CM/ECF Training Attorneys, Paralegals, & Staff

1. CM/ECF Training Attorneys, Paralegals, & Staff

2. Materials (Included in your Folder) • Copy of PowerPoint Slides • Features/FAQs Flyer • Information on Training Database • Pacer Brochure • User Manual • Class Evaluation Form Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

3. What is CM/ECF ? A comprehensive case management system that will allow courts to maintain electronic case files and offer electronic filing over the Internet. Courts can make all case information immediately available electronically through the Internet. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

4. Features & Benefits • Remote access for filing, noticing, and document viewing from anywhere (home or office) • 24-hour access • Automatic email notice of case activity when documents are filed by counsel or the court Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

5. Features & Benefits • Ability to download and print documents directly from the court system • Concurrent access to case files by multiple parties • Easy to use—based on Standard Internet Browser Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

6. Getting Started • Hardware and Software Requirements • Portable Document Format (PDF) • PACER Registration • ECF Registration Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

7. Hardware/Software • Personal computer with a standard operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Macintosh • Adobe Acrobat version 5.x or higher (reader & writer), or similar software capable of converting documents from a word processor format to PDF format • An Internet provider with access speed of at least 56K Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

8. Hardware/Software • A compatible internet browser (128 bit encryption recommended) such as Internet Explorer version 5.5 and Netscape browser version 7.x or greater • A scanner to convert paper documents that are not, or cannot be, prepared using a word processing program Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

9. PDF: Short for Portable Document Format. It captures formatting information from the document and after submission, retains its appearance, including paging, fonts and formatting. All documents must be in PDF format for filing with the Court’s ECF System; i.e. electronically converted PDF documents created from word processing software (WordPerfect, MS Word) using Adobe Acrobat or similar software. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

10. PACER Registration (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) • FilingUsers must have a PACER account in order to view filed documents (except the one “free look”) and to use the Query and Report features of the ECF system. There is a fee of .08 cents per page not to exceed $2.40 (or the equivalent of 30 pages) to access any single document. • PACER and CM/ECF are different. PACER permits a user to view documents electronically and CM/ECF permits a user to file documents electronically. • PACER Service Center: 1-800-676-6856 or register online at: www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

11. ECF Registration (Electronic Case Filing) • How? On the Court’s web site at: www.tnwd.uscourts.gov • User login and password will be issued and sent via email to counsel; the password may be customized after receipt • Registering for an ECF account constitutes consent to electronic service of all documents • The use of the login and password for filing documents represents the user’s signature on those documents for all purposes • Protect the security of the login and password Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

12. Privacy Policy www.privacy.uscourts.gov The Judicial Conference of the United States adopted a policy on privacy and public access to electronic case files. The policy states in part that personal data identifiers must be redacted from documents filed electronically. For civil & criminal cases, they are: • Social Security numbers to the last four digits • Financial account numbers to the last four digits • Names of minor children to the initials • Dates of birth to the year • Home addresses to city and state (criminal cases ONLY) Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

13. Privacy Policy www.privacy.uscourts.gov Exercise caution when filing other documents: • (1) any personal identifying number, such as a driver’s license number; • (2) medical records, treatment & diagnosis; • (3) employment history; • (4) individual financial information; • (5) proprietary or trade secret information; • (6) information regarding an individual’s cooperation with the government; • (7) information regarding the victim of any criminal activity; • (8) national security information; and • (9) sensitive security information as described in 49 U.S.C.§ 114(s) (Aviation and Transportation Security Act) Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

14. Signatures on Documents • Electronically filed documents shall set forth the Filing User’s name, address, telephone number and BPR registration number. In addition, the Filing User’s name shall be typed in the space where the signature would otherwise appear preceded by the symbol “s/”; i.e., s/John Allen Smith John Allen Smith, BPR #111222 Smith & Smith 2 Second Street Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 555-1212 Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

15. Certification of Service • The Certificate of Service should include the names and addresses for all persons served, whether electronically or by mail. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE The undersigned hereby certifies that a true and correct copy of the foregoing document was forwarded via first class U.S. mail, postage pre-paid, to John Smith, Inmate No. 222222, Northwest Correctional Institution, 960 State Route 212, Tiptonville, TN 38079, and by electronic means via the Court’s electronic filing system to John Smith, Smith & Smith, 2 Second Street, Nashville, TN 37203. s/John Allen Smith Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

16. Local Help Desk Phone Number (901) 495-1505 Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

17. Electronic Filing and Noticing will be “MANDATORY” January 1, 2006 This applies to civil and criminal cases active as of January 1, 2006, and cases filed on or after January 1st. Scanning of any previous cases will be determined on a case-by-case basis upon approval by the court. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

18. Proposed Documents This is a split transaction: • Electronically file your Motion thru ECF • Email your proposed document (orders, amended complaint etc.) in a word processing format to a designated email box for that Judge’s chambers [Boxes will be available on the website at a later date] Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

19. Amendments & Exhibits RULE 1 A memorandum will be an attachment to your motion. RULE 2 A short but specific description of the contents of each document being attached must be entered, e.g. Exhibit 1 – Deft John Smith’s Affidavit. RULE 3 Exhibits – check the category box and name the exhibits in the description. Exhibits from a third party will have to be scanned. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

20. Document Size A single attachment may not exceed 10MB (10,000 KB) in its PDF form. Generally, this is equivalent of a 200 page word processing document converted to PDF, or 100 scanned pages at 150 dpi. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

21. Filing Initial Documents New complaint – you will file complaint with cover sheet and summons as attachments into a shell Case No. 06-zz-9999 in ECF. Payment will be made by credit card you have on file. You will then receive a Notice of Electronic Filing with the case no., judge assignment and receipt of payment. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

22. Sealed Documents • Documents will continue to be “deemed” sealed. • Filers will select the events for sealed documents (see Attorney Event Lists). • Document will remain sealed until such time as the Court enters an Order unsealing it. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

23. Let’s see how it works . . . Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

24. Docket the following: • Complaint • Motion • Motion for Summary Judgment • Memorandum in Support • Affidavit Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff

25. You did it: • Questions? We’re here to help! • Comments? • Don’t forget to complete training evaluation form, credit card authorization form and attorney registration form. Training – for Attorney’s, Paralegals, & Staff