Litigation & Appeals

MT Specific

4.3

Litigating Civil Cases in Montana From Start to Finish

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 56 minutes
Channing Hartelius
Steven Vinick
R. Jack Clapp
Kevin Madden
With Channing J. Hartelius from Hartelius Law Center + 3 others
Recorded February 11, 2026.
Product ID 101467

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Overview

Apply the Rules and Maneuver Through the Litigation Process With Confidence

Don't miss this opportunity to develop practical skills in civil litigation! In this online seminar, veteran attorney faculty will provide you with real-world insights and concrete instruction. From initial filings to trial, uncover best practices that will help you work your way to a favorable case resolution. Learn how to be an effective advocate for your clients in civil proceedings - register today!

  • Hear top words of advice on motions, discovery, jury selection, and other select issues.
  • Discover how to spruce up your motion practice skills.
  • Get the evidence you need during discovery and learn how to get it admitted.
  • Learn how to prove the authenticity of social media posts, text messages, and more.
  • Ask the right questions in voir dire to effectively ferret out juror biases and attitudes.
  • Develop your case presentation skills for trial, from opening statements to closing arguments.
  • Examine key ethics traps and receive practical guidance for complying with the rules.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Motion Practice and Pleadings: Getting What You Want
  2. Top Civil Litigation Dos and Don'ts
  3. Discovery, Depositions, and Evidence Rules: Real-World Applications
  4. How to Authenticate Social Media, Email, and Text Evidence
  5. Building Your Civil Trial Skills
  6. Voir Dire and Jury Selection
  7. Legal Ethics: Avoiding Key Dangers

Related Topics

Product ID 101467

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Montana CLE Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Motion Practice and Pleadings: Getting What You Want

    1. Applying the Rules of Civil Procedure
    2. Pleadings Standards and Sufficiency
    3. Motion to Dismiss
    4. Summary Judgment Motions
    5. Motions in Limine
    6. Tips for Effective Brief Writing

  2. Top Civil Litigation Dos and Don'ts

    1. Court Procedure
    2. Motions
    3. Discovery
    4. Voir Dire and Jury Selection
    5. Trial Practice and Presentation

  3. Discovery, Depositions, and Evidence Rules: Real-World Applications

    1. Effective Use of Discovery Tools (Interrogatories; Requests for Production; Requests for Admissions; Subpoenas)
    2. Obtaining Evidence From Electronic Devices
    3. Taking Depositions
    4. Defending Depositions (and Properly Using Objections)
    5. Evaluating Admissibility
    6. Laying a Foundation to Get Your Evidence Introduced
    7. Witness Testimony and Reports
    8. Applying the Hearsay Rule and Exceptions
    9. Keeping Evidence Out

  4. How to Authenticate Social Media, Email, and Text Evidence

    1. Proactively Ensuring Authenticity
    2. Proving Electronic Documents Have Not Been Modified
    3. Identifying Who Made the Post and Linking to the Purported Author
    4. Authenticating Through Witness Testimony
    5. Authenticating via Distinctive Characteristics and Circumstantial Evidence
    6. Self-Authentication Methods

  5. Building Your Civil Trial Skills

    1. Opening Statements: Telling a Persuasive Story
    2. Conducting Direct Examination
    3. Cross-Examining and Impeaching Witnesses
    4. Using Objections
    5. Arguing Damages at Trial
    6. Delivering Summations and Jury Instructions

  6. Voir Dire and Jury Selection

    1. Preparing for Voir Dire
    2. Investigating Jurors
    3. Reading Personality Types and Non-Verbals
    4. Building Rapport
    5. Introducing Case Information
    6. Asking the Right Questions
    7. Eliciting Bias and Obtaining Cause Challenges
    8. Getting Quiet Jurors Talking
    9. Effective Use of Peremptory Challenges

  7. Legal Ethics: Avoiding Key Dangers

    1. Handling Prejudicial Evidence
    2. Social Media and Legal Ethics
    3. Communicating with Jurors
    4. Preparing vs. Coaching Witnesses
    5. Avoiding Conflicts of Interest

Who Should Attend

This basic-to-intermediate level online seminar is designed for attorneys. It may also benefit paralegals.

Speakers

Channing J Hartelius
Channing J.
Hartelius
Hartelius Law Center
Steven B Vinick
Steven B.
Vinick
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, P.C.
R. Jack Clapp
R. Jack
Clapp
Clapp Law LLC
Kevin M Madden
Kevin M.
Madden
Law Offices of Kevin Michael Madden, P.L.L.C.
Speaker bio
Channing J Hartelius

Channing J. Hartelius

Hartelius Law Center
Channing Hartelius

is a partner in the law firm of Hartelius Law Center. He has been practicing for 44 years with emphasis on personal injury for plaintiffs. Mr. Hartelius has spoken on personal injury subject matters and is an adjunct professor at the University of Great Falls. He is admitted to practice in all courts in the state of Montana. He also has a Virginia law license. Mr. Hartelius is a member of the Montana State Bar, the American Association of Justice, and Montana Trial Lawyers. He is recognized in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Lawyers, the Global Directory of Who's Who.

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Speaker bio
Steven B Vinick

Steven B. Vinick

Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, P.C.
Steven Vinick

is of counsel with the law firm of Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll, P.C., and practices in the areas of personal injury law, medical malpractice, criminal defense, and general civil litigation. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. He is on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Bar Association, and he is the treasurer of the Prince George's County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the D.C. Trial Lawyers Association, and the Maryland Association of Justice. Mr. Vinick was the Maryland Association of Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2011. He earned his B.A. degree, Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, from the University of Maryland; and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

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Speaker bio
R. Jack Clapp

R. Jack Clapp

Clapp Law LLC
R. Jack Clapp

is an attorney with Clapp Law LLC in Polson, Montana. He has more than 30 years of experience practicing law, and is admitted to practice in Montana, Oregon, and Ohio. Mr. Clapp has previous lecture experience teaching at Cleveland Marshall College of Law, and has also lectured for National Business Institute on trial tactics. He has tried more than 150 cases through to verdict, and served on numerous steering committees in multi-district litigation cases Mr. Clapp is a member of the American Bar Association. He earned his B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Cincinnati and his J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.

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Speaker bio
Kevin M Madden

Kevin M. Madden

Law Offices of Kevin Michael Madden, P.L.L.C.
Kevin Madden

is the founding member of the Law Offices of Kevin Michael Madden, P.L.L.C., where he practices in the areas of civil trial practice, commercial litigation, business litigation, construction law and employment law. He is admitted to practice in Texas and before the U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern districts of Texas. Mr. Madden was the articles editor for the Houston Journal of International Law. He was the judicial intern to the Honorable David Hittner, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas; and a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph James "Tad" Halbach, Jr., 333rd District Court, Harris County, Texas. Mr. Madden is a member of the Houston Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Texas Young Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America and Trial Lawyers for Public Justice. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, his B.S. degree from the University of Houston and his J.D. degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

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