Legal Research and Writing: Tips, Tricks, and Handy Know-Hows for Paralegals
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| California MCLE Paralegal |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| Delaware Certified Paralegal Program |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Florida Registered Paralegal |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Indiana Paralegal CLE |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| NALA |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| Ohio Certified Paralegals |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| NFPA |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| Washington Paralegal Association |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
Buy This Course
OnDemand Video
Course Book Download
or
Overview
How to Prevent Mistakes, Organize Content, Convey Meaning, and More
Cogent communication is the backbone of the legal process. This program offers practical pointers for improving your legal research and writing skills to help you become more effective in laying a solid foundation for each case. Explore real-life approaches to locating hard-to-find information and take your writing skills to the next level. Register today!
- Explore new tools, resources, and approaches for locating people and finding background information.
- Develop efficient proofreading methods to avoid common errors.
- Find more effective ways of organizing content.
- Get practical tips for making certain your writing is concise and persuasive.
*Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.
Abbreviated Agenda
- Case Law and Statutory Law
- Locating People and Finding Background Information
- Legal Writing Fundamentals
- Reviewing and Summarizing Legal Opinions
- Addressing Common Legal Writing Problem Areas: Grammar, Citations, Organization
- Effectively Organizing the Results of Your Investigation
- Paralegal Ethics
Credit Details
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| California MCLE Paralegal |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| Delaware Certified Paralegal Program |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Florida Registered Paralegal |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Indiana Paralegal CLE |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| NALA |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| Ohio Certified Paralegals |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| NFPA |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
| Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2028 |
| Washington Paralegal Association |
|
6 Total | 05-06-2027 |
Select Jurisdiction
Paralegal
Agenda
-
Case Law and Statutory Law
- Combing Through U.S. Code and/or State Statutes
- Navigating Common Websites for Statute or Case Law Searches
- Reading and Understanding Cases
- Legal Citations
- Validating That the Case Is Still Current
- Controlling vs. Persuasive Cases
- Managing Too Much or Too Little Case Law
- Navigating Through Research Technology
-
Locating People and Finding Background Information
- Strategies for Locating People Online
- Social Media Investigative Research
- Arrest and Criminal Records
- Bankruptcies and Litigation History
- School Records
- Property Records and Past Residences
- Investigating Attorneys and Judges
- Researching Witnesses
- Investigating Businesses
- Verifying Online Information
-
Legal Writing Fundamentals
- Legal Writing vs. Other Forms of Writing
- Preparing Documents
- Legal Correspondence
- Briefs and Memoranda
- Subpoenas
- Building Blocks of Communication: Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Paragraphs
-
Reviewing and Summarizing Legal Opinions
- Illustrating the Core Legal Issue
- Comparing Opinions and Conclusions From Multiple Sources
- Legal Memo Essentials
-
Addressing Common Legal Writing Problem Areas: Grammar, Citations, Organization
- Top English and Legal Writing Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization Errors
- Proofreading: Commonly Overlooked Mistakes
- Organization and Citation Issues
- Addressing Substantive Mistakes
-
Effectively Organizing the Results of Your Investigation
- Creating Case Investigation Notebooks
- Organizing Evidence and Files (Small vs. Intensive Investigations)
- Preparing Chronologies, Summaries, and Reports
-
Paralegal Ethics
- Finding Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest
- Avoiding UPL
- Preserving Confidentiality
- Legal Ethics of Billing
Who Should Attend
This intermediate level course will provide attendees with guidance on how to prevent common writing errors in legal documents. Those who should attend include:
- Paralegals
- Legal Assistants
- Legal Support Staff
Speakers
Speaker bio
Jena G. Emory
is an associate in Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP's Commercial, Class Action and Product Liability Litigation practices, with a specialization in insurance coverage. She brings extensive experience and a proven track record in handling complex legal matters, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in complex insurance coverage and general liability cases. Additionally, Ms. Emory has experience managing cases solo in both the Superior and Magistrate courts and drafting motions including complex federal jurisdiction. Jena currently serves as the programming manager for the Young Lawyers Division and co-chair of the Young Advocates Committee for the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. She is also the former Newsletter co-editor for the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, where she played a crucial role in distributing important legal updates and supporting the professional growth of fellow attorneys. Additionally, Ms. Emory is a 2020 graduate of the State Bar of Georgia's YLD Leadership Academy. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and her B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina.
Speaker bio
Kevin T. Knight
is a partner in the law offices of DSK Law. He is board-certified as a trial lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Over the course of his practice, Mr. Knight has generally focused on personal injury litigation. He earned his B.S.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law.
Speaker bio
Robert A. West, Jr.
is a seasoned attorney with more than twenty years of experience advising businesses, institutions, and individuals in diverse industries. His expertise covers AI legal consultancy, intellectual property litigation, patent and trademark matters, and general business litigation. He advises clients on legal issues related to AI, such as governance structures, privacy laws, risk mitigation, policy formulation, regulatory advice, and responsible AI adoption strategies for organizations at any stage of implementing AI. Mr. West represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, various administrative boards, and federal and state courts in complex matters, including pre-suit investigations, trials, appeals, and post-grant proceedings. He is a registered patent attorney. His practice further includes portfolio strategy, enforcement, licensing, and the drafting and negotiation of royalty and technology-related agreements. Mr. West has been involved with AI in legal practice since before the term became widely used. He advises clients on selecting AI tools, implementation procedures, workforce policies, and the legal and ethical risks associated with generative AI, automated decision-making, and data-driven systems. He also acts as an AI implementation leader at his firm, helping to develop governance structures, training programs, and firmwide AI policies. Combining extensive IP expertise with practical AI advice, he provides strategic guidance at the crossroads of innovation, compliance, and responsible technology use.
Speaker bio
Jeremy J. Nelson
is of counsel within the Louisville, Kentucky office of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP. He has a broad range of litigation and appellate experience, including pre-litigation investigation, initial discovery, electronic discovery, lay and expert depositions, trial preparation, witness preparation, exhibit preparation and motion practice. Mr. Nelson has tried long-term care, medical malpractice and general liability cases to verdict and presented oral arguments before the Kentucky Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association and Louisville Bar Association. Mr. Nelson has also taught as an adjunct professor at Brandeis School of Law in the area of sports law, and at Indiana Wesleyan University on business law. He earned his B.A. degree from Western Kentucky University, his M.S. degree from the University of Louisville and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville.
Speaker bio
Kristofer Clark
is an attorney with de Beaubien, Simmons, Knight, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP. His practice is centered around representing defendants in personal injury cases. Mr. Clark earned his B.S. degree from University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University College of Law. He is a member of The Florida Bar and Orange County Bar Association. Mr. Clark is admitted to practice in all Florida State courts.
Speaker bio
Gloria McGahan
is an attorney at Cohan & Levy, where she is focused on business litigation and high wealth disputes. She earned her B.A. degree from St. John's University in Queens, New York and her J.D. degree from Emory University School of Law.
Top FAQs
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The OnDemand Video will be available to stream within 14 days of live broadcast date. You will have access to the content for 6 months in your account.
If you're a subscriber, you'll have access to your course recordings until 7 days after the expiration date of the subscription.
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