Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.

Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before start time.

Friday, November 17, 2023
8:30 am – 4:00 pm EST 


Assisting with Family Law Case Intake
Presented by: S.L. Provencher

  • Performing conflicts checks
  • Assisting with initial client interview
  • Preparing engagement letter, opening file
  • Collecting information

Preparing Pleadings and Assisting with Motion Practice
Presented by: S.L. Provencher

  • Preparing initial pleadings
  • Requesting temporary relief
  • Preparing for the temporary orders hearing
  • Preparing the temporary orders

Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information 
Presented by: E.J. Broder

  • Identifying relevant information on assets, debts, income and expenses
  • Obtaining financial information
    • Using financial information questionnaires
    • Using interrogatories, requests for production, deposition testimony, private investigators
    • Valuing assets
  • Evaluating the information you have obtained
  • Working with accountants and financial experts
  • Preparing financial statements

Preparing Marital Settlement Agreements
Presented by: K. Bakes, Esq.

  • Assisting with different types of agreements 
    • Property agreements
    • Child-related agreements
  • Support agreements

Assisting with Alternative Dispute Resolution
Presented by: K. Bakes, Esq.

  • Assisting in family law mediation
  • Understanding and assisting in divorce arbitration 
  • Assisting in the collaborative divorce process

Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
Presented by: R. Graziana

  • Complying with rules of professional responsibility and ethics guidelines for attorneys and paralegals 
  •  Avoiding conflicts of interest
  • Maintaining client confidentiality
  • Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
  • Working with the secretive or dishonest client 
  • Handling allegations of abuse or neglect
  • Zealous (vs. over-zealous) representation

 

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 can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

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 App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)

Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled

Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps       Hardware: 2GB RAM or more

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

Credits

National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA):
6.5 CLE Hours (Incl. 1.0 Ethics Hour)

National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA):
Pending


Continuing Education Credit Information

This webinar is open to the public and provides a 6.5-hour learning opportunity for paralegals in Connecticut. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this course.

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has approved this course for 6.5 CLE hours which includes 5.5 substantive CLE hours and 1.0 legal ethics CLE hour.

This webinar has been submitted to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) for accreditation which is currently pending.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

Speakers

Katherine (Kathy) Bakes, Esq.

Ms. Bakes is the founder and managing attorney of Bakes Law, LLC. Her practice involves all aspects of family law, including but not limited to complex divorce and custody issues, modification, adoption and reproductive law. Her firm also specializes in estate planning, specifically, the creation of wills and trusts. Ms. Bakes experience in alternative dispute resolution also enables her to serve as a mediator. Before, during, and after law school, Ms. Bakes has been committed to using the law as an instrument of social change and helping give a voice to individuals outmatched by the judicial system. Ms. Bakes began her legal career in 2007 as a family law intern at Greater Boston Legal Services, a non-profit firm that provides free legal assistance to low-income families. She furthered her knowledge and practice with complex child custody, divorce, and modification cases during her role as a family law intern at Schmidt and Federico, PC. Here, Ms. Bakes honed a number of important advocacy skills and received extensive experience in communicating with clients who are experiencing profound and at times deeply personal challenges, as well as experience in effective written advocacy, negotiation, and creative problem solving. Additionally, throughout her undergraduate and graduate years, Ms. Bakes was an intern at both employment and real estate law firms, where she experienced first-hand alternative dispute resolutions, such as mediation and arbitration. She was admitted to both the Connecticut and Massachusetts state bars after receving her Juris Doctorate degree from New England Law | Boston. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Boston Bar Association.

Eric Broder

Mr. Broder is a co-founding member and partner with Broder, Orland, Murray & DeMattie, LLC. He is a member of the Fairfield County Bar Association (past president); American Inns of Court (member); and Connecticut Bar Association (House of Delegates, District 2, 2015-2018). Mr. Broder has been recognized by Top Lawyers in Fairfield County (Family Law, by Moffly Media, 2021) and selected for recognition in The Best Lawyers in America®, since 2018. He received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating™, Connecticut Super Lawyers ® as listed in New England Super Lawyers ®, since 2013; NAFLA Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in Connecticut, since 2014; Top Lawyer; Arbitration and Mediation, Family Law and Matrimonial Law in Westport, Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan/Darien and Fairfield magazines; and Avvo Rating 10 out of 10. He received his J.D. degree from Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and his B.A. degree from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Regina Graziani, Esq.

Director of Paralegal Studies - University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT

Ms. Graziani is a Licensed attorney, consultant, and academic director with 20+ years of experience in training, coaching, and developing adult learners for a career in law. She has experience in researching, drafting, and reviewing legislation, regulations, contracts, and legal memoranda. In addition, Ms. Graziani is a skilled presenter among legal audiences, including state and local bar associations, the University of Hartford, the American Association of Paralegal Education, and paralegal associations. She earned her B.A degree (magna cum laude) from Salve Regina University, M.A. degrees from Salve Regina University and Brandeis University, and her J.D. degree from Villanova University School of Law.

Stacie L. Provencher

Ms. Provencher is an associate in the Pullman & Comley’s Family Law Practice, where she focuses on all types of family law matters, particularly contested divorce and custody cases and family law appeals. Ms. Provencher is experienced in assisting in family law and litigation negotiations, including property division, child support, spousal support, and tax analysis. She has experience in preparing pleadings and separation agreements, compiling and reviewing discovery, and preparing for trial. Ms. Provencher is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association (Family Law co-chair of the Young Lawyers Section) and the Hartford County Bar Association. She is a recipient of the The Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” award for 2024.