Litigation: Top 8 Skills Every Attorney Must Have

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Questioning Techniques: Elicit the Information and Testimony You Need
   10:00 — 10:45, Thomas Knight
   1. Questioning Techniques Every Litigator Must Know
   2. Tailoring Your Techniques to the Witness in Question
   3. Getting Honest Answers to Tough Questions
   4. Questioning Mistakes to Avoid
2. Negotiating Tactics: Achieve Solid Settlement Results
   10:45 — 11:30, Robert Kasieta
   1. Negotiation Styles and Techniques
   2. Ways to Leverage Psychology in Negotiations
   3. Tips for Dealing with Difficult Negotiators
   4. Pushing Beyond Impasse
   5. Common Mistakes to Avoid
3. Oral and Written Advocacy Skills: Get What You Want by Being Persuasive
   11:45 — 12:15, Thomas Knight
   1. Writing More Effective Motions and Briefs
   2. Tips for Dealing with Silent, Aggressive, and Other Types of Judges
   3. Delivering Powerful Opening Statements and Closing Arguments
   4. Minimizing and Dispelling Weak Points in Your Case
   5. Breaking Down Complex Legal Material for a Lay Audience
4. Communication Skills: Tactfully Deal With Difficult People and Situations
   12:15 — 12:45, Robert Kasieta
   1. The Rambo Litigator
   2. Pointers for Dealing With Difficult Clients
   3. Problem Witnesses - Yours and Theirs
   4. When the Judge Makes a Mistake
5. Technology Skills Part 1: Office and Courtroom Technology
   1:15 — 2:00, Thomas Knight
   1. Little-Known MS Office Tips That Will Make Your Life Easier
      1. Microsoft Word
      2. Microsoft Excel
      3. Microsoft Outlook
   2. Litigation Support and Document Management Software - Key Things You Must Know
   3. Must-Have Legal Apps
   4. Pointers for Using Tablets and Smartphones at Trial
6. Technology Skills Part 2: Electronic Discovery and Evidence
   2:00 — 2:45, Robert Kasieta
   1. Preservation and Spoliation
   2. DIY Tips: Obtaining Evidence From Electronic Devices
   3. Discovery: Best Practices for Requesting and Responding
   4. Authentication and Admission at Trial
7. Research Skills: Find What You Need Free and Fast (With Website Links)
   2:45 — 3:15, Thomas Knight
   1. Case Law
   2. Judicial Opinions
   3. Litigation Forms
   4. Statutes and Regulations
   5. Public Records and Publicly Available Information
   6. People and Background Information
   7. Digging Up Impeachment Material for Witnesses
   8. Information on Businesses
8. Calendaring, Time Management, and Organization: Pointers for Staying Ahead
   3:30 — 4:00, Robert Kasieta
9. Legal Ethics: Keep Your Record and Reputation Spotless
   4:00 — 5:00, Robert Kasieta
   1. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   2. Competency - Knowledge of Law and Legal Procedure
   3. Preserving Confidentiality
   4. Client Communications and Service
   5. Fees
   6. Obligations to Opposing and Third Parties

Accreditation Details:

ROBERT J. KASIETA is the founder of Kasieta Legal Group, LLC, in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a certified civil pretrial and trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Kasieta practices in civil litigation, with an emphasis on plaintiff personal injury and employment cases, as well as commercial litigation. He has written and taught extensively in the areas of trial practice, personal injury law and insurance law; and is an instructor of trial practice at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mr. Kasieta is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and all Wisconsin courts. He is a member of the Dane County Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, and the American Association for Justice. Mr. Kasieta earned his B.S. degree, summa cum laude, from Northern Michigan University and his J.D. degree from Marquette University Law School.

T. KEVIN KNIGHT is a partner in the law offices of DSK Law. Mr. Knight is board certified as a trial lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Over the course of his practice, he has generally focused on personal injury litigation. Mr. Knight earned his B.S.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law.