Legal Writing and Research for Paralegals
DISCLAIMER
Before undertaking any on-demand effort, you should review the rules of your licensing/certifying entity.
It’s your responsibility to determine whether this on-demand course meets your continuing education requirements.
You must take and pass a quiz to receive credit. You can take the quiz as many times as needed and there is no time limit on the quiz.
Once the quiz is completed, you will be asked to download your certificate.
**Any on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Streamable MP4/PDF
You will receive an automated email letting you know when your On-Demand package is available approximately 3 business days after the date of the live event or the date of your order, whichever is later. This email will contain links to the video recording, materials, and program quiz.
To track your purchase, you will need to create an account on the website using the email address used for your registration.
For AIA requirements only, the on-demand recording will have occasional question prompts that will not allow the video to progress unless they are answered, and you will not be able to skip forward while watching the video.
Please note, if you attempt to resume watching the video on a separate device, your progress will not be saved.
Click the link which appears at the end of the video to be taken to the course quiz.
You will have unlimited access to the on-demand video recording, and it will never expire.
**Any streamable on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
USB MP4/PDF
HalfMoon will mail these materials via USPS.
USB orders ship approximately 3 business days after the program takes place or after the order is placed, whichever date is later. Please allow an additional 7-10 business days for shipping.
The link to the quiz will be available in a PDF in your USB drive marked QUIZ.
HalfMoon will contact you and issue a full refund if the product you ordered is not available. However, refunds will not be issued if completion certificates are requested.
Please contact HalfMoon Education if you have any questions during the process of taking this course. (715) 835-5900 or qchapman@halfmoonseminars.org
**Any USB on-demand programs that qualify for LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before start time.
Day One: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
11:00 am – 3:15 pm CDT (including a 15-min. break)
Day Two: Thursday, June 9, 2022
11:00 am – 3:15 pm CDT (including a 15-min. break)
Presented by Shelly DeAdder
Agenda Day One
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
Agenda Day Two
Legal Writing for Legal Assistants
- 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 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
Paralegal/Legal Assistant
8.0 CLE Hours
(2.0 ethics hours)
NALA
8.0 Substantive CLE Hours
(2.0 ethics hours)
NFPA
8.0 CLE Credits
(2.0 ethics hour)
Texas Certified Paralegal
8.0 Bankruptcy Law CLE Hours
8.0 Civil Trial Law CLE Hours
8.0 Criminal Law CLE Hours
8.0 Estate Planning & Probate Law CLE Hours
8.0 Family Law CLE Hours
8.0 Oil, Gas & Mineral Law CLE Hours
8.0 Personal Injury Trial Law CLE Hours
8.0 Real Estate Law CLE Hours
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public. Paralegal certification is not required in order to participate
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) has approved this course for a total of 8.0 qualified CLE hours; 6.0 substantive CLE hours and 2.0 legal ethics CLE hours
This course has been submitted to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) for approval, which is pending. Visit this course listing at www.halfmoonseminars.org for updates on this credit
This course has been approved by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for certification and recertification continuing legal education for paralegals.
Completion certificates will be awarded to participants who complete this event, respond to prompts and earn a passing score (80%) on the quiz that follows the presentation (multiple attempts allowed).
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.