American Bar Association The Divorce Trial Manual: From Initial Interview to Closing Argument

This new, step-by-step manual is designed to help the practicing family lawyer effectively and successfully navigate through the complexities of domestic litigation. This is a much-needed resource, as most divorce lawyers spend more time in court than any other type of so-called "litigation lawyers." Putting into words the many lessons formulated and taught during the seventeen-year history of the annual Trial Advocacy Institute for matrimonial lawyers, The Divorce Trial Manual covers everything from the essential information gathered in initial client meetings to organizing the case and bringing all the issues and evidence together in the trial and closing argument. Written by Lynne Z. Gold-Bikin and Stephen A. Kolodny, two nationally known family lawyers who frequently write and speak on topics in the field, The Divorce Trial Manual is a complete roadmap from the initial interview through preparation for trial. It lays out all the steps in the process, including: How to conducting effective discovery; Methods for selecting and preparing lay witnesses; How to develop and present a theory of the case; Use of the opening statement and closing argument; How to organize material to prepare for trial; Cross examination strategy and tips; The necessary information to cross-examine appraisers and custody evaluators; The rules of evidence and basic evidentiary objections; And much more; Clearly written and logical in its style and organization, this practical volume is filled with practical advice, useful tips, checklists, sample Q and A's, bullet points, and helpful guidelines for handling the diverse circumstances of a trial. The Divorce Trial Manual is the necessary tool family lawyers need to organize and present their case in order to achieve the optimum outcome for their clients. The included CD-ROM contains practical forms plus an invaluable, 67-page client manual.