Welcome to Seminar 8 PA 203 Interviewing & Investigation

1. Welcome to Seminar 8PA 203Interviewing & Investigation Instructor: Colleen Grady

2. Agenda for tonight’s Seminar • Course Status Update • The Investigative Process • Unit 8 Discussion Board • Week 8 Requirements • Preview Week 9 Requirements

3. Course Status • We are finishing Unit 8. Your final project should be in by tomorrow night. • Next Monday is our last Seminar! • We are winding down. Check the Gradebook. It is not too late to submit any missed work. • The Final Exam is still coming and it is worth a big chunk of our course grade.

4. The Investigative Process • What is the purpose of learning legal terminology? • What are some “magic” legal words?

5. If you specialize in one area of the law, why do you need to know about other areas?

6. What are different areas of laws that may be applicable to an attorney who practices… • Personal Injury Law ? • Corporation Law? • Criminal Law?

7. 1. What role does a paralegal play in identifying possible parties to a case? 2. Why do we need to include the exact and proper names in a case?

8. Unit 8 Discussion Board Two Topics • Homer Simpson (illegal drug use); and - Carla Smith (accident due to manhole cover).

9. Unit 8 Requirements • Final Project • Seminar • DB – 2 parts • Homer Simpson • Carla Smith • No Quiz this week

10. Preview Week 9 Requirements • Attend Seminar or submit the alternate assignment. – It’s the last Seminar. • Complete the reading assignment – Chapter 9 • Post to the Discussion Board 4-5 times total and at least once to each of the 2 topics • Submit the Final Exam (60 questions – T/F and M/C – all from the reading)

11. Unit 9 Discussion Board • Oldajean and Staffodil bought a home in March. The previous owners claimed there was no current damage and no problems with the home at the time of the sale. The real estate agent, Phil, supported the previous owners, stating that he knew a lot about houses and that this one was fine. Phil also told Oldajean and Staffodil that they did not need to have the house inspected and that it was not the standard practice to do so in this state. Oldajean and Staffodil were new to the state and believed Phil and went ahead with the purchase of the home. After moving in, they found several problems, including rotted siding on the outside, rotted window frames, broken pipes that had been taped together, and holes in the wall that had been covered with wallpaper. Staffodil and Oldajean are now asking for legal representation and wish to sue the previous owners for $20,000, which is the cost to fix the house.

12. Unit 9 DB –topic 1 • Find your state's laws regarding real estate transactions and disclosure statements. What laws may apply to Oldajean and Staffodil's case? • Using the laws you have found, list the evidence Oldajean and Staffodil will need to gather to support their case.

13. Unit 9 DB –topic 2 • Read the Case Study on page 209 of Civil Interviewing and Investigation concerning "Christian Lowd, Minor." Then answer the discussion questions that follow on the Discussion Board. • Do you foresee any problem obtaining the juvenile court records in order to change the judgment? • What records will be needed to begin locating financial records on Mr. Lowd? • What resources are available to the paralegal (both public and private) to search for financial data on Mr. Lowd? • Are any other resources available to the paralegal when looking for Mr. Lowd and his money?

14. Some things to review for Final Exam • Open ended and direct questions • Hearsay • Rule 404 • Behaviorism • Client fact/case fact • Informal discovery

15. Some things to review for Final Exam • Relevant evidence • Digital photographs and safeguards • Tickler system • Privacy Act • Freedom of Information Act

16. Questions?