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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 (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

Morning Session: 9:00-12:00
Panel Members:
Hon. R. Markley Dennis Jr.
Hon. Diane Schafer Goodstein
Hon. George C. James Jr.
Hon. Steven H. John
Hon. Mikell R. Scarborough
Moderator: James L. Bell

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. R. Markley Dennis Jr.
Hon. Diane Schafer Goodstein
Hon. George C. James Jr.
Hon. Steven H. John
Hon. Mikell R. Scarborough
Moderator: James L. Bell

6. 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
7. 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
8. Opening Statement
   1. The Significance of an Opening Statement
   2. Diffuse the Issue or Ratify the Argument - the Great Debate
9. 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
10. Presenting Your Case at Trial
1. Direct and Cross Examination
2. How a Witness Ruins a "Good" Case
3. Introducing Evidence at Trial
11. 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
12. Closing Argument and Jury Instructions
    1. Effective Closing Argument Strategies
    2. Objecting During Argument
    3. The Importance of Clear Jury Instructions
13. Post Trial Considerations
    1. Errors in Jurors' Verdict Sheets
    2. Preserving Post Trial Issues

HON. R. MARKLEY DENNIS JR. was elected by the General Assembly to the position of Circuit Judge, At-Large, Seat No. 2, on February 2, 1994.

HON. DIANE SCHAFER GOODSTEIN was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to the position of Resident Circuit Judge for the 1st Judicial Circuit in May 1998.

HON. GEORGE C. JAMES JR. was elected as a Resident Circuit Judge for the 3rd Judicial Circuit on July 1, 2006.

HON. STEVEN H. JOHN was elected as Resident Circuit Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit on May 30, 2001, and he has served continuously since that time.

HON. MIKELL R. SCARBOROUGH has served as the Master In Equity in Charleston since June 21, 2003.

MODERATOR - JAMES L. BELL is the senior partner in The Bell Law Firm, P.A., with offices in Charleston. Mr. Bell is a certified mediator and arbitrator by the Supreme Court of South Carolina and a certified mediator by the U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina.

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