What if you could explore the different cultural climates of the judges' courtrooms without your clients' lives depending on the outcome of the exploration? Now you can. Take advantage of the unique opportunity to gain years of courtroom experience with one unique resource. Discover what the presiding triers of fact think of the litigation process and learn their personal rules and preferences. Order today!

Morning Session (9:00-12:00)

1. Determining Your Litigation Strategy
2. Initial Pleadings
3. Discovery Practice
4. Settlement Conferences
5. Drafting Effective Dispositive Motions
6. Pretrial Conferences

Afternoon Session (1:00-4:30)

7. Legal Ethics - The Judicial View
8. Voir Dire and Jury Selections
9. Opening Statement
10. General Tips for Trial Advocacy
11. Presenting Your Case at Trial
12. Expert Examination
13. Closing Argument and Jury Instructions
14. Post Trial Considerations

Morning Session (9:00-12:00)
Panel Members:
Hon. Michael D. Huppert
Hon. Karen A. Romano
Hon. Carla Schemmel
Hon. Douglas F. Staskal
Moderator:
George F. Davison Jr.

1. DETERMINING YOUR LITIGATION STRATEGY
2. INITIAL PLEADINGS
1. Motions to Dismiss
2. Answers and Affirmative Defenses
3. DISCOVERY PRACTICE
1. Discovery Motions
2. Electronic Discovery
4. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
1. How to be Effective at the Settlement Conference
2. Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution
5. DRAFTING EFFECTIVE DISPOSITIVE MOTIONS
   1. Response Strategies
   2. Reply Briefs
6. PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
   1. Effective Pretrial Statements
   2. Tips for an Effective Pretrial Conference
   3. Motions in Limine

Afternoon Session (1:00-4:30)
Panel Members:
Hon. Michael D. Huppert
Hon. Martha L. Mertz
Hon. Scott D. Rosenberg
Hon. Carla Schemmel
Moderator:
George F. Davison Jr.

7. LEGAL ETHICS - THE JUDICIAL VIEW (1:00 - 2:00)
8. VOIR DIRE AND JURY SELECTION
1. Determining the Judge's Voir Dire Practice
2. How do you Identify Your Ideal Juror
3. When Does a Juror get Struck for Cause
9. OPENING STATEMENT
1. The Significance of an Opening Statement
2. Diffuse the Issue or Ratify the Argument
10. GENERAL TIPS FOR TRIAL ADVOCACY
1. Making and Handling Motions and Objections at Trial
2. Most Common Evidentiary Issues
3. The Value of Side Bar Conferences
4. Know Your Judge
11. PRESENTING YOUR CASE AT TRIAL
1. Direct and Cross Examination
2. How a Witness Ruins a "Good" Case
3. Introducing Evidence at Trial
12. EXPERT EXAMINATION
1. Standards of Admissibility for Expert Report
2. Challenges Which can be Made to Expert Report
3. Addressing the Highly Technical Content
4. Cross-Examination Don'ts
13. CLOSING ARGUMENT AND JURY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Effective Closing Argument Strategies
2. Objecting During Argument
3. The Importance of Clear Jury Instructions
14. POST TRIAL CONSIDERATIONS
1. Errors in Juror's Verdict Sheets
2. Persevering Post Trial Issues

 

Hon. MICHAEL D. HUPPERT is a District Court Judge for District 5C for the Polk County Courthouse.

Hon. MARTHA L. MERTZ is a District Court Judge, District 5A for the Marion County Courthouse.

Hon. KAREN A. ROMANO is a District Court Judge for District 5C for the Polk County Courthouse.

Hon. SCOTT D. ROSENBERG is a District Court Judge for District 5C for the Polk County Courthouse.

Hon. CARLA SCHEMMEL is a District Court Judge for District 5C for the Polk County Courthouse.

Hon. DOUGLAS F. STASKAL is a District Court Judge, District 5C for the Polk County Courthouse.

MODERATOR - GEORGE F. DAVISON JR. is a sole practitioner in Des Moines, Iowa, who previously worked with Hawkins & Norris, P.C. for 24 years. His practice is focused on mediation and arbitration, civil litigation and probate. In addition to having previously lectured for National Business Institute on issues related to personal injury and insurance law, Mr. Davison is an instructor at the Des Moines Area Community College, where he teaches litigation, probate, business organization and contract law courses in the legal assistants program. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association (former chair, Public Relations Committee), the Association for Justice and the Black Stone Inn of Court (past president). Mr. Davison also is a news reporter and newscaster for WHO, Des Moines and the Iowa Radio Network. He earned his B.A. degree, with honors, from Drake University and his J.D. degree from Drake University Law School.

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