Legal Staff Schedule

This session will explore different types of liens including health insurance subrogation liens, statutory liens, ERISA liens, workers compensation liens, and medical provider liens. The speakers will cover best practices for identifying the existence of liens, responding to lien notices, and the dangers of settling without appropriate lien clearance or delaying notice to Medicare and Medi-Cal. Lien negotiation tips will also be covered, including California laws relating to lien reduction.

This session will focus on the complex intersection of medical diagnosis and legal liability in cases where a Plaintiff has suffered a traumatic brain injury. The speakers will cover strategies for proving damages—often in "invisible" injury cases—and building a picture of proof through medical records, expert witnesses, and lay testimony of Plaintiff’s friends and family.

Paralegal empowerment and confidence are built through competence, proactivity, and cultivating a growth mindset. Key strategies include embracing technology, specializing, and taking ownership of tasks, which shifts the attorney-paralegal dynamic from that of a subordinate to a partner. How do we get there? This roundtable session headed by the CAALA Legal Staff Leadership and Education Committee members will provide tips on communicating with confidence, adopting a growth mindset, mastering technology, offering solutions, seeking ongoing education and training, as well as the importance of a team-centric attitude.

This session will explore the anatomy of a school abuse case and provide an overview of federal causes of action against a school district in cases involving abuse of special needs children. We will explore the legal tools available to civil rights plaintiffs whose children have been harmed in a school setting and the legal obstacles they must overcome to obtain relief, including a discussion of government claims requirements, mandatory reporting and the evidence required to prove liability.

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of managing mass tort claims, focusing on streamlining, consolidating, and resolving hundreds of individual lawsuits involving common injuries from defective products or environmental disasters. Attendees will learn to navigate the multidistrict litigation (MDL) process, manage case inventory, distinguish mass torts from class actions and explain the bellwether trial process. We will provide a paralegal-centric approach to assess injury severity, manage data, and keep clients in the know during lulls in litigation.

California employment law is among the most protective in the U.S., covering wages, hours, workplace rights, discrimination, and employee–employer relationships. Join this session to gain an understanding of the variety of claims available under this unique area of law including wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, unpaid wages and overtime, retaliation and hostile work environment.

When a healthcare provider’s mistake leads to serious injury, the legal process can be daunting. This session educates attendees on how to identify a viable medical malpractice case and the essential steps to take afterward. From initial client intake to trial preparation, attendees will learn how to identify the necessary elements of negligence—duty, breach, causation, and damages—and how to effectively utilize medical experts. Key focus areas include navigating complex pre-trial discovery and developing strategies for mediation or trial.