Maricopa Community Colleges  LAS230   19896-19945 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 01/10/89
LAS230 19896-19945 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Litigation
Advanced litigation skills for legal assistants including case organization, interrogatory drafting and answering, document control, deposition preparation and summarization, large document case discovery, settlement offer evaluation, attorney assistance before and during trial, and trial notebook preparation. Prerequisites: Completion of Legal Assisting Degree or Certificate Program, or approval of program director/coordinator.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LAS230   19896-19945 Litigation
1. Perform the steps followed in organizing a case at its commencement. (I)
2. Describe the technical and tactical factors taken in drafting and answering interrogatories. (II)
3. Apply the basic principles underlying effective document control. (III)
4. Compare and contrast various techniques used to summarize depositions. (IV)
5. Assist an attorney in preparing for a deposition. (V)
6. Describe the procedures followed in systematically organizing the discovery documents in a large document case. (VI)
7. Assist an attorney in evaluating settlement offers. (VII)
8. Prepare a useful trial notebook. (VIII)
9. Assist an attorney in preparing witnesses and evidence for trial as well as assist in the courtroom during trial. (IX)
10. Use appropriate legal terminology in the context of litigation. (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LAS230   19896-19945 Litigation
    I. Organizing a case
        A. Checklists
        B. File organization
        C. Tickler system
      II. Interrogatories
          A. Drafting considerations
            1. Purpose
            2. Timing
            3. Question format
            4. Term definition
          B. Answering considerations
            1. Form of answer
            2. Content of answer
            3. Supplemental or correcting answers
          C. Standard objections
          D. Exhibits
        III. Document Control
            A. Production
            B. Organization
            C. Indexing
            D. Evidence and exhibit preparation
          IV. Summarizing Depositions
              A. Sequential summary
              B. Topical index
              C. Topical summary
              D. Post-deposition summary
            V. Preparing For Depositions
                A. Outlining
                B. Exhibits preparation
                C. Client preparation
                D. Deposition attendance
              VI. Large Document Discovery Cases
                  A. Location
                  B. Identification
                  C. Control
                  D. Retrieval
                  E. Return
                  F. Computerization
                VII. Settlement Offers
                    A. Damage calculations
                    B. Damage verification
                    C. Bill analysis
                    D. Special considerations
                  VIII. Trial Notebook
                      A. Purpose
                      B. Contents
                      C. Organization
                      D. Quick reference techniques
                    IX. Pretrial and Trial Work
                        A. Witness preparation
                        B. Exhibits
                        C. Demonstrative evidence
                        D. Jury selection
                        E. Courtroom logistics
                        F. Courtroom assistance
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