Training Course Syllabus:

Reach a Civil Litigation Resolution as Quickly as Possible - With Insight From the Bench

When was the last time that you had an easy and convenient way to spend a day with the justices you come before - and hear their thoughts on the law, on legal practices and on personal likes and dislikes in their courtrooms? This unique program has been designed to give you the chance to interact directly with your local supreme court justices - and ask them the questions that are on your mind. You'll gain insights that will help you to customize your presentation to each justice's specific likes and dislikes, discuss what juries think about trial attorneys - and learn ways to reconcile them with the fact that they are leaving their normal lives to help decide your cases. Take this day to listen, learn and get the answers to the questions that you have wanted to ask a supreme court justice! Enroll today!

• Learn what the justices prefer at case management and pretrial conferences.
• Form solid working relationships with court administrative staff.
• Be confident that you're correctly handling motion hearings and motions for summary judgment.
• Utilize discovery practices that are effective and ethical.
• Learn tips and tricks to implement in your next set of voir dire questions.
• Identify the most common witness and evidence errors that justices hope you'll avoid.
• Have the ability to ask any question and hear an answer from each panel justice.
• Get the justices' perspectives on vital topics such as scheduling orders and discovery issues.
• Successfully commence and defend initial proceedings using the justices' recommendations.
• Learn powerful strategies for dealing with civil cases.
• Include the elements that matter to justices when they make decisions about your cases.
• Learn what the specific nuances are for each justice so that you can tailor your practices to suit that courtroom prior to trial.

AM Session: 9:00 – 12:00
Panel Members: Justice Lawrence S. Knipel, Justice Arthur M. Schack, Justice Martin M. Solomon and Justice Ellen Spodek

1. CASE MANAGEMENT AND PRETRIAL CONFERENCES
   1. Case Management
   2. Tips for a Productive Settlement Conference
   3. Mistakes to Avoid at the Pretrial Conference
2. SCHEDULING ORDERS
3. EFFECTIVE AND INEFFECTIVE DISCOVERY PRACTICES
   1. Interrogatories
   2. Be Careful What You Object To
   3. Discovery Issues Justices Should Never Hear
   4. The Emerging World of E-Discovery
   5. Getting Accurate Answers From Your Clients
4. MOTION HEARING - WHEN, WHY, AND HOW?
   1. Discovery Disputes
   2. Filing Dispositive Motions
   3. Motions in Limine
5. JUSTICES’ VIEWS ON TECHNOLOGY IN THE COURTROOM
   1. What Technology is Available?
   2. Advantages/Disadvantages of High-Tech Presentations
   3. Evidentiary Issues Relative to the Use of Technology in the Courtroom

PM Session: 1:00 – 4:30
Panel Members: Justice Abraham G. Gerges, Justice Lawrence S. Knipel, Justice Arthur M. Schack, Justice Martin M. Solomon and Justice Ellen Spodek

6. VOIR DIRE: DO'S AND DON'TS
7. TRIAL PRACTICE TIPS IN CIVIL COURT
   1. How to be "Trial Ready"
   2. Jury Instructions Beyond the Standard List
   3. The Value of a Good Appearance
8. WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE: MISTAKES TO AVOID
   1. How a Witness Ruins a "Good" Case
   2. Expert Witnesses
   3. Introducing Evidence at Trial
   4. The Proper Way to Object in Court
   5. Learning When Not to Object
   6. When is a Side Bar Appropriate?
9. OPENING STATEMENTS AND CLOSING ARGUMENTS
   1. What is an Opening Statement?
   2. The Significance of an Opening Statement
   3. Effective Closing Argument Strategies
   4. Objecting During Argument

Seminar Summary:

his unique program has been designed to give you the chance to interact directly with your local supreme court justices - and ask them the questions that are on your mind. (see full course description)

print this agenda