Professional Development

Screening Secrets: A Paralegal's Guide

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 3 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 3 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 3 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 3 Total
OnDemand
2 hours 59 minutes
Susi Boss
Courtney Sierra
William Ashwell
With Susi Boss from Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, L.L.P. + 2 others
Recorded March 11, 2025.
Product ID 99992

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Course Includes
$219

OnDemand Video

Course Book Download

OnDemand content will be available within 7 days of event date.

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$69/month

Overview

Ensure Clients Are Properly Assessed and Informed at the Outset

As a paralegal, you play a crucial role in the screening process - serving as the first line of assessment and interaction with potential clients. Do you have the confidence and finesse to interact with third parties? Can you spot red flags before the firm invests in the client and case? Join our experienced faculty for tips and tricks on evaluating potential clients, managing information, and forging strong relationships from the outset. Enhance your value - register today!

  • Flush out all the information you need with effective questioning strategies.
  • Discover what to do if you catch a prospective client in a lie.
  • Trust but verify: secure and comb through documents and client background information.
  • Learn how to bring up sensitive issues without alienating clients or causing defensiveness.
  • Let AI and other tech tools do some of the screening and document review work for you.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Questioning Techniques and Rapport Building: The Art of Effective Client Interviews
  2. Communication Compass: What You Should and Should Not Say to Clients
  3. Strategic Screening: Spotting Red Flags Before Your Attorney Does
  4. Precise and Protected: Documenting and Managing Intake Information
  5. Navigating Sensitive Territory: Tactful Probing and Managing Difficult Conversations
  6. Deception Detective: Identifying and Responding to Misleading or False Information
  7. Digging Deeper: Collecting Documents and Conducting Background Checks
  8. Tech-Savvy Screening: Leveraging AI and Other Tools in Screening and Document Review

Related Topics

Product ID 99992

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 3 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 3 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 3 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 3 Total
Select Jurisdiction
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Questioning Techniques and Rapport Building: The Art of Effective Client Interviews

  2. Communication Compass: What You Should and Should Not Say to Clients

  3. Strategic Screening: Spotting Red Flags Before Your Attorney Does

  4. Precise and Protected: Documenting and Managing Intake Information

  5. Navigating Sensitive Territory: Tactful Probing and Managing Difficult Conversations

  6. Deception Detective: Identifying and Responding to Misleading or False Information

  7. Digging Deeper: Collecting Documents and Conducting Background Checks

  8. Tech-Savvy Screening: Leveraging AI and Other Tools in Screening and Document Review

Who Should Attend

This intermediate level course is designed to give attendees the skills and tools they need to effectively navigate through client intake and evaluation. Those who should attend include:

  • Paralegals
  • Legal Technicians
  • Legal Assistants
  • Legal Support Staff

Speakers

Susi Boss
Susi
Boss
Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, L.L.P.
Courtney Sierra
Courtney
Sierra
KO Family Law
William D Ashwell
William D.
Ashwell
Ashwell & Ashwell, PLLC
Speaker bio
Susi Boss

Susi Boss

Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, L.L.P.
Susi Boss

has been a senior paralegal with Higdon, Hardy & Zuflacht, L.L.P. for 22 years. She is the past president of the paralegal division of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the State Bar of Texas Family's Law Section, The College of the State Bar of Texas, San Antonio Bar Association, National Association of Legal Assistants, and San Antonio Paralegal Association. Ms. Boss earned her associates degree from the College of Paralegal Studies.

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Speaker bio
Courtney Sierra

Courtney Sierra

KO Family Law
Courtney Sierra

is an attorney with Thacker Sleight. She focuses her practice exclusively on family law, including divorces and custody matters. Her comprehensive family law experiences includes handling divorces involving complex child custody disputes. Ms. Sierra helps clients resolve disputes without litigation, but is equally skilled in a trial setting. Before her legal career, Ms. Sierra worked with adults and children to help them learn to cope, emotionally and psychologically, with the challenges that mental health difficulties bring as a psychiatric rehabilitation therapist. Her experience working with children in a therapeutic setting gives her the ability to look at complex custody matters uniquely and beneficially. Ms. Sierra earned her bachelor's degree from Idaho State University and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

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Speaker bio
William D Ashwell

William D. Ashwell

Ashwell & Ashwell, PLLC
William Ashwell

is an attorney with Ashwell & Ashwell, PLLC. He practices in the areas of civil litigation, land use and zoning, appellate advocacy, business and commercial law, and trust and estate planning. Mr. Ashwell is admitted to practice in Virginia and before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western districts of Virginia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and Fauquier Bar Association, and serves on the Virginia State Bar Seventh District Disciplinary Committee. Mr. Ashwell earned his B.A. degree from Hampden-Sydney College and his J.D. degree from the University of Dayton School of Law.

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Top FAQs

What is included with my course purchase?

When you enroll prior to the live event date you will receive access to the live-streaming webinar which will allow you to interact with faculty in real-time.

With each course, you will receive access to the content via OnDemand Streaming and the Video Download.

Course reference materials are included with each course purchase in a downloadable PDF format.
How do I access my courses?

Courses are available within your account. Simply login to your account and click on My Courses. If you require additional assistance please call our Customer Service Department at 800-793-5274.
Do you have options for attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Closed captioning is available for all online live courses. Attendees may enable the closed captioning functionality within the event room once they have accessed the event by simply clicking the "cc" button in the lower right of the event room.
Are multiple attendee discounts available?

Yes, the more people you bring from your organization, the more you save. Please call out Customer Service Department to inquire about savings for your team at 800-793-5274.
When will the OnDemand be available and how long will I have access to the content?

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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