Legal Studies & Paralegal

The purpose of this book is to not only introduce the reader to the skills and tools needed to be a paralegal, but also to show how these tools are used within the rules, laws, and guidelines followed in the State of California.

PREFACE

SECTION 1

1                    Introduction to Litigation

1.1               The Rules of Litigation

1.2               Meeting the Potential Client

1.3               Conflicts of Interest (Prof. Cond. Rules § 3-300 et seq.)

1.4               Statute of Limitations (CCP § 312 et seq.)

 

SECTION 2      

2                    Organization of the Courts (CCP § 85)

2.1               The Superior Court

2.2               Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CCP § 86 et seq.)

2.3               Small Claims Court

3                    The Pleading Manager

3.1               The Peculiar Science (CCP § 420)

3.2               The Paralegal’s Duties

3.3               Compliance with Rules

3.4               Filing with the Court (CCP § 392 et seq.)

4                    Jurisdiction and Venue (CCP § et seq.)

4.1               Definition

4.2               Subject Matter Jurisdiction

4.3               Personal Jurisdiction

4.4               Corporate/Business Jurisdiction

4.5               Real Property Jurisdiction

4.6               In Rem/Quasi In Rem Jurisdiction

5                    Venue: Defined

5.1               Determining Venue

6                    Admission to the Bar Pro Hac Vice (CRC § 983)

6.1               Eligibility for Admission

6.2               Application for Admission

 

SECTION 3

7                    The Complaint (CCP § 425)

7.1               Divisions of the Complaint (CCP § 425.10)

7.2               Drafting the Complaint: The Capacity of the Parties

8                    Causes of Action

8.1               Contractual Causes of Action

8.2               Wrongful Death Causes of Action (CCP § 377 et seq.)

8.3               Business-Related Torts

9                    Amending the Complaint (CCP § 471.5)

9.1               Format

9.2               Procedure for Amending the Complaint

9.3               Ex Parte Amendment

9.4               Adding Doe Defendants

9.5               Amendment to Correct an Error (CCP § 473 (a)(1))

10                 The Summons (CCP § 412.10)

10.1            Contents of the Summons (CCP § 412.20)

10.2            Summons Directed to a Corporation (CCP § 412.30)

 

SECTION 4

11                 Service of Process (CCP § 413.10)

11.1            Who May Serve (CCP 414.10)

11.2            Methods of Service

11.3            Special Circumstances

11.4            Other Methods of Service

11.5            Out-of-State Service

12                 Proof of Service (CCP § 417.10)

12.1            Personal Service

12.2            Substitute Service on an Individual

12.3            Service by Acknowledgment

12.4            Service by Publication

12.5            Service Outside of the State

13                 Service of Pleadings

13.1            Personal Service (CCP § 1011)

13.2            Service by Mail (CCP § 1012, 1013)

14                 Calendaring the Response

 

SECTION 5

15                 The Answer (CCP § 431.10)

15.1            Definition

15.2            General Denial (CCP § 431.40)

15.3            Response to the Allegations

15.4            Affirmative Defenses

15.5            Contractual Affirmative Defenses

15.6            Tort Affirmative Defenses

16                 Cross-Complain (CCP § 426.10)

16.1            Definition

16.2            Procedure

16.3            Service

17                 Joinder

17.1            Definition

17.2            When Available to Plaintiffs (CCP § 378)

17.3            When Available to Defendants (CCP § 379)

17.4            Notes to Joinder

18                 Motion to Strike/Demurrer

18.1            Special Grounds for a Demurrer to a Complaint (CCP § 430.20)

18.2            General Grounds for a Demurrer to a Complaint (CCP § 430.20)

18.3            Demurrer to an Answer (CCP § 430.10)

18.4            Deadline for Filing (CCP § 430.30)

18.5            Ruling on the Motion (CCP § 472a)

19                 Motion to Dismiss (CCP § 418.10)

20                 Pleadings in Limited Civil Cases (CCP § 91 et seq.)

20.1            Limit of Filings

20.2            The Case Questionnaire (CCP § 93(a))

SECTION 6

21                 Motion Practice

21.1            Definition

21.2            Points Common to All Motions

21.3            Parts of the Motion

21.4            Opposition to the Motion

21.5            Reply Brief

21.6            Joinder on a Motion

21.7            Preparing the Order

21.8            Motion for Reconsideration (CCP § 1008)

22                 Declaration: Definition

22.1            Contents of the Declaration

22.2            Evidentiary Content of the Declaration

22.3            Electronically Transmitted Declarations

22.4            Expert Witness Declaration

22.5            Challenging the Declaration

23                 Managing the Motion Practice

23.1            Preliminary Steps

23.2            Cite-Checking the Brief

23.3            Preparing the Tables

23.4            Filing the Brief

23.5            Hearing Books

 

SECTION 7      

        24           Default and Default Judgment      (CCP § 585)

                        24.1            Definition

24.2            Entry of Default

24.3            Entry of Default Judgment

24.4            Relief from Default (CCP § 473 (b))

25            Dismissal (CCP § 581)

25.1            Definition

25.2            Methods of Dismissal

25.3            When Dismissal is Not Appropriate

26            Summary Judgment/Summary Adjudication (CCP § 437)

26.1            Definition

26.2            Timing

26.3            Service of the Motion

26.4            Contents of the Motion

26.5            Determining the Motion

26.6            Ruling on the Motion

27           Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (CCP § 438)

27.1            Definition

27.2            Grounds for the Motion

27.3            Timing of the Motion

27.4            Ruling on the Motion

28            Arbitration

28.1            Definition (CCP § 1280 et seq.)

28.2            Types of Arbitration

28.3            Referral to Arbitration

28.4            Petition to Arbitrate

28.5            Conduct of the Arbitration

28.6            The Arbitrator

28.7            Discovery in the Arbitration

28.8            Arbitration Award (CCP § 1283.4)

28.9            Correcting the Arbitration (CCP § 1284)

28.10        Payment for the Arbitration

28.11        Confirmation of the Arbitration (CCP § 1285)

28.12        Contents of the Petition

28.13        Response to the Petition

28.14        Vacating the Aware

29   Judicial Arbitration

29.1            Judicial Arbitration/Definition (CCP § 1141.10)

29.2            Mandatory Assignment to Judicial Arbitration (CCP § 1141.11)

29.3            Cases Exempt from Judicial Arbitration (CRC § 1600.5)

29.4            Case Questionnaires

29.5            Optional Assignment to Arbitration (CCP § 1141.12)

29.6            Assignment Conference (CCP § 1141.16)

29.7            Notes on Arbitration

29.8            Assignment of Arbitrators (CCP § 1141.18)

29.9            Method of Assignment (CRC § 1605)

29.10        Disqualification of the Arbitrator (CRC § 1606)

29.11        Notes on the Conduct of Judicial Arbitration

29.12        Arbitration Hearings (CRC § 1611)

29.13        Discovery (CRC § 1612)

29.14        Rules of Evidence at Hearing (CRC § 1613)

29.15        Conduct of the Hearing (CRC § 1614)

29.16        Arbitration Award (CCP § 1141.23)

29.17        Election of a Trial de Novo

29.18        Award at the Trail de Novo (CCP § 1141.21)

29.19        Discovery Before the Trial de Novo (CCP § 1141.24)

30            Mediation

30.1            The Mediator

30.2            The Goals of the Mediation

 

SECTION 8

            31            Attachment

31.1            Situations Where Attachment is Available (CCP § 483.010)

31.2            Amount that May be Subject to Attachment (CCP § 483.015)

31.3            Procedure for Obtaining the Writ (CCP § 484.010)

31.4            Opposing the Issuance of the Writ (CCP § 484.060)

31.5            Hearing on the Motion (CCP § 484.080)

31.6            Property Subject to Attachment (CCP § 487.010)

31.7            Property Exempt from Attachment

32         Claim and Deliver

32.1            Definition

32.2            Obtaining a Claim and Delivery Order

32.3            Opposing the Request for Claim and Delivery

32.4            Hearing on the Motion

32.5            Court Deposit (CCP § 572)

33         Injunctive Relief (CCP § 525)

33.1            When Available (CCP § 526)

33.2            When Not Available

33.3            Classification of Injunctions by Duration

33.4            Requirements for Issuance of Injunction

34            Interpleader (CCP § 386)

34.1            Availability of the Procedure

35            Lis Pendens (CCP § 405)

35.1            Procedure for Obtaining a Lis Pendens

35.2            Removing a Lis Pendens

36            Appointment of a Receiver

 

SECTION 9

37            Introduction to Discovery

37.1            What Information May Be Discovered (CCP § 2016)

37.2            Methods of Discovery (CCP § 2019)

37.3            Discovery Motion

37.4            Time Limits on Discovery (CCP § 2024)

38            Deposition (CCP § 2025)

38.1            General Rules of Deposition

38.2            Notice of Deposition (CCP § 2025(c))

38.3            Timing of the Deposition Notice (CCP § 2025(b))

38.4            Location of the Deposition (CCP § 2025(e))

38.5            Timing of the Deposition (CCP § 2025(f))

38.6            Objecting to the Deposition Notice

38.7            Production of Documents at the Deposition (CCP § 2025(h))

38.8            Failure to Hold the Deposition (CCP § 2025(j))

38.9            Conduct of the Deposition

38.10        Transcription of the Deposition (CCP § 2025(p))

38.11        Recording of the Deposition

38.12        Correcting the Written Transcript (CCP § 2025(q))

38.13        Correcting the Taped Transcript (CCP § 2025(q))

38.14        Single Deposition Rule (CCP § 2025(t))

38.15        Motion to Compel (CCP § 2025(o))

38.16        Out-of-State Deposition (CCP § 2026)

38.17        Deposition in a Foreign Nation (CCP § 2027)

38.18        Deposition by Written Questions (CCP § 2028)

38.19        Deposition in California for an Out-of-State Case (CCP § 2029)

38.20        Stipulations to Change Deposition Procedure (CCP § 2021)

39            Deposition of Nonparty (CCP § 2020(a))

39.1            Preparation of the Subpoena (CCP § 2020(b))

39.2            Service of the Subpoena (CCP § 2020(f))

39.3            Payment of Witness Fees (CCP § 2020(g))

39.4            Disobedience of a Subpoena (CCP § 2020(h))

39.5            Changes in Notice Procedure

40         Subpoena for the Production of Business Records (CCP § 1270)

40.1            Description of the Business Records

40.2            Preparation of the Subpoena

40.3            Officer of the Deposition

40.4            Producing the Records

41         Production of Consumer Records (CCP § 1985.3)

41.1            Definition of Consumer

41.2            Definition of Personal Records

41.3            Notice to the Consumer

41.4            Objections

41.5            Motion to Quash the Subpoena (CCP § 1987.1)

 

SECTION 10

      42            Interrogations (CCP § 2030)

42.1            Definition

42.2            Timing Restrictions

42.3            Number Restrictions

42.4            Service of the Interrogatories

42.5            Protective Order

42.6            Responding to Interrogatories

42.7            Failing to Respond

42.8            Inadequate Response

42.9            Amending Response to Interrogatories

43         Demand for Production (CCP § 2031)

43.1            Timing of the Demand

43.2            Preparing the Demand

43.3            Supplementing the Demands

43.4            Protective Orders

43.5            Response to the Demand

43.6            The Methods of Response

43.7            Failure to Respond

43.8            Inadequate Response

44         Demand for the Medical Examination of a Party (CCP § 2032)

44.1            Who May Be Examined

44.2            Who May Conduct the Examination

44.3            Personal Injury Cases

44.4            Nonpersonal Injury Cases

44.5            Attendance at the Examination

44.6            Demand for the Written Report

44.7            Right to the Party’s Reports

 

45         Request for Admission (CCP § 2033)

45.1            Definition

45.2            Timing Restriction

45.3            Number Restrictions

45.4            Propounding Additional RFAs

45.5            Drafting the RFAs

45.6            Service of the RFAs

45.7            Protective Order

45.8            Responding to RFAs

45.9            Methods of Response to the RFA

45.10        Failure to Respond

45.11        Amending a Response

45.12        Use of the Responses

46         Exchange of Expert Witness Material (CCP § 2034)

46.1            Definition

46.2            Drafting the Demand

46.3            Motion for a Protective Order

46.4            Preparing the Response

46.5            Supplementing the Response

46.6            Deposition of The Expert

46.7            Payment of Expert Fees

46.8            Failure to Comply

46.9            Amending a Submitted Expert List

46.10        Serving a Late Expert List

46.11        Exception to the Designation Rules

47            Discovery to Perpetuate Testimony (CCP § 2035)

47.1            When Available

47.2            Procedure

47.3            Failure to Serve

47.4            Court Order

 

SECTION 11

      48            Discovery in Limited Civil Cases

48.1            Limits on the Conduct of Discovery (CCP § 94 et seq.)

48.2            Motion for Additional Discovery (CCP § 95)

48.3            Pretrial Revelation Statement (CCP § 96)

48.4            Exceptions (CCP § 97)

49         Objection to Discovery

49.1            Definition

50         Privilege

50.1            Definition

50.2            Attorney-Client Privilege (Evid. § et seq.)

50.3            Work-Product Privilege (CCP § 2018)

50.4            Spousal Privilege (Evid. § 980 et seq.)

50.5            Physician/Patient Privilege (Evid. § 980 at seq.)

50.6            Clergyman/Penitent Privilege (Evid. § 1030 et seq.)

50.7            Sexual Assault Victim/Counselor Privilege (Evid. § 1035 et seq.)

50.8            Domestic Violence Victim/Counselor Privilege (Evid. § 1037 et seq.)

50.9            Official Information (Evid. § 1040 et seq.)

50.10        Political Vote (Evid. § 1050 et seq.)

50.11        Waiver of Privilege (Evid. § 912)

51         Independent Investigation

51.1            Searching for Company Information

51.2            The EDGAR System

51.3            Mining the EDGAR System

51.4            Business Search Sites

51.5            International Databases

51.6            Historical Stock Price Information

51.7            Finding Information on Individuals

51.8            Using a Search Engine

51.9            Using a People-Find Directory

51.10        Using a Specialized Directory

51.11        Genealogical Information

51.12        Searching Public Records Databases

51.13        Pay-per-Use Databases

51.14        Expert Witnesses

51.15        Freedom of Information Act

52         Managing a Request for Production

52.1            Five Steps in Preparing the Response

52.2            Preparing the Response: Categorizing the Document Request

52.3            Preparing the Response: Meeting with the Client

52.4            The Document Retention Memo

52.5            Planning the Collection Process

52.6            Collecting the Documents (Paper Documents)

52.7            Reviewing the Documents

52.8            Producing the Documents: Initial Planning

52.9            Producing the Documents: Preparing the Production Log

52.10        Producing the Documents: Determining the Method of Production

53         Steps in Responding to a Request for Production for Electronic Data

53.1            Establish a Production Schedule

53.2            Establish a Common Production Media

53.3            Meeting with the Client

53.4            Obtain an Outline of the Computer System Setup

53.5            Become Educated About the Client’s Backup Policy

53.6            Map Out Access to System By Individual

53.7            Learn Application Information

53.8            Other Sources of Data

53.9            Encryption/Password Information

53.10        Preparing the Maser Copies

53.11        Assign Identification Numbers

53.12        Preparing the Review Copies

53.13        Converting the Data Into a Usable Format

53.14        Reviewing Data Using Word Search Programs

53.15        Preparing Production Copies

53.16        Evidence Considerations

 

SECTION 12

            54            The Case Librarian

54.1            Contents of the Case Library

54.2            Organizing the Document Library: Preliminary Consideration

54.3            Methods of Organizing the Document Library

54.4            Adapting Methodology to the Needs of the Case

55         The Document (Hard Copy) Library

55.1            Analyzing the Contents of the Document Library

55.2            Planning the Physical Document Library

56         Document Control Numbers

56.1            Numbering the Documents

56.2            Shortcuts to Avoid

56.3            Methods of Numbering

56.4            Problems with Document Numbering

56.5            The Failure to Number the Documents

57         Organizing the Library Information Portion

57.1            Coding or Indexing the Documents?

57.2            Unitizing Documents

57.3            Introduction to Coding

57.4            Objective Coding Conventions

57.5            Subjective Coding

57.6            Preparing the Indexing Matrix

57.7            Staffing the Coding Project

 

SECTION 13

            58            The Image-Based Library

58.1            Initial Planning

58.2            The Tiered Document System

58.3            Employing Litigation Support Services

58.4            Establishing a Document Flow

58.5            Reviewing the Invoices

59         Preparing the Reports

59.1            The Use of Binders

59.2            Sorting Documents

59.3            Informational Tabs System

59.4            Developing an Apportional Tab System

59.5            Developing a Numerical Tab System

59.6            Tables of Contents (TOCs)

59.7            Types of Table of Contents

60         Informational Document Sets

60.1            Informational Organization

60.2            General Informational Sets (GISs)

60.3            The Physical Organization of General Informational Sets

60.4            The Master Chronological Set

60.5            Problems in Preparing the GIS

60.6            Preparing the Topical Information Sets

60.7            Simplifying the Document Review

60.8            Testimonial Document Sets

60.9            The Players’ List

61         Organization of Documentary Materials

61.1            Depositions

61.2            Informational Organization of Written Discovery

61.3            Informational Organization of Declarations

61.4            Organization of Pleadings

61.5            Organization of Pleadings by Type

61.6            Organization of Correspondence

 

SECTION 14

            62            Setting a Case for Trial

62.1            Two Tracks to Trial

62.2            At-Issue Memorandum System (CRC § 209)

62.3            Trial Court Delay Reduction Act (CRC § 2101 et seq.)

63         Preferences in Trial Setting (CCP § 35 et seq.)

63.1            Automatic Preferences

63.2            Discretionary Preferences

63.3            Filing the Petition

64         Jury Trial (CCP § 631)

64.1            Right to a Jury Trial

64.2            Obtaining a Jury Trial

64.3            Payment of Jury Fees

64.4            Other Methods of Wavier

64.5            Waiver of Jury Trial

65         Settlement

65.1            Types of Settlements

65.2            Settlement Conference (CRC § 220)

65.3            Offer to Compromise (CCP § 998)

66         Pretrial Procedural Matters

66.1            Pretrial Motions

66.2            Jury Instructions (CCP § 607a)

66.3            Witness List

66.4            Exhibit List: Definition

66.5            Pretrial Checklist

 

SECTION 15

            67            Trial Management/Preliminary Considerations

67.1            Order of Trial (CCP § 607)

67.2            Trial Brief

68         Management of the Trial Exhibits

68.1            Marshaling the Exhibits

68.2            Procuring Documentary Evidence for Trial

68.3            Preparation of the Trial Exhibits

68.4            Preparing the Court’s Trial Exhibits

68.5            Exhibit List Analysis

68.6            Managing the Rebuttal Exhibits

68.7            Demonstrative Evidence

68.8            Special Problems with Trial Exhibits

69         Using Discovery at Trial

69.1            Depositions (CCP § 2025(u))

69.2            Procedure for Using Depositions (CCP § 2025(i))

69.3            Using Interrogatories at Trial

70         Trail Witness

70.1            Witness Binder

70.2            Witness Management: Voluntary Appearance of Witnesses

70.3            Preparing the Witness

70.4            Managing Witness Availability

70.5            Courtroom Witness Les

70.6            Learning the Names of Witnesses

70.7            Interpreters for Trial

71         Jury Management

71.1            Jury Selection: Number of Jurors

71.2            Voir Dire

71.3            Voir Dire Examination

71.4            Challening the Jury (CCP § 225 et seq.)

71.5            Preparation of a Trial Glossary

71.6            Assisting in the Jury Selection

71.7            Brief Statement of the Case

72         Reporter’s Transcript

72.1            Benefits of the Daily Trial Transcript

72.2            Trial Transcript Indices

73         Trial Management/Office

74         Trial in Limited Civil Cases (CCP § 98)

 

SECTION 16

75                 Concluding the Trial

75.1            Jury Trial

75.2            Bench Trial

75.3            Prevailing Party

75.4            Recoverable Costs (CCP § 1033)

75.5            Nonrecoverable Costs

75.6            Notes on Costs

75.7            Exceptions on the Award of Costs

75.8            Procedure for Obtaining Costs (CRC § 870)

76                 Post-Trial Motions

76.1            Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict (JNOV) (CCP § 629)

76.2            Motion for a New Trial (CCP § 656)

77                 Closing the Files

77.1            Preparing the Storage Files

77.2            Discovery Material

77.3            Organizing the Documents

77.4            Indexing the Documents

77.5            Distributing the Indexes

 

INDEX

Civil Litigation (Legal Studies & Paralegal)