Civil Litigation Practice
What do civil litigators do? This course explains the typical roles in a civil litigation group at a law firm, including partners, counsel, associates, and paralegals, and also describes the role of the client.
The Phases of Civil Litigation
This course explains the life cycle of a civil litigation case, from filing the complaint to conducting discovery to judgment and appeals.
Preparing for Trial
Once it’s clear a case is going to trial, there’s a lot to do to get ready for it. This course covers the main tasks involved, from pre-trial motions and exhibit lists to jury selection and closing arguments.
Privilege in Litigation
Protecting privileged information is critical in litigation. This course explains privilege and work product, what to do if protected information is sent to the other side, clawbacks, privilege waivers, and joint defense groups.
Litigation Holds
Litigation holds (also called Document Retention Notices) help ensure that documents that may be relevant to a lawsuit are preserved. This course explains litigation holds, including what they cover, who they’re sent to, when they’re sent, and when they need to be updated.
The Complaint
The complaint is the pleading that formally starts a lawsuit. This course provides an introduction to complaints, including the typical structure and content, pre-filing considerations, and ethical obligations when filing a complaint.
Answering a Complaint
Answers respond to the allegations in a complaint. This course covers the main parts of an answer, how to respond to factual allegations, affirmative defenses, counterclaims, and cross-claims.
Introduction to Motion Practice
An introduction to motion practice, including the typical briefing process, the ways a motion can be made, the contents of a typical motion, and strategic considerations when drafting a brief.
Civil Discovery
An overview of the typical civil litigation discovery process, including the different types of discovery, the process of serving and responding to discovery requests, and the phases of discovery.
E-Discovery
E-discovery is an important part of document discovery. This course introduces lawyers to key concepts in e-discovery including terminology, how electronically stored information (ESI) is collected, and working with clients and opposing counsel to gather information.
Discovery Requests
Lawyers use requests for production, interrogatories, and requests for admission to get different types of information during discovery. This course explains these discovery requests, including what sections appear in typical requests and related drafting tips.
Discovery Responses and Objections
After receiving a discovery request, a party will prepare written responses and objections. This course explains written responses and objections to document requests, interrogatories, and requests for admission.
Document Review and Production
An overview of how to conduct a document review, including an explanation of the various purposes and goals and how a review might be structured. Also includes an introduction to producing documents and drafting production cover letters.
10 Tips for Doc Review
Practical tips for lawyers new to conducting a document review. Includes tips on how to add value, organizing and escalating documents, and managing mistakes.
Introduction to Depositions
An introduction to depositions, including why they’re used, the different types of depositions, deposition procedure, and objections made during depositions.
Tips for Deposition Prep
Effective depositions require a lot of preparation. This course provides tips on how associates can best help their teams prepare to take or defend depositions, including selecting documents for the deposition prep binder, preparing a deposition outline, and preparing witnesses to testify.
Motion to Dismiss
An overview of motions to dismiss, including grounds for filing, the filing process, and how a motion to dismiss may affect the schedule of the litigation for different types of cases.
Motion for Summary Judgment
A discussion of the fundamentals of moving for and opposing summary judgment.
Priv Logs
An introduction to privilege logs, including what priv logs are, how to identify the documents that need to be logged, preparing the privilege logs, and reviewing the other side’s logs.
Expert Witnesses
An overview of working with expert witnesses, including consulting and testifying experts, qualification as an expert under the applicable rules, attorney-client privilege considerations, and expert and rebuttal reports.