To be better prepared for this week's assignments, please view the following. The assignments this week are taken from the chapters, so the chapter readings and PowerPoints will help you conceptually understand how to successfully complete them.

Civil Litigation Textbook

Chapter 6: Evidence (pages 138-156) - This chapter covers evidence, why some evidence is not used in trial, the Federal Rules of Evidence, admissible and inadmissible evidence, types of tangible evidence, witness of testimony and how credibility of a witness is challenged, and types of hearsay evidence and the important exceptions to the hearsay rule.
- Chapter 6 PowerPoint
Chapter 7: Interviews and Investigation in Civil Litigation (pages 160-190) - This chapter covers the importance of the initial contact with clients and witnesses, considerations and steps in preparing for an interview of any client of witness, skills needed to successfully conduct a client or witness interview, how expert witnesses are used in litigation, and the steps in conducting an investigation of a claim.
- Chapter 7 PowerPoint
Chapter 8: Pleadings: Complaint, Summons, and Service (pages 194-224) - This chapter covers the court rules for preparing pleadings in civil litigation, impact of the statute of limitations on the commencement of a lawsuit, draft a complaint and a summons, rules of filing and serving the initial pleadings, the timeline for litigation, and when amended or supplementary pleadings may be required.
- Chapter 8 PowerPoint
Chapter 9: Motions Practice (pages 228-251) - This chapter covers how to prepare a motion in the proper format, how lawyers may use motions during the pleading phase of a case, how lawyers may use motions to compel opponents to comply with the rules of court and evidence, the use of motions to terminate a case before trial, and how motions may be used at the end of a trial.
- Chapter 9 PowerPoint

Other Resources

Video: Overview of the Hearsay Rule - The Legal Geeks discuss the Hearsay Rule under the Federal Rules of Evidence and the California Evidence Code.
Federal Rules of Evidence - The Federal Rules of Evidence are a set of rules that governs the introduction of evidence at civil and criminal trials in United States federal trial courts.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure - The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”) govern court procedure for civil cases in United States Federal District Courts. While the rules apply to practice in all US District Courts, many courts also issue their own rules that relate to specific procedural requirements when practicing before those courts.
Indiana Rules of Court - All amendments received, passed, and made effective by the Indiana Supreme Court are included.
Essential Skills for Paralegals: Conducting Interviews - There is no single style, technique, or theory of interviewing that fits all situations or all interviewers. With that in mind, there are still foundational techniques that can give you the opportunity to become an excellent interviewer.