The paralegal's handbook / Anita G Haworth, Lesley G. Cox.

Includes index.

1. Overview of paralegal practice. Utilization -- Ethical responsibilities of paralegals : Confidentiality rules -- Unauthorized practice of Law : Definitions -- 2. Investigation and fact gathering. The basics : Resources ; Getting to work ; The interview ; During and after the interview ; Investigating people and companies ; Investigating the location ; Investigating and gathering documents ; Electronic documents ; Investigating other "things" and sources of information ; Wrap-up ; Trial presentation software -- 3. Document management. Basic file management -- Computer file organization -- Developing a system -- Maintaining the system -- Numbering documents -- Indexing documents -- Creating a database -- Hardware and software -- Imaging documents -- Privileged versus non-privileged documents -- Using binders for organization -- Managing trial documents -- Conclusion of the case -- Preparing files for storage -- Practice-related documents and files -- 4. Discovery. Scope of discovery ; What is discoverable? ; What is not discoverable? -- Interrogatories : Reasons for using interrogatories ; Advantages of interrogatories ; Disadvantages of interrogatories ; Preparing to draft interrogatories -- General topics : Drafting interrogatories ; Responding to interrogatories ; Objections to interrogatories ; Supplementing and amending responses -- Requests for production of documents : Preparing to draft requests for production ; Drafting requests to produce documents ; Responding to requests for production of documents -- Requests for admissions : Preparing to draft requests for admissions ; Drafting requests for admissions ; Requests for admissions of the genuineness of documents ; Requests for admissions as follow-up to other discovery ; Responding to requests for admissions ; Five basic responses to requests for admissions ; Withdrawal and amendment of response to requests for admissions ; Using requests for admissions at trial ; Requests for admissions in large cases -- Depositions : Discovery depositions ; Evidentiary depositions -- Conclusion --

5. Trial preparation and presentation. Preparing for mediation and trial : Assemble the trial team ; Establish the agenda ; Determine how work will be distributed ; Establish a timetable ; Develop a theme of the case ; Think toward the end as you begin ; Develop a settlement brochure or demand ; Mediation ; Pre-trial order ; Discovery ; File control ; Planning the "show" ; Exhibits and demonstrative evidence ; Courtroom logistics ; Trial notebook ; Paralegal trial notebook ; Getting ready to move ; Show time ; Grand finale ; Taking the show on the road ; Post-trial -- 6. Areas of practice. Domestic relations/family law ; Probate and estate ; Corporate ; Intellectual property ; Real estate ; Personal injury ; Other ; Conclusion -- Appendix A. E-discovery for the paralegal -- Appendix B. National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. -- Model Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and Guidelines for Enforcement -- Appendix C. Samples and forms. Domestic relations/family law forms : Simple petition for dissolution ; Petition for dissolution (detailed) ; Financial declaration ; Marital estate summary and proposed division ; Interrogatories to respondent ; Request for production of documents -- Litigation forms : Federal court subpoena ; Federal court summons ; Federal court case management plan summary -- Discovery forms and information : Deposition instructions ; Proposed case management plan and pretrial order ; Interrogatories to company, personal injury ; Interrogatories to individual, personal injury ; Request for production, personal injury ; Request for admissions, personal injury.

A handbook for practicing and aspiring paralegals to the responsibilities and tasks of the field.