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 desk! You'll learn best practices for assessing a variety of personal injury cases. Take a closer look at the statutes that affect liability evaluation, as well as the laws of damages. 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, and when you'll need to go to trial. 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

1. STATUTES WHICH AFFECT LIABILITY EVALUATION
   8:30 - 9:30, David M. Fine
   1. Statutes of Limitation
   2. Automobile Accident Statutes
   3. Injuries on Recreational Lands
   4. Sovereign Immunity
2. UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF DAMAGES
   9:30 - 10:30, David M. Fine
   1. Economic Damages
   2. Non-Economic Damages
   3. Wrongful Death and Survival Claims
3. BASICS OF CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   10:45 - 12:00, Matthew A. Vance
   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, M.J. Keefe
   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
5. PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
   2:00 - 3:00 - Matthew A. Vance
   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, M.J. Keefe
   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. Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages
   7. Delivering a Powerful Closing Argument
   8. Post-Trial Relief

DAVID M. FINE is a partner with The Fine Law Firm in Albuquerque, where he practices in the areas of accident malpractice and slip and fall/personal injury. Mr. Fine is the past coach of the mock trial team at the University of New Mexico School of Law. He earned his B.S. degree from Vassar College and his J.D. degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Mr. Fine is a member of the American Association for Justice, the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association and the State Bar of New Mexico.

M.J. KEEFE is a partner in the law firm of Gilpin & Keefe, P.C., where he focuses his practice on insurance claim disputes, personal injury, legal malpractice, disability benefits, civil litigation, wrongful death and federal civil litigation. Mr. Keefe's practice involves handling individual and small business claims against insurance companies for personal injury, disability benefits, fire, theft, life, and casualty claims of homeowners and businesses. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1986 and the State Bar of New Mexico in 1988. From October 1988 through December 2000, Mr. Keefe operated as a sole practitioner, practicing primarily in the areas of personal injury and insurance law, including employee benefits law. He has practiced before the Federal District Court for the District of New Mexico as well as state courts throughout the state of New Mexico. Mr. Keefe has actively pursued a practice which incorporates pro bono legal services. He earned his B.S. degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, and his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law, after a few years working in Washington, D.C., for various lobbying organizations.

MATTHEW A. VANCE is an attorney in Albuquerque with the Law Office of Matthew Vance, P.C., who practices in the areas of personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, products liability law, slip and fall accidents, uninsured motorist claims, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, criminal law, DUI/DWI and drug possession. Mr. Vance received his B.A. degree from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, and his J.D. degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law, Albuquerque. He is admitted to practice in New Mexico, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Mr. Vance is a member of the New Mexico State and Albuquerque bar associations, the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

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