Agenda / Content Covered

1. Motion Practice and Pleadings: Getting What You Want
   9:00 - 10:00, Curtis G. Barnhill
   
   1. Applying the Rules of Civil Procedure
   2. Pleadings Standards and Sufficiency
   3. Motion to Dismiss
   4. Summary Judgment Motions
   5. Motions in Limine
   6. Tips for Effective Brief Writing
2. Discovery, Depositions and Evidence Rules: Real-World Applications
   10:15 - 11:15, Thomas B. Diehl and Ronald P. Pope
   
   1. Effective Use of Discovery Tools (Interrogatories; Requests for Production; Requests for Admissions; Subpoenas)
   2. Obtaining Evidence From Electronic Devices
   3. Taking Depositions
   4. Defending Depositions (and Properly Using Objections)
   5. Evaluating Admissibility
   6. Laying a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced
   7. Witness Testimony and Reports
   8. Applying the Hearsay Rule and Exceptions
   9. Keeping Evidence Out
3. How to Authenticate Social Media, Email and Text Evidence
   11:15 - 12:15, Lewanna Bell-Lloyd
   
   1. Proactively Ensuring Authenticity
   2. Proving Electronic Documents Have Not Been Modified
   3. Identifying Who Made the Post and Linking to the Purported Author
   4. Authenticating Through Witness Testimony
   5. Authenticating via Distinctive Characteristics and Circumstantial Evidence
   6. Self-Authentication Methods
4. Conducting Voir Dire and Jury Selection
   1:15 - 2:15, Ronald Schneider
   
   1. Preparing for Voir Dire
   2. Investigating Jurors
   3. Reading Personality Types and Non-Verbals
   4. Building Rapport
   5. Introducing Case Information
   6. Asking the Right Questions
   7. Eliciting Bias and Obtaining Cause Challenges
   8. Getting Quiet Jurors Talking
   9. Effective Use of Peremptory Challenges
5. Building Your Civil Trial Skills
   2:30 - 3:30, Christopher F. Pickering
   
   1. Opening Statements: Telling a Persuasive Story
   2. Conducting Direct Examination
   3. Cross-Examining and Impeaching Witnesses
   4. Using Objections
   5. Arguing Damages at Trial
   6. Delivering Summations and Jury Instructions
6. Legal Ethics: Avoiding Key Dangers
   3:30 - 4:30, Christopher F. Pickering
   
   1. The Lawyers as Advocate
   2. Social Media and Legal Ethics
   3. Communicating with Jurors
   4. Preparing Witnesses
   5. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
   6. Who is Represented?

CURTIS G. BARNHILL is a partner with Barnhill & Morse, P.A., where he practices in the areas of divorce, wills and trusts, probate administration and litigation, and civil mediation. Mr. Barnhill has engaged in litigation and motion practice in federal courts in the District of Kansas, the Eastern and Western districts of Missouri, the Northern District of Texas, the Central District of Illinois, the Western District of Washington, and the Northern District of California. He is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Douglas County Bar Association, and the Judge Hugh Means Inn of Court. Mr. Barnhill received his B.A. degree from Arizona State University, his M.A. degree from the University of Kansas and his J.D. degree from the University of Kansas. Additionally, Mr. Barnhill has a certificate in employee benefit plan administration from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and a certificate in employee benefit plans portfolio concepts and management, jointly from the Wharton School of Business and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

LEWANNA BELL-LLOYD is a sole practitioner in Olathe, where her main area of practice is family law. She earned her B.S.E. and J.D. degrees from the University of Kansas. Ms. Bell-Lloyd has spoken for various professional groups on topics relating to her area of practice. She is a member of the Johnson County and Kansas bar associations, and a past member of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Bell-Lloyd is admitted to practice in Kansas.

THOMAS B. DIEHL is an attorney with Ralston Pope & Diehl, LLC, where his practice focuses on plaintiff’s personal injury, with an emphasis in complex medical negligence, trucking accidents, and products liability cases. Mr. Diehl is a member of the Topeka Bar Association, Kansas Bar Association, American Association for Justice, and the National Trial Lawyers. He attended the University of Kansas and earned a B.A. degree, with distinction and university honors, and earned his J.D. degree from the University of Kansas.

CHRISTOPHER F. PICKERING is the principal attorney for The Pickering Law Firm, P.A. The firm's practice focuses on the issues businesses face during break up, shareholder disputes, and issues with principal employees leaving the business. After earning his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Iowa, Mr. Pickering earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Creighton University. From 1982 to 1984, he served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard H. Ralston, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri. Mr. Pickering is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Kansas Bar Association and the Bar of the Federal Courts for the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas. He is also admitted to practice in Colorado. Mr. Pickering is a chapter author for the revised Kansas Ethics Handbook, and is a frequent speaker on the subjects of trial advocacy and expert testimony.

RONALD P. POPE is a partner with Ralston Pope & Diehl, LLC, where he is a personal injury attorney who is dedicated to representing those injured by another’s negligence. Mr. Pope is admitted to practice in Kansas and Nebraska. He is a member of the Kansas and American bar associations, the Kansas Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Million Dollar Advocates Association. Mr. Pope is also an adjunct professor at the Washburn University School of Law. He has taught pre-trial techniques, trial techniques and litigation strategies. He earned his B.S. degree from Emporia State University and his J.D. degree from Washburn University School of Law.

RONALD SCHNEIDER is an attorney with Ronald Schneider, Attorney at Law, P.A., in Lawrence, where he focuses his practice in the areas of personal injury, land use and construction litigation. He has litigated and settled numerous personal injury cases involving motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, and injuries associated with negligent construction and design. Mr. Schneider is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, Douglas County Bar Association and the Douglas County Inns of Court Association. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Kansas, his M.A. degree from Kansas State University, and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri- Kansas City.