Law Practice

Tools Of Trial Advocacy – Direct Examination

Tools Of Trial Advocacy – Direct Examination

The ability to effectively question witnesses and elicit information is a necessary and crucial skill for an attorney advocate to develop and master. Any attorney who plans on a legal career that involves litigation must address this valuable skill and tool of trial advocacy. According to one judge, direct examination of a witness is one of the rare times that an attorney has a substantial measure of control over how the story of a witness, including client, gets told to the jury in the most compelling manner, logically presented and uninterrupted. The direct examination of witnesses is the most important component...

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CDTA’s Courtroom Atmosphere

CDTA’s Courtroom Atmosphere

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) is a modern, 21st Century law school. We provide legal instruction with an emphasis on transforming law students into not just lawyers, but effective attorney-advocates. One way that the CDTA facilitates this unique focus on the training of attorney-advocates is how each class provides a courtroom, rather than a classroom, atmosphere because it is in a real courtroom setting. Every class in each subject is presented by one of CDTA’s experienced professors in CDTA’s modern courtroom facilities. In fact, class sessions at CDTA typically include more than one legal scholar. These professionals interact with students...

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There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Alternate Dispute Resolution

There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Alternate Dispute Resolution

One of the benefits of a legal education is that law school graduates are not limited to careers working exclusively in the legal profession. There are many career paths for graduates, especially those that have developed into effective attorney-advocates. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a viable career for law school graduates although entering the field may require some years of experience practicing law. In fact, ADR may seem like less of an alternative career path than others because of its relationship to the litigation process. A diverse curriculum, like that of the California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA), helps law students develop...

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How Long Should An Attorney Retain Client Records?

How Long Should An Attorney Retain Client Records?

Physical space may not be as great an issue in the digital age regarding the storage of client files, but the fact remains that the storage of client files is necessary for some time. But how long? Each state’s Rules of Professional Conduct specifically describe trust account records and for how long they must be kept by an attorney. A state’s ethical rules typically prescribe, as suggested standards, minimum periods for retaining client files that pertain to certain practice areas, with exception of trust account records. Attorneys are free to choose a longer or shorter term of retention of client files....

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There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Energy, Natural Resources, And The Environment

There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Energy, Natural Resources, And The Environment

There are a vast number of non-traditional legal careers that do not require a law degree. Based on data from the Association for Legal Career Professionals (NALP), annually approximately 10-15% of law school graduates find jobs after graduation in non-traditional legal positions. Employment available in alternative fields varies and can depend on a law school graduate’s undergraduate education and prior work experience. Many alternative careers are in compliance and regulatory affairs, management at all levels, policy analysis, strategic planning, labor relations, personnel and benefits, government, education, and nonprofits. There is a large amount of material out there listing alternative and non-traditional...

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What Is An Alternative Legal Career?

What Is An Alternative Legal Career?

At some point during their law school tenure, law students ponder and consider career options outside of the traditional practice of law. Students and graduates seek alternative careers for various reasons, such as a high level of personal interest in a sector, company, or job type. Alternative careers may be considered simply to facilitate a desire to work a less rigorous schedule than that required by the traditional practice of law. An alternative career may be any career outside of the law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, and judiciary at the heart of the current establishment of the legal profession....

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The Home Office

The Home Office

The digital age and the Internet have significantly affected lawyers’ ability to work at home. Today, many legal practitioners are choosing to base their offices at their residences. Modern technology allows attorneys to maintain accessibility and cost efficiency working at home. Basing a law practice at home is not for every lawyer. Anyone who is easily distracted may find working at home to be inefficient because of too many interruptions. Having to deal with children, spouses, or housemates may create too much chaos and disrupt any semblance of a peaceful work environment. It is beneficial to have an independent personality to...

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A Quick Guide To Running A Law Practice – Records, Calendars, And Dockets

A Quick Guide To Running A Law Practice – Records, Calendars, And Dockets

Calendaring and docketing help you to keep track of time. Records management helps you to keep track of paper. Many state bar associations often report negative audit findings related to attorneys properly tracking records and time. Malpractice insurance carriers expect attorneys to have two calendars minimally. One, a calendar that is typically on a computer (stored and backed up digitally), and, second, a manual (written) calendar. It makes a lot of sense for attorneys to make calendar entries themselves or, at least, have someone they entrust do it. The latter will require a consistent stream of communication and adequate knowledge of...

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There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Civil Rights

There are Many Paths To A Meaningful Legal Career – Civil Rights

Law students develop many skills, abilities, and qualifications during law school which transfer to other areas outside of the law. There are rewarding careers in government, education, labor relations, nonprofits, regulatory affairs, management, policy analysis, human resources, and strategic planning for law school graduates. And of great interest to any law student soon to graduate, is that there are a vast number of resources that provide information related to alternative and non-traditional employment for anyone with a Juris doctorate. There are several jobs in the field of civil rights for which a law school graduate may qualify. Many civil rights jobs...

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Amenities Of The Attorney-Client Relationship, Part Two

Amenities Of The Attorney-Client Relationship, Part Two

Attorneys must remember certain rules of thumb when interacting with people publicly and professionally. They must behave as if anyone is a prospective client while never forgetting former clients. Of course, current clients must be treated no less exceptionally. The following are some useful rules of thumb for any client interaction. Current Clients *When talking to clients, give full attention to the client, especially during telephone conversations. *It is important to understand the client’s dilemma as the client understands it. Perhaps more importantly, it is important to know the client’s expectations. *Over the course of any conversation with a client, intermittently repeat and summarize...

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