Summer may have reached its end, but we’ve got something hot for you in October. The Paralegal Section is holding an all-day conference – Anatomy of a Trial – on October 18th at BASF’s new headquarters. We have a full day planned of all things trial and we’re hoping to see you.
One of the most frequent calls for help I see on paralegal message boards is when a paralegal is on a case that’s been set for trial. The stakes are high, both for your client and your professional life. Missing a deadline can damage the chances of your client prevailing; we’ve all been there, and we’ve all experienced that feeling of our heart sinking to our toes when something goes sideways.
It doesn’t have to be that way! You can go into trial prep with confidence, if you have the right tools. At our October 18, 2024 in-person conference, we have some amazing speakers and a packed class list.
Our October 18th all-day Anatomy of a Trial conference is still in the planning stages, but we have some confirmed presenters whom we are excited to share with you. Judge Elaine Hammond, who serves in the 9th circuit Bankruptcy Court, will be speaking about Artificial Intelligence in the context of our conference theme: trials. Whether you’re an AI newbie, or a confident user, Judge Hammond will have takeaways for everyone.
At our 2019 conference, we received feedback that attendees wanted more class options. Message received! This year we will offer attendees the option of attending one of two sessions. One session will focus exclusively on family law trials; the other section will focus on criminal/general civil trials. I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be heading out West to present live with Robert Rathmell, Esq. of Hersh Family Law Practice, P.C. on family law trials. I’ve been involved in several cases with Robert, and I am over the moon that we’ll be co-presenters on a topic near and dear to our hearts.
We are still accepting sponsorships at various tiers. If your firm is interested in sponsoring, please reach out to Amy McGuigan (amy@smllp.law) or me (karin@vsfamlaw.com). Being a sponsor for a BASF Paralegal Section event is a great way to show that you care about continuing legal education for the non-lawyer crew. It’s also a great opportunity to showcase your products or business and, just between us, I’ve heard that if you’re on the lookout for amazing staff, it’s not a bad way to do some networking.
Register early and spread the word! We’ll be sending out more details as we finalize our schedule, but for now, consider this to be your Save the Date notice, and mark your calendars. I can’t wait to see you there!
Karin Buckley is the current Vice-Chair and the former Chair of BASF’s Paralegal Section. She is the Senior Paralegal at Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP and has worked exclusively in family law since 2011. In 2021, VV&S graciously allowed Karin to move to Baltimore, MD and work remotely. She resides with a curmudgeonly cat named Midge, and a Golden Retriever named Jolene. She regularly presents classes at BASF and is a former instructor at San Francisco State’s paralegal program.