Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

Discovery is the legal process that facilitates the exchange of relevant information between parties in a case prior to trial. This phase is critical in litigation, allowing each side to gather evidence, assess the strengths and weaknesses of their case, and prepare for trial. The discovery process can involve various methods, including depositions, interrogatories, and requests for documents. While depositions are one specific tool within the discovery process that involve questioning witnesses under oath, they do not encompass the entire process by which parties obtain information. Similarly, interrogatories are written questions that one party sends to another, which is also a method used during discovery but does not represent the complete scope of discovery as a whole. A subpoena is a legal document that orders an individual to appear in court or produce evidence, but it is not a comprehensive method for the information-sharing process that discovery encompasses. Therefore, discovery is the broader legal process that effectively incorporates these various mechanisms to ensure that both parties are informed before proceeding to trial.