Litigation and Trial Practice for the Legal Assistant

This is the definitive civil litigation book for paralegals. It covers all phases of litigation from the initial client conference to enforcement of judgments. The authors objective is to make paralegals full members of the litigation team, so they understand what is happening and why. Paralegals should feel as though they are contributors, not merely assisting. Therefore, the emphasis is on judicial procedures and rules of law, not generic law office procedures. The book explains important concepts such as jurisdiction, legal duty, cause of action, proximate cause and damages. It explains how an action is commenced and prosecuted, including pleadings, motions, pretrial conferences and trials. It brings together important subjects such as investigation, discovery, and experts. It explains how attorneys go about preparing for trial beginning with development of a legal theory, conducting legal analysis of claims and defenses, and developing trial strategies. Special attention is given to federal and state courts rules of civil procedure, so paralegals can understand and apply them. As chapters unfold, the book gives readers the opportunity to apply their new knowledge to various aspects of a hypothetical case. This book will also serve as a reference work which most paralegals will keep in their libraries for years to come.Blanchard, Roderick D. is the author of 'Litigation and Trial Practice for the Legal Assistant', published 2000 under ISBN 9780766827073 and ISBN 0766827070.