CDTA

Best Courtroom Movies – Anatomy Of A Murder

Best Courtroom Movies – Anatomy Of A Murder

Almost any movie featuring Jimmy Stewart would be high on my list of must-see films, but a courtroom drama featuring him would be at the top of the list. Michael Asimow, UCLA law professor and co-author of Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies (2006), described the film as "probably the finest pure trial movie ever made." Anatomy Of A Murder directed by distinguished director, Otto Preminger, was written by former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver. The novel was based on a 1952 murder case in which Voelker represented the defendant. The judge in the film was played by Joseph N. Welch,...

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California Gives Full Accreditation To Online Law Schools

California Gives Full Accreditation To Online Law Schools

California has given full accreditation to three online law schools. One of the law schools, Concord Law School at Purdue University Global, called it a ‘watershed moment’ in legal education. The three online law schools accredited in 2020 include the Concord Law School at Purdue University Global, Northwestern California University School of Law, and St. Francis Law School. The State Bar of California is one of the few states in the U.S. that accredits law schools. The Committee of Bar Examiners decided that because Concord is in full compliance with the guidelines governing accredited law schools, it was not required to...

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2021 Law School Admissions Are Up!

2021 Law School Admissions Are Up!

Admissions statistics from the Law School Admission Council (“LSAC”) indicate that the number of applicants to U.S. law schools as of December 2020 is around 35% higher than it was at this point in 2019. Meanwhile, applications dramatically rose about 56% within that same time frame. In January 2021, applicants must put these numbers in context and understand that the admissions cycle is not yet over. Also, those aspiring to attend law school must appreciate that applicants are more likely to apply earlier in 2021 than they were in past years. There are many reasons that law school applicants are submitting applications earlier...

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Advice On Trying Your First Case

Advice On Trying Your First Case

Here are some tips and advice for any new lawyer about to enter the courtroom and try his or her first case. Do some advance work and scout the courtroom Legal scholars differ as to how an attorney should act while moving around the courtroom during a trial. Some believe that an attorney should always request permission to proceed while others believe that it is acceptable to move around until a judge directs otherwise. Many judges allow attorneys to freely walk around the courtroom provided they do so with purpose. A simple solution is to observe the judge in action when he...

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The Best Online Legal Resources

The Best Online Legal Resources

There are many options for conducting legal research online. The ability to do research without any choice but to run over to the law library at the local law school or courthouse is an invaluable tool for saving the time and money of lawyers and law students alike. As law schools, law firms, and sole practitioners move from traditional hard copy written materials to electronic formats, the alternatives are vast with many available at little or no cost. Lexis Web: While this is not a free service, this is always a good starting point for any legal research query. Fastcase:...

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Important California Laws To Know – SB 1159

Important California Laws To Know – SB 1159

Another issue related to COVID-19 that moved to the forefront of the agenda of California lawmakers in the spring of 2020 was clarifying the qualification and eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits for employees who may have contracted COVID-19 on the job. In May of 2020, less than two months after the outbreak of the coronavirus, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order that created a rebuttable presumption that a COVID-19 infection occurring at work was a work-related illness if an employee received a positive test for COVID-19 or a doctor’s diagnosis of COVID-19 followed by a positive COVID-19 test within 30 days of...

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Important California Laws To Know – AB 685 And AB 1867

Important California Laws To Know – AB 685 And AB 1867

As the coronavirus pandemic emerged in the spring of 2020, employers throughout California and the nation pondered what course of action, if any, they were required to take once they receive notice that one of their employees was infected with or exposed to COVID-19. AB 685 attempts to solve this dilemma by delineating a California employer’s obligations. To facilitate this, the Act augments the power of the California Division of Occupational Health and Safety to enforce health and safety standards to prevent workplace exposure to and spread of COVID-19. AB 685 remains in effect until January 1, 2023. AB 685 provides...

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Stay In Touch With Your Mentors!

Stay In Touch With Your Mentors!

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) places great emphasis on the role, contribution, and importance of mentors. The CDTA encourages all members of its student body to seek and find someone to mentor them as they pursue the knowledge and experience to become effective attorney-advocates. Beyond law school, it is important to maintain contact with your mentors and continue to build this valuable relationship. It may be challenging to stay in touch with those professional mentors who have substantially made a difference during a law student’s time at law school. After all, anyone who has the qualifications and attributes to mentor...

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Surviving Discovery Disputes

Surviving Discovery Disputes

Regardless of the area of law, at some point, every lawyer must endure the challenges caused by a dispute with an opposing lawyer over some aspect of discovery. Unfortunately, for the expedient resolution of litigation, these discovery disputes occur far too often for  most lawyers even though most would do the same if they were in the same situation as opposing counsel. Discovery disputes inherently are like a tug-of-war, ever dynamic, as lawyers push and test each other’s boundaries and patience. It is also not uncommon for clients requesting that an attorney pursue a particular inquiry and avenue of discovery with...

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Five Alternative Legal Support Careers

Five Alternative Legal Support Careers

Over the last year, this blog has attempted to address alternative legal careers for anyone with a Juris doctorate, typically by the field in which the alternative legal careers may be found. This blog takes a look at five alternative legal careers related to legal support for a law firm engaged in litigation. Legal consultant The demand for specialized legal expertise in recent decades has resulted in an expanded market for legal consultants. A need has arisen for specialized methods such as strategic planning, research, and analysis, training and coaching, as well as other various services based on the context of the litigation. These...

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