Discovery: Interviewing and Investigation (3rd Edition)

This is one of the most thorough and comprehensive explorations of factual research—its gathering and preliminary processing in the legal setting. In addition to chapters on how to use critical sources of information, Pener includes unique concepts on communication techniques and their significant psychosocial aspects. Discovery in Today's Law Practice. The Nature of Evidence and Its Place in Discovery. Legal Theories and Fact Analysis. Identification of Parties, Entities, and Property Interests. Communication Techniques. Client Communications. Investigating the Case: Witnesses. Investigating the Case: Documentary and Physical Evidence. Investigating the Case: Public and Private Records. Sources of Information. Service of Summons and Complaint and Subpoenas. For Paralegals.

Michael A. Pener has been a paralegal educator for over 21 years. In 1976 he developed the paralegal program at Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas, and served as its director for many years. He is presently a full-time instructor of the program, teaching legal assistant courses covering ethics, legal interviewing and investigation, and many other subjects. He received his B.A. degree from the University of I, Missouri and his J.D. and L.L.M. degrees from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Mr. Pener has been active in the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) since its inception in 1981, and was its president in 198586. He conducted an extensive survey of paralegal education programs, with the results published in 1983 as the "Survey of Legal Assistant Programs" in the Journal of the American Association for Paralegal Education, Retrospective. In 1988 he produced the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Catalog published by the Vocational-Technical Education Consortium of States (V-TECS), which contains practical guides for skills required for entry-level paralegal and legal assistant positions. From 1992 to 1995 Mr. Pener was a member of the Approval Commission of the Standing Committee on Legal Assistants of the American Bar Association.

With the assistance of paralegals, Mr. Pener has engaged in the practice of law in Kansas and Missouri for over 30 years.