Trial Notebook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Paralegals and Associates
Over the years, Lisa has practiced in the areas of criminal defense, family law and general civil liability. Lisa have extensive bench and jury trial. She also graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and attended law school at North Carolina Central University School of Law.
2 hour CLE
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Program Summary
A trial is won or lost on retrieval — the exhibit produced in seconds, the witness file open before the judge finishes the question — and the trial notebook is where that capacity holds or collapses. The move from paper binders to electronic notebooks bought speed but introduced new failure modes: version-control errors that surface mid-trial, privileged material left exposed in a shared file, and an attorney fumbling software no one trained them to run. With courtrooms built around electronic exhibits and presentation technology, the disorganized notebook is a live liability. Associates and paralegals build and run that notebook — often without a system — while the trial lawyer relies on it without auditing how it was assembled. This program builds the notebook from intake timelines and document identification through checklists organized by witness, exhibit, or theme, strict version control tied to pre-trial orders, electronic-notebook software selection and integration with physical materials, and courtroom techniques for instant access, exclusion calls, and safeguarding privilege. Attendees leave able to build a notebook that performs under pressure and keeps the trial moving.
Key topics to be discussed:
- Early Preparation Strategies
- Checklists and Organization Techniques
- Mastering Electronic Trial Notebooks
- Maximizing Trial Notebook Utility in the Courtroom
- Case Studies and Real-World Applications
This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.
Date / Time: July 31, 2026
- 2:00 pm – 4:10 pm Eastern
- 1:00 pm – 3:10 pm Central
- 12:00 pm – 2:10 pm Mountain
- 11:00 am – 1:10 pm Pacific
Closed-captioning available
Speakers
Lisa M. Szyc | Backus Burden
I graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. I attended law school at North Carolina Central University School of Law. I was admitted to the Nevada bar in 2009. Over the years I have practiced in the areas of criminal defense, family law and general civil liability. I have extensive bench and jury trial experience and think being a litigator is one of the best parts of being a lawyer. When I am not advocating for my clients I am actively involved in giving back to my community in various philanthropic endeavors.
Agenda
SESSION 1 – Early Preparation Strategies | 2:00pm – 2:20pm
Early preparation is the foundation of trial success. This segment explores how to establish realistic timelines, identify critical documents and evidence, communicate effectively with the legal team, and define the purpose of driving every trial notebook you build.
SESSION 2 – Checklists and Organization Techniques | 2:20pm – 2:40pm
Strong organization separates seamless trials from chaotic ones. Learn to build comprehensive trial checklists, arrange materials by witness, exhibit, or theme, maintain strict version control, and apply pre-trial orders to ensure nothing vital slips through the cracks.
SESSION 3 – Mastering Electronic Trial Notebooks | 2:40pm – 3:00pm
Paper binders are giving way to digital efficiency. Explore leading electronic trial notebook software, key features to prioritize, methods for integrating electronic and physical materials, courtroom technology strategies, and how to properly train your attorney on the system.
Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm
SESSION 4 – Maximizing Trial Notebook Utility in the Courtroom | 3:10pm – 3:40pm
Trial moves fast, and your notebook must keep pace. Master techniques for instant information access, effective evidence presentation, adapting to courtroom shifts, staying organized under pressure, deciding what to exclude, and safeguarding privileged information throughout proceedings.
SESSION 5 – Case Studies and Real-World Applications | 3:40pm – 4:10pm
Real cases reveal what works and what fails. Analyze successful trial notebooks from actual proceedings, unpack hard-earned lessons from courtroom experience, and identify common pitfalls so you can sidestep them before they derail your next trial.
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