This seminar is intended for magistrates who hold Small Claims court, and focuses on a different topic each year allowing a “deep dive” into skill-building and substantive law for small claims magistrates at various stages in their careers. The 2024 Special Topics class will focus on negligence, contracts, and leases, and will satisfy the Summary Ejectment Laws continuing education requirement under G.S. 7A-177(b1). Magistrates will receive hands-on instruction and practice in

• anticipating, preventing, and resolving common procedural issues in small claims court;
• evaluating evidence in terms of relevance, significance, validity, and reliability at trial;
• developing personalized checklists, scripts, and standardized practices to improve consistency and confidence in conducting court;
• understanding, identifying and skillfully responding to the needs and expectations of various litigants as well as attorneys;
• entering judgment.

Fee: There is no registration fee for this course.