Federal Court Fundamentals for Paralegals

Agenda / Content Covered

10:00 — 12:00, Cari Sheehan

1. Navigating the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence
2. Initial Court Procedures - What Paralegals Need to Know
   1. Federal Court: Procedures, Timeline, and the Paralegal's Role
   2. Tracking Federal Court Deadlines
   3. Jurisdiction/Venue
   4. Procedures for Removal
   5. Drafting Pleadings
   6. Service of Documents: Procedures and Tips
   7. Dismissal Procedures
   8. What to Watch for When Filing a Civil Case
3. Discovery in Federal Court - Applicable Rules, Practice Tips, and Resources
   1. Overview of the FRCP as Applied to Discovery
   2. Rule 26(f) Pretrial Conference - What to Expect and How to Prepare
   3. Initial Disclosures
   4. Interrogatories - Maximizing Effectiveness and Problem-Spotting Examples
   5. Requests to Produce - Ensuring Substantive Responses
   6. Subpoenas
   7. Creative and Effective Use of Admissions
   8. Drafting Discovery Motions (With Examples)
   9. Receiving Discovery: Dos, Don'ts, and Drafting Responses
   10. Avoiding Common Discovery and ESI Mistakes

12:15 — 1:15, Robert Kasieta

4. Trial Preparation and Attendance
   1. Developing an Effective Trial Plan
   2. Evaluating Potential Jurors
   3. Tips for Assisting With the Preparation of Witnesses
   4. FRCP 30, Scheduling and Summarizing Depositions
   5. Organizing and Preparing File Exhibits (With Sample Exhibit List)
   6. Assisting at Trial: What Judges, Attorneys, and Jury Members do Not Want to See

Accreditation Details:

Robert J Kasieta is the founder of Kasieta Legal Group, LLC, in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a certified civil pretrial and trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Kasieta practices in civil litigation, with an emphasis on plaintiff personal injury and employment cases, as well as commercial litigation. He has written and taught extensively in the areas of trial practice, personal injury law and insurance law, and is an instructor of trial practice at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mr. Kasieta is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and all Wisconsin courts. He is a member of the Dane County Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, and the American Association for Justice. Mr. Kasieta earned his B.S. degree, summa cum laude, from Northern Michigan University and his J.D. degree from Marquette University Law School.

 

Cari L Sheehan is of counsel in Barnes & Thornburg, LLP's Indianapolis office and is a member of the Litigation Department. Ms. Sheehan serves as professional responsibility counsel to the firm and focuses on various legal ethics and professional responsibility matters. She has represented clients in state and federal courts in Indiana and Illinois. Ms. Sheehan is admitted to practice in Indiana and Illinois. Ms. Sheehan also is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Indiana, U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern districts of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District of Indiana and Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association, Indianapolis Bar Association, and the Saint Thomas More Legal Society. She earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Southern Indiana and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.