CHICAGO – Civil defense lawyers can now learn from modern examples of best practices with the new Defense Counsel Training Manual, which had not been updated since 1995.
The manual often referred to as “the defense lawyer’s bible,” was recently published by International Association of Defense Counsel. It focuses on giving civil junior attorneys and internal law firm training programs a current resource for best defense practices and covers topics ranging from the initial investigation of a case, depositions, trial and post-trial motions.
The third edition includes the vital changes in the law that have taken place in the last 20 years, including the 2015 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. It also explores new areas of law that didn’t exist in the '90s, like the discovery of electronically stored information.
“The DCTM contains something for every civil defense lawyer,” the manual says in its introduction. “All new lawyers should have a copy of the manual, study it and use it continuously to hone their professional skills.”
The IADC utilized past presidents, leaders and member lawyers of the organization to write the manual based on their area of expertise.
“The IADC’s Defense Counsel Training Manual offers the wisdom and experience of some of the most accomplished civil defense lawyers,” John T. Lay Jr., IADC president and a shareholder at Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A. said in a press release. “The publication includes information that cannot be gleaned from other, more rudimentary, lawyer manuals.”
IADC also modernized its distribution of the manual by not only offering it as a printed book but as well as a digital format for e-book readers like the Kindle.
As a 2,500-member, invitation-only organization headquartered in Chicago, IADC provides resources and support for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests and provides leadership in legal reform.