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Fed Court 5th Annual Boot Camp Conference: How to Practice in Federal Court

Law Clerks Teach the Nuts & Bolts of Federal Practice

You may also be interested in:

4th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp

Click here for more info.


"If this faculty is an example of Pincus, I'll always attend.  Great work!"

"Best CLE course I have ever attended!"

"Motions presentation was worth the entire price.  Humor works!  Anecdotes were great!"

"I enjoyed the individual tips, stories & examples - makes it easier to remember procedures."

"A great primer for both new and experienced attorneys." - Peter Ton, Esq.

"Great program.  Law clerks' views are most valuable."

"What a great concept to have the clerks conduct the seminar!  So informative!" - Neyleen Beljajev, Esq.

"Specific and relevant."

"This was a great program!"

"[Speaker] added a lot of value to the program.  I've always wanted to hear her take on topics."

"The specific examples offered were extremely helpful."

"Entertaining.  Kept me awake during the entire program!"

"Excellent balance of substantive information, personal observations & idiosyncracies of bench potentially relevant to practitioners."

"Good alternative view."

"Excellent use of promotional materials to convey scope of curriculum." - Peter Ton, Esq.

"Overall, I was very pleased with this program. It is definitely worth the money and travel!" Christina Milligan

"All excellent speakers - both in content and delivery."

“Very practical information. Very helpful for negotiating the federal arena.” Helene Friedman, Esq.

“Great Job! An excellent course. Informative presentations!”

“Very good program – the law clerk perspective should be heard by all lawyers."

"Very happy. Not many CLE's specialize in federal law. I wish I had taken this course earlier!"

“Great practical advice.”

“I learned more about federal court civil procedure than any other class I have taken.”


Dates and Times

To Be Announced


Course Summary

This is an invaluable, information packed seminar that will teach you all the things you need to know to practice in Federal Court, but never learned in law school. An annual conference, the program is a great nuts and bolts seminar for attorneys new to practice or relatively new to federal court. Experienced practitioners can also benefit by learning from experienced court attorneys. Hear the court’s perspective on what works and what doesn’t work, mistakes to avoid, and important issues to which you should pay attention. Current and former court attorneys (Law Clerks) will teach you about motions, procedures, discovery, and pre/post trial issues. Learn how to improve your Rule 12 and Summary Judgment motions, what to expect in discovery disputes, how to handle a settlement conference, as well as case management and pre-trial scheduling conferences. Come ready to ask questions about how to get things done!

In this seminar you will learn exactly what is expected of you, what you can expect from the court, and how to ensure you best represent your clients.

This is one of the best primers on Federal Court practice you can attend.

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Topics to be covered in this seminar include:

  • Electronic filing and service overview, tips and hints
  • New Discovery Rules issues
  • Case management and administration (joint case management statement, case management conference order, scheduling, status and pretrial conference)
  • How to handle discovery matters before a magistrate judge and what to expect
  • Default judgments
  • Magistrate trials
  • Motions Practice: What to do and not do when filing a Motion to Dismiss, Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, or a Motion for Summary Judgment (including scheduling, citation issues, extensions of time, attachments, evidence, and statements of undisputed facts)
  • Writing tips for motions
  • Motions in limine, exhibits, voir dire, jury questionnaires, jury instructions, and jury verdict forms
  • Ethical practice and avoiding sanctions
  • Ex Parte motions

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MCLE Credit

Pincus Professional Education certifies this seminar has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 6.0 credit hours, including .5 hours of ethics credit in California. 

This course has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 6.0 total CLE hours instruction.

Upon request, we will assist attorneys in asking for CLE credit in other states.

Instructors

Moderators:

Denise Mingrone, Esq.
Former Law Clerk, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Instructor Portrait

Denise Mingrone is a Partner in Orrick's Silicon Valley office, where she is a member of the Intellectual Property Litigation practice group.

Before joining Orrick,  Ms. Mingrone spent fifteen years as a clerk in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, including clerkships for The Honorable Richard Seeborg, United States Magistrate Judge; The Honorable James Ware of the United States District Court; and the Honorable Ronald M. Whyte of the United States District Court. During her tenure with the District Court, Denise also worked as a Judicial Staff Death Penalty Clerk for judges Vaughn Walker, Jeremy Fogel, D. Lowell Jensen, Saundra B. Armstrong, and Marilyn Patel. 

In her capacity as a Judicial Staff Death Penalty Clerk, Ms. Mingrone was appointed to the Death Penalty Work Measurement Group, a task force responsible for the creation of a national standard for capital case attorneys. 

Prior to working for the Federal Court, Ms. Mingrone was a litigation associate at Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel in San Jose.
 

Steven Yoda, Esq.

Bird Marella Boxer Wolpert Nessim Drooks & Licenberg

Steve Yoda served as a law clerk for the Honorable James Ware, Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.  After completing his clerkship, Mr. Yoda worked as an associate at Keker & Van Nest LLP, a litigation boutique firm in San Francisco. 

Mr. Yoda currently is a senior associate at Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg P.C., a litigation boutique firm in Los Angeles, where his practice focuses primarily upon civil commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense.  Mr. Yoda is a graduate of Stanford University, where he received his Bachelor's and Masters Degrees (both in History), and the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law, where he was Director of the James Patterson McBaine Honors Moot Court Competition, Executive Articles Editor of the California Criminal Law Review, and an Executive Board Member of the Moot Court Board. 

Faculty:

Linn Van Meter, Esq.
Former Career Law Clerk
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

A very experienced law clerk, Linn Van Meter has spent more than two decades working for various judges in the Federal Court system in the Eastern District of California.  In 2009, Ms. Van Meter moved to the Federal District Court in Reno Nevada to serve as a career Law Clerk. Previously, Ms. Van Meter served as the senior law clerk for a Magistrate judge in Yosemite and before that she clerked for six years for the Honorable Anthony W. Ishii, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California.  Beefore that Ms. Van Meter served Honorable Dennis Beck, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of California.  Ms. Van Meter was also a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Nevada staff for five years. Ms. Van Meter is a graduate of Hastings College of Law and also worked as an extern with the Central Legal Staff of the California Supreme Court.

Robert J. Newmeyer, Esq.
Career Law Clerk
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California

Robert Newmeyer is a career law clerk for a district judge in the United States District Court, Southern District of California. Previously, Mr. Newmeyer served for three years as a law clerk to the Hon. Roger T. Benitez, (then) U.S. Magistrate Judge, Southern District of California at El Centro. Prior to that, Mr. Newmeyer served for six years as a law clerk to Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Hon. Roger C. McKee (ret.), Southern District of California, and for four years as a law clerk to U.S. Magistrate Judge Hon. Jeffrey S. Wolfe (ret.), in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Mr. Newmeyer has also worked in private practice litigating cases in federal district courts in Hawaii, Montana, Maine, Texas, and Arkansas, and appellate courts in the 1st, 5th, 8th and 9th circuits.

Jeanine Percival Wright, Esq.
Former Law Clerk, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP
Instructor Portrait

Jeanine Percival Wright served as a law clerk for the Hon. Manuel L. Real of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Ms. Wright now works for Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP as an Entertainment and Media Litigator. Previously, Ms. Wright was an associate for Alschuler, Grossman, Stein & Kahan. Prior to that, she worked as a law student at the USC Law School Domestic Violence Clinic and a case clerk for Folger, Levin & Kahn. Ms. Wright is a graduate of the University of Southern California Law School. She is a member of the Order of the Coif and also served as the Articles Editor for the Southern California Law Review.

Laurie E. Smith, Esq.
Career Law Clerk
U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Laurie Smith is a career law clerk for the Honorable John F. Walter, U.S. District Court Judge for the Central District of California. Prior to that, Ms. Smith litigated at several law firms in Northern and Southern California. Ms. Smith served as Managing Editor for the Virginia Tax Review law journal and is a 1996 graduate of the University of Virginia School Of Law.

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What attendees have said about this seminar:


"[Speaker] was very helpful in her analysis of Rule 12 Motions." - Neyleen Beljajev, Esq.

"Great speakers!  Helpful handout and full of insight!"

"Very informative and well suited for attorneys new to federal practice."

"Great program to demystify the federal court process for a beginner."

"Very useful tips!"

"Excellent nuts & bolts!"

"Excellent model pleadings in handout."

"Good handout!"

"[Speaker] is a very engaging speaker and really informative."

"The moderator was good at moving the pace of the seminar."

"[Speaker] was very knowledgable of current issues in particular."

"[Speaker] speaks frankly but with good humor."

"Great job in combining anecdotal experience with practical and substantive tips on practicing in federal court."

"Practical and helpful."

"Great!"

"All speakers were very knowledgable, friendly, and spoke clearly with poise and humor."

"Very good choices of topics - included a lot of insight for experienced practitioners."

"Discovery and Magistrate issues are often overlooked - [Speaker] did a good job with them."

"Presentations on motions were very well put together."

"Good discussion of 12(b) Motions and courtroom behavior and rules."

"Excellent insight and presentation!"

"Very educational."

"Very helpful tips from "the inside" of the court's chambers.  Always good to have reminders of best practices, etc."

"Great manner & style of presentation.  Liked short & pointed examples."

"Completely satisfied!"

"Great presentation of expertise & practice examples."

"Very good.  Kept the audience engaged and entertained.  Explained everything clearly.  Easy to follow."

"Excellent program!” James Arendt, Esq."

“Outstanding! Top-notch! Answered my number one burning issue in the first 15 minutes.”

“This was one of the most interesting, helpful and useful MCLE programs I have ever attended! Good coverage of practical topics.” Harvie Schrieber, Esq."

“Overall very helpful!” Ty Kharazi, Esq."

“Very knowledgeable speakers. Overall excellent program!” Jim Miller"

“Invaluable information as I start practicing in federal court.”

“All speakers were very impressive, knowledgeable – a great resource for practicing attorneys.”

"I am no longer afraid to practice in federal court."

“Great course with a lot of practical tips.”

“The outlines and attachments were very helpful.”

“Moderator and speakers were all very good.”

"The entire presentation was helpful to my practice."

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Terms & Policies

Recording policy: No audio or video recording of the program is permitted.

Cancellations: Should you be unable to attend for any reason, please inform us in writing no later than 14 days prior to the event (7 days prior for teleseminars) and a credit voucher will be issued. If you prefer, a refund, less a $50 non-refundable deposit, will be issued. No refunds will be given for cancellations received within 14 days of an event (7 days for teleseminars), but we will gladly issue a credit voucher. Substitutions may be made at any time.

Can’t Attend? If you cannot attend a seminar, you may pre-order the audio CD. Course materials are included with your recording purchase. For Teleseminars, course materials will be mailed or sent to you in a .pdf file prior to the seminar. Recorded packages are shipped approximately two weeks after the event.

Return/Refund Policy for Tapes/CDs/DVDs
Tapes, CDs and DVDs are returnable if defective for a full refund or replacement, within 90 days of purchase.  Click here to contact us. 

Reminder: Meeting room temperatures are hard to predict and control. Please bring a jacket or sweater to ensure your comfort.

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