An estimated 80% of all cases that go to trial in California involve one or more experts. The California Supreme Court’s decision in Sargon v. University of Southern California significantly changed the standards for the admissibility of expert opinion in California trial courts.

Formal Opinion No. 2015-193 of the Standing Committee On Professional Responsibility and Conduct of the California State Bar (“Committee Opinion”) opines that an attorney may violate ethical duties of competence by failing to understand and perform e-discovery skills. The Committee Opinion set out a list of nine e-discovery tasks that “attorneys handling e-discovery should be able to perform (either by themselves or in association with competent counsel or expert consultants).”

Litigators often find themselves representing clients in arbitration, but don’t have the necessary training or experience to fully take advantage of the process for their clients’ optimal benefit.

California Superior Court Judges will discuss civility in litigation practice, including legal requirements and best practices. Topics covered will include: why civility is important, how civility is legally mandated, and best practices in discovery, deposition, oral argument, and motion practice.

This program surveys the rules governing contact with represented and unrepresented parties, current and former employees, information subject to non-disclosure agreements, inadvertently produced information, and information procured through self-help by clients. Current and proposed California Rules and the ABA Model Rules will be covered.