The Trial Practice Tips Blog

From the Archives: Self-Editing Tips for Legal Writers

When you're close to a final draft, use this self-editing checklist to add a bit of polish--or give it to your assistant to do the same.

• Are the headings correctly numbered?
• Are acronyms explained?
• Are the parties referred to in the same way throughout the brief?
• When referring to the parties, have you used proper form of singular, plural and possessive, e.g., "plaintiff," "plaintiffs," "plaintiff's," "plaintiffs'"?

Continue reading "Self-Editing Tips for Legal Writers" in the archives.

Legal Writing: Bookmark This Site

Raymond Ward's blog, the (new) legal writer, is billed as "a collection of resources for lawyers and other writers."

And that's exactly what it is--you can always find a useful link.

Ward's latest post, "The Redbook (3d ed.)," concludes this this advice--

[I]f you are serious about being a professional writer (which all lawyers are), then you need the Redbook. The optional part is whether to take a CLE class in how to use it. My opinion: if you are going to use the Redbook, then a little CLE time in how to use it is not a bad investment of time or money.

The Cost of Medical Records: Are You Getting Scammed?

Here's a great post from Max Kennerly at Litigation & Trial: "Defeating The Medical Records Paper Copy Scam."

If you want to find out whether doctors and hospitals are overcharging you for your client's medical records--and they probably are--then read Kennerly's full post.

Kennerly even includes a sample letter you can use to request records in a way that will require providers to comply with the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act).

Why does Kennerly include such a letter in his post?

According to Kennerly, "Enough is enough. These companies cannot prey upon our clients."

I agree.

Are You a Crappy Litigator?

From Mark Herrmann at Above the Law: "Are You A Crappy Litigator? A Self-Assessment Test!"--

It’s so hard to judge yourself.

Deep in your soul you know that people who criticize you are idiots, and people who praise you are wise and sagacious.

How can you possibly tell if you’re any good at what you do? I have the answer for you!

I’ve created a litigators’ self-assessment test! Now you’ll know if you’re any good!

Herrmann's post deals mostly with legal briefs and how to start them. If you do any legal writing, follow the link and read the full post.

Depositions: Objecting Properly

See "Proper Deposition Objections," by Susan Minsberg at The Lawyerist, a post that has been "substantially revised" since I first linked to it in 2012.

Regional Seminars from the Trial Lawyers College

Trial Lawyers College, the non-profit continuing education "college" for lawyers, was founded twenty years ago by Gerry Spence.

The Trial Lawyers College conducts many multi-day seminars, including a number of regional events upcoming in venues such as California, Georgia, Texas, and Wyoming.

These seminars generally focus in an in-depth way on one aspect of trial practice, such as examining witnesses, voir dire, closing argument, and much more.

You can find the schedule of upcoming seminars at the Trial Lawyers College's Course List.

Expert Depositions: Five Tips

From the blog of James Publishing: "Expert Depositions — 5 Tips to Improve Your Effectiveness," by Donna Cole.

The post includes some excerpts from my book, Deposition Checklists and Strategies.

Deposition Checklists and Strategies

The seventh revision to my book, Deposition Checklists and Strategies, is now available from James Publishing.

R.I.P, Ed, the Anonymous Editor of Blawg Review

At my other blog, Legal Underground: "Goodbye, Ed"

Questioning Your Own Witness at Depositions

The conventional wisdom is that you shouldn't question your own witness at your opponent's discovery deposition. At Above the Law, Mark Herrmann explains why this conventional wisdom can be "dangerously wrong": "The Need For Direct Exams Of Your Own Witnesses At Depositions."