Presenting and Objecting to Evidence in Legal Proceedings: Common pitfalls, documentary evidence, pre-trial motions, expert testimony, and presentation

Paul Leopold | KoonsFuller

Paul Leopold is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and focuses his practice on family law appeals. He has successfully argued appeals and original proceedings in multiple state and federal appellate courts, ranging from complex property disputes, custody, child support, international child abduction, constitutional rights of parents, and myriad other issues. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Thomson Reuters Texas Rising Stars, Fort Worth Magazine, and 360 West Magazine. Paul regularly prepares materials to teach other attorneys in Texas and around the nation through continuing legal education courses.

As appellate counsel, Paul works with trial attorneys at each stage of a case. He helps with strategy, pretrial practice, dispositive motions, trial, preservation of error, and jury charges. Paul is called on by attorneys around Texas for guidance with complex issues or handling appeals from their cases as well.

Paul actively participates with both local and statewide bar associations and legal groups, including providing monthly caselaw updates to the Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association. Paul was previously appointed to work with the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee to draft procedural and evidentiary rules that affect the enforcement of foreign judgments in family law cases. Outside of work, Paul enjoys being with his wife and kids and gardening.

Richard k. Leefe | Leefe &Gibbs LLC

Richard k. Leefe has been practicing law for fifty (50) years. He is a graduate engineer from Louisiana State University, holds a JD from Loyola College of Law (New Orleans) and an LLM from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland in International Commercial Law. Mr. Leefe has handled legal matters in the US, Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia. He was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola for 26 years and taught the course in Evidence.

He is the author of two treatises published by Lexis: (1) Louisiana Code of Evidence Practice Guide, and (2) Louisiana Jury Instructions-Civil and Criminal. Mr. Leefe mediated and/or arbitrated hundreds of cases domestic and international He is a Certified Mediator and presently designated by the US District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, as a mandatory mediator in certain cases. He is a past President of the Louisiana State Bar Association (2013-14).

Session I – Foundations of Evidence | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

• Rules of evidence
• Types of evidence
• Authenticating evidence
• Overcoming hearsay

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

Session II – Evidence: Advanced techniques and practical applications | 3:10pm – 4:10pm

• Presenting documentary evidence and pretrial motions
  • Advanced pre-trial motion practice
  • Best practices for handling documents
  • Overcoming objections
  • Leveraging digital and electronic documents
• Presenting expert testimony other trends and best practices
  • Qualifying an expert witness
  • Direct and cross-examination techniques
  • Utilizing expert reports and exhibits
• Using demonstrative evidence
  • Creating effective demonstrative aids
  • Legal considerations and limits
  • Engaging the jury with visuals