1. Welcome to Eight Skills for the Effective Online Paralegal Student!! Unit 2 Seminar: Time Management

2. What we will cover tonight Questions from last week Sonia – Balancing priorities Time Management SMART Goals Final Project

3. Sonia’s Scenario Sonia’s now working with her insurance company, in addition to all of her other responsibilities (job, family, etc…) What can she do to better manage her time?

4. Time is a valuable commodity! Take control of your time and yourself. Time is valuable not only in “the business world” but everywhere.

5. Time Management Time management is really managing yourself. Some important things to remember: Don’t procrastinate Myths of multitasking Do take breaks!

6. Why do we Procrastinate? Superhuman expectations Whining Fear of failing Emotional blocks

7. Ways to avoid Procrastination: 1.Face up to the results of procrastination – and focus on the rewards of managing yourself and your time. 2.Break up big tasks into small ones. 3.Set a regular schedule (with time limits) and stick with it. 4.Establish study habits, which set reasonable, concrete goals. 5.Get help from your instructor. 6.Practice your new study habits for 21 days.. 7.Actually reward yourself when you have accomplished an important body of work. 8.Force yourself to jump into a project.

8. Ways to avoid Procrastination: (continued) 1.Start on the difficult, most or boring tasks first. 2.Practice “do it now.” 3.Find a quiet place to study and concentrate. 4.Gain the support of your family and/or friends. 5.Prepare to be successful by getting ready the evening before.

9. Suggestions for good time management skills To Do lists. Organize yourself at home and work similarly. Make notebook of repetitive tasks. Keep a calendar. Take breaks. Plan time carefully on large projects, particularly where working with others.

10. Organize yourself at home Show others in your household how to organize their work. If you are a perfectionist and want everything in your home to be perfect, get over it! Establish a time for study hall in your home. Put a message board in a convenient place for everyone to use. Delegate, delegate, delegate! Schedule at least one hour alone with each of your children each week. Make meals happy, relaxed times. Plan special times with your spouse or partner. Post a family calendar where everyone can see it.

11. Be careful of finances Book gives lots of suggestions for managing your finances. Review them. A big issue to remember: Identity theft. Need to be careful to shred all papers and documents leaving your house that may contain sensitive information.

12. WRITING AND ACHIEVING GOALS... SMART Specific Measurable Actionable/Attainable Responsible Parties Time bound

13. Start with Long Term Goals Start with life goals Evaluate what you need to do to get there Start setting intermediate and short term goals to achieve these long term goals Develop daily, weekly and monthly goals that will get you to your target.

14. Example: I want to become judge. Trial lawyer for a number of years; well respected; probably involved in local/state politics Go to law school; do well; pass the bar Complete AS and/or BS Perhaps work in the field during undergraduate studies

15. Evaluate your goals regularly. Are they too easily achievable? Are they taking too long? Are you feeling discouraged? Are you not sure that you’re moving forward? Are you rewarding yourself for achieving your goals?

16. Final Project Interviewing legal professional. Unit 5 Proposal: 1 candidate, 1 back up, contact info on each, and areas of practice; also need your list of questions. Unit 9 Final Project: Brief summary of interview (two paragraphs); rest of the project is going to be a reflection on the interview and how it impacted you.

17. Final Project (Continued) Questions to consider: Do you have a personal interest in the career of the person you interviewed? If so, has your Interest changed due to your interview? What lessons did you learn or information did you gather from the legal professional that may be valuable to you in your own career? Can you picture yourself as a legal professional in the near future? If so, describe what you see? If not, why not? Appendix: List of questions asked and notes of their answers.

18. Questions? Please ask any questions you may have about this course.

19. Processing the Crime Scene Chapter 2

20. Introduction The actions taken by patrol and investigative personnel at a crime scene often determine the success or failure of a criminal investigation.

21. Preliminary investigation The precursory investigative phase Activities include: Securing the crime scene Considering the possible arrest of a suspect Locating and questioning witnesses and victims Documenting the crime scene Identifying and collecting evidence

22. The Role of Evidence at the Crime Scene Transfer of evidence theory Must protect evidence from contamination The value of physical evidence: Prove elements of a crime Place suspect at scene Eliminate innocents Suspects will frequently confess when confronted with it Can support witness testimony Powerful and positive impact on juries

23. Types of Evidence Corpus delicti establishes that a crime has been committed Associative evidence Links a suspect with a crime Physical evidence Is self-explanatory in nature Can be “gross” or “trace” amounts Trace evidence Minute or even microscopic bits of matter that are not immediately apparent to the naked eye

24. Direct or prima facie evidence Evidence which at face value proves a fact in dispute Indirect or circumstantial evidence Tends to incriminate without conclusive proof Testimonial evidence Verbal statement offered by a witness while under oath or affirmation Demonstrative evidence Used to demonstrate or clarify an issue rather than to prove something

25. Legal Considerations “Evidence custodians” must have good working knowledge of the law, especially: Search warrants are particularly important Each jurisdiction may have specific laws for: Continuity of evidence Document “chain of custody” Custody and disposition Records maintenance

26. The First Officer’s Responsibilities Actions en route Initial actions upon arrival at the scene Assistance and protection of witnesses and bystanders Separation of witnesses Res geste evidence Spontaneous, unplanned remarks made at the crime scene Arrest perpetrator (if possible) Follow-up communications ID (and separate) witnesses and vehicles Brief superiors

27. Electronic Evidence Increasingly important to cases Has special characteristics Latent Easily transcends national and state jurisdictions Fragile, easily altered May not be time sensitive Requires special skills and equipment to analyze Similar to DNA and fingerprints

28. Broadcasting a Flash Description BOLO—“be on the lookout” Type of crime, location, and time Number of suspects Physical description of those involved Weapons used Direction in which suspect was last seen proceeding and how long ago Means of escape If anyone was wounded Vehicle used

29. CYMBL Rule For broadcasting flash descriptions of vehicles: C: color Y: year M: make, model B: body style L: license number

30. Managing Emergency Situations Attend to any injured party Unless a life-threatening or exigent circumstance exists Simply put: human life is fundamental Takes priority over apprehension of suspect

31. Securing the Scene Fundamental—cases have been lost due to poor scene management resulting in contaminated evidence Unnecessary and improper entry to a scene: Destroy or contaminate evidence Introduce substances that may mislead investigators Provides defense attorneys a window of opportunity to discredit what otherwise may be a good “collar”

32. Principles of Scene Management Determine if it is a scene of a crime Aid victims Apprehend perps (if possible) Secure scene

33. Actions to Be Taken at Scene Declare and define scene Request back-up Interior should be cleared Record actions taken Restrict access and control onlookers

34. Handling Special Situations at the Scene Dead body Precursory determination of cause of death or injury Hanging victim Careful attention to protect the knot on the noose Firearms, casings, etc. Remain untouched Biohazardous materials Chemicals and other materials

35. Assessing the Scene 1.Evaluate measures and steps 2.Conduct walk-through 3.Determine if a search warrant is required 4.Develop a plan for working within the scene 5.ID individuals responsible for evidence collection and documentation 6.ID protective equipment needed 7.ID staging area for equipment and personnel 8.Assign officer with primary responsibility 9.Determine evidence search method 10.Develop collection plan

36. Collecting Evidence Responding officers typically are not responsible for collecting evidence, except: Exigent circumstances Under direction by OIC of the crime scene

37. Interviewing Witnesses Possible witnesses or informants should be ID’d Officers should attempt to obtain information from them When possible, efforts should be made to “canvass” surrounding area: Not just focused on residents but also: Employees of local businesses Delivery and utility personnel Bus and taxi drivers Others

38. Contacting the Medical Examiner Standard operating procedure of each law enforcement agency is different. Some wait to call the medical examiner until after the crime scene technicians have conducted preliminary investigation.

39. Crime Scene Reports Typically contain: Data, time of arrival, and relevant conditions at scene How was crime discovered/reported ID of other officers/officials present Physical evidence collected Full ID information of witnesses The results of witness interviews Diagrams, sketches, and other pertinent visual or audio materials may be prepared

40. Performing the Follow-Up Investigation Analyzing reports of officers conducting the preliminary phases of the investigation Reviewing official departmental records and MO files Gathering information on friends and associates of suspects Examining the victim’s background Checking police intelligence files to develop potential suspects Organizing police actions, such as canvassing, raids, and search warrants