The paralegal's handbook
By: Anita G Haworth, Lesley G. Cox
Contributors: Cox, Lesley G.
Edition: Updated and rev. ed.
Publisher: Kaplan Pub.
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 246
ISBN-13: 9781607147138
Subjects: Legal assistants; Handbooks, manuals
Description: A handbook for practicing and aspiring paralegals to the responsibilities and tasks of the field.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: 1. Overview of paralegal practice. Utilization; title: Ethical responsibilities of paralegals : Confidentiality rules; title: Unauthorized practice of Law : Definitions; title: 2. Investigation and fact gathering. The basics : Resources ; Getting to work ; The interview ; During and after the interview ; Investigating people and companies ; Investigating the location ; Investigating and gathering documents ; Electronic documents ; Investigating other "things" and sources of information ; Wrap-up ; Trial presentation software; title: 3. Document management. Basic file management; title: Computer file organization; title: Developing a system; title: Maintaining the system; title: Numbering documents; title: Indexing documents; title: Creating a database; title: Hardware and software; title: Imaging documents; title: Privileged versus non-privileged documents; title: Using binders for organization; title: Managing trial documents; title: Conclusion of the case; title: Preparing files for storage; title: Practice-related documents and files; title: 4. Discovery. Scope of discovery ; What is discoverable? ; What is not discoverable?; title: Interrogatories : Reasons for using interrogatories ; Advantages of interrogatories ; Disadvantages of interrogatories ; Preparing to draft interrogatories; title: General topics : Drafting interrogatories ; Responding to interrogatories ; Objections to interrogatories ; Supplementing and amending responses; title: Requests for production of documents : Preparing to draft requests for production ; Drafting requests to produce documents ; Responding to requests for production of documents; title: Requests for admissions : Preparing to draft requests for admissions ; Drafting requests for admissions ; Requests for admissions of the genuineness of documents ; Requests for admissions as follow-up to other discovery ; Responding to requests for admissions ; Five basic responses to requests for admissions ; Withdrawal and amendment of response to requests for admissions ; Using requests for admissions at trial ; Requests for admissions in large cases; title: Depositions : Discovery depositions ; Evidentiary depositions; title: Conclusion; title: -; title: 5. Trial preparation and presentation. Preparing for mediation and trial : Assemble the trial team ; Establish the agenda ; Determine how work will be distributed ; Establish a timetable ; Develop a theme of the case ; Think toward the end as you begin ; Develop a settlement brochure or demand ; Mediation ; Pre-trial order ; Discovery ; File control ; Planning the "show" ; Exhibits and demonstrative evidence ; Courtroom logistics ; Trial notebook ; Paralegal trial notebook ; Getting ready to move ; Show time ; Grand finale ; Taking the show on the road ; Post-trial; title: 6. Areas of practice. Domestic relations/family law ; Probate and estate ; Corporate ; Intellectual property ; Real estate ; Personal injury ; Other ; Conclusion; title: Appendix A. E-discovery for the paralegal; title: Appendix B. National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.; title: Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Guidelines for Enforcement; title: Appendix C. Samples and forms. Domestic relations/family law forms : Simple petition for dissolution ; Petition for dissolution (detailed) ; Financial declaration ; Marital estate summary and proposed division ; Interrogatories to respondent ; Request for production of documents; title: Litigation forms : Federal court subpoena ; Federal court summons ; Federal court case management plan summary; title: Discovery forms and information : Deposition instructions ; Proposed case management plan and pretrial order ; Interrogatories to company, personal injury ; Interrogatories to individual, personal injury ; Request for production, personal injury ; Request for admissions, personal injury.