Civil Trial Certification Exam Prep Course

A course for those looking seeking a comprehensive survey of NJ Civil Trial Practice, OR preparation for the Certification Exam

This program provides a broad overview of civil trial practice for attorneys who are prepping for the Civil Trial Certification Exam or who want a comprehensive course review of civil trial practice.  Presented by New Jersey Certified Civil Trial practitioners along with a Civil Practice Division judge, our program reviews subjects most likely to arise in civil trial practice as set forth by the Board of Attorney Certification:

Learn from a New Jersey State Court Judge and a panel of attorneys certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as Civil Trial Attorneys

This program will review the following subject areas, which are also the required subjects for the Civil Trial Certification exam:

• Pretrial Preparation
      a. Problem recognition - advisability of suit-cost considerations
      b. Jurisdiction, venue, and choice of forum
      c. Applicability of statute of limitations
      d. Ethical considerations - conflict of interest - fee arrangements
      e. Competency to accept employment
      f. Retainer agreement
      g. Investigation
      h. Legal research
      i. Settlement procedures
      j. Demand letter


• Filing Suit
      a. Pleadings
          1) Elements of causes of action and defenses
          2) Elements of damages
          3) Temporary restraining orders and permanent injunctions and other extraordinary
          remedies
      b. Intervention
      c. Pretrial discovery and related motions
      d. Defensive cross-claims and counterclaims
      e. Pretrial practice


• Trial
      a. Trial strategy and tactics
      b. Jury selection
      c. Opening statement
      d. Introduction and exclusion of evidence
          1) Relevance
          2) Competency of witnesses
          3) Privileges
          4) Presumptions
          5) Impeachment
          6) Opinion and expert testimony
          7) Hearsay and hearsay exceptions
          8) Exclusion for valid reason of evidence otherwise admissible
          9) Judicial notice
          10) Documentary and physical evidence
          11) Cross-examination
          12) Offer for limited purpose and re-offer
          13) Offer of proof
      e. Motions during trial
      f. Establishing a trial court record for appeal
          1) Objections to evidence
          2) Exceptions to charges
          3) Requests to charge the jury
          4) Special interrogatories to the jury
      g. Summation
      h. Court's charge and instruction to the jury
      i. Jury deliberation
      j. Verdicts
      k. Findings of fact and conclusions of law
      l. Post-verdict motions
      m. Judgments
          1) Form
          2) Enforcement


• Rules of Professional Conduct