Agenda / Content Covered

9:00 am to 4:30 pm - All times are shown in Central time

1. GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR WITNESSES
   9:00 - 9:50, Kevin M. Madden
   
   1. Preparing the Client for Deposition and Trial
   2. Expert Witnesses
      1. Ways to Locate a Qualified Expert
      2. Expert Interrogatories
      3. Communication With the Expert Witness
   3. Lay Witnesses
2. PREPARING EVIDENCE AND EXHIBITS FOR TRIAL
   9:50 - 10:40, Kevin M. Madden
   
   1. Key Rules of Evidence and Why They Are Important
   2. Preservation of Evidence
      1. General Considerations
      2. Spoliation and Issues Related to Electronic Evidence
   3. Creating Demonstrative Evidence, Evidence and Exhibits for Use at Trial
   4. Using Technology to Present Evidence
3. ETHICAL QUESTIONS - THE PRACTICAL DO'S AND DON'TS
   10:55 - 11:55, Kristy Blurton
   
   1. Avoiding Situations That May Expose You to UPL
   2. Requirements for Attorney Supervision
   3. Evaluating Conflicts of Interest
   4. Managing Issues of Privilege
4. DRAFTING THE INITIAL PLEADINGS
   12:55 - 1:45, Jeffery W. McElroy
   
5. POWERFUL DISCOVERY TECHNIQUES
   1:45 - 2:35, Hugo Madrid
   
   1. Discovery Rules the Paralegal Needs to Know
   2. Establishing Goals and Timelines for Discovery
   3. Formal Discovery Procedures
      1. Initial Disclosures
      2. Request for Admissions
      3. Request for Production of Documents
      4. Interrogatories and Answers
      5. Document Production Issues
   4. Motions and Notices
   5. Using Informal Discovery and Public Sources of Information
6. INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT
   2:50 - 3:40, Kristy Blurton
   
   1. Initial Client Interview - Crucial Information to Capture
   2. Initial Research
   3. Understanding the Strategic Plan for the Case
7. EFFECTIVE DOCUMENT CONTROL AND ORGANIZATION
   3:40 - 4:30, Kristy Blurton
   
   1. Understanding the Merits of the Case
   2. Reviewing, Abstracting and Indexing Documents
   3. Organizing Electronic Information
   4. Handling Large Volume Discovery Document Management
   5. Using Technology in Document Control
      1. Document Management/Case Management Software
      2. When to Hire a Vendor

Accreditation Details:

KRISTY BLURTON is an attorney with Holmes, Diggs & Sadler, where she has dedicated her career to children and families caught up in the legal system. She practices in the areas of family law cases, including child support matters, enforcements, divorce, and child custody. Prior to working with Holmes, Diggs & Sadler, Ms. Blurton worked at Waco's Children's Advocacy Center and Harris County's Office of the District Attorney, Child Abuse Division, where she worked closely with district attorneys, forensic interviewers, CPS and law enforcement to address important and sensitive matters regarding the well-being of child victims and their families. She earned her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

KEVIN M. MADDEN is the founding member of the Law Offices of Kevin Michael Madden, P.L.L.C., where he practices in the areas of civil trial practice, commercial litigation, business litigation, construction law, and employment law. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. District Court, the Southern District of Texas, and the Eastern District Court of Texas. Mr. Madden was the articles editor for the Houston Journal of International Law. He was the judicial intern to the Honorable David Hittner, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Mr. Madden was a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph James "Tad" Halbach, Jr., 333rd District Court, Harris County, Texas. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Young Lawyers Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, his B.S. degree from the University of Houston and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

HUGO MADRID is a partner with the law firm Pierce & Madrid, P.C. He has a broad range of experience representing various types of domestic, national, and international businesses and individuals; in the defense of truck and transportation related claims and in the defense of personal injury claims; in representing secured and unsecured creditors in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts; in the formation and dissolution of partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, professional associations, and other business related transactions; and representing businesses with respect to the interpretation and formation of contracts, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation, and employment agreements. Mr. Madrid is admitted to practice in Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas and Delaware. He is a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the El Paso Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association. Mr. Madrid received his B.A. degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and his J.D. degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

JEFFERY W. MCELROY is an attorney with Ray, Pena & McChristian, P.C. He is an experienced personal injury lawyer who focuses on general personal injury defense litigation. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the El Paso Bar Association, and the State Bar of New Mexico. Mr. McElroy is admitted to practice in New Mexico; Texas; the U.S. District Court ,District of New Mexico; and the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. He received his B.A. degree from Baylor University and his J.D. degree from Baylor University School of Law.