Civil Interviewing and Investigating for Paralegals A Process-Oriented Approach

by McMaster, Jodi G.

• ISBN13: 9780131118911
• ISBN10: 0131118919
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-26
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

The most thorough approach to teaching paralegals, and other law office professionals, how to interview and conduct investigations, this book incorporates over 200 figures of real law documents including dozens of real depositions. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface	xvii
The Law Office Environment	1	(36)
Introduction	1	(2)
Law Office Categories	3	(1)
By Size	3	(1)
Sole Practitioner	3	(1)
Small Firm	3	(1)
Medium-Sized Firm	3	(1)
Large Firms	3	(1)
By Practice	3	(1)
Personal Injury (PI) Law	3	(1)
Consumer Protection	3	(1)
Commercial Litigation	4	(1)
Family Law	4	(1)
Probate Law	4	(1)
Criminal Law	4	(1)
Non-traditional Employment	4	(1)
The Role of the Paralegal	4	(1)
Other Support Staff	5	(6)
Ethical Issues	11	(9)
Evidentiary Issues	20	(3)
Getting Organized	23	(10)
Filing	25	(1)
Timetables/Calendaring	26	(6)
Running Tallies: Costs, Damages, Billing	32	(1)
Chapter Summary	33	(1)
For Further Reading	33	(1)
Chapter Review	33	(4)
Key Terms	33	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	34	(1)
Web Work	34	(2)
Working the Brain	36	(1)
Putting It to Work	36	(1)
The Client: Plaintiff's Perspective	37	(38)
Introduction	37	(2)
Ethical Issues	39	(3)
Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)	39	(1)
Conflicts of Interest	39	(2)
Ethical or Chinese Wall	41	(1)
Evidentiary Issues	42	(1)
Attorney-Client Privilege	42	(1)
Attorney Work Product	42	(1)
An Initial Client Call	42	(2)
The Initial Interview	44	(23)
Objectives	44	(1)
Preparation	45	(6)
Manner	51	(2)
Techniques	53	(2)
Content	55	(1)
Caveat	56	(2)
Contingency Fee Contracts	58	(4)
Hourly Billing and Retainers	62	(2)
Wrapping It Up	64	(3)
Client Contact	67	(1)
Background Checks	68	(1)
Finding Potential Defendants	68	(3)
Chapter Summary	71	(1)
For Further Reading	71	(1)
Chapter Review	71	(4)
Key Terms	71	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	72	(1)
Web Work	73	(1)
Working the Brain	74	(1)
Putting It to Work	74	(1)
The Client: Defendant's Perspective	75	(25)
Introduction	75	(1)
Ethical Issues	76	(4)
Dual Representation	76	(4)
Evidentiary Issues	80	(6)
Rule 403	80	(3)
Hearsay	83	(1)
Party-Opponent Admissions	84	(2)
The Initial Interview	86	(7)
Emotional Baggage and Venting	87	(1)
Nonverbal Communication	88	(4)
Using the Complaint	92	(1)
The Paperwork	93	(2)
Follow-up	95	(1)
Chapter Summary	96	(1)
For Further Reading	96	(1)
Chapter Review	97	(3)
Key Terms	97	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	97	(1)
Web Work	98	(1)
Working the Brain	99	(1)
Putting It to Work	99	(1)
The Opposing Party	100	(50)
Introduction	100	(13)
Ethical Issues	113	(4)
No Contact Rule	113	(1)
Representation of Corporations	113	(4)
Evidentiary Issues	117	(4)
Propensity Evidence and Prior Bad Acts	117	(4)
Habit Evidence	121	(1)
Informal Investigation	121	(18)
Surveillance	121	(3)
Discovery	124	(1)
Discovery for Parties Only	125	(14)
Depositions: Discovery for Everybody	139	(1)
Foreign Opposing Parties	140	(3)
Working with Opposing Counsel and Staff	143	(1)
Chapter Summary	143	(3)
For Further Reading	145	(1)
Chapter Review	146	(4)
Key Terms	146	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	146	(1)
Web Work	147	(1)
Working the Brain	147	(2)
Putting It to Work	149	(1)
Fact Witnesses	150	(62)
Introduction	150	(1)
Ethical Issues	151	(5)
Disclosure	151	(1)
Tape Recording	152	(4)
Evidentiary Issues	156	(7)
Privileges	156	(1)
Exceptions to Privileges	156	(7)
Finding Witnesses	163	(38)
The Courthouse	164	(27)
The DMV	191	(1)
The Internet	191	(10)
The United States Postal Service (USPS)	201	(1)
Paying for Help	201	(1)
Interviews	201	(5)
Practical Considerations	203	(1)
What to Tell	204	(1)
What to Ask	204	(1)
How to Ask	204	(1)
The Witness Who Knows Nothing	205	(1)
Witness Statements	206	(1)
Witness Summaries	207	(1)
Cost Considerations	207	(2)
Chapter Summary	209	(1)
For Further Reading	209	(1)
Chapter Review	210	(2)
Key Terms	210	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	210	(1)
Web Work	211	(1)
Working the Brain	211	(1)
Putting It to Work	211	(1)
Special Issues With Witnesses	212	(43)
Introduction	212	(1)
Ethical Issues	212	(4)
Client Wishes and the Incompetent Client	213	(3)
Evidentiary Issues	216	(3)
Witness Competency	216	(3)
Children	219	(21)
Elderly Clients or Witnesses	240	(2)
Disabled or Impaired Clients or Witnesses	242	(2)
Hearing Impairments	242	(1)
Vision Impairments	242	(1)
Mobility Impairments	243	(1)
General Issues	243	(1)
Language Barriers	244	(4)
Cultural Barriers and Racism	248	(3)
Chapter Summary	251	(1)
For Further Reading	251	(1)
Chapter Review	252	(3)
Key Terms	252	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	252	(1)
Web Work	253	(1)
Brain Work	253	(1)
Putting It to Work	254	(1)
Documentary Evidence	255	(40)
Introduction	255	(1)
Ethical Issues	256	(1)
Rambo Litigators	256	(1)
Evidentiary Issues	257	(8)
Business Records Exception	257	(3)
Authentication	260	(5)
Informal Methods	265	(8)
Releases and Other Requests	265	(4)
FOIA	269	(4)
Formal Methods	273	(11)
Request for Production	273	(4)
Depositions	277	(1)
Deposition by Written Questions	277	(7)
Calling Witness at Trial	284	(1)
Automobile Accident Report	284	(4)
Medical Records	288	(4)
Chapter Summary	292	(1)
For Further Reading	292	(1)
Chapter Review	292	(3)
Key Terms	292	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	293	(1)
Web Work	293	(1)
Working the Brain	294	(1)
Putting It to Work	294	(1)
E-Documents and Other Computer Discovery Issues	295	(70)
Introduction	295	(1)
Metadata	295	(4)
E-mail	299	(1)
Cost Issues	299	(20)
Protective Orders and Spoliation	319	(5)
Death Penalty Sanctions	324	(38)
Chapter Summary	362	(1)
For Further Reading	362	(1)
Chapter Review	362	(3)
Key Terms	362	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	363	(1)
Web Work	363	(1)
Working the Brain	364	(1)
Putting It to Work	364	(1)
Background Resources	365	(32)
Introduction	365	(1)
Ethical Issues	366	(1)
Evidentiary Issues	366	(11)
Sources	377	(18)
Government Sources	379	(6)
Government Sources: FOIA Reading Rooms	385	(1)
Market Reports and Other Commercial Publications	385	(5)
Reference Books and Other Learned Treatises	390	(5)
Chapter Summary	395	(1)
For Further Reading	395	(1)
Chapter Review	395	(2)
Fill in the Blanks	395	(1)
Key Terms	395	(1)
Web Work	396	(1)
Working the Brain	396	(1)
Putting It to Work	396	(1)
Expert Witnesses	397	(27)
Introduction	397	(1)
Ethical Issues	398	(1)
Evidentiary Issues	398	(8)
Finding Experts	406	(3)
Evaluating Experts	409	(2)
Cost Considerations	411	(3)
Use of Experts	414	(4)
Purely Consulting	417	(1)
Consulting/Testifying	418	(1)
In-House Experts	418	(1)
Discovery and Opposing Experts	418	(3)
Chapter Summary	421	(1)
For Further Reading	422	(1)
Chapter Review	422	(2)
Key Terms	422	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	422	(1)
Web Work	423	(1)
Working the Brain	423	(1)
Putting It to Work	423	(1)
Real and Demonstrative Evidence	424	(29)
Real Evidence	424	(1)
Demonstrative Evidence	425	(2)
Ethical Issues	427	(1)
Evidentiary Issues	428	(1)
Obtaining and Authenticating Physical Evidence	429	(5)
Preservation, Inspection, Testing, and Spoliation Issues	434	(2)
What, When, and How of Demonstrative Evidence	436	(13)
Charts and Timelines	439	(1)
Documents	439	(2)
Photographs and Videotapes	441	(5)
Computer Animation	446	(3)
Chapter Summary	449	(1)
For Further Reading	450	(1)
Chapter Review	450	(3)
Key Terms	450	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	451	(1)
Web Work	451	(1)
Working the Brain	451	(1)
Putting It to Work	452	(1)
Witness Preparation	453	(29)
Introduction	453	(1)
Ethical Issues	453	(5)
Evidentiary Issues	458	(1)
Preparing Witnesses to Testify	458	(11)
Jury Consultants	469	(4)
General Stress Reduction Techniques	473	(6)
Chapter Summary	479	(1)
For Further Reading	479	(1)
Chapter Review	479	(3)
Key Terms	479	(1)
Fill in the Blanks	480	(1)
Web Work	480	(1)
Brain Work	480	(1)
Putting It to Work	481	(1)
Ending the Litigation	482	(49)
Introduction	482	(1)
Ethical Issues	482	(1)
Evidentiary Issues	483	(6)
Parties with Interest in the Outcome	489	(25)
Physical or Mental Health Care Lienholders	494	(17)
Mechanics/Materialmen	511	(2)
Taxing Entities	513	(1)
Settlement Presentations	514	(4)
Mediation Presentations	518	(1)
Trial Preparation	518	(8)
Trial Notebook	522	(1)
Jury Selection	523	(1)
Introduction of Evidence	524	(2)
Post-Trial Jury Canvassing	526	(1)
Chapter Summary	526	(1)
For Further Reading	526	(1)
Chapter Review	527	(4)
Fill in the Blanks	527	(1)
Key Terms	527	(1)
Web Work	528	(1)
Working the Brain	528	(1)
Putting It to Work	529	(2)
Glossary	531	(14)
Index	545