When researching information for a case, legal professionals often look to the internet as a primary source. If you want to get the most out of your internet searches, you need streamlined research skills that will help you to eliminate unproductive search time – and get the results you need. Let us show you how to harness the power of the internet and search like a pro.

1. HOW TO SEARCH LIKE A PRO
2. FINDING FREE LEGAL RESEARCH SITES AND FREE CASE LAW
3. DISCOVER THE INVISIBLE WEB
4. GOVERNMENT INTERNET RESOURCES: FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
5. INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH: PUBLIC RECORDS AND "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE" INFORMATION
6. FINDING "PRACTICE" TOOLS
7. LOCATING PERSONS AND FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
8. LOCATING COMPANIES FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. HOW TO SEARCH LIKE A PRO
   9:00 - 9:50, Brian Thomas
1. What's the Difference Between a Search Engine and a Directory?
2. How do Search Engines Really Work?
3. Learn Boolean Logic to Create the Best Search Strategies for Finding Relevant Documents
4. Which Search Engines are the Best?
5. A Closer Look at Google and Search Engines That "Think"
6. Learn Browser Tricks - the Power of the "Find" Function to Scan Web Pages Quickly
7. Managing Bookmarks
8. Effectively Using RSS Feeds, Blogs and Podcasts
2. FINDING FREE LEGAL RESEARCH SITES AND FREE CASE LAW
   9:50 - 10:30, Brian Thomas
1. Finding the Shortcuts to Legal Research: Free Legal Portals and Meta-Sites
2. Finding and Using Free, Full-Text Case Law Sites
3. Learn About the Free (Poor Man's) "Shepards"
4. Monitoring Cases and Filings
3. DISCOVER THE INVISIBLE WEB
   10:45 - 11:30, Jennifer S. Stephens
1. What is the Invisible Web?
2. How Does it Differ From the Visible Web?
3. Learn to Find "Invisible Documents"
4. Where do Old Web Pages Go? Learn to Locate Them
4. GOVERNMENT INTERNET RESOURCES: FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
   11:30 - 12:30, Kevin Miles
1. Statutes, Bills and Legislative History
2. Regulations and Agencies
3. Find Court Opinions, Forms, Rules and Dockets
4. What You Can Find in Administrative Law Materials?
5. INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH: PUBLIC RECORDS AND "PUBLICLY AVAILABLE" INFORMATION
   1:30 - 2:15, Barbara J. Fullerton
1. Accessing Public Records
2. Professional Licenses
3. Associations, Affiliations and Organizations
4. Criminal Records
5. Vital Statistics: Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce Records
6. Real and Personal Property Records
7. Online Libraries
6. FINDING "PRACTICE" TOOLS
   2:15 - 2:55, Candy Ryan
1. Sample Briefs, Motions, Complaints and Settlements
2. Sample Forms and Contracts
3. Discovery Assignments and Filings
4. Uncover Jury Verdicts
7. LOCATING PERSONS AND FINDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   3:10 - 3:50, Barbara J. Fullerton
1. Phone Numbers and Addresses of Missing People
2. Social Media
3. Places of Business and Work History
4. Bankruptcies
5. Neighbors, Relatives and Associates
6. Mailing List Postings, Charitable or Political Donations, Etc.
7. Attorneys, Judges and Experts
8. Online Obituaries
8. LOCATING COMPANIES FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   3:50 - 4:30, Jennifer S. Stephens
1. Company Web Sites
2. Directories for Private, Public and Foreign Companies
3. Stock Quotes - Current and Historical
4. SEC Filings
5. State Corporate Records/Registered Agents and Fictitious Business Names
6. News and Information About Companies, Products and Executives
7. Industry Specific Sites and Information
8. Information From Government Agencies Regulating Companies

BARBARA J. FULLERTON has been a law librarian for more than 15 years with experience in corporate and law libraries. She has a bachelor's degree in mass communications, a paralegal certificate, and an M.L.I.S. degree from Emporia State University in Kansas. Ms. Fullerton has been in the Dallas area for more than nine years, where she works for Morningstar, Inc. as manager of Librarian Relations. Over the past decade, she has been involved in professional associations, and is an active member in AALL, SLA and other regional librarian chapters. Ms. Fullerton has spoken at many events, including AALL and SLA annual meetings, SLA regional meetings, Internet Librarian, Computers in Libraries, SCIP, the Texas Library Association, regional paralegal associations, and other various meetings. Her speaking/writing topics include gadgets, mobile applications, business development, competitive intelligence, privacy issues, data mining, cybertheft and Gumshoe Librarian, among others.

KEVIN MILES is a law librarian with the law office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Mr. Miles earned his Ph.D. from the Texas Woman's University, a master's in librarian science degree from The Catholic University of America and a master's in public relations degree from American University.

CANDY RYAN is the senior litigation paralegal with The Silvera Firm, specializing in workers' compensation law and non-subscriber defense. Ms. Ryan is responsible for non-subscriber defense and subrogation claims, including case management, trial preparation, scheduling depositions and hearings, as well as attending and participating in evidentiary presentation at trial and arbitration. She is a graduate of the University of San Diego, ABA accredited paralegal studies program (1988) and has specialized in litigation for the past 15 years. Her background includes state and federal litigation, family, probate, tax, labor and employment, securities, intellectual property, bankruptcy, business and commercial litigation, corporate, real estate, insurance defense, personal injury, trucking, railroad, and even a bit of admiralty. Ms. Ryan has been a member of the Dallas Area Paralegal Association since 2005 (2008-2011, chair, Litigation Section; 2009, education vice president; 2010, president elect) and will preside as president in 2011, which will be DAPA's 35th anniversary. She also was the chair of the Bid Committee which successfully bid for the NFPA convention to be held in Dallas in 2014. Ms. Ryan is also is a member of the Court Reporting Institute of Dallas Advisory Board for Paralegals. 

JENNIFER S. STEPHENS, MLS, is a law librarian with Haynes and Boone, LLP in the firm's Dallas office. Ms. Stephens' areas of responsibility include library reference and training. She has lectured previously to the Dallas Association of Law Librarians. Ms. Stephens holds a master's of library science degree. She is a member of the Dallas Association of Law Librarians (DALL), the Southwestern Association of Law Libraries (SWALL) and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), including its Private Law Libraries Special Interest Section.

BRIAN THOMAS is an attorney in Dallas, Texas, practicing exclusively in the areas of estate administration, guardianship, estate and tax planning, and wills and trusts. Mr. Thomas routinely assists clients with uncontested probate issues, as well as contested and litigated estate administrations and guardianships in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Prior to establishing his own practice, Mr. Thomas was an associate attorney in both the Houston and Dallas offices of Ford & Mathiason LLP, where he had the opportunity to develop his expertise in these same areas alongside many of the premier practitioners in the state. He earned a B.B.A. degree from Baylor University and his J.D. degree from Baylor Law School. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and serves the association as an active member of its Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee.

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