(1) Read Reviews Category: Civil Practice & Procedure, Discovery Category: Civil Practice & Procedure, Discovery (show less)

Is your client the victim of an accident? Are you afraid that you'll need worker's compensation from carrying evidence boxes and files around your office? Does the thought of deposing a treating physician have you seeking treatment?

If you've ever had these thoughts or any other fears about preparing for a civil trial, this course is for you! Pretrial Preparation for Civil Practice will walk you through all the major issues in preparing for a civil trial – from intake up to the day you pick your jury. Listen as some of the top civil attorneys in the state of Illinois talk about how to develop a plan for your case. Get information and guidance from both plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys with years of experience. Finally, learn better preparation skills to help ease your fears about succeeding in civil practice.

1. Intake: How to Choose Your Cases
   A number of factors go into the decision whether or not to take a case. Do you know which should be at the top of your list?

2. Developing a Prosecution or Defense Plan
   No two cases are identical. Let our experienced presenters help you figure out how to make the best plan for pursuing your client's needs.

3. Depositions
   A good deposition could make or break your case. Hear veteran attorneys discuss good questions and bad ones, how to work with bad answers, and more!

4. Deposing Adverse Parties & Expert Witnesses
   Do you know how to maintain control of a difficult witness? How do you ensure your jury understands the information from your treating physician? Come gain valuable tips on how to get the most out of an expert witness or an opposing party deposition.

5. Potential Pitfalls in Preparing for a Case
   Avoid making the kinds of mistakes that blow your case, make you look like a rookie, or land you in hot water with the ARDC with the guidance and instruction provided by our skilled speaker.

6. Written Discovery & Requests to Admit In this session, hear how to use written discovery to save time and money. Learn how phrasing your requests can make a difference and how your answers should be worded to avoid accidentally damaging your client's case.

7. Motions
   Understanding the proper use of motions is a major part of being a good trial lawyer. In this crash-course on motion practice, learn the basics of the process and how to use these tools to your client's best advantage.