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Advanced Legal Writing and Efficient Document Drafting for Associates and paralegals

Jack Luellen
Jack Luellen
Buchalter

Jack Luellen is a Special Counsel in the Firm’s Denver office and a member of the Energy & Natural Resources practice group.

William Hartzell
William Hartzell
O’Connor, Carnathan & Mack, LLC.

William Hartzell is a paralegal at the boutique litigation firm of O’Connor, Carnathan & Mack, LLC in Burlington, Massachusetts.

On-Demand: October 23, 2023

$245.00 2.5 hour CLE

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Program Summary

Session I – Precision in Legal Writing: Elevate Your Practice with Expertise Beyond the Courtroom – Jack Luellen

Our legal expertise goes beyond courtroom battles and case law. We understand that precision in legal writing is paramount. Our comprehensive training sessions cover a range of critical topics for associate and paralegals, including a deep dive into common grammar and proofreading errors that can make or break a case. We equip you with the skills to employ effective interrogatives and craft impeccable interrogatory responses, ensuring your clients' interests are protected. Moreover, we explore the creative use of requests for production to unearth crucial evidence that can sway the outcome in your favor. You'll also gain invaluable insights into drafting well-pleaded and functional complaints and answers, a foundational skill in any legal practice. Lastly, we delve into the keyconcepts for drafting and opposing motions, empowering you to  navigate the complexities of the legal landscape with confidence. Join us to elevate your legal writing prowess and provide your clients with unparalleled representation.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Common Grammar and Proofreading Errors
  • Effective Use of Interrogatives and Interrogatory Responses
  • Creative Uses of Requests for Production
  • Tips for Drafting Well-Pleaded and Functional Complaints and Answers
  • Key Concepts for Drafting (and Opposing) Motions

Session II - Efficient Legal Document Drafting: Maximizing Templates and Automation for Associate and Paralegal Excellence – William Hartzell

Drafting legal documents doesn’t have to involve reinventing the wheel for every case, but it does require attention to detail and thoughtful use of template content. A bare minimum template will at least be formatted properly with placeholders for case specific information. Another method of generating legal documents is using case management or document generation software that requires filling in a few fields on a form and then submitting to the software engine which produces a draft document based on the information provided. In any event, templates or auto-generated drafts will need to be proofread and edited with care to produce a final draft suitable for attorney review and revision.

Recycling documents from existing cases to form new drafts presents its own set of risks. Obviously, any information related to a different case that is not removed would pose a potential breach of confidentiality. A second issue would be the potential that the case from which you are recycling has different issues and could require even more editing than starting with a blank form.

Key topics to be discussed:

  • Pleadings and Preliminary Filings
  • Service of Process
  • Discovery Requests
  • Summary Judgment and Other Dispositive Motions
  • Trial Documents
  • Appeals
  • MS Word and Adobe Acrobat: Legal Document Creation Insights

This course is co-sponsored with myLawCLE.

Date / Time: November 29, 2023

Closed-captioning available

Speakers

Jack Luellen_FedBarJack Luellen, Special Counsel | Buchalter

Jack Luellen is a Special Counsel in the Firm’s Denver office and a member of the Energy & Natural Resources practice group. He concentrates his practice on energy law, with a particular emphasis in oil and gas law, litigation and real estate law. In his energy law practice, Mr. Luellen represents oil and gas companies, representing interests in the E&P and midstream sectors. Mr. Luellen routinely negotiates, drafts and closes agreements for the purchase and sale of oil and gas assets, as well as surface use, processing, marketing, transportation and joint operations agreements. He frequently works with companies and capital providers in connection with debt and equity financings and related corporate governance matters, including corporate structure and formation. Mr. Luellen’s practice also includes all aspects of commercial and business litigation where he has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of matters including insurance coverage, breach of contract, intellectual property, real estate, and employment matters.

 

William Hartzell_FedBarWilliam Hartzell, Paralegal | O’Connor, Carnathan & Mack, LLC.

William Hartzell is a paralegal at the boutique litigation firm of O’Connor, Carnathan & Mack, LLC in Burlington, Massachusetts. William has over 25 years of experience in litigation, from product liability and personal injury to medical malpractice. At O’Connor, Carnathan and Mack, William is involved in business litigation fro clients including Fortune 500 companies as well as individuals and closely-held businesses. William is involved in case management from client intake all the way through to trial and appeals. William also has a lead role in standardizing the firm’s electronic file name conventions, and in migrating the firm’s IT to a cloud-based system.

Agenda

Session I – Precision in Legal Writing: Elevate Your Practice with Expertise Beyond the Courtroom | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

I. Common Grammar and Proofreading Errors | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Effective Use of Interrogatives and Interrogatory Responses | 2:10pm – 2:25pm

III. Creative Uses of Requests for Production | 2:25pm – 2:40pm

IV. Tips for Drafting Well-Pleaded and Functional Complaints and Answers | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

V. Key Concepts for Drafting (and Opposing)Motions | 2:50pm – 3:00pm

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

Session II – Efficient Legal Document Drafting: Maximizing Templates and Automation for Associate and Paralegal Excellence | 3:10pm – 4:50pm

I. Pleadings and Preliminary Filings | 3:10pm – 3:25pm

  • Complaints
  • Answers
  • Preliminary Injunction
  • Motions to Dismiss

II. Service of Process | 3:25pm – 3:40pm

  • Summons

III. Discovery Requests | 3:40pm – 3:55pm

  • Interrogatories
  • Requests to Produce
  • Requests for Admissions
  • Subpoenas
  • Public Records Requests
  • ESI and Discovery Requests
  • Organizing and Reviewing Documents for Production

IV. Summary Judgment and Other Dispositive Motions | 3:55pm – 4:10pm

  • Motions
  • Statement of Facts
  • Exhibit Affidavits

Break | 4:10pm – 4:20pm

V. Trial Documents | 4:20pm – 4:30pm

  • Exhibit Lists
  • Witness Lists
  • Jury Instructions
  • Verdict Forms

VI. Appeals | 4:30pm – 4:40pm

  • Assembly of the Record
  • Appellate Briefs
    • Table of Contents
    • Table of Authorities

VII. MS Word and Adobe Acrobat: Legal Document Creation Insights | 4:40pm – 4:50pm

  • Creating Templates
  • Advanced Formatting Tips
  • Customizing Your Interface
  • Automating Repetitive Tasks
  • Conversions to and from Other Formats
  • Handling Client Documents

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