Agenda / Content Covered

1. INITIAL INTERVIEWS AND PLEADINGS
   9:00 - 9:40, Jami L. Walker
   
   1. Effective Screening and Conflict Checking Processes
   2. Initial Interview and Fact Gathering
   3. Assisting With Initial Pleadings and Motions
2. DISCOVERY GUIDELINES
   9:40 - 10:25, Jami L. Walker
   
   1. Formal and Informal Discovery Methods
   2. Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents
   3. Answering Discovery Requests
   4. Analysis and Summary of Documents
3. CASE MANAGEMENT TIPS
   10:40 - 11:20, Christine Douglas
   
   1. Creating a Comprehensive Divorce Checklist
   2. Calendaring and Follow-Up Systems
   3. Organizing, Indexing and Tracking Client Documents
   4. Document Management Strategies for Produced Materials
   5. Tips and Techniques for Effective Time and Task Management
4. KEYS TO MANAGING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   11:20 - 12:05, Christine Douglas
   
   1. What Documents are Important?
   2. Finding "Hidden" Information
   3. Characterizing Assets and Liabilities
   4. Financial Analysis and Balance Sheet Preparation
      1. Real Property
      2. Personal Property
      3. Debts and Liabilities
      4. Retirement Plans/Pensions
      5. Investments
      6. Business Interests
      7. Other Key Assets and Liabilities
   5. Working With Financial Experts
   6. Drafting the Financial Disclosure Statement
5. CHILD SUPPORT AND CUSTODY ISSUES
   1:05 - 1:50, Julie C. Dixon
   
   1. Determining and Calculating Child Support
   2. Preparing Child Support Worksheets
   3. Arrearage Calculations and Wage Assignments
   4. Working With Child Custody Experts
   5. Drafting of Parenting Plans, Agreements and Schedules
6. YOUR ROLE DURING SETTLEMENT AND TRIAL
   1:50 - 2:30, Madeline Q. Bartholomew and Julie C. Dixon
   
   1. Initial Drafting of Legal Documents
   2. Preparation of Trial Exhibits and Notebooks
   3. Management of Experts and Lay Witnesses
7. QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS (QDROs)
   2:45 - 3:30, Julie C. Dixon
   
   1. What is a QDRO?
   2. Why Do We Need QDROs?
   3. Why Retirement Accounts are Different from Other Assets?
   4. What Can I Do as a Paralegal to Help the Managing Attorney Prepare to Divide a Retirement Account?
   5. Timing Issues and Helping the Client Get Their Money
8. ETHICAL QUESTIONS
   3:30 - 4:30, Matthew P. Dinn
   
   1. Avoiding Situations That May Expose You to UPL
   2. Evaluating Conflicts of Interest
   3. Managing Issues of Privilege

Accreditation Details:

MADELINE Q. BARTHOLOMEW is a paralegal with Ciyou & Dixon PC. Ms. Bartholomew has paralegal experience in all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody, modifications of custody, support and parenting time, and paternity matters. She assists clients by providing regular contact and updates, managing the discovery process, maintaining the case calendar and deadlines, drafting of pleadings and settlement agreements, researching, and attending hearings. Ms. Bartholomew also maintains all document production and the client case file, and is integral in preparing for mediations, hearings and trials. She graduated from IUPUI with her bachelor’s degree and paralegal certificate.

MATTHEW P. DINN is a partner with the Indianapolis law firm of Popcheff & Dinn, LLP. He focuses most of his practice on family law issues and also owns Brightline Legal Consulting, a practice management and practice development company that helps solo and small firm attorneys become better business owners. Mr. Dinn also assists small business clients with contracts, policies and strategic planning. He is an active member in the Indiana State Bar Association, the Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts (AFCC), and a former member of the second Indiana State Bar Association Leadership Development Academy. Mr. Dinn regularly volunteers with the Indianapolis Bar Association, and sits on the IndyBar Pro Bono Committee, in addition to being a volunteer guardian ad litem for Kids‘ Voice of Indiana. He earned his B.A. degree from DePauw University and his J.D. degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

JULIE C. DIXON is a shareholder at Ciyou & Dixon PC., where she practices in the areas of family law, including complex financial components of domestic relations and business matters; and estates. Ms. Dixon has co-written, taught and researched several articles on family law and domestic relations matters. She earned her B.S. degree from the Indiana University, Bloomington, and her J.D. degree from the Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis. Ms. Dixon is a member of the Indianapolis, Indiana State, and the Boone County bar associations. She practices in counties throughout the state of Indiana.

CHRISTINE DOUGLAS is the founding member of KEATING DOUGLAS. She practices solely in the area of family law and is a certified family law specialist, as certified by the Family Law Certification Board. Ms. Douglas helps individuals resolve a variety of issues that arise in non-traditional and traditional families. Her practice includes: adoptions, custody disputes, domestic partnership agreements, divorces, grandparent visitation, guardianships, parenting time enforcement, paternity cases and premarital agreements. She has extensive mediation and trial experience and completed the American Bar Association's Family Law Trial Advocacy program. Ms. Douglas has been practicing for more than 20 years managing complex family law matters. Additionally, she is a trained collaborative law attorney, parenting coordinator and guardian ad litem and prefers seeking holistic resolutions in family law matters. She received her B.A. degree from Purdue University and earned her J.D. degree from Valparaiso University School of Law.

JAMI L. WALKER is the office manager/paralegal with Fehrenbacher Taylor Law Office. Some of Ms. Walker’s duties include initial screening of potential clients; conflict checks; draft and finalize all discovery responses; review incoming discovery responses and summarize/itemize; prepare discovery memorandum; calendar all incoming and outgoing discovery; prepare correspondence and various pleadings in regard to each case as requested; discuss cases with clients; in depth review and analysis of case information and initial file memos, including timeline of case thus far for attorney review; e-filing; preparation of trial notebooks; hearing preparation; scheduling depositions and hearings; collections; answer phones, copying, scanning and faxing; training new employees/attorneys; assist with interviewing potential employees; and process payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, benefits, and other managerial duties. Ms. Walker has been a paralegal for about 18 years. She has also served as deposition transcriptionist. She has worked for several attorneys in Indiana doing criminal, family, wills/estates, and personal injury law and also worked for the Department of Child Services. Ms. Walker attended Ivy Tech State College.