In this lesson, you will learn what a request for interrogatories is, the common local rules to watch for, and how to notify the court that you have served interrogatories on the opposing party. INTERROGATORIES – Interrogatories are written questions from one party to another. They must be answered within a certain time period (usually […]
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In this lesson, you will learn about the two types of primary law, the meaning of precedent, and how to read an opinion. Introduction to Case Law Transcript The two types of primary legal sources are statutes and appellate opinions or case law. Primary sources tell the judge what the law is and provide authority
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In this lesson, you will learn what takes place during a pre-trial hearing, the jury selection process (\”voir dire\”), and the objections during voir dire. You will also learn about the first step of the trial, the opening statements. Starting the trial process Transcript At a pre-trial hearing, the judge and the parties narrow the
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In this lesson, you will learn how to find appellate opinions, the use of keywords in your research, and the operators that help narrow your search results. Finding Appellate Opinions (Case Law) Transcript You can find case law by searching jurisdiction, case name, case citation, or other criteria, like date. To start, gather your keywords.
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In this lesson, you will learn what a request for admissions is, how to draft one, and how to notify the court that you’ve served a request on the opposing party. REQUEST FOR ADMISSIONS – A list of statements asking an opponent to admit or deny specific facts. Preparing your Request for Admissions Transcript A
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Be assertive Appear fearless in court Stay focused Transcript Hi. I\’m Portia, and welcome to introductory legal skills, the second course in our series on civil litigation. Going to court is daunting. Lesson one, the right attitude is designed to put you in a mindset to be successful no matter how intimidating the process. Today,
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In this lesson, you will learn why protocol is important to pro se bias, and tips for court proceedings. The importance of protocol Transcript Protocol is important because at least one party in the case believes a courtroom setting with rules is more orderly than a street fight or bar room brawl. Following court protocols
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In this lesson, you will learn to identify primary sources, secondary sources, and ways the court views each of them. Using Appellate Opinions Transcript You don\’t have to read an entire case to decide whether it\’s relevant. Skim the facts first, and select cases that are similar to your own set of facts. If you\’re
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In this lesson, you will learn what a deposition is and the steps for preparing for a deposition. DEPOSITIONS – Recorded interviews of witnesses under oath and prior to trial. Steps when preparing your deposition Transcript Depositions are recorded interviews of witnesses made under oath and prior to trial. There are some basic similarities between
In this lesson, you will learn the different forms of evidence and how to differentiate the evidence in each form. Forms of evidence Transcript Evidence is anything that establishes the truth or the lack of truth of some factual allegation in a case. Different types of evidence are handled differently by a court, because of
