Creating a Trial Notebook: From A-Z (2025 Edition)

Hon. Stephen Kaus | JAMS

Hon. Stephen Kaus (Ret.) brings over 50 years of legal experience to his JAMS practice, including 12 years as a judge on the Alameda Superior Court. He managed a direct calendar department with 600 to 800 cases, overseeing complex multiparty and two-party disputes while conducting numerous trials and settlement conferences.

Before his judicial career, Judge Kaus served as a deputy public defender in Contra Costa County, transitioning to civil litigation in 1980. He represented professionals, including engineers, attorneys and judges, handling construction, insurance and commercial disputes, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in multiple complex cases.

In 1990, Judge Kaus joined a midsize San Francisco law firm, where he represented media, cable TV and telecom clients in employment, contract and franchising disputes. He chaired the litigation department, served on the Executive Committee and handled construction cases involving major public buildings such as concert halls and hospitals. He also served on the First District Court of Appeal mediation panel.

A dedicated leader in the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), Judge Kaus served on its board of directors and received its Award of Merit along with a special award from the San Francisco Public Defender for his work as chair of its Special Committee on Conflicts Counsel in 1995.

Judge Judith H. Ramseyer | JAMS

Judge Judith H. Ramseyer (Ret.) joins JAMS after having acquired a broad range of experience over her 50-year professional career. Known for her thorough preparation, attention to detail and independent thought, Judge Ramseyer wants all participants to feel respected, heard, and to understand how decisions that affect them are made. Having trained as a mental health counselor, she has a strong commitment to problem-solving. Her extensive legal experience helps her quickly identify issues that are key components of complex problems. She also is task-oriented and effective, and her practical insight and creativity help parties reach an equitable resolution. With a relaxed demeanor, Judge Ramseyer brings a confident tenacity to her work.

While she was a practicing lawyer and a superior court judge, Judge Ramseyer gained extensive experience in diverse practice areas and from a variety of perspectives. As an impartial jurist and as an advocate on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, she has litigated matters including personal injury, business and commercial disputes, class and shareholder derivative actions, professional negligence, consumer protection, product liability, employment, insurance coverage, real estate and domestic relations. She understands how a case may be viewed by a judge and jury, which can help parties assess the strengths and weaknesses of their own cases.

Sean P. Healy | Healy Law Offices P.C

Sean Healy is an attorney in private practice in Tyler, Texas, focusing on business law, civil litigation, family law, and firearms and aviation matters. He has extensive courtroom experience and has spoken at numerous continuing legal education programs for attorneys and judges.

Mr. Healy has served as Course Director for the State Bar of Texas Firearms Law Seminars in 2012 and 2013, is Co-Director of the 2024 Seminar, and has presented at nearly every annual seminar since its inception. He has also taught appellate advocacy in law school and business law at the college level, bringing a strong background in legal instruction.

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Healy is a mediator, arbitrator, and member of the American Arbitration Association’s Panel of Mediators. He has authored multiple publications, including chapters in Texas Perspectives on Firearms Law (2015) and Essentials of Texas Firearms Law (2020), and co-authored the bestselling book The Legal Guide to NFA Firearms and Gun Trusts (2016).

Heather Crawford

Heather Crawford is a Minnesota freelance paralegal with 20 years of experience in civil litigation, family law, indigent law, and class actions. She has supported attorneys at every level of the judicial system, from local municipal court all the way to the US Supreme Court. She loves document production and any tasks that lets her organize large piles of paper.

SESSION 1 – Practical Tips for Creating and Using a Trial Notebook | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Build your trial notebook from the litigation’s earliest stages. Learn what belongs in counsel’s working binder versus the paralegal’s copy, and how to deploy it during pretrial motions, objections, sidebars, and witness examination.

BREAK | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

SESSION 2 – Organize, Prepare, Succeed: Trial Preparation Techniques for Paralegals | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

Master the paralegal’s role in trial readiness. Organize pleadings, exhibits, and witness files, align notebooks with pretrial workflows, pre-mark exhibits, coordinate with court clerks, and weigh digital against paper formats for retrieving materials fast under pressure.

BREAK | 3:10pm – 3:20pm

SESSION 3 – May It Please the Court: Effective Trial Practice | 3:20pm – 4:05pm

Hear what judges actually expect. Two retired jurists explain how to resolve motions early, keep witness schedules tight, eliminate downtime, respect courtroom dynamics, and present efficiently—because preparation and professionalism shape how juries judge your case.