Agenda

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

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

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
8:30 am – 4:00 pm CDT

 

Assisting with Family Law Case Intake
Presented by: Alexandra Doner

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

Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel 
Presented by: Alexandra Doner

  • Establishing and maintaining good communication with clients
    • Methods of communication and contents of communications
    • Guidelines for responding to client communications
  • Working with difficult clients
  • Working with the courts and opposing counsel
  • Maintaining professionalism

Preparing Pleadings and Assisting with Motion Practice
Presented by: Diane Murphy Smith & Roz Koob

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

Assisting with Alternative Dispute Resolution 
Presented by: Diane Murphy Smith & Roz Koob

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

Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information 
Presented by: Tyler Coe & Jessica Shannon

  • 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

Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice 
Presented by: Tyler Coe & Jessica Shannon

  • 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
  • Fee agreements, retainers, and collection of unpaid fees

 

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

Paralegals
6.5 CLE Hours (Incl. 1.0 Ethics Hour)

NALA - National Association of Legal Assistants
6.5 Total CLE Hours (5.5 Substantive CLE Hours, 1.0 Legal Ethics CLE Hour)

NFPA - National Federation of Paralegal Associations
6.5 Total CLE Hours (5.5 General CLE Credits, 1.0 Ethics CLE Credit)

 

Continuing Education Credit Information

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 CLE hours, including 1.0 ethics hour, to paralegals in Iowa. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this course.

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

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) has pre-approved this webinar for 6.5 total CLE credits, which includes 5.5 general CLE credits and 1.0 ethics CLE credit.

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).

On-Demand Credits

The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate.

Speakers

Tyler L. Coe

Shareholder with Dentons

Mr. Coe is a divorce and family lawyer known for his honest guidance, approachable demeanor, and high-conflict cases. Mr. Coe emphasizes collaboration and communication to understand and unravel his clients’ often complicated situations, relationships, and work toward the best possible outcome for each client. He is adept at managing cases involving divorce, child custody, modifications, and high-conflict disputes. Mr. Coe is experienced with the unique needs and issues that arise in a mid-to-high asset family law matters. He routinely represents young professionals, established professionals, business owners, executives, and stay-at-home spouses. Mr. Coe assists in matters involving children and can help establish plans that prepare for their future. He earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Drake University, and his J.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Law.

Alexandra Doner

Arenson Law Group, PC

Mr. Doner is a family law attorney with Arenson Law Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her practice focuses on divorce, custody, and domestic abuse protective order matters, and she also works with some clients with cases in juvenile court. While she enjoys working on all types of family law cases, she takes particular interest in offering trauma-informed representation for clients who benefit from that approach. Ms. Doner likes to use technology to streamline the practice of family law and enjoys connecting with colleagues to share innovative ideas. She is a graduate of The University of Iowa College of Law and a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the Linn County Bar Association. In the community, Ms. Doner serves on the Board of Directors for Iowa Humane Alliance, an organization that provides spay/neuter services to the community. When she’s not at work, she’s traveling, cheering on the Hawkeyes, or spending time with her loved ones and her Australian Cattle Dog, Maxine.

Roz Koob

Partner with Heidman Law Firm, PLLC

Ms. Koob enjoys a diverse practice of providing counseling and representation to individuals, companies, and Native American Tribes. Part of her practice includes advising individuals, companies, and insurance carriers in personal injury, products liability, construction defects and contractual disputes. She specializes in tribal law, including tribal representation in employment law, real estate transactions, contracts, administrative law, litigation, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), taxation law, sovereign immunity and providing general oversight on legal matters. She has represented tribal interests in state courts, federal courts, and tribal courts. Ms. Koob has also lectured frequently on the Indian Child Welfare Act. Rounding out her diverse practice is her work in family law representing individuals in divorces, custody, paternity determinations, child support recovery issues, adoptions, and juvenile court matters. She is certified in collaborative law (an alternative approach to the traditional divorce process), mediation and as a parent coordinator. She earned her B.A. degree from Briar Cliff College and her J.D. degree from Creighton University.

Diane Murphy Smith

Attorney with Heidman Law Firm, PLLC 

Diane Murphy Smith practices in the areas of family law, guardian/ conservatorship, insurance defense, Indian Child Welfare Act and tribal law, and criminal law groups. Before joining the Heidman Law Firm, She was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Iowa where she worked as conflicts counsel attorney, representing the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Diane Murphy Smith was also lead counsel on issues relating to Tribal-State relations Indian Child Welfare Act enforcement. She successfully developed a method to streamline Tribal Customary Adoption in Iowa. Diane Murphy Smith represented the state on termination of parental rights appeals, subpoenas to DHHS, and complex child welfare cases. Prior to her work at the Attorney General’s Office, She worked for over 14 years as an Assistant Woodbury County Attorney specializing in juvenile law and child welfare matters. Diane Murphy Smith earned her B.B.A degree from the University of Iowa and her J.D. degree from Drake University Law School.

Jessica Shannon

Attorney with Dentons

Ms. Shannon main area of focus is divorce and family law. She represents clients in divorce proceedings, domestic relations trials, contested hearings, contempt hearings, child support hearings, and the appellate courts. Divorce is often a new and difficult time for Ms. Shannon’s clients, and she works diligently to communicate and work with her clients to ensure their needs are met through their ongoing legal matters. She uses creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and a keen legal sense to help effectively resolve their issues. Ms. Shannon advocates for her clients in the courtroom as an adept trial attorney, having appeared in multiple counties across Iowa. However, she also understands the impact of litigation on her clients. For each case, she offers a pragmatic and strategic approach to help her clients obtain the best possible outcome, inside or outside the courthouse. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Ms. Shannon worked as a paralegal, earning her certification from Kirkwood Community College. She received her political science degree from the University of Iowa, and her J.D. degree, with honors, from Drake University Law School.