An injury can impact the quality of someone's life for years to come - or permanently. Representing an injured party is an enormous responsibility. The techniques you use during a case will impact both your client's future well-being and your viability as a competent practitioner. Do you have the knowledge you need to ensure a favorable outcome? Build your skills from the convenience of your office! You'll learn best practices for assessing a variety of personal injury cases, take a closer look at the statutes that govern liability and damages, and walk through the basics of civil practice and procedure, so you'll know what to do. Discover when it's in your client's best interest to settle, when you'll need to go to trial, and more. Order today!

1. Statutes Which Affect Liability Evaluation
2. Understanding the Law of Damages
3. Basics of Civil Practice and Procedure
4. Ethical Considerations for the Plaintiff's Attorney
5. Personal Injury Settlements
6. Trial of the Plaintiff's Personal Injury Case

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. STATUTES WHICH AFFECT LIABILITY EVALUATION
   8:30 - 9:30, Frank H. Byers II
   1. Statutes of Limitation
   2. Automobile Accident Statutes
   3. Injuries on Recreational Lands
   4. Sovereign Immunity
2. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   9:45 - 10:45, Frank H. Byers II
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
3. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   10:45 - 12:00, Ross T. Anderson
   1. Assessment of Particular Case Types - Interviews and Investigation
      1. Automobile Accident Cases
      2. Slip and Fall Cases
      3. Product Liability Cases
      4. Others
   2. The Discovery Process
      1. Written Discovery
      2. Informal Discovery Including Public Sources of Information
      3. Taking and Defending Depositions
   3. Initial Court Filings
   4. Preparing Evidence Prior to Trial
      1. Understanding the Rules of Evidence
      2. Documentary Evidence
      3. Testamentary Evidence
      4. Demonstrative Evidence
4. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY
   1:00 - 2:00, Ross T. Anderson
   1. The Contingent Fee
   2. The Costs of Litigation - What is a Legitimate Cost?
   3. Advertising Legal Services
   4. Candor Toward the Tribunal
   5. Meritorious Claims and Contentions
   6. Conflicts of Interest in Plaintiff Cases
5. PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
   2:00 - 3:00, Troy E. Walton
   1. Negotiation Techniques
   2. Mediation as a Settlement Tool
   3. Subrogation Interests
   4. Structured Settlements
   5. Understanding the Joint Tortfeasor Release and Other Releases
6. TRIAL OF THE PLAINTIFF'S PERSONAL INJURY CASE
   3:15 - 4:40, Troy E. Walton
   1. How to Avoid the Most Common Mistakes Made by New Attorneys
   2. Jury Selection - Voir Dire and Jury Questionnaires
   3. The Basics of an Opening Statement
   4. Presentation of Evidence
   5. Direct and Cross-Examination of Witnesses
   6. Use of Expert at Trial
   7. Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages
   8. Delivering a Powerful Closing Argument
   9. Post-Trial Relief

ROSS T. ANDERSON is an attorney in East St. Louis, where he practices in class action litigation, medical malpractice, products liability and personal injury. He has previously lectured for National Business Institute on personal injury settlements, evidence and expert testimony. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; the St. Clair County, Madison County, and Illinois State bar associations; the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; the Illinois Association of Trial Attorneys; and the American Association for Justice. He earned his A.B. and J.D. degrees from the University of Illinois.

FRANK H. BYERS II is an attorney and shareholder in the Decatur law firm, where he has 30 plus years of trial and litigation experience. He is a frequent volunteer judge for moot court competitions and other student competitions at the University of Illinois, School of Law. Mr. Byers earned his B.S. degree, with honors, from the University of Illinois and his J.D. degree from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Illinois State and Decatur bar associations, and is a past assembly member of the Illinois State Bar.

TROY E. WALTON is a partner with the law firm of Schoen Walton Telken & Foster LLC. Mr. Walton's practice focuses exclusively on plaintiff's personal injury litigation, and includes trucking and motor vehicle accidents, toxic tort litigation, wrongful death, products liability, medical malpractice and nursing home abuse, and neglect cases. Among other professional affiliations, he is a member of the American Association for Justice; The Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, where he serves on the board of managers. Mr. Walton is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization whose members include some of the top trial lawyers in the United States. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from St. Louis University 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