Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals Webinar Series
Agenda
Legal Research for Paralegals
Monday, May 6, 2019, 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM CDT (with a 30 min break)
Legal Research Basics
Sources of the law
– Primary sources: constitutions, statutes, case law, and administrative codes
– Secondary sources: treatises, articles, encyclopedias, etc.
Locating sources via paid and free services
Analyzing information for relevance and meaning — understanding how sources connect
Updating your research
Identifying Ethical Issues in Research
Evaluating sources for objectivity and reliability
Identifying sources that refute your arguments
Preventing copyright infringement
Legal Research Case Study
Faculty will use a legal research case study to guide students through the legal
research process, including primary and secondary legal research
Legal Writing for Paralegals
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM CDT (with a 30 min break)
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM CDT (with a 30 min break)
Legal Writing for Paralegals
Legal terminology
Drafting legal documents: correspondence, research memoranda, basic pleadings, and briefs
The rhetorical triangle — audience, purpose, and persona
– Using samples
– Crafting a compelling narrative
Structuring a legal analysis — CRAC and beyond
Legal citation skills
Editing and proofreading — ensuring credibility
Ethical Issues in Legal Writing
Preventing plagiarism
The limits of advocacy
– Candor to the court
– Avoiding hyperbole
– Treating adversaries with respect
Legal Writing Case Study
Faculty will use a legal writing case study to guide students through the legal writing process
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion will be provided for each webinar attended and will be sent via email in PDF form about five business days after the date of the conclusion of the series.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar system requirements:
Operating System:
Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 Mac OSX 10.9 (Mavericks) – 10.12 (Sierra)
Web Browser:
Chrome v34+, Firefox v34+, Internet Explorer 8+, Microsoft Edge v12+, Safari v6+
Internet connection: Hardware:
Minimum of 1Mbps 2GB RAM or more
Credits
NFPA – 8.0 CLE hours, including 2.0 ethics hour
NALA – Pending
California Paralegals – 8.0 CLE hours, including 2.0 ethics hour
Florida Paralegals – 8.0 CLE hours, including 2.0 ethics hour
Montana Paralegals – 8.0 CLE hours, including 2.0 ethics hour
New Mexico Paralegals – CLE Approval Pending
North Carolina Paralegals – 8.0 CLE hours, including 2.0 ethics hour
Texas Paralegals – 8.0 CLE hours in the specialty areas of Bankruptcy Law, Civil Trial Law,
Criminal Law, Family Law, Personal Injury Trial Law
Continuing Education Credit Information
Each webinar offers 4.0 CLE hours, including one ethics hour to certified and uncertified paralegals. They have been approved by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the Montana Commission on CLE, and the North Carolina State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification. The Texas Board of Paralegal Certification has approved each webinar for 4.0 CLE hours in the specialty areas of Bankruptcy Law, Civil Trial Law, Criminal Law, Family Law, and Personal Injury Trial Law. These webinars will quality for paralegal CLE credit in California and Florida.
HalfMoon Education has applied for course approval from the National Association of Legal Assistants and the State Bar of New Mexico Paralegal Division, which are pending. Visit www.halfmoonseminars.org for the most current status of these credits.
Speakers
Shelly Bibb DeAdder
Associate Professor of Legal Writing at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Professor DeAdder received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002. She then moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and worked as a paralegal in Washington, D.C. until 2005 when she returned to North Carolina to attend law school. Professor DeAdder graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law (NCCU Law) in 2008. After law school, Professor DeAdder served as a law clerk for Judge Robert C. Hunter at the North Carolina Court of Appeals from August 2008 to May 2012. From May 2012 to August 2014, she was employed by the North Carolina General Assembly in the nonpartisan Research Division. Professor DeAdder has been teaching full time at NCCU Law since August 2014. She teaches Legal Reasoning and Analysis, Legal Research and Persuasion, Judicial Opinion Writing, Appellate Advocacy and Senior Writing. She is a member of the North Carolina Appellate Defender Roster, representing indigent clients on appeal. Professor DeAdder also drafts the opinions of the Cherokee Supreme Court on a contract basis.
There are 2 Courses in This Seminar
Legal Research for Paralegals
WebinarMay 6, 2019Shelly Bibb DeAdder
Speakers
Shelly Bibb DeAdder
Associate Professor of Legal Writing at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Professor DeAdder received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002. She then moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and worked as a paralegal in Washington, D.C. until 2005 when she returned to North Carolina to attend law school. Professor DeAdder graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law (NCCU Law) in 2008. After law school, Professor DeAdder served as a law clerk for Judge Robert C. Hunter at the North Carolina Court of Appeals from August 2008 to May 2012. From May 2012 to August 2014, she was employed by the North Carolina General Assembly in the nonpartisan Research Division. Professor DeAdder has been teaching full time at NCCU Law since August 2014. She teaches Legal Reasoning and Analysis, Legal Research and Persuasion, Judicial Opinion Writing, Appellate Advocacy and Senior Writing. She is a member of the North Carolina Appellate Defender Roster, representing indigent clients on appeal. Professor DeAdder also drafts the opinions of the Cherokee Supreme Court on a contract basis.
Legal Writing for Paralegals
WebinarMay 7, 2019Shelly Bibb DeAdder
Speakers
Shelly Bibb DeAdder
Associate Professor of Legal Writing at North Carolina Central University School of Law
Professor DeAdder received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002. She then moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and worked as a paralegal in Washington, D.C. until 2005 when she returned to North Carolina to attend law school. Professor DeAdder graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law (NCCU Law) in 2008. After law school, Professor DeAdder served as a law clerk for Judge Robert C. Hunter at the North Carolina Court of Appeals from August 2008 to May 2012. From May 2012 to August 2014, she was employed by the North Carolina General Assembly in the nonpartisan Research Division. Professor DeAdder has been teaching full time at NCCU Law since August 2014. She teaches Legal Reasoning and Analysis, Legal Research and Persuasion, Judicial Opinion Writing, Appellate Advocacy and Senior Writing. She is a member of the North Carolina Appellate Defender Roster, representing indigent clients on appeal. Professor DeAdder also drafts the opinions of the Cherokee Supreme Court on a contract basis.