The Civil Litigator’s Toolkit
Issues covered include: pleadings, statement of claim, factual particulars, statements of defence, affidavits, drafting, witness statements, formalities, filing and service, dispute resolution, ADR, mediation
Description
Master the civil litigation process from beginning to end with this expertly curated step by step guide. Elevate your drafting skills, gain insights into how to prepare for trial and develop strategies for resolving disputes outside of court, this programme will equip you with the essential skills for success.
Attend and earn 3 CPD hours
9.15am to 10.00am: Pleadings: Strategies for Success
Elevate your drafting skills and improve your pleadings through practical tips, insights and examples on how to draft proper pleadings.
- The statement of claim and clearly stating the nature and basis of the claim
- Determining appropriate causes of action
- Providing adequate and appropriate factual particulars
- Statements of defence and pleading affirmative defences
- The need for and content of a reply
Presented by Dan Parker, Partner, Parker and Associates
10.05am to 10.50am: Drafting Affidavits: Admissible, Relevant, Persuasive and Effective
- How to draft an admissible, relevant, persuasive and effective affidavit
- Examination of the High/District Court Rules, Evidence Act 2006 and Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008
- Practical tips for eliciting statements from your client’s witnesses, reviewing opposing affidavits and preparing affidavit/s in reply
- Techniques for dealing with multiple exhibits
- Formalities: Jurisdiction, swearing/affirming, filing and service requirements
Presented by David Ballantyne, Barrister
10.55am to 11.40am: Preparing for Trial: Some Dos and Don’ts
- Paperwork: key issues
- Preparing for in court support
- Evidence: What is really important?
- Submissions, timing, impact, recovery and presentation
Presented by Catherine Goode, Barrister
11.45am to 12.30pm: Resolving Disputes Outside of the Court Process: ADR
- Alternative dispute resolution: the benefits of seeking out of court settlements, strategy and timing
- Preparing for mediation: making the most of the opportunity – preparation for you, for your client and the mediator
- Practical aspects of mediation: how do these days typically unfold (and could I be there until midnight)? How do I deal with difficult parties? Tricks to managing the mediation?
Presented by Ann Skelton, Barrister and Mediator, Mediation Partners
Learning Objectives
- Receive practical guidance on how to effectively draft pleadings
- Learn useful techniques to drafting admissible, relevant, persuasive and effective affidavits
- Gain practical tips in better preparing for trial
- Consider how to prepare for mediation and the benefits of seeking out of court settlements