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, June 26, 2024
9:00 am – 4:00 pm CDT

 

Overview of a Civil Trial
Presented by: Huma Zia

  • Pre-trial procedure and scheduling orders
  • Discovery control plan and discovery overview
  • Pre-trial motion practice
  • Anatomy of a trial

Legal Research and Writing 
Presented by: Huma Zia

  • Legal research software (Westlaw/Nexis Uni)
  • Legal research certification
  • Legal pleading
  • Complaints, answers, memorandum of law
  • Legal case briefs

Managing Evidence
Presented by: Jason Cieslik

  • Types of evidence
  • Rules for admissibility of evidence
  • Preserving evidence

Assembling and Using Trial Notebooks
Presented by: Jason Cieslik

  • Essentials of a trial notebook
  • Organization of a trial notebook
  • Uses for a trial notebook before trial
  • Uses of a trial notebook during trial
  • Summarizing/abstracting depositions

Effectively Working with Opposing Counsel and Staff
Presented by: Robin L. Berry

  • Analyzing methods of communication
  • Standards for responding to emails
  • Working with the courts
  • Maintaining professionalism

Litigation Ethics for Assistants and Paralegals
Presented by: Robin L. Berry

  • Attorney and paralegal ethical rules
  • Specific areas of concern for legal support staff
    •  Conflicts of interest
    •  Confidentiality
    •  Ex-parte communications
  • Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
  • Working with clients, courts and opposing counsel

   

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
6.0 CLE Hours (Including 1.0 Ethics Hour)

NFPA - National Federation of Paralegal Associations
6.0 CLE Credits (5.0 General CLE Credits, and 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, including 1.0 ethics hour, to paralegals and legal assistants in Illinois. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this course.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) has approved this webinar for 6.0 total CLE credits, including 5.0 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 is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate.

Speakers

Dr. Robin L. Berry, J.D.

Social Science and Public Services Division Advisor with the Paralegal Students Association

Dr. Berry, J.D., is Department Chair and instructor for the Paralegal Studies Program Department within the Business, Social Science, and Public Services Division at McHenry County College (MCC). She is also the advisor of the Paralegal Students Association. Robin was born in Dallas, Texas. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and received a BA in Criminal Justice and Political Science in 1987. Dr. Berry received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1991. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas (1991) and the State of Illinois (2011). Robin practiced in many areas of law, but mainly focused on criminal prosecution and defense, juvenile delinquency, and abuse and neglect. She was a special public defender for McHenry County Juvenile Courts from April 2011 to August 2021. Robin moved to McHenry in 2008 and began teaching as an adjunct instructor at MCC. Robin teaches the following courses: Business Law, Business Ethics, Introduction to Paralegal Studies, Legal Research and Writing, Civil Litigation and Discovery, Contracts, Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts, Torts, and the Paralegal Internship Program. She is also an active member of the McHenry County Bar Association, serving on the Law Day Committee. As such, Robin is involved with educating elementary school, middle school, and high school students about Law Day and the legal system. She has participated in the high school mock trials for the Law Day events. Robin is a regular guest speaker in various high school classes and events across the McHenry County.

Jason Cieslik, J.D.

Asst. Prof. & Academic Advisor of Legal Studies Dept. of Politics & Government Illinois State University

Professor Cieslik joined the Illinois State faculty as an assistant professor of Legal Studies in the Department of Politics and Government in August of 2020. Cieslik earned his Juris Doctorate (2004) from Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School and his B.S. in Criminal Justice (2001) from Washburn University. From 2012 – 2020, Cieslik was the Program Coordinator and Professor of Paralegal and Criminal Justice Studies at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois. From 2007 – 2012, Cieslik was a partner at Barmann, Bohlen, Jacobi & Cieslik, P.C. in Kankakee, Illinois with an emphasis on insurance defense and criminal defense. He also served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Kankakee County from 2004 – 2007. Cieslik’s research interests focus on criminal law and procedure.

Huma Zia

Associate Professor Program Director, Paralegal Studies at Lewis University

Ms. Zia is an Associate Professor and Program of Paralegal Studies with Lewis University. a Licensed Attorney in the State of Illinois and served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in the Criminal Appeals Division. During her time there, she argued cases before the federal district courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and filed motions in the U.S. Supreme Court. She also argued cases in all the state district appellate courts and frequently argued cases in the Illinois Supreme Court. In addition to bringing her law experience and expertise to students at Lewis, Ms. Zia obtained approval of the Undergraduate Paralegal Program by the American Bar Association for the university. She currently serves as a Sole Practitioner in Elmhurst and concentrates on Pro-Bono Cases.