The attorney's search for more efficient and accurate methods of self-education and legal research is the pursuit of perfection – perpetually in progress. Are you using all the tools at your disposal to save time and get the information you're looking for? This legal course offers a practical guide through the latest challenges and opportunities evolving technology presents in legal research and law practice management. Stay on the cutting edge of your practice with tips from experienced attorney faculty. Order today!

1. Staying Current on Upcoming Laws and Practice-Specific News
2. Organizing Legal Research and Delegating Tasks
3. Case-Specific Research
4. Online Legal Research Skills
5. Authenticating and Organizing the Search Results for Court Use
6. Legal Ethics 2.0: Rules of Professional Conduct in the Technology World

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. STAYING CURRENT ON UPCOMING LAWS AND PRACTICE-SPECIFIC NEWS
   9:00 - 10:00, Cynthia B. Jones
   1. Following Recent and Pending Legislation
   2. Practice-Specific and Issue-Specific Content News
   3. Tracking Significant Court Cases and Rulings and Their Potential Effect on Your Practice
   4. Scanning Legislation and Case Law in Other States to Uncover Potential Trends
   5. Keeping Track of the Latest Legal Technology
   6. Monitoring Client Market Trends
   7. Peer Attorney Practice Tips
      1. Listservs
      2. Blawgs
      3. Local and Online Networking
2. ORGANIZING LEGAL RESEARCH AND DELEGATING TASKS
   10:00 - 11:00, Michael Kaiser
   1. Setting Up General Research Guidelines
   2. Determining the Goal(s) of the Search
   3. Narrowing the Scope (Narrowing Down the Search Parameters)
   4. Choosing the Right Tool for the Search (Matching the Sources/Methods to the Type of Info You Need - Depending on the Goal)
   5. Identifying Key Focal Points
   6. Setting Timelines
   7. Keeping Track of Work Done and Time Spent
3. CASE-SPECIFIC RESEARCH
   11:15 - 12:15, Scott L. Espiritu
   1. Primary Law (Court Decisions, Statutes, Regulations, Rules) Online
   2. Sample Forms - Free or Low-Cost Online Briefs, Motions, Easements, Agreements, Divorce Petitions, etc.
   3. Finding Non-Legal Information for Your Legal Case
      1. Property Searches
      2. People Searches
   4. Other Paid and Free Online Litigation Resources
   5. Using Investigators
   6. Utilizing Local College Campuses and Libraries as a Resource
4. ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH SKILLS
   1:15 - 2:15, Scott L. Espiritu
   1. Practical Tips for Searching Within a Site (Common Site Architecture Formulas)
   2. Understanding and Mitigating the Shortfalls of Search Engines
   3. Useful Shortcuts
   4. 7 Simple Mistakes That can Kill Your Online Search
   5. Top Time Wasters in Online Searches
   6. Choosing and Utilizing Paid and Free Online Legal Research Engines (WestlawNext, LexisNexis, BNA, Google Scholar, Fastcase, etc.)
      1. Recent and Upcoming Trends in Legal Research Provider Market
      2. Choosing the Provider to Fit Your Research Style
5. AUTHENTICATING AND ORGANIZING THE SEARCH RESULTS FOR COURT USE
   2:30 - 3:30, Cynthia B. Jones
   1. Tips for More Efficient Case Review
   2. Determining Relevance and Verifying Primacy
   3. Citing
   4. Organizing the Information for Use in the Case
   5. How to Not Reinvent the Wheel - Saving Your Search Results for Future Use
   6. Ensuring Admissibility
6. LEGAL ETHICS 2.0: RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN THE TECHNOLOGY WORLD
   3:30 - 4:30, Richard R. Alaniz
   1. Survey of Current Issues
   2. On the Horizon - What Issues Can We Expect

RICHARD R. ALANIZ is a member of the Management Committee of the Seattle office of Black Lowe & Graham, a full service intellectual property law firm with offices in Seattle. Mr. Alaniz's practice emphasizes trademarks, copyrights, software licensing and related client counseling. Prior to becoming an attorney, he spent more than ten years in the data processing, computer and related technology fields. Mr. Alaniz earned his J.D. degree from Seattle University and his B.A. degree from the University of Iowa. He is a frequent speaker to professional groups on technology and the law, teaching continuing legal education classes for the University of Washington School of Law, the King County Bar Association, the Washington Law Institute and other professional education organizations. Mr. Alaniz has published papers on topics including copyright, e-commerce, legal ethics and digital signatures. He is a member of the King County, Washington State and American bar associations and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

SCOTT L. ESPIRITU is an attorney in the Bellevue law firm of Inslee, Best, Doezie & Ryder, P.S. Mr. Espiritu's practice involves working with a number of the firm's practice groups including litigation and municipalities. He has significant experience in complex litigation including contract, trademark, sponsorship, and operations lawsuits involving local professional and amateur sporting events. He also has substantial ADR (mediation/arbitration) experience. Mr. Espiritu is a member of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, the Sports Lawyers Association and the Washington State and East King County bar associations. He earned his B.A. degree from the College of the Holy Cross and his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.

CYNTHIA B. JONES is an attorney with the Jones Legal Group, LLC in Seattle. Her practice focus is appellate advocacy. Previously, Ms. Jones practiced at Rafel Law Group, PLLC with a focus on civil litigation and appellate advocacy. She is a former law clerk to Justice Charles W. Johnson of the Washington State Supreme Court. Ms. Jones is a trustee on the Board of the King County Bar Association YLD, and she currently serves as treasurer on the Executive Committee of the William L. Dwyer American Inn of Court. She served as co-chair of the Washington State Community Associations Institute Legislative Action Committee. Ms. Jones was named a Rising Star for 2010 by Washington Law & Politics Magazine. She earned her B.A. degree from the University of Washington and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law.

MICHAEL KAISER is President of the Kaiser Legal Group and the founder of Seattle Legal Research, a Seattle area company providing quality mediation, discovery, and legal research services. Mr. Kaiser's presence in the legal community includes recent membership and service on the King County Bar Association's Judicial Evaluation Committee.  In addition, Mr. Kaiser worked with local judges and members of the King County Bar Association's Judiciary and the Courts Committee to draft new rules for King County Superior Court.  Furthermore, he organized a symposium addressing issues in the evolving field of animal law, an area of special interest to him.  Mr. Kaiser also has reported on legal-affairs for local radio and has been a law-school guest speaker on the subject of how different court systems address those suffering from mental illness. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Washington and his J.D. degree from Seattle University School of Law.

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