2021

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Supreme Court of Arizona Eliminates Peremptory Challenges

EvidenceProf Blog

The Supreme Court of Arizona has taken the landmark step of eliminating peremptory challenges from jury selection in both civil and criminal cases. So, what does this mean, and why did the court do it? During jury selection, there are.

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10 Tips for Summarizing Medical Records

Paralegal Bootcamp

Summarizing medical records can be a major part of a paralegal’s job, yet it is one that gets little attention in the curriculum of many paralegal certificate programs. As one who has had to learn it the hard way, I’d like to offer my top 10 tips for summarizing medical records. 1. Know Your Purpose. There is a reason you are summarizing those medical records and it shouldn’t be just to meet a billable hours quota.

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Paralegal Schools Forget to Mention These Things

Paralegal Bootcamp

Paralegal schools want enrollments, so it’s easy to understand why they present the paralegal profession in a certain light. But after they’ve got you enrolled and you’re in the paralegal certificate program, it would be helpful for you to also hear the downsides of being a paralegal so that you can be better prepared for your new career.

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Tools to Help Renters and Landlords Access Federal Assistance

Diane Drain

CFPB Releases Online Tool to Help Renters and Landlords Access Federal Assistance. New resource helps renters and landlords find state and local programs distributing federal rental assistance funds. WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 28, 2021: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released an online tool to help renters and landlords impacted by the pandemic easily find and apply for payment assistance for rent, utilities and other expenses.

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6 Contract Data Analytics Tools To Boost Contract Oversight

Analyzing contract trends with manual contract management is like sifting through a pile of papers in a dimly lit room, trying to find clues manually. Advanced CLM software’s contract data analytics, on the other hand, is like having an AI-based, intelligent magnifying glass that not only highlights key clues but also connects the dots for you. With innovative, AI-powered contract data analytics, you can solve the mystery of trends faster and with greater accuracy, making informed decisions base

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Paralegal Life: Working For A Difficult Boss

Paralegal Bootcamp

Tips for Improving the Situation When You Work for a Difficult Boss. As paralegals, we often get difficult cases and even more difficult opposing counsel. However, when your boss is more difficult than either of those, it is time to reflect on the situation and what can be done to make the predicament better. We all know that paralegals work in an industry where stress is par for the course.

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3 Mindset Shifts for New Paralegals

Paralegal Bootcamp

Your mindset is so important to your success as a new paralegal. Let’s look at 3 mindset shifts you can make early in your paralegal career. 1. Stop calling yourself a “newbie” paralegal. They will think you are the person who you think you are. By referring to yourself as the “newbie paralegal,” you are giving yourself an unnecessary label. Labels are never good for anyone.

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How to Become a Virtual Legal Assistant

The Estrin Report

Is there a brand new career just waiting for you? What exactly is a Virtual Assistant or VA? Simply put, a VA is someone who works remotely, online whether from their home or office. They are independent contractors or employees who work and use technology to deliver services. They provide administrative, technical, social media and creative services to clients.

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Text Analytics, Court Stats, and Privacy

CourtTechBulletin

A couple of weeks ago I shared some of “ my problems with pending case statistics ”. Before that, I posted another note regarding an alternative for analyzing criminal justice data. I generally try not to complain about things without having a solution in mind. In this article, I will share a solution using text analytics to work with a court’s largest data source, case documents, and reports.

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9 TED Talks For Paralegals to Watch

Paralegal Bootcamp

9 TED Talks For Paralegals. There are so many free educational videos out there that it can be somewhat overwhelming. Not only that, but you could find yourself going down a rabbit hole and spending too much time finding relevant content. . We’ve rounded up nine Ted Talks for Paralegals that you should be watching (not all at once!). They don’t all have to do with the legal profession because paralegal career development doesn’t just mean gaining more knowledge and skills abo

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The Tech-Savvy Paralegals Playbook: How To Leverage AI

Speaker: Allison Mears, Adela Wekselblatt, and George Socha

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry, and paralegals are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows, paralegals can streamline their daily tasks, enhance efficiency, and add greater value to their firms and organizations. But what exactly does AI mean for paralegals today—and how can you leverage it to your advantage?

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Grow Your Law Firm With These 5 Attorney Billing Software Tips

Attorney at Work

For law firms, streamlined, effective legal billing software is incredibly important. Enter modern legal billing software. It ensures that your firm’s legal billing processes are efficient and accurate by reducing the steps needed to invoice clients and accept online payments. Read on to learn about the most common billing problems law firms face, and how to help your law firm overcome them.

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Clemency for Nikki Addimando

EvidenceProf Blog

On September 28, 2017, Nikki Addimando fatally shot her boyfriend Christopher Grover. There is significant evidence that Chris was physically and sexually abusing Nikki and that she feared for her life when she fatally shot him: In 2017, Addimando was.

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South Africa parliament blocks constitutional amendment for land expropriation

JURIST

South African lawmakers Tuesday rejected a proposed amendment to the country’s constitution that would allow the expropriation of land without compensation as a way of addressing apartheid injustices. The ruling party now says they will resort to legislation to facilitate the process. The proposed amendment to Section 25 of the South African Cosntitution failed to reach the two-thirds threshold requirement.

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Top 5 Tips: Taking Depositions in a Post-Pandemic World

Attorney at Work

While much of the world stopped last year, depositions didn’t. Cases forged ahead and lawyers scrambled to establish new ways of taking depositions and handling proceedings that, for decades, had been routine. As we emerge out of the pandemic, many of the pivots intended as bandages for uncertain times will become permanent changes to the way we conduct and prepare for depositions.

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Excellence in Trial: A Strategic Guide for Modern Paralegals

Modern trial practice has evolved beyond basic organization. With technology reshaping courtrooms and attorneys expecting more than ever, paralegals need to elevate their capabilities while mastering the fundamentals of trial excellence. This comprehensive guide from Steno, built from author Joe Stephens' real-world experience as both a practicing attorney and law professor, provides a blueprint for delivering exceptional trial support in today's complex legal environment.

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How Attorneys Can Use Legal Data for Strategic Law Firm Positioning

Attorney at Work

Using legal data for strategic law firm planning is no longer reserved for BigLaw. With the improved access to litigation data from numerous vendors in the exploding legal tech ecosystem, solo practitioners, small law firms, and regional and midsize firms can take advantage of insights from data to position themselves as leaders and market movers in their respective practice areas and jurisdictions.

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Podcasting Tips for Lawyers

Attorney at Work

Considering a podcast for your law firm? Here are some podcasting tips to get started. Although podcasting has been around since 2005, it seems like it has suddenly become “a thing” for lawyers. The big spike in the number of podcasts left some of us wondering what they are, why they are so popular — and whether it’s too late to start a podcast of our own.

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Rarer Than Steak Tartare: Former New York Prosecutor Suspended 2 Years for Brady Violation

EvidenceProf Blog

They say* the only thing rarer than steak tartare is a prosecutor being disciplined for failing to disclose material exculpatory evidence pursuant to Brady v. Maryland. But the case of Glenn Kurtzrock is an exception. A petition, filed by the.

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Escaping the Overworked and Overwhelmed Cycle

Attorney at Work

We’ve all been there: Working long hours on numerous matters, we feel we can never catch up, much less get ahead. In the legal industry, this is often the norm. But is the norm actually a “normal” amount of work? In this COVID-19 environment, and amid the “ Great Resignation ,” lawyers and staff who remain in the firm often have more responsibilities and work than before the pandemic.

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Transform Your E-Learning: Download the Ultimate Localization Use Case!

Uncover the secret to breaking language barriers and expanding your e-learning reach! This powerful use case reveals how Cesco Linguistic Services transformed 19 training modules for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood into culturally relevant courses in Arabic and Spanish—delivered on time and exceeding expectations. Learn how to localize your content seamlessly, avoid costly pitfalls, and connect with diverse audiences like never before.

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How to Set Yourself Up for a Productive Day

Attorney at Work

In college, I worked as a restaurant prep cook. The chef had French training and emphasized the importance of “mise en place” — a French term for “everything in its place.” Mise en place (pronounced meez ahn plas) is a system chefs use to prepare themselves and their kitchens in the hours leading up to mealtime. The “meez,” as kitchen professionals refer to it, involves studying recipes, making lists of necessary ingredients, prepping food and assembling the tools for coo

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Lawyers on TikTok: Tips for Short-Form Video Marketing

Attorney at Work

As one of the newest and most popular social media platforms, TikTok’s user base is growing rapidly. After starting as a place for short-form comedy videos, TikTok has developed into a valuable marketing tool with the potential to reach millions of consumers. Moreover, the virality potential of this platform is unparalleled, so businesses have a greater opportunity than ever to reach vast audiences by leveraging short-form video content.

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Breaking Down the Three Charges Against Derek Chauvin

EvidenceProf Blog

On Monday, there will be closing arguments in the Derek Chauvin trial. In this post, I will break down the three charges that Chauvin faces in connection with the death of George Floyd. Second Degree Murder First, Chauvin is charged.

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Attorney Burnout: 4 Traps to Avoid

Attorney at Work

The road to attorney burnout is the same as the road to success — the difference is attitude and perspective. I burned out after 27 years of being a trial attorney. I thought I was doing everything right. Not so. I was working longer and longer hours and enjoying my practice less and less. I couldn’t sleep and, as a result, I was irritable. I suffered from stress, anxiety and depression, and I felt exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically.

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Uncovering The Hidden Connections: A Patent Family Survival Guide

Speaker: Andrew Klein

Are there mysteries lurking in your family tree? 🕵 No, not a long-lost half-brother - I'm talking about a patent family tree! IP paralegals need fast and easy ways to verify and report on essential data about foreign equivalents of US assets. Join us to master the global scope of key assets to support prosecution, portfolio management, litigation, licensing, competitive monitoring and more!

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Storytelling: Your Most Powerful Connection to New Clients

Attorney at Work

Storytelling is powerful. There are few things people love more than a good story. Stories inspire; they can evoke powerful emotions and unleash our imaginations. Great Marketers Understand the Power of Storytelling. Great marketers use storytelling as a tactic to build their businesses. In the legal world, this means developing a narrative around your firm that builds feelings of attachment, emotional investment and a strong connection with your target clients.

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Developing a Growth Strategy for Your Solo Law Practice: Focus on These 8 Things

Attorney at Work

As a solo law firm, you are small but mighty — able to run a lean business operation, offer customized and competitive pricing, and outperform your BigLaw competitors through personalized legal services delivery. Yet year after year, the biggest struggle for solo practitioners and small law firms is finding time to do what matters most: marketing and growing their practice.

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OK, Zoomer: Zoom Tools and Tips to Improve Your Video Meetings

Attorney at Work

These Zoom tools improve your Zoomiverse by streamlining call scheduling, automating video enhancement, and transcribing meetings. When the pandemic closed offices and forced working from home, we were instantly turned into “Zoomers” without little to no instruction. The technology let us connect and kept businesses afloat — but often while looking and sounding bad in less-than-productive meetings.

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Five Ways to Reduce Lawyer Burnout and Improve Employee Retention

Attorney at Work

Last week I served on a panel about attorney burnout for a bar association club for attorneys in their first 10 years of practice. The panelists had lots of helpful guidance and information to share. The last question asked by an attendee, however, perfectly exemplified the real problem with burnout, and the way I answered repeated the same problem pattern.

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AI for Paralegals: Everything You Need to Know (and How to Use It Safely)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Ready to cut through the AI hype and learn exactly how to use these tools in your legal work? Join this webinar to get practical guidance from attorney and AI legal expert, Joe Stephens, who understands what really matters for legal professionals! What You'll Learn: Evaluate AI Tools Like a Pro 🔍 Learn which tools are worth your time and how to spot potential security and ethics risks before they become problems.