Civil Law and Litigation for Paralegals [Connected eBook with Study Center]

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From client intake to bringing an appeal, Civil Law and Litigation for Paralegals focuses on the role of the paralegal at every stage of a civil case. Neal R. Bevans’ accessible writing style describes the American legal system and provides incisive analysis of common civil law cases—including divorce, car accidents, and medical malpractice. Hands-on exercises and practice pointers create ample opportunities for students to develop essential career skills. With a balanced approach, Bevans covers all the key topics paralegals need to know in an easy-to-read and engaging style that utilizes numerous examples and illustrations but never overwhelms the student.

Professors and students will benefit from:
• A clear introduction to the fundamentals of civil litigation.
• Real-world examples and practice-based exercises.
• Hypothetical questions and other scenarios to illustrate the points under discussion in each chapter.
• Strong chapter pedagogy includes:
   o Chapter Objectives that facilitate comprehension and review.
   o Practice Pointers and Search Suggestions.
   o Tech Topics exploring the latest technological innovations that affect the everyday lives of attorneys and paralegals in civil practice.
• An exploration of an important ethical questions relevant to the day-to-day practice of law in each chapter.
• End-of-chapter questions, activities, and assignments to enrich learning.

New to the Fourth Edition:
• Integrates the latest technological advancements, particularly AI and e-discovery, highlighting their profound impact on civil law practices.
• New cases that exemplify what paralegals see in practice as well as updated case excerpts that illustrate recent trends in civil practice.
• Updated web resources for further research.
• Checklists derived from the chapter materials that focus on the day-to-day practical aspects of civil litigation.
 

Summary of Contents

CONTENTS 
PREFACE 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Chapter 1 Introduction to the Court System 
Chapter 2 The Participants in the Legal System
Chapter 3 Bringing a Legal Action
Chapter 4 Civil Complaints
Chapter 5 The Defendant’s Answer 
Chapter 6 Evidence
Chapter 7 Discovery 
Chapter 8 Motions Practice 
Chapter 9 Preparing for and Conducting the Trial
Chapter 10 Damages 
Chapter 11 Arbitration, Mediation, and Settlement
Chapter 12 Appeals

APPENDIX A. APPLE CASE 
APPENDIX B. BAKER CASE 
APPENDIX C. ANSWERS TO REVIEW QUESTIONS AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR TEST REVIEW 
GLOSSARY 
INDEX