The Paralegal's Handbook: A Complete Reference for All Your Daily Tasks [NOOK Book]

Overview of Paralegal Practice     1
Utilization     2
Ethical Responsibilities of Paralegals     6
Unauthorized Practice of Law     9
Investigation and Fact Gathering     13
The Basics     13
Resources     16
Getting to Work     19
The Interview     22
During and After the Interview     26
Investigating People and Companies     28
Investigating the Location     30
Investigating and Gathering Documents     32
Electronic Documents     34
Investigating Other "Things" and Sources of Information     34
Wrap-up     35
Trial Presentation Software     37
Document Management     39
Basic File Management     39
Computer File Organization     40
Developing a System     41
Maintaining the System     43
Numbering Documents     43
Indexing Documents     44
Creating a Database     45
Hardware and Software     46
Imaging Documents     46
Privileged Versus Non-Privileged Documents     48
Using Binders for Organization     49
Managing Trial Documents     51
Conclusion of the Case     52
Preparing files for Storage     53
Practice-Related Documents and Files     54
Discovery     55
Scope of Discovery     56
What is Discoverable?     56
What is Not Discoverable?     57
Interrogatories     58
Reasons for Using Interrogatories     58
Advantages of Interrogatories     59
Disadvantages of Interrogatories     59
Preparing to Draft Interrogatories     59
General Topics     61
Drafting Interrogatories     62
Responding to Interrogatories     63
Objections to Interrogatories     65
Supplementing and Amending Interrogatories     67
Requests for Production of Documents     67
Preparing to Draft Requests for Production     68
Drafting Requests to Produce Documents     68
Responding to Requests for Production of Documents     70
Requests for Admissions     72
Preparing to Draft Requests for Admissions     73
Drafting Requests for Admissions     74
Requests for Admissions of the Genuineness of Documents      75
Requests for Admissions as Follow-up to Other Discovery     75
Responding to Requests for Admissions     75
Five Basic Responses to Requests for Admissions     76
Withdrawal and Amendment of Response to Request for Admissions     77
Using Requests for Admissions at Trial     77
Requests for Admissions in Large Cases     78
Depositions     78
Discovery Depositions     79
Evidentiary Depositions     80
Conclusion     81
Trial Preparation and Presentation     83
Preparing for Meditation and Trial     84
Assemble the Trial Team     84
Establish the Agenda     85
Determine How Work Will be Distributed     85
Establish a Timetable     85
Develop a Theme of the Case     85
Think Toward the End as You Begin     86
Develop a Settlement Brochure or Demand     86
Mediation     87
Pre-Trial Order     88
Discovery     89
File Control     90
Planning the "Show"     91
Exhibits and Demonstrative Evidence     93
Courtroom Logistics     95
Trial Notebook      96
Paralegal Trial Notebook     99
Getting Ready to Move     100
Show Time     102
Grand Finale     103
Taking the Show on the Road     104
Post-Trial     108
Areas of Practice     109
Domestic Relations/Family Law     110
Probate and Estate     115
Corporate     117
Intellectual Property     120
Real Estate     121
Personal Injury     124
Other     129
Conclusion     130
National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. Model Cod of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Guidelines for Enforcement     131
Samples and Forms     147
Domestic Relations/Family Law Forms     147
Simple Petition for Dissolution     147
Petition for Dissolution (Detailed)     149
Financial Declaration     154
Marital Estate Summary and Proposed Division     157
Interrogatories to Respondent     159
Request for Production of Documents     172
Litigation Forms     176
Federal Court Subpoena     176
Federal Court Summons     178
Federal Court Case Management Plan Summary     180
Discovery Forms and Information     182
Deposition Instructions     182
Interrogatories to Company - Personal Injury     185
Interrogatories to Individual - Personal Injury     190
Request for Production - Personal Injury     200
Request for Admissions - Personal Injury     205
Index     209