Civil Lawsuit Basics: Appearing at Trial: Rules and Strategies

Thursday, July 9, 2020:  12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - CANCELLED

Trial is the culmination of a civil lawsuit, where evidence is presented and a decision made by either a jury or a judge (i.e., a "bench trial"). In this class, an experienced trial judge will provide basic rules, strategy and tips about how to present evidence and handle your own trial in a California state court.

Class covers:

  • Presenting testimony from friendly witnesses
  • Cross-examining unfriendly witnesses
  • Getting documents admitted into evidence
  • How to stop improper evidence by making effective objections
  • Making opening and closing arguments

Class approved for Court Interpreter Minimum Continuing Education (CIMCE) credit.

Presented by Judge Mark A. Juhas:
Judge Mark A. Juhas sits in a general family law assignment on the Los Angeles Superior Court and has done so since November 2002. He attended the Colorado College and received his JD in 1979 from Seattle University School of Law. He is the chair of the California Commission on Access to Justice, and is member of several committees for the Los Angeles Superior Court including chair of the Access and Fairness committee. For the Judicial Council he is currently on the CJER Governing Committee and chairs the Family and Juvenile Advisory Committee for the Judicial Council. He was a member of the Elkins Family Law Task Force, Elkins Family Law Implementation Task Force and the Self- Represented Litigant Task Force. He regularly teaches for, among others, the Los Angeles Superior Court's education program, CJER, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and Southwestern Law School.

Registration fee: FREE
Registration reserves spot
Parking options available during registration

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Civil Lawsuit Basics: Enforcing Judgments

Thursday, July 23, 2020:  12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

What happens if a party refuses to, or can't, pay a civil judgment? In this class, learn about the procedures and methods involved in getting paid on a money judgment in California, and the legal protections available to those who have had a judgment entered against them.

Class covers:

  • Typical steps to enforcing a judgment (getting paid)
  • Characteristics of different enforcement tools, including liens, levies and more
  • When different methods of enforcement may be appropriate
  • Exemptions and other legal protections for judgment debtors who can't afford to pay

Class approved for Court Interpreter Minimum Continuing Education (CIMCE) credit.

Presented by Anahit Petrosyan:
Anahit Petrosyan joined LA Law library's Patron Services Department as a Reference Librarian in February of 2018. She participates in the delivery of Platinum program and other LA Law library Members Program services, and provides reference assistance in-person, and via phone, e-mail and chat at LA Law library's main and branch locations, including Van Nuys/North Hollywood and Pasadena public libraries. Anahit also teaches introductory legal research classes, such as Finding Forms, Types and Sources of Law, and Legal Research on the Internet, among others. She previously worked in various library paraprofessional capacities, for over fifteen years, at the University of Southern California libraries, including USC Gould School of Law (Asa V. Call) library. Anahit received her Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Southern California and earned her Master's in Library and Information Science degree from San Jose State University.

Registration fee: FREE
Registration reserves spot
Parking options available during registration

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Civil Lawsuit Basics: How to Make and Oppose Motions

Class recorded September 26, 2024

For updated information on e-filing and filing court documents in-person during COVID-19, please click here. If your case is being heard in California state superior court, please be sure to visit your court’s website for the most recent updates. L.A. Superior Court’s website is here.

A motion is how you request that a court order someone to do something in your lawsuit. Motions are made to obtain many types of orders: to postpone a trial to a later date, to modify an order for child support, to get a judgment without going to trial, to get a rehearing or a new trial, or for sanctions when a party breaks the rules (just to name a few). A motion for any of these orders can have a huge impact on your case. This class is intended to give an overview of how motions work in California state court and the rules of procedure that apply to making, filing, serving and opposing motions.

Class covers:

  • What a motion is and why a motion may be important to your case
  • When a motion is appropriate
  • What is included in a motion
  • How to get a motion on calendar and rules regarding service, filing and proper notice
  • Requirements for "ex parte" (emergency) and oral motions, and when each of these is appropriate

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below.

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

On Demand: Civil Lawsuit Basics: Subpoenas and RFPs: Getting Documents to Prove Your Case

Class recorded June 6, 2024

For updated information on e-filing and filing court documents in-person during COVID-19, please click here. If your case is being heard in California state superior court, please be sure to visit your court’s website for the most recent updates. L.A. Superior Court’s website is here.

The process of discovery in a civil lawsuit allows a party to obtain information and documents relevant to the suit. This helps the parties know ahead of time what evidence might be presented at trial, or to resolve the case prior to trial. In this class, learn about subpoenas and requests for production (RFPs) in California state court civil cases, in order to discover written documents and other physical objects you might need to prove your case or defend yourself successfully.

Class covers:

  • When to make requests for production (RFPs) and what you can ask for
  • Responding or objecting to RFPs
  • Motions to compel compliance, responses and further responses
  • Subpoenas: obtaining records or testimony from non-parties
  • Trial subpoenas and notices to appear at trial

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below.

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Civil Lawsuit Basics: When, Why & How to Settle a Case

Class recorded March 23, 2020.

For updated information on e-filing and filing court documents in-person during COVID-19, please click here. If your case is being heard in California state superior court, please be sure to visit your court’s website for the most recent updates. L.A. Superior Court’s website is here.

More than 90% of civil cases settle or are dismissed prior to trial, yet most litigants spend very little time thinking about whether or how to settle their cases. Learn when settlement makes sense, what resources and tools are available to you and how to negotiate effectively to get the best possible result without the uncertainty, time, and expense of taking a case all the way to trial.

Class covers:

  • How to frame your case in the best light
  • Whether settlement makes sense for your case
  • The role of a settlement officer or mediation
  • How to prepare for a negotiation
  • How to negotiate effectively
  • When to make an offer
  • How to decide what is a fair result
  • Documenting your settlement so you are protected

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below.

Video Recordings: We recognize that not everyone can attend in person classes, so even if you can't make it in, please watch any of these recordings and remember that we are still here to help! Call us at (213) 785-2513, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or chat with us online to get help finding information and resources on any legal (or not-quite-legal) question. Access to the video recordings is free.

Dated Material: Please note that the law changes. The original recording date for each class is provided on the display page. To be certain that you receive up-to-date information, please attend the in-person class, or contact us for help researching or updating your specific legal issue.

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

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