Tennessee Family Law Practice for Paralegals
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before the start time.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
8:30 am – 4:00 pm CST
Recent Developments in Tennessee Family Law
Presented by: B. Lankford
- Legislative update
- Case law update
- Current issues in family law
Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel
Presented by: A. Hamer & J. Mims
- Establishing and maintaining good communication with clients
- Methods of communication and contents of communications
- Guidelines for responding to client communications
- Working with difficult clients
- Working with the courts and opposing counsel
- Maintaining professionalism
Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information
Presented by: A. Hamer
- Identifying relevant information on assets, debts, income and expenses
- Obtaining financial information
- Using financial information questionnaires
- Using interrogatories, requests for production, deposition testimony, private investigators
- Valuing assets
- Evaluating the information you have obtained
- Working with accountants and financial experts
- Preparing financial statements
Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues
Presented by: B. Shepard
- Recent developments in Tennessee custody law
- Obtaining relevant information
- Client interview, custody questionnaires, authorizations for disclosure, formal discovery
- Working with guardian-ad-litem
- Working with experts
- Drafting and reviewing parenting plans
Enforcing and Modifying Family Law Orders and Decrees
Presented by: A. Graham
- Implementing divorce decrees and orders
- Preparing and filing the decree
- Preparing other necessary documents
- Enforcing judgments and orders
- Modifying decrees and orders
- Determining which parts of a decree or order are subject to modification, deciding when to seek modification
- Assisting in modification actions
Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
Presented by: J. Floyd
- Complying with rules of professional responsibility and ethics guidelines for attorneys and paralegals
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
- Maintaining client confidentiality
- Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
- Working with the secretive or dishonest client
- Handling allegations of abuse or neglect
- Zealous (vs. over-zealous) representation
- Fee agreements, retainers, and collection of unpaid fees
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)
Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled.
Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps Hardware: 2GB RAM or more
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Paralegals
6.5 CLE Hours
NALA - National Association of Legal Assistants
6.5 Total CLE Hours (4.5 Substantive CLE Hours, 1.0 Non-substantive CLE Hour, 1.0 Ethics CLE Hour)
NFPA - National Federation of Paralegal Associations
6.5 Total CLE Credits (5.5 General CLE Credits, 1.0 Ethics CLE Credit)
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.0 CLE hours for paralegals in Tennessee. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this webinar.
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has approved this course for 6.5 total CLE hours, which includes 4.5 substantive CLE hours, 1.0 non-substantive CLE hour, and 1.0 legal ethics CLE hour.
This course has approved by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) for 6.5 CLE credits, which includes 5.5 general CLE credits and 1.0 ethics CLE credit.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
On-Demand Credits
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format may not be eligible for the same credits as the live presentation; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate.
Speakers
John Floyd Jr.
Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A.Mr. Floyd is a trial lawyer with the firm and is licensed in Tennessee and Kentucky. He is a partner in the Nashville office and focuses his practice on the defense of individuals and companies across Tennessee, Kentucky, and surrounding states. Mr. Floyd has tried numerous jury and bench trials to verdict in state and federal courts, including many as lead counsel. He focuses his practice on the defense of health care providers and hospitals as well as products liability defense, commercial, and domestic litigation. Mr. Floyd’s experience defending health care liability cases involves all aspects from pre-suit investigation to verdict and appeal, and his clients include physicians and providers of all specialties. He has significant experience with cases involving claims of catastrophic injury involving brain damage, permanent disability and disfigurement, surgical negligence, and issues related to consent and battery. Mr. Floyd takes pride in working closely with experts to evaluate these cases early on and formulating a defense based on the evidence and science. He is often called upon to speak to providers and discuss risk management and legal developments in the health care liability field. Common to every successful defense is his experience in evaluating a client’s position and strategizing with the client to achieve a favorable and realistic outcome. Although many cases do not advance to verdict, Mr. Floyd draws from his trial experience when necessary to present a case in a concise and persuasive manner. In addition to health care defense, Mr. Floyd has successfully tried cases to verdict involving contractual disputes and defended companies in cases where their product is alleged to have injured someone. He also works closely with individuals who are experiencing high-conflict domestic issues involving marital estates, businesses, and interstate visitation.
Andrew Graham
Taylor, Bean & HamerMr. Graham focuses his law practice exclusively on family law matters, including divorce, custody, alimony, child support, parental relocation and Juvenile Court matters. He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 2018 and has practiced exclusively at Taylor, Bean & Hamer since. Mr. Graham brings a fresh perspective to the firm’s family law practice, with his experience in digital and social media so vital in today’s divorce cases. Mr. Graham is dedicated to working one-on-one with the firm’s clients to address the details that arise throughout their litigation. Mr. Graham graduated from the University of Memphis School of Law in 2018, cum laude, and received the prestigious CALI Award and Dean’s Award of Excellence. He attended East Tennessee State University and graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science and minor in Legal Studies. He is an active member of the Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section and the Tennessee Bar Association.
Anne Hamer
Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & FordMs. Hamer’s family law practice focuses on divorce litigation, mediation, post-divorce modifications and prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements. She is a Rule 31 Trained Family Law Mediator. Ms. Hamer has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation, including case assessment, alternative dispute resolution procedures, discovery (including e-discovery), motion practice, pre-trial preparation, trial, settlement and the appellate process. She has successfully tried cases to both jury verdicts and before the bench, and has prevailed upon appeal. Ms. Hamer has been admitted to practice in all three Federal Districts of Tennessee as well as the Court of Appeals of the Middle District of Tennessee. She has litigated in Shelby and Davidson counties and numerous other counties throughout Tennessee, as well as in Florida, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and other states. Ms. Hamer is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution sections, the American Bar Association Family Law and Dispute Resolution sections, and the Association of Women Attorneys. Ms. Hamer graduated from New York University School of Law in 1996. She practiced with Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, in Nashville and Wolff Ardis, P.C., in Memphis. Prior to law school, she attended the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude in 1989.
Brenton Lankford
Stites & Harbison PLLCMr. Lankford is an attorney in the Nashville Office. Mr. Lankford practices primarily in the field of domestic relations, assisting clients with divorce and post-divorce matters, including issues of child custody, child support, alimony, and financial and property disputes.
Jonathan Mims
Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford, P.A.Mr. Mims, at 33 years old, brings over seven years of dedicated experience to the legal field, with a passion for family law that spans more than three years. His unique blend of legal expertise and a background in technology and mathematics enriches his approach to complex cases, allowing him to find innovative solutions and provide exceptional support to clients. Outside the courtroom, Mr. Mims enjoys immersing himself in the world of video games, indulging in the latest shows and movies, and pursuing self-development. His diverse interests reflect his commitment to continuous growth and his ability to adapt to various challenges in both his personal and professional life. Mr. Mims is a paralegal who thrives on the intersection of law, technology, and a genuine desire to help families navigate the complexities of the legal system.
Baylie Nicole Shepard
Rogers, Brackin & Davis, PLLCMs. Shepard graduated in 2013 from Brighton High School. She worked administrative jobs for several years after before landing at Miles Mason Family Law Group, PLLC in 2017 as a legal assistant. Ms. Shepard instantly fell in love with family law and knew it was what she was meant to do. Ms. Shepard also knew she wanted to be more involved and to learn as much as she could. From there she went to Rogers, Berry, Chesney & Cannon, PLLC, as a legal assistant. Ms. Shepard eventually worked her way up to paralegal with Rogers, Brackin & Davis, PLLC, and has been with the firm since its start in 2021.