Litigation and Trial Practice » (6th Edition)

William Hart devotes his practice to appellate law, focusing on insurance coverage and general litigation matters. He has been voted a Minnesota Superlawyer and is currently listed in the top 100 of Minnesota Superlawyers and in the top 10 of Minnesota's appellate practitioners. He is also a frequent lecturer on appellate practice and procedure.

Roderick Blanchard has been a litigator for over twenty-five years. He previously taught civil litigation to paralegals at the University of Minnesota and is now a practicing attorney.

Litigation and Trial Practice for the Legal Assistant, sixth edition provides comprehensive coverage of the civil litigation practice for paralegals. This thoroughly revised text covers the litigation process from the pre suit investigation to the appeal. The text provides detailed information on how to assist the attorney at each phase as well as why each step is important to the clients success. Important topics such as litigation principles, lawyer and client relationship and ethics, gathering evidence, depositions, preparation for a civil trial, structure of a civil trial, judgments, appeals, and more are discussed in detail. A case study feature appears throughout the book and provides valuable opportunities for students to learn the practical, real life application of the concepts presented. The book also provides samples of the documents a litigation paralegal will most often be required to prepare. From the complaint and answer, to responses, to written discovery, to simple motions, this resource provides samples that a paralegal can readily adapt to real situations. Other special features of the text include chapter summaries that provide a quick overview of each topic, but with sufficient detail to really help the reader to understand the big picture of each chapter; and highlighted key terminology unique to litigation. A complete resource for the paralegal student, this book will also serve as a reference legal assistants can keep in their library for years to come.

Chapter 1: Litigation Principles Chapter 2: Lawyer and Client Relationship and Ethics Chapter 3: Court Organization Chapter 4: Causes of Action and Remedies Chapter 5: Affirmative Defenses Chapter 6: Introduction to Federal Procedure Chapter 7: Gathering Evidence Chapter 8: Evidence Chapter 9: Conducting an Investigation Chapter 10: Expert Witnesses Chapter 11: Interrogatories Chapter 12: Oral Depositions Chapter 13: Preparing Client for Deposition Chapter 14: Medical Examinations and Records Chapter 15: Inspection of Property, Documents, and Things Chapter 16: Requests for Admissions Chapter 17: Motions Chapter 18: Preparation for Trial Chapter 19: Structure of a Civil Trial Chapter 20: Judgments Chapter 21: Appeals Chapter 22: Settlements, Releases, and Dismissals Chapter 23: Arbitration and Mediation Glossary Appendix A: Time Table for Lawyers in Federal Civil Cases Appendix B: Deposition Transcript Appendix C: Intraoffice Memorandums