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Litigation Support Leaders SuperConference

 "You've got a stellar roster." Craig Ball - LTN Advisor

Join us for a SuperConference that gives you the leaders of the industry.   

Whether exploring and evaluating new technology; implementing cutting edge systems and protocols; managing complex caseload or training attorneys, staff members and clients on the latest technology, the litigation support professional is an innovator and important player on the law firm team.

Here are the Leaders in one SuperConference who can give you the latest information you need in your crucial role.  Find out from the very top how to manage information that contributes to successful outcomes in critical litigation matters. Don't miss:

  • George J. Socha, Jr., Esq.
  • Monica Bay
  • Michael Arkfeld, Esq.
  • Brett Burney
  • Tom O'Connor
  • Joe Howie
  • David Bignault
  • Jim Michalowicz
  • Bill Long
  • Charlotte Riser Harris
  • Jerry Hatchett
  • Lisa Rosen
  • Henry Alonso
  • Bob Sweat
  • Lisa Fabian
  • Rob Miller

and many more!

Supported by Women in E-Discovery.

Join us for this spectacular event that addresses the unique needs, demands and skills of Litigation Support Professionals. 

Over 40 workshops and general sessions all led by experts hand-picked for their ability to make learning an incredibly rich experience.

Designed specifically for Litigation Support professionals from the seasoned pro to the entry-level level, you'll gain a firm grasp of the newest trends, updates in law and strategic techniques to position you further on the road to success.

Download the brochure!

Just a few of the workshops:

 A Year Later – Were the Doomsayers Correct? Learn about recent case law interpreting the amended e-discovery rules and how it is affecting future litigation.  One year later, were the doomsayers correct?  Have the amended federal rules, and state rules, brought corporate America to its knees?  Has explosion of electronic information caused cases to be settled because of the cost of identifying and disclosing electronic evidence? Truth be told, there have been significant growing pains. Unfortunately, we see daily reminders with the numerous court decisions imposing sanctions for failure to properly preserve and disclose electronic evidence.   At this session you will learn about:   The severe risks and consequences involved with failing to properly issue a litigation hold; The lack of change among many legal professionals that is creating financial and professional risk; The “changing of the guard” with many companies changing outside counsel because of their lack of expertise regarding electronic discovery; The economic risk to companies across the country and internationally; and steps to requesting and producing ESI.  – Michael Arkfeld

SaaS: The Time is Now  Law firms traditionally purchase litigation support applications that are maintained by the technology department. There has always been a conventional comfort level with "owning" the software. Perhaps this is because lawyers believe that administering the software in-house enables them to better fulfill their responsibility to protect client confidentiality and privilege. Today, however, there are several vendors that offer litigation support through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model over the Internet.
While the idea of application service providers (ASPs) and Web-based services is nothing new, SaaS has become a more viable option lately with the widespread availability of high-speed Internet access. SaaS vendors also take a lot of pressure off law firm technology professionals because the vendors can provide 24/7 support and are able to upgrade software with minimal or no downtime. And because the databases are accessible over the Internet, lawyers can work from anywhere and give their clients or opposing counsel access to important documents as necessary.

While an SaaS litigation support model may not be ideal for every matter, it is a viable option for litigators who would rather focus on the legal analysis of a case rather than coordinating the backend technology. - Brett Burney

E-Discovery:  Not Just a Federal  Issue

Changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure dealing with e-discovery  were much discussed prior to their effective date.  However, changes to state rules of procedure are taking place far more quietly but may have more long-term practical impact as far more cases are handled in state courts than in federal courts. This session will review changes in state courts and highlight some studies that suggest that many organizations are in need of a best practices approach to e-discovery issues in their records retention polices and legal hold practices. - Joe Howie, Esq.

 

 

 

The Rise of ESI, Metadata and its Myths! 

The rise of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) has changed the way we practice law today.  The use of computers, emails, instant messaging, text messaging, voice mail, ipods and any electronic forms of communication have increased exponentially.  The process of providing this data during the course of litigation has also changed, as the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been implemented. 

 

The nature of digital data is well-suited to investigation because it can be electronically searched with ease.  During the course of processing ESI, metadata (data about the data) is extracted.  However many believe that metadata is accurate or complete, when in fact that is often not the case.  The metadata extracted reflects the “profile” of a document, not the bibliographic content contained within the document.  Therefore, the searching of metadata is incomplete due to the inaccuracy of the metadata.  This presentation will explore the rise of ESI, metadata and its myths, and what service bureaus don't want you to know about ESI. - Lisa Rosen 

 

Vendor Relationships:  You Can't Live With Them; You Can't Live Without Them  Getting the most for your dollar does not mean you need to sacrifice quality.  A good vendor relationship depends upon several key elements besides a great reference.  Learn from a pro how to establish, maintain and ensure a relationship with your vendors that gets you what you want and meets your firm's expectations.  David Bignault

 

Database Design:  How to Ensure You Get Consist Results 

There is no point in putting discovery documents into a computer system that doesn’t allow the legal team to perform research and review, produce documents, prepare witness kits, prepare documents for expert review, depositions and trial.  Understand how decisions made today will impact cost and time options tomorrow. Get what you need, instead of what you may have asked for. 

 

Gain knowledge on how to maintain standards and ensure consistency whether working in-house or using a vendor, the logic behind field selection and determining the capture rules, common mistakes, why document types can be such a problem, how to define unitization (logical document determination), why rules based coding is necessary and how to utilize them when coding in-house during document review. - Bob Sweat

Ethics and Electronic Discovery: Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned from the Trenches  Recent headlines about purported discovery breakdowns have litigators and their clients’ nationwide waiting with baited breath. Regardless of the end result, there are valuable lessons to be learned about the preservation and production of digital evidence. The experts can’t possibly cover every scenario, but expect a hearty discussion on such topics as failure to search and/or produce, options for asserting privilege claims after production, the use of “claw backs” and “quick peeks,” and the impact of the proposed amendment to Rule 502 of the Federal Rules of Evidence. - Tom O'Connor

10 Essential Steps to Developing a Premier Litigation Support Department 

Many Litigation Support Managers in law firms are still struggling to define and market their department’s services.  The difficulty is often the result of a disconnect between the legal teams and the technical teams as the roles evolve in discovery.  It is difficult enough keeping one step ahead of the rapidly changing rules, technology and case law without having to explain and justify your department’s role and needs each day.  - Charlotte Riser Harris

 

 

Unicode:  The e-Discovery Engine

Learn the basics about Unicode technology and why it is essential to the litigation support process including:—The history of Unicode from its inception to its incorporation into most major operating systems, including Mac and Windows.—The advantages of Unicode over ASCII in litigation support software, especially for cases involving email, transcripts, and foreign language documents.—Examples of cases in which the lawyer’s understanding of Unicode materially impacted the outcome of the case.—An exemplar using CaseLogistix , the first litigation support application to support Unicode, including its support for Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. - Tom O'Connor

 

Thinking Like a Plaintiff: Learn how traditional corporate defendants can gain an advantage in litigation by applying a few lessons learned from “other” side. Turn around and face the tiger by finding out how you can go on the offensive and deliver winning results for your client. Not for the faint-of-heart.  Jim Michalowicz

 

Best Practices:  Document Collection and Database Preparation.  Covers the essential steps that need to be considered in developing an effective data collection plan and document database.  Based on over 20 years of experience, this course covers the key steps from the initial request and gathering of evidentiary material to trial presentation.


With each step, the salient points of consideration will be emphasized and explained. This includes document collection and formats, understanding the application of a numbering scheme in your case, litigation support specifications and when to code or make use of textual scanning or eDiscovery.  Once you know the steps to take and the key areas to consider, you will be in control of developing the most efficient document database for your case in a cost effective manner.  Supporting documents are provided geared toward use with CT Summation products, but can be edited for any litigation support application.  - Lisa Fabian
 

 

Managing, Hiring and Motivating Litigation Support Staff   Straight to the point, Mr. Hall discusses how to hire, keep, and motivate your staff with simple easy steps and ideas, to include where Litigation Support employees come from, where they want to go, and what makes them happy.  Learn how the techniques of the very best firms.  – Andrew Hall

 

 

New Horizons in the Litigation Manager's Role  Litigation Support is ever changing and at a faster pace than before.  What you can expect for the future and where are firms going with their desire to streamline and increase efficiency within the support staff?  

This highly informative workshop shows you what is happening and how to maintain your worth in your firm's ever changing environment.  Gone is the traditional database administrator who slaves daily over load files and productions.   The future holds open varied opportunities in project management, technology and in-house ESI consultants. - Andrew Hall

Tearing Down Electronic Borders -- Dealing with Foreign Language Data
In today's global environment, it's more likely than ever that you will encounter foreign language data in litigation. This session will highlight the challenges involved and discuss strategies and methodologies for seamlessly incorporating foreign languages into the data universe of your litigation. - Jerry Hatchett

 

Outsourcing to India:  Hot Debate or Cold Reality?
The controversy in outsourcing document review to India goes on.  Why are firms reluctant to admit they outsource?  Is it a competitive issue?  What is the real scoop and what can you expect in terms of quality, quantity, turnaround time, ethics and pricing.  Does this really mean U.S. legal professionals are going to lose jobs?  Is that fact or fiction?  Hear this dynamic panel address issues of concern of this potential $640 million industry and set the record straight.

 The Basics of Hybrid-Productions (Production of ESI in both TIFF and Native Format) The production of electronically stored information in both an image format (known as TIFF) as well as in native format (such as the actual Word, Excel, or Outlook e-mail file) is a rapidly growing trend. The practical implications of a hybrid production pose unique challenges for the producing party and their e-discovery partner.  We will briefly cover some of the methods developed to address these challenges, the cost and time considerations counsel needs to keep in mind when producing in hybrid format, and the early planning that is needed to facilitate an efficient hybrid production. We will also discuss how to maximize efficiencies in reviewing and producing ESI in class action litigation. - Robert Miller

The 101A Workshops for Beginners: 

The Litigation Lifecycle:  Are you a litigation support professional who did not come up through a legal field career?  Unsure about the terminology and the discovery process?  Does your vocabulary include "Production" but you've found out the term means somehting entirely different in the legal arena? 

Here's a two-hour breakout session that will teach you the basics of the litigation lifecycle, the terminology and steps in the process you need to know now.

E-Discovery for New Litigation Professionals:  New to the field but you don't want to admit you're the only one in the room that has not been exposed to the terminology, new rules and process?  Come to this workshop.  We'll give you a whopping dose of e-discovery buzz words, step-by-step processes and resources you can use immediately. - Bill Long

Litigation Support 101A:  Just finding out how to set up a database?  Learning the ropes or need a refresher?  This workshop will teach you the basics and help you make the transition into this highly lucrative, challenging specialty arena.

Introduction to Summation, iBlaze & WebBlaze:  Send your entry-level staff to get introduced to these important programs.  An overview and great handouts will get them started immediately.

Professional Development: 

Where Do I Go From Here? Career Opportunities for the Litigation Support Professional:  If the attorney partnership track is not for you, where do you take your litigation support career?  How do you find more job satisfaction, higher level assignments, more challenging work?  Who is hiring and where are the jobs?  What's hot now, what's cold tomorrow?  Find out from the recruiting pros who know this business inside and out.

How to Get Published in the Legal Field:  Do you have a book in you?  Or, would you like to be writing articles for prestigious publications?  Find out from the publishing pros what editors look for, how a book proposal should be written and what gets some articles accepted and others rejected. 

Practical Legal Ethics:  Confidentiality, Conflict of Interest and Unauthorized Practice of Law  While Litigation Support Professionals do not draft pleadings or present arguments in court, you are still held by the same ethical standards as anyone else in the law firm.  Learn what the boundaries are and what constitutes an unethical move - even though it may be inadvertent.  Learn how to keep yourself and your firm out of trouble and in the winner's circle.

The Last Words:  Monica Bay leads this prestigious panel of George Socha, Tom O'Connor, Michael Arkfeld and Brett Burney as the speakers wrap up the day with an interactive discussion with the audience.  Take away the most salient points and talk directly with one of your favorite SuperSpeakers!

As an additional bonus, join us for the Litigation Support Professionals  Awards for Best Practices in Litigation Support.

The brochure and agenda will be posted shortly.  For Exhibitor Information, please see Exhibitors or give us a ring at 818.506.8701.

Download the schedule.

To register online please click this link: www.regonline.com/LITSUPPORT

 

Register | Tuition | Topics | Instructors | Credit | Terms & policies | Upcoming

Location

Dates

Schedule

Houston, TX

Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown
1700 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
713-739-8800

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Mar 06-07

2 Day Event

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Register for seminar or order conference materials:
  • Call our toll-free number, 888.803.8807, or email us to hold your place or bill your firm
  • Make checks payable to Estrin Professional Careers
  • Payment must be made prior to the conference

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Seminar tuition and discounts:

Preview Price:  $450.00 before brochure
$495.00

Download the schedule here.

To register online please click: www.regonline.com/LITSUPPORT

 

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Topics addressed include:

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Instructors:
  • Jim Michalowicz, Sr. Trial Consultant, Altman Weil Inc.
    Litigation Program Manager, Tyco International & Litigation Department Manager, Dupont
  • Gary Melhuish, Director of Paralegals, Ballard, Spahr (Philadelphia)
    Director of Legal Assistants; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (Washington D.C.) Past-Pres., International Paralegal Management Assoc., instructor, Georgetown University Paralegal Program.
  • Allen Brody, Esq., President & General Counsel, Estrin LegalEd
    Over 20 years as a practicing lawyer, Mr. Brody is a very popular Paralegal SuperConference speaker. Formerly in private practice, he also held the position of General Counsel of a $200 million corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and practiced law in California and Michigan.
  • Jerry Hatchett, , Evidence Technology
    Experienced in electronic discovery and digital forensics. Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) and licensed Private Investigator.
  • Andrew Hall, MBA, Practice Support Manager,
    Member of the Association of Legal Administrators, Chair of the Partner Advisory Committee; member of Editorial Comittee; member Advisory Board of the Paralegal Institute, Dallas; Adjunct Professor for North Central Texas Community College. MBA in International Business from Regis University. Combat veteran with service in OPERATION Desert Storm and Provide Comfort.
  • Brett Burney, , Burney Consultants LLC
    Formerly with Thompson Hine LLP working with litigation teams. Frequent contributor to Law.com, LLRX.com, and Law Technology News magazine.
  • George Socha, President, Socha Consulting LLC
    Litigator, 16 yrs. E-discovery expert witness, special master and advisor. Co-author of leading survey on e-discovery, The Socha-Gelbmann Electronic Discovery Survey. Launched Electronic Discovery Reference Model. EDRM Metrics and EDRM XML projects. J.D., Cornell Law School.
  • Michael Arkfeld, ,
    Consultant, speaker and author of the acclaimed Arkfeld on Electronic Discovery and Evidence, 2nd ed; E-Discovery Best Practices Guide and The Digital Practice of Law (5th ed.) Consults throughout North America and overseas on electronic evidence. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Arizona. Editor of the E-Discovery Supplement to the American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazines. Columnist for the Arizona Attorney magazine and contributing writer to the American Bar Association Journal.
  • Joe Howie, Director, Product Development, Syngence Corporation
    Well-known leader in litigation support; Editor-In-Chief, ALSP Update; Ohio Attorney General’s office and in-house counsel for Phillips Petroleum. Articles have been published by a wide number of publications.

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Credit for continuing education:

 

Sponsorships and Exhibitor Opportunities are available.  First-come, first serve basis.  Space is limited.  Register Now!

 

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Terms & policies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Upcoming seminars:

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