Agenda / Content Covered

1. Preparing Pleadings, Motions and Briefs
   9:00 - 9:45, Christopher Ford
   1. Drafting Pleadings (with Samples)
   2. Service and Filing (Including E-Filing)
   3. Drafting Common Motions (with Samples)
   4. Opposition, Affidavits, Memorandums and Orders
   5. Tips for Persuasive Writing and Cite-Checking
2. Litigation Case Management, Organization and Communication
   9:45 - 10:45, Christopher Ford
   1. Calendaring and Docketing
   2. Tracking Systems
   3. Document Management
   4. Organizing Case Files
   5. Coordinating Communications Between Parties
   6. Leveraging Technology in Litigation
   7. Savvy Legal Research and Online Investigation Tips
3. Discovery Requests, Responses and Document Productions
   11:00 - 11:45, Vivian Alexandrescu and Miranda Lathrop Barber
   1. Preparing Disclosure Statements
   2. Drafting Discovery Requests
   3. Preparation and Service of Subpoenas
   4. Responding and Objecting to Discovery Requests
   5. Document Retrieval, Review and Production
   6. Collecting, Reviewing and Producing Electronic Documents
   7. Creating Privilege Logs
4. Depositions: Scheduling, Preparation and Summaries
   11:45 - 12:45, BJ Fadem
   1. Setting up/Scheduling Depositions
   2. Deposition Preparation
   3. Reviewing and Summarizing Depositions
5. Preparing for Jury Selection and Instructions
   1:45 - 2:45, BJ Fadem
   1. Obtaining a List of Potential Jurors
   2. Preparing Juror Questionnaires
   3. Drafting Voir Dire Questions
   4. Researching Potential Jurors: Social Media and More
   5. Understanding Rules for Jury Challenges
6. Trial Preparation and Creating a Trial Notebook
   3:00 - 3:30, Miranda Lathrop Barber
   1. Preparing Trial Binders - Litigation vs. Chronological Notebook
   2. Organizing Exhibits and Other Demonstrative Evidence
   3. The Power of the Exhibit and Witness Lists
   4. Preservation of Evidence - Spoliation and Other Issues
   5. Locating and Communicating with Lay and Expert Witnesses
   6. Trial Site Preparation
   7. Assisting at Trial and Post-Trial Wrap-up
7. Ethics for Litigation Paralegals
   3:30 - 4:30, Miranda Lathrop Barber
   1. Avoiding UPL in Litigation
   2. Handling Client Files
   3. Billing and Timekeeping
   4. Ethics of Discovery and Evidence
   5. Maintaining Confidentiality

Accreditation Details:

VIVIAN ALEXANDRESCU is a paralegal with Structure Law Group, LLP. She hails from China and is multi-lingual, speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and Korean (and learning Japanese and Spanish). Previously, Ms. Alexandrescu worked for different companies on various projects. She has extensive experience and assists with both litigation and corporate matters. Ms. Alexandrescu received her J.D. degree from Zhejiang Gongshang and her LL.M. degree in law from the University of California, Davis.

BJ FADEM is the owner of the Law Offices of BJ Fadem & Associates, APC, in San Jose and Santa Rose. Within the area of family law, he has extensive experience in handling palimony, international jurisdiction matters, domestic partners/same sex marriage, and difficult custody cases. In addition, he litigates personal injury, property and general civil litigation cases. Throughout his career, Mr. Fadem has practiced many areas of law including, but not limited to, general civil litigation, real property, criminal defense, estate planning, probate, corporate transactions and litigation, business litigation, employment, and personal injury. He is the former chair of the Family Law Committee for the Santa Clara County Bar Association and is currently the chair of the Santa Clara County Bar Association Diversity Committee, Education Committee and co-chair of the Legislation Committee; as well as serves on the Executive Committee for the Santa Clara County Bar Association. Mr. Fadem is a member of the Minors' Counsel Committee, Domestic Violence Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. He also was appointed by Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell to serve on the San Jose Independent Police Auditors Advisory Commission, and continues to serve on the Commission. Mr. Fadem earned his B.S. degree in Microbiology from San Jose State University and attended one year of medical school at the University of California at Davis before returning to San Jose State University and earning his B.S. degree in Administration of Justice, and his J.D. degree from the Golden Gate University School of Law. He serves as a guest lecturer for Santa Clara University -School of Law.

CHRISTOPHER FORD is a paralegal with Structure Law Group, LLP. He has extensive experience and assists with both litigation and corporate matters. Mr. Ford received a master's degree in medieval history from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he graduated with Honors of the Second Class (Division 1). He received his paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego.

MIRANDA LATHROP BARBER is an attorney with Mattice Law Offices in Fairfield, California. Ms. Barber focuses her practice on family law and is a certified family law specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She has worked in conjunction with the local Solano County courts where she previously acted as an on-call, domestic violence beeper judge and served on the court's panel for minors' counsel, and currently sits on the court’s Family Law Planning Committee and Domestic Violence Court Committee. Ms. Barber has received more than 40 hours of training in mediation and offers mediation services as part of her practice. She has also served as a court appointed family law mediator. She has completed training in collaborative divorce. Ms. Barber has presented at local seminars on representing children, preparing judgments in family law cases, and ethics in family law; and is a frequent lecturer for National Business Institute. She is a member of the Solano County Bar Association and is an active member of the State Bar of California. She served as chair of the Solano County Bar Association's Family Law Committee in 2014 and vice-chair in 2013. Ms. Barber earned her B.A. degree from Washington State University and her J.D. degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.