Our Southern California Chapter of the AAML presented the second annual Trial Basics Seminar on April 15, 2016 in Orange County. The TBS is aimed at less experienced family law lawyers. We present this to reach out to our community, improve the skills of less-experienced family law lawyers and give back to our profession. We again had full capacity (100 lawyers), with many still on the waiting list.
Each family law case has different needs. Our AAML Fellows recognize the availability of various alternative courses of resolution. But we believe that if a case cannot be settled, then the consequence is that the courts are there to decide the issues. Our job is to be prepared to expertly litigate those cases to their logical ends.
We believe in Due Process and the fundamental right to family law trials, as our California Supreme Court reiterated and emphasized in the 2007 California Supreme Court case, Elkins v. Superior Court. It is in that spirit that we present the TBS.
I was proud to again serve as the event’s Dean. Herring Law Group put in hundreds of hours of work, coordinating speakers, applicants and attendees, presentation materials and hotel logistics. It helped our firm bond, and we are proud to have “made it happen.” Cassie Glanville and Erin Schaden, of our office, also attended.
My presentations included Expert Witnesses, ESI (“Electronically Stored Information”)/E-Discovery and Post-hearing and Post-trial Motions. Activity evaluations were outstanding, with across-the-board “5 for 5” top ratings. Comments included, “the practical tips taught were incredible,” “I learned more [about expert witnesses] in 15 minutes than I have in 10 years,” and “the content will be very useful to my own practice in terms of practical tools and approaches.”
Follow-up “break-out” sessions will be held during the next two weekends. HLG anticipates helping to grow and improve the TBS in the years to come.