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!

AM 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

PM Session: 1:00-4:30

7. Legal Ethics - The Judicial View (1:00 - 2:00)
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

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

Morning Session: 9:00 - 12:00
Panel Members: Hon. Gary L. Day, Hon. Joe L. Hegel, Hon. Katherine M. Irigoin, Hon. E. Wayne Phillips, Hon. Mike Salvagni, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding, Hon. Wm. Nels Swandal and Hon. Susan P. Watters.
Moderator: Michael B. Anderson.

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. Gary L. Day, Hon. Ingrid G. Gustafson, Hon. Joe L. Hegel, Hon. Katherine M. Irigoin, Hon. Mike Salvagni, Hon. Randal I. Spaulding, Hon. Wm. Nels Swandal and Hon. Susan P. Watters.
Moderator: Michael B. Anderson.

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. Preserving Post Trial Issues

HON. GARY L. DAY is a District Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. INGRID G. GUSTAFSON is a District Court Judge in the 13th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. JOE L. HEGEL is a District Court Judge in the 16th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. KATHERINE M. IRIGOIN is a District Court Judge in the 7th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. E. WAYNE PHILLIPS is a District Court Judge in the 10th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. MIKE SALVAGNI is a District Court Judge in the 18th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. RANDAL I. SPAULDING is a District Court Judge in the 14th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. WM. NELS SWANDAL has been the District Court Judge for the 6th Judicial District of Montana.

HON. SUSAN P. WATTERS is a District Court Judge in the 13th Judicial District of Montana.

MODERATOR - MICHAEL B. ANDERSON is a shareholder in the Billings law firm of Anderson & Liechty, P.C., which is engaged in general civil trial practice, including personal injury, insurance coverage and bad faith, products liability, and commercial litigation. He earned his B.A. degree, with high honors, from Michigan State University and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Montana School of Law. Mr. Anderson is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Montana.

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