Topic: FAMILY LAW FORM INTERROGATORIES: WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHY

This talk will provide an overview of why Family Law Form Interrogatories are a useful tool in divorce proceedings. The lecture will include information on how to work with clients to elicit the information needed and how to provide code-complaint responses. The lecture will also take an in-depth look at the most common legal issues arising from the form interrogatories, such as fiduciary duties, Family Code 2640 claims, and Watts/Epstein reimbursements.

Biography:

Marisa has been a partner at Griffith & Thornburgh since 2009. She graduated Magnum Cum Laude from Santa Clara University School of Law. Marisa is originally from the Los Angeles area, where she grew up riding horses. Marisa likes to spend time outdoors and achieved a personal goal by completing her first Sprint Triathalon in 2012. As avid photographer, Marisa enjoys taking pictures of her favorite subjects- her two young children. Marisa participates in fund raising for the Santa Barbara Cottage Children’s Hospital and has served as a guest speaker at UCSB’s Global and International Studies Program. Marisa enjoys working with people to solve often complicated family law issues. She also represents clients on many different types of school law, business and civil litigation matters.

Topic: NUTS & BOLTS OF BRIEFS

Briefing is an essential part of any civil litigation practice and while attorneys are often the primary drafters of these motions, oppositions, and replies, the tasks of formatting, complying with the ins and outs of civil procedure, and compiling the supporting documents often falls on the paralegals assigned to these cases. In this presentation we will discuss what briefs to expect at what stages of a case, good resources to gather information on various aspects of civil procedure, the formatting and filing skills most attorneys expect of their paralegals, proper citation formats, and the types of supporting documents you are most likely to run into. From the Rutter Guide, to the Bluebook, and every local
rule in between, you will be ready to hit the ground running with any brief handed to you.

Biography:

Alyson has over a decade of litigation experience with an extensive background in strategic planning for legal cases, businesses, and various political and community organizations. She is an adjunct instructor at the Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, a public speaker, MCLE presenter, trial attorney, advocate for the little guy, counselor for established businesses and start-ups, and a strong candidate for any board of directors, with the ability to find unique and creative solutions to the problems faced by both her individual and business clients.

Topic: MAXIMIZING YOUR VALUE AS AN ESTATE PLAN PARALEGAL

Strategies on how to make yourself a valuable edition to any law firm.

Biography:

Ms. Koch is a skilled and compassionate attorney who enjoys helping her clients to achieve their personal and business goals. Her practice focuses primarily on estate planning, probate, trust administration, business and real estate transactions. Prior to joining Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell in 2017, Ms. Koch spent several years in private practice, predominantly assisting clients with trust and estate matters. She simultaneously served as the Director of Operations for a local skincare company, fortifying her knowledge relating to small business operations and management. Ms. Koch’s experience in diverse and challenging professional roles allows her to take a holistic approach to legal representation; always carefully considering how different aspects of a client’s life may impact the type and extent of services required. As a parent of young children, Ms. Koch is particularly passionate about helping young families plan for any contingency, including the death or incapacity of one or both parents. Ms. Koch is a Santa Barbara native, and returned to the area in 2013, following a decade in the San Francisco Bay Area followed by a short stint in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. Koch earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law and is a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Arizona (inactive). She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Studies from U.C. Santa Cruz.

Topic: ETHICS OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA

Ethics of using social media offers attorneys and law firms the opportunity to build credibility and trust, highlight expertise, and establish a memorable brand. But law firms, attorneys and support staff must take care to ensure that their online activities adhere to ethical and professional rules of conduct. This course offers best practices for the successful use of social media, as well as practical guidance regarding regulatory compliance and those social media activities to avoid.

Biography:

Jeremy Krant is a Director, Legal Solutions for Epiq, having had extensive experience with litigation, particularly electronic discovery matters as both a legal solutions provider and with AMl00 law firms. For the past ten years, he has been advising clients on complex eDiscovery and forensic needs that arise from litigation, expansive regulation and complex contractual relationships. Jeremy’s clients have included the country’s largest law firms, healthcare providers, computer hardware and software companies, manufacturers, retailers, utility providers and state and federal government agencies. Before joining Epiq, Jeremy was Director of Litigation Consulting at an eDiscovery and Practice Technology group. Jeremy is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law and University of California at Santa Barbara.

Topic: THE MOST EFFICIENT AND COST- EFFECTIVE WAYS TO WORK WITH EXPERT WITNESS

John Nordstrand will cover methods for the most efficient ways to get information to experts so that they can form their opinions. How to assist experts so that they can complete their opinions and reports, in both a cost-effective and timely matter. And finally, things to consider when helping experts prepare for depositions and trial.

Biography:

John has spent thirty two years working as an applied economist in the areas of litigation support, as well as doing statistical and econometric projects for both litigation cases, and the health care industry. Currently the owner and principal economist of a forensic economics firm, specializing in loss of wage and fringe benefits, business, corporate shares and fractional interests, medical care costs, household services, and loss of profit and other applied economics valuations. John has appeared as a courtroom expert, testifying in Santa Clara, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties, as well as United States Federal Court. His specialties include valuation of wage and fringe benefits losses for personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, wrongful termination and other litigation matters. Courtroom testimony, business, stock, and fractional interest valuations for dissolution, tax and estate planning, and other matters. Econometric and statistical studies for health care, litigation, and other matters. 

Topic: THE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF MICHAEL JACKSON IN 2005

This session will cover the initial allegations of sexual abuse of a 12 year old boy, the earlier allegations of prior sexual abuse of other boys, preparation for trial, the prosecution case, the defense case and the aftermath of a not guilty verdict. It will address the problems associated with prosecuting a high profile celebrity including jury selection, dealing with the press and compelling the cooperation of reluctant witnesses.

Biography:

Ron Zonen started in the District Attorney’s office in San Bernardino County and then worked for thirty six years in the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office. He served as Chief Trial Deputy supervising the Vulnerable Victims Unit, involving all prosecutions of domestic violence, sexual assault, crimes against children and elder abuse. He ran the mental health unit responsible for civil commitments to mental hospitals of MDOs (Mentally Disordered Offenders) and SVPs (Sexually Violent Predators). He tried the first case in Santa Barbara County to successfully use DNA evidence resulting in the conviction of Jose Ruelas for rape and murder. Other high profile trials include People v. Anderson (the murder of Rick Klaus, a Montecito millionaire whose skeletal remains were discovered in the mountains above Ojai), People v. Lyons, (Defendant murdered his brother and sister in law), People v. Holzer
(Defendant killed his parents and two children) and People v. Hoyt (the murder of 15 year old Nicholas Markowitz resulting in a death sentence). Ron is currently a civil trial attorney with McCarthy and Kroes in Santa Barbara.

Topic: TRIAL WORK FROM START TO FINISH

Focusing on how a legal team should prepare and conduct trial, including witness preparation, creating notebooks, documentary evidence and use of electronic devices and images in opening and closing statements, etc.

Biography:

Judge Hill presides over Department 2 in the Santa Barbara Anacapa Division. Since 2003, he has been a Superior Court Judge, and was a presiding Judge from 2011-2012. Judge Hill has prosecuted all major felonies including murder, rape, robbery theft and burglary. He has taught at the Santa Barbara/Ventura Colleges of Law from 1988-present. Judge Hill is active in various community organizations and the legal community.