Backgrounds, Records, and Case Research
Course Trailer
Introducing Backgrounds, Records, and Case Research
A strong defense starts here.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Learn Advanced Background Investigations
This course is comprehensive, teaching you everything from A to Z on the topic. No more piecing information together from multiple sources. It’s been written by criminal defense investigators, for criminal defense investigators—so the information is tailored for you and touches on the topics relevant to you.
Learn how to decode databse reports, locate witnesses, collect records, build criminal histories, conduct OSINT and social media investigations, and prepare detailed subject analysis reports.
Learning JOURNEY
What’s in the Course?
Delve into backgrounds—what they are, why they’re essential, as well as interpreting background database reports and transforming raw data into actionable insights. Learn how to positively identify your subject and avoid gathering intel on the wrong person.
Here, our comprehensive guide to records collection will help you to know what records exist, the difference between public and private records, and how to make airtight requests using our ready-to-use templates. We also cover strategies to avoid potential landmines—you’ll thank us later.
Discover the best hacks for finding and requesting court records and gathering criminal histories that tell a story. Whether it helps or hurts your case, having the complete picture gets you ready for whatever comes next.
Explore the myriad ways of finding subjects and honing in on their most likely location before driving all the way to the wrong address.
Learn about the wealth of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) that is available at your fingertips to help with your case research—without the fruitless Google searches that yield nothing useful.
Make the best possible use of this gold mine for investigators, while navigating the murky waters of online ethics safely.
Bring all the facts about a subject together into a cohesive profile to give the defense team a clear understanding of the person and their story for building a compelling case.
Credentials
Become a Certified
Background Investigations Expert
This certification reflects a working standard for background investigations in criminal defense.
It shows that you have been trained in a consistent, methodical approach to some of the most critical aspects of criminal defense investigations.
For teams and agencies, it provides a clear benchmark for investigative competency.
About Course
This Course Will Help You…
- Tackle tough cases with confidence and clarity, knowing that you are following proven, best-practice methods to do the following (among others):
- Conduct a thorough background investigation into a subject.
- Locate people using the most effective tools.
- Request and obtain different kinds of records effectively.
- Perform in-depth online investigations, using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and social media tools.
- Draft a subject analysis based on all your research and background investigations.
- Consistently uncover critical details that lead to better case outcomes for your clients.
- Strengthen client relationships by delivering high-quality work and preserving precious case resources.
- Elevate your reputation as the go-to investigator that attorneys trust for high-stakes cases.
- Charge more for your expertise and gain more referrals.
WHY THE EXPERT METHOD
We know what it’s like to be an overwhelmed criminal defense investigator.
- You start out with little to no training or guidance and you need to piece things together as you go.
- You sometimes second-guess yourself or you have to fake it till you make it because you just aren’t sure you’re doing things right, or in the most efficient way.
- You look for training to help you, because this is such a nuanced field, but there are only snippets of training out there, nothing comprehensive.
- You invest in attending criminal defense conferences only to find out it is not even designed for you as an investigator, but for attorneys. You spend a lot of money and don’t leave with practical skills or creative investigative ideas.
- You sometimes wonder, even though you’re an experienced investigator, if you’re really doing things according to best practice, and you hope you’re following all the ethical guidelines.
- You want to learn from the experts in the industry so that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel, making high-stakes mistakes and feeling lost and stuck along the way.
What You’ll Get
Here’s What You Get With the Course
Upon successful completion, you’ll become a Certified Background Investigations Expert.
CE credits (depending on your state).
Case-based training that helps you to learn while seeing how the theory is applied practically, and avoid costly real-life mistakes.
Ready-to-use templates and work product examples to streamline your investigations.
Downloadable PDF guides that you can refer to time and time again.
Interactive information resources.
Accessible online, anytime, anywhere so you can learn at your own pace.
Professional Feedback
What People Are Saying About Expert Method
Glenn McClister
I’m a public defender and I also run the advanced investigator training for Kentucky’s statewide public defender system. I can say without qualification that this class is wonderfully designed and produced… full of the kind of practical advice one can only get from seasoned professionals. I highly recommend it!
- Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
William Jackson
The investment in taking this course is walking away knowing the information obtained will help make a significant impact in the lives of others.
- Talent Consultation Specialist
Eleanor Kagan
Coming from journalism, I thought I knew a fair amount about investigative research, but this course blew my mind wide open. Through in-depth examples and engaging storytelling, I learned so much about the tools, methods, and ethics around background investigations. There’s a real art to this work, and I’m grateful for the supportive, informative, and fun way AKI handed me a paintbrush.
- Audio/Radio/Podcast Producer
Megan Wartner
This course equips legal professionals, including paralegals, with the skills to confidently conduct thorough investigations and provide critical support to attorneys in building stronger cases
- Federal Defender Paralegal
Martin de Bourmont
By putting all of these lessons in the context of a case in progress, the investigator learns in a hands-on way that favors retention and understanding.
I cannot recommend this program highly enough.
- Federal Defender Investigator, NJ
What You’ll Learn
Who Will You Learn With?
This course has been developed by Amber Kaset and her growing team at AK Investigations.
Amber founded AK Investigations in 2010, after seven years at the Metropolitan Public Defender in Nashville where she worked as a criminal defense investigator and interpreter. The agency began as a one-woman operation in Nashville, TN, and has since grown to a team of multiple investigators with diverse skills and specialties.
Amber and her team provide investigative services, training, and consulting nationwide, assisting defense teams and investigators in elevating their practice. They have handled over 1,000 cases, including high-profile white-collar crimes and civil lawsuits, hundreds of murders, and over thirty death penalty cases across multiple states, and are dedicated to providing thoughtful, high-quality support tailored to the unique needs of each case, regardless of its complexity or the client’s circumstances.
All of this means that this course is giving you the benefit of more than a thousand cases’ worth of experience, fast-tracking your journey to success.
continuing education
CE Credits for This Course
If you’re a licensed private investigator and need Continuing Education (CE) credits for professional development purposes, this course will give you credits once you’ve completed it successfully, and is accredited in the following states:
- Alabama
- Georgia**
- Illinois*
- Indiana*
- Iowa**
- Kansas**
- Kentucky*
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- North Carolina (6 hrs)
- Oregon**
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
We are in the process of obtaining accreditation in other states, too!
*Automatically approved due to approval in other state
**No approval required
Online courses are limited to 6 hours in North Carolina.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
This Is Your Chance, Don’t Miss It.
Where would your career be a month from now, six months from now, a year from now, if you can level up your research skills, spending your time more effectively, digging up incredibly useful information that your attorney clients rave about, and the confidence that you can deliver?
Comprehensive training like this will give you the edge.
Refund Policy
We do not offer refunds on our course due to the immediate access provided to all course materials, including proprietary resources and certifications. Our course is a comprehensive investment in your professional development, offering in-depth training, industry-recognized certification, and practical tools you can apply immediately. We stand by the quality of our content and encourage you to reach out with any questions before purchasing to ensure it’s the right fit for your needs.