--- title: 2020 December url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december --- # [2020 December](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december "2020 December") [![Advocate Dec20 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2020/12-december/Advocate-Dec20-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2020/December2020/html5/Advocate-Dec20-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Summary judgment motions are case killers](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/summary-judgment-motions-are-case-killers "Summary judgment motions are case killers") This is nit-picky business, especially when it comes to admission of evidence [Sharon J. Arkin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/sharon-j-arkin "Sharon J. Arkin") ## [Prepare for an appeal right from the start](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/prepare-for-an-appeal-right-from-the-start "Prepare for an appeal right from the start") Increase your clients’ recoveries and protect their interests on appeal by learning to protect the record [Lauren Horwitz](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/lauren-horwitz "Lauren Horwitz") ## [Using motions to compel and protective orders to stop the defense’s games](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/using-motions-to-compel-and-protective-orders-to-stop-the-defense-s-games "Using motions to compel and protective orders to stop the defense’s games") Steps to take control over the litigation and get what you need from discovery [Laura F. Sedrish](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/laura-f-sedrish "Laura F. Sedrish") [Laura Lynn Davidson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/laura-lynn-davidson "Laura Lynn Davidson") ## [Appellate resuscitation](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/appellate-resuscitation "Appellate resuscitation") Your summary judgment on appeal [Herb Fox](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/herb-fox-3 "Herb Fox") ## [Demystifying California civil writs](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/demystifying-california-civil-writs "Demystifying California civil writs") Writ relief is extraordinary and completely discretionary; most petitions are denied. Here are the basics for trial lawyers [Janet R. Gusdorff](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/janet-r-gusdorff "Janet R. Gusdorff") ## [Assignment of claims](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/assignment-of-claims "Assignment of claims") An untraditional approach to combining the claims of plaintiffs; how it differs from class actions, joinder, consolidation, relation and coordination [Gerald Serlin](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/gerald-serlin "Gerald Serlin") [Judith Posner](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/judith-posner "Judith Posner") ## [Making good choices](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/making-good-choices "Making good choices") Understanding the consequences your litigation strategy has on an appeal; the doctrines of waiver, forfeiture, estoppel or invited error [Alyssa Kim Schabloski](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/alyssa-kim-schabloski "Alyssa Kim Schabloski") ## [Benefits of a bench trial in this COVID-19 era](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/benefits-of-a-bench-trial-in-this-covid-19-era "Benefits of a bench trial in this COVID-19 era") They’re faster, safer for all participants, reduce law and motion practice, eliminate the unpredictable voir dire, and allow you to better tailor your presentation for the audience [Holly Boyer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/holly-boyer "Holly Boyer") [Kevin Nguyen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/kevin-nguyen "Kevin Nguyen") ## [Petitions for review to the California Supreme Court](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/petitions-for-review-to-the-california-supreme-court "Petitions for review to the California Supreme Court") When one appellate court just isn’t enough [David Zarmi](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/david-zarmi "David Zarmi") ## [Non-attorneys practicing law: An about-face with no rational basis](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/non-attorneys-practicing-law-an-about-face-with-no-rational-basis "Non-attorneys practicing law: An about-face with no rational basis") The due-process implications of non-lawyer representation and fee sharing in California [Jennifer R. Bagosy](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jennifer-r-bagosy "Jennifer R. Bagosy") [Olivier Taillieu](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/olivier-taillieu "Olivier Taillieu") ## [Defense medical exams in brain-injury cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/defense-medical-exams-in-brain-injury-cases "Defense medical exams in brain-injury cases") Use motion practice to stop defense experts from abusing the MMPI2 and other testing in brain-injury cases [Alan Van Gelder](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/alan-van-gelder "Alan Van Gelder") ## [UNMUTE YOURSELF! - VIRTUAL CAALA GALA — JAN. 23](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/unmute-yourself-virtual-caala-gala-jan-23 "UNMUTE YOURSELF! - VIRTUAL CAALA GALA — JAN. 23") A special look at the words and phrases that defined a year like no other [Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville") ## [2020 Election](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/2020-election "2020 Election") Results revealed a mixed verdict [Linda A. Lipsen](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/linda-a-lipsen "Linda A. Lipsen") ## [Turning the page on 2020](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/turning-the-page-on-2020 "Turning the page on 2020") Courts Crisis Committee to evaluate options in dealing with the COVID crisis in the civil courts [Nancy Peverini](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/nancy-peverini "Nancy Peverini") ## [Thank you and farewell](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/thank-you-and-farewell "Thank you and farewell") I am proud to have served such a wonderful group of trial lawyers [Jonathan Dwork](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jonathan-dwork "Jonathan Dwork") ## [CAALA 2020](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2020-december/caala-2020 "CAALA 2020") “Not in my wildest dreams…" [Jeffrey A. Rudman](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jeffrey-a-rudman "Jeffrey A. Rudman")