Maryland Family Law Practice 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.
Friday, January 27, 2023
8:30 am – 4:30 pm EST (including a 60-min. break)
Presented by
Lynndolyn T. Mitchell
Emily P. Shank
Rachel Mech
Regina A. DeMeo
Bruce E. Avery
Agenda
Assisting with Family Law Case Intake
Performing conflicts checks
Assisting with initial client interview
Preparing engagement letter, opening file
Collecting information
Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues
Recent developments in Maryland custody law
Obtaining relevant information
• Client interview, custody questionnaires, authorizations for disclosure, formal discovery
Working with guardian-ad-litem
Working with experts
Drafting and reviewing parenting plans
Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information
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
Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel
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
Assisting with Alternative Dispute Resolution
Assisting in family law mediation
Understanding and assisting in divorce arbitration
Assisting in the collaborative divorce process
Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
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, Including 1.0 Ethics Hour
NFPA:
6.5 CLE Hours (Includes 1.0 Ethics Hour)
NALA:
6.5 CLE Hours, Including 1.0 Ethics Hours
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and offers 6.5 CLE hours to paralegals. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this webinar.
The National Association of Legal Assistants has approved this course 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 approved this course 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).
Speakers
Bruce E. Avery
Bruce E. Avery, Partner with Avery & Upton in Rockville, MD.
Mr. Avery served in the Army for 20 years. Since 1993, after he retired from the Army, he has restricted his practice to family law, predominantly in Montgomery County, Maryland. First as a solo practitioner and now in partnership with his daughter, Prudence Upton. He has handled hundreds of divorce, child custody, child support, visitation and other family issues, most often bringing them to resolution without the need for a trial. Mr. Avery is frequently consulted by other counsel regarding military matters and has done presentations for a number of groups regarding military family law. He has been selected by SuperLawyers every year since 2008 and has been selected for listing in The Best Lawyers in America since 2017. Mr. Avery is a certified as a mediator in both general civil matters and family law, focusing on property and child-related issues. He serves as a facilitator for the Family Law Division of the Montgomery County Circuit Court. Mr. Avery is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law where he co-teaches Collaborative Practice to law students. He is a trainer for the Collaborative Practice Training Institute training practicing professionals in Collaborative Practice.
Regina A. DeMeo
Regina A. DeMeo, Attorney at Law in Bethesda, MD.
Ms. DeMeo is an alumna of Georgetown University and the GWU Law School, who has focused on family law in the DC Area for over 20 years. Since 2011, she has run her own law family law firm in Bethesda, MD with a focus on promoting alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and Collaborative Divorce, with litigation as the option of last resort. She has been a frequent guest lecturer and presenter in various venues, including Georgetown University, Howard University, George Washington University, Hood College, the University Club, DC Bar, MSBA, and Women Bus. Owners of Montgomery County. She has been featured in the Washington Post and Bethesda Magazine, and was the host of MMCTV’s Making It Last. She was previously an adjunct professor of the Family Law Clinic at George Washington University. Superlawyers, Washingtonian Magazine and Best Lawyers have repeatedly recognized her as one of the top in her field.
Rachel Mech
Rachel Mech, Principal at Offit Kurman, Attorneys at Law in Baltimore, MD.
Ms. Mech represents family and business clients in domestic and international civil litigation. Rachel’s experience includes representing family law clients in state, interstate, and international child abduction cases, and cases involving, divorce, custody, visitation, adoption, child support, domestic violence, and gender or name changes. Her clients also include businesses which she represents in various capacities including contract and property disputes, tort claims, regulatory violations, and cases requiring alternative dispute resolution. In addition to advocating for her clients, Rachel is a certificated mediator in both general dispute resolution and family law matters.
Lynndolyn T. Mitchell
Lynndolyn T. Mitchell, Attorney at the Law Office of Lynndolyn T. Mitchell PC in Rockville, MD.
Ms. Mitchell represents clients from all economic and social backgrounds. She represents individuals in complex divorce, child custody and traffic/criminal matters. Ms. Mitchell has drawn on her diverse experience of practicing law in five different jurisdictions for over 35 years. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Ms. Mitchell also worked as an Assistant Adjunct Professor for the University of Maryland‘s Global Campus (UMGC).
Emily P Shank
Emily P. Shank, Principal at Offit Kurman, Attorneys at Law in Baltimore, MD.
Ms. Shank is a family law attorney experienced in a wide scope of matters. Ms. Shank handles divorce, custody, property division, child support, alimony, pre-marital agreements, marital settlement agreements, guardianships, adoptions, protective orders, and LGBTQ+ matters. She has repeatedly served as a Court appointed attorney in guardianship and custody proceedings. In addition to litigation, Ms. Shank is a mediator and a best interest attorney. She is also qualified in Collaborative Divorce. Ms. Shank believes in giving back to the community and as such is an ACLU of Maryland Know Your Rights trainer, and a volunteer attorney with Kids In Need of Defense, Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Services, and the Carroll County Family Law Clinic.