Thursday, May 8, 2025: 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Thursday, September 11, 2025: 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

--- ZOOM INFORMATION WILL BE EMAILED TO REGISTRANTS PRIOR TO CLASS START TIME FOR CLASSES HELD VIA ZOOM---

A civil lawsuit starts with the filing and service of a written complaint. The complaint serves many purposes, including the identification of the parties involved in the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s reason for filing a lawsuit, and the type of relief that is sought. The defendant must then respond to the complaint by filing an answer or another type of response. The complaint and the defendant’s responses are called pleadings, and they set the stage for all that comes afterward in the lawsuit. In this class, learn how to prepare, file, serve and respond to civil case pleadings in California state courts.

Class covers:

• Is filing a lawsuit a good idea?
• Identifying possible legal theories
• Drafting the complaint
• Service of summons and complaint
• Answers and other responsive pleadings

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

Developed by practicing attorneys and presented by LA Law Library Reference Librarians

Registration fee: FREE

Reservation reserves spot

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.

Thursday, July 3, 2025: 5:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 7, 2025: 5:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 4, 2025: 5:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 2, 2025: 5:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 6, 2025: 5:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 4, 2025: 5:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.

 --- No pre-registration required. To join the live-Zoom on the date/time of event, scroll down and click the Zoom link provided. ---

If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse, violence or threats of violence outside of a dating or close personal relationship, that might be civil harassment. Join a live question and answer session with experienced civil litigation attorneys. At this session, learn what civil harassment is and isn’t – and what you can do about it. Ask questions about who qualifies for a civil harassment restraining order (CHRO), how to apply to the court for a CHRO, including what to expect at the court hearing, what a CHRO can do and other procedural topics.

Although you can listen to the class from various kinds of devices, you will need video to view the speaker(s) and any presentation materials, and will need to connect through Zoom to be able to participate in the written Q&A or chat features.

Presented in partnership with the L.A. Incubator Consortium (Los Angeles Attorney Incubator Consortium (laincubatorconsortium.com)

ZOOM LINK:

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

Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

--- No pre-registration required. To join the live-Zoom on the date/time of event, scroll down and click the Zoom link provided. ---

Learn how to use citator tools—such as Shepard’s in Lexis+ and KeyCite in Westlaw—to make sure your cases remain good law, and find additional citations relevant to your legal question.

Class covers:

• Why validate? Using citator tools to help determine “good law”
• How to use Shepard’s on Lexis+ and KeyCite on Westlaw
• Review of Shepard’s signals and KeyCite symbols

Presented by LA Law Library Reference Librarians

ZOOM LINK for Wednesday, August 27 class:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86126137441

ZOOM LINK for Wednesday, December 3 class:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86092192323

No legal advice:
LA Law Library provides access to legal resources and assistance with legal research. LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

--- No pre-registration required. To join the live-Zoom on the date/time of event, scroll down and click the Zoom link provided. ---

Learn fundamental research strategies in two of the Law Library’s most useful legal databases, Westlaw and Lexis+. Gain tips on how to perform caselaw research, validate primary sources, and access secondary sources digitally.

Class covers:

Using the Westlaw or Lexis+ legal database to…

• Formulate search queries
• Filter search results
• Find primary sources such as cases and codes
• Find secondary sources such as legal practice guides

Presented by LA Law Library Reference Librarians

ZOOM LINK for Wednesday, July 9 class:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87149033857

ZOOM LINK for Wednesday, November 5 class:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88347219933

No legal advice: LA Law Library provides access to legal resources and assistance with legal research. LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.