Litigation and Trial Practice for the Legal Assistant

This book is the most comprehensive text available and examines all facets of civil litigation. This is the only litigation text for the paralegal that makes an effort to explain legal theory and trial strategy. The focus is on judicial procedures and rules of law, not generic law office procedures. The authors' objective is to make paralegal full members of the litigation team so they know what is happening and what the next step should be. Paralegals should feel as though they are contributors, not merely assisting. Since civil litigation is directed and controlled by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this book focuses on the rules, explains those rules, how they operate and how they apply to a paralegal's work. Paralegals who master the information in this book will be able to communicate effectively with lawyers about civil litigation matters.

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.

Booknews

New edition of a text that prepares paralegal students to work with lawyers as members of a litigation team. Roderick Blanchard (specialist in civil litigation) and Robert S. Blanchard (president of a strategic counseling firm) present 23 chapters that describe and explain the civil justice system and explain how courts are organized, how they function, what lawyers do to make the system work, what paralegals may do, and how they should do it. Their pragmatic approach discusses litigation procedures as they actually are conducted. Each chapter starts with a hypothetical case. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Roderick Blanchard has been a litigator for over twenty-five years. He previously taught civil litigation to paralegals at the University of Minnesota and is now a practicing attorney.