Trial Notebook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Paralegals and Associates

Lisa M. Szyc, Senior Associate | Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP

Lisa M. Szyc is a Senior Associate at Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP, practicing out of the firm’s Las Vegas and Reno offices. A seasoned litigation attorney with more than fifteen years of experience, Lisa has built her career on a foundation of substantial courtroom work and a versatile understanding of the law. She focuses her practice on general liability defense, bringing to each matter the strategic insight of an attorney who has tried cases, argued appeals, and resolved disputes across a wide spectrum of legal disciplines.

• Education & Credentials

Lisa earned her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University, School of Law in 2009, following her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006. She is licensed to practice before the courts of the State of Nevada, the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

• Recognition & Leadership

Lisa’s career is distinguished by significant courtroom accomplishments, including numerous jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations across multiple practice areas. Among the highlights of her appellate work is presenting oral argument before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit — a notable achievement reflecting the breadth and depth of her advocacy.

• Professional Involvement

Lisa is committed to the advancement of the legal profession through education and mentorship. She serves as a faculty member for both the Institute for Paralegal Education and the National Business Institute (NBI), regularly presenting continuing legal education programs for attorneys and paralegals entering the profession. She is an active member of the Clark County Bar Association and has contributed to legal scholarship, including her publication “Five Things to Know About the Change in Traffic Citations from Misdemeanors to Civil Infractions,” featured in the Clark County Bar Association’s Communiqué in January 2023.Beyond her professional commitments, Lisa is deeply philanthropic and devotes her time to charitable causes she cares about, with a particular dedication to supporting veterans.

• Experience

Lisa began her legal career in 2009, initially practicing as a plaintiff’s personal injury attorney and criminal defense attorney before transitioning into family law. This broad foundation gave her extensive courtroom exposure and a nuanced understanding of litigation from multiple perspectives — experience she now brings to her defense practice at WSHB. Today, Lisa concentrates her practice in three primary areas: Complex Tort and Casualty, Construction, and Transportation. Her diverse background — spanning plaintiff’s work, criminal defense, family law, and now civil defense — enables her to anticipate opposing strategies, navigate complex factual records, and deliver well-prepared, court-tested advocacy on behalf of her clients.

SESSION 1 – Early Preparation Strategies | 2:00pm – 2:20pm

Early preparation is the foundation of trial success. This segment explores how to establish realistic timelines, identify critical documents and evidence, communicate effectively with the legal team, and define the purpose of driving every trial notebook you build.

SESSION 2 – Checklists and Organization Techniques | 2:20pm – 2:40pm

Strong organization separates seamless trials from chaotic ones. Learn to build comprehensive trial checklists, arrange materials by witness, exhibit, or theme, maintain strict version control, and apply pre-trial orders to ensure nothing vital slips through the cracks.

SESSION 3 – Mastering Electronic Trial Notebooks | 2:40pm – 3:00pm

Paper binders are giving way to digital efficiency. Explore leading electronic trial notebook software, key features to prioritize, methods for integrating electronic and physical materials, courtroom technology strategies, and how to properly train your attorney on the system.

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

SESSION 4 – Maximizing Trial Notebook Utility in the Courtroom | 3:10pm – 3:40pm

Trial moves fast, and your notebook must keep pace. Master techniques for instant information access, effective evidence presentation, adapting to courtroom shifts, staying organized under pressure, deciding what to exclude, and safeguarding privileged information throughout proceedings.

SESSION 5 – Case Studies and Real-World Applications | 3:40pm – 4:10pm

Real cases reveal what works and what fails. Analyze successful trial notebooks from actual proceedings, unpack hard-earned lessons from courtroom experience, and identify common pitfalls so you can sidestep them before they derail your next trial.