Conference
2. SCHEDULING ORDERS
3. EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE DISCOVERY PRACTICES
   1. Interrogatories
   2. Be Careful What You Object To
   3. Discovery Issues Judges Should Never Hear
   4. The Emerging World of E-Discovery
   5. Getting Accurate Answers From Your Clients
4. MOTION HEARING - WHEN, WHY, AND HOW?
   1. Discovery Disputes
   2. Filing Dispositive Motions
   3. Motions in Limine
5. JUDGES’ VIEWS ON TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURTROOM
   1. What Technology is Available?
   2. Advantages/Disadvantages of High-Tech Presentations
   3. Evidentiary Issues Relative to the Use of Technology in the Courtroom

PM Session 1:00 – 4:30
Panel Members: Hon. Cheryl R. Mills, Hon. Barry P. Goode and Hon. Gary Nadler. Moderator - Jane Curran Pandell.

6. LEGAL ETHICS - THE JUDICIAL VIEW
   1. Best Practices in Communication Between Bench and Bar
   2. The Boundary of Advocacy and Ethical Litigation Conduct
   3. Protecting Confidentiality
   4. Ethical Conduct in the Courtroom
7. VOIR DIRE: DO'S AND DON'TS
8. TRIAL PRACTICE TIPS IN CIVIL COURT
9. WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE: MISTAKES TO AVOID
   1. Expert Witnesses
   2. Introducing Evidence at Trial
   3. The Proper Way to Object in Court
   4. Learning When Not to Object
   5. When is a Side Bar Appropriate?
10. OPENING STATEMENTS AND CLOSING ARGUMENTS
    1. The Significance of an Opening Statement
    2. Effective Closing Argument Strategies
    3. Objecting During Argument

HON. STEVEN K. AUSTIN has served as a Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County since 1998.

HON. LAUREL S. BRADY was appointed to the Municipal Court Bench in October 1996 by then Governor Pete Wilson, and elevated by unification to the Superior Court in June of 1998.

HON. BARRY P. GOODE is a Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County.

HON. CHERYL R. MILLS was elected as a Superior Court Judge in Contra Costa County in November 2002.

HON. GARY NADLER has served as a Superior Court Judge in Sonoma County since 2002, and is the presiding judge of the Sonoma County Superior Court.

MODERATOR - JANE CURRAN PANDELL is a partner in the Pandell Law Firm, Inc., in Walnut Creek. Ms. Pandell has served as a Judge Pro Tem and mediator in Contra Costa County Superior Court, and is on the panel of mediators and alternative dispute resolution neutrals of the United States District Court, Northern District.

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