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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 Selection
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: Justice John P. Connor Jr., Justice Daniel A. Ford, Justice John S. McCann, Justice, Mary-Lou Rup, Justice Janet L. Sanders and Justice Constance M. Sweeney. Moderator - L. Jeffrey Meehan

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: Justice John P. Connor Jr., Justice Daniel A. Ford, Justice John McCann, Justice, Mary-Lou Rup, Justice Janet Sanders and Justice Constance M. Sweeney. Moderator - L. Jeffrey Meehan

7. Legal Ethics - The Judicial View (1:00 - 2:00)
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
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 - the Great Debate
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 Jurors' Verdict Sheets
    2. Preserving Post Trial Issues

HON. JOHN P. CONNOR JR. was appointed as an Associate Trial Justice with the Massachusetts Superior Court on May 18, 2001.

HON. DANIEL A. FORD was appointed as an Associate Trial Justice with the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1989.

HON. JOHN S. McCANN was appointed as an Associate Trial Justice with the Massachusetts Superior Court on Oct. 8, 1986.

HON. MARY-LOU RUP was appointed as an Associate Trial Justice with the Massachusetts Superior Court in 1992.

HON. JANET L. SANDERS was appointed as an Associate Trial Justice with the Massachusetts Superior Court in 2001.

HON. CONSTANCE M. SWEENEY was appointed as an Associate Trial Justice with the Massachusetts Superior Court on Oct. 8, 1986.

MODERATOR - L. JEFFREY MEEHAN is a partner with Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C. Mr. Meehan is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has concentrated his practice in the areas of Civil Litigation since 1975.

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