Description
Understand the purpose and importance of legal citation, accurate and careful attention to resources, precedent and format styles
Paralegals must be diligent in their review and validation of sources when citing case law and statutes in legal briefs, law review articles or in any legal analysis. Proper citations aim not only to support legal precedents they also serve as a convenient reference to sources relied upon for a legal argument and attribute appropriate credit, particularly for copyrighted material, legal cases, statutes and rules. We will review US courts, local rules, standardization and reliability, as well as discuss how to navigate The Bluebook efficiently and interpret the sources and their precedent. This course will guide you in presenting the most relevant legal authority with clear and accurate references that can prevent costly mistakes due to oversight or missing sources or evidence.
Court Systems and Court Decisions
• Trial and Appellate Courts
• Legal Briefings and Publications
• Published and Unpublished Decisions
Choosing the Best Authority
• Searching Case Law and Statutes
• Technology and Best Practices
• Search Engines
• Commercial Databases
• Understanding Reporters and Authority
• How to Evaluate Which Case(S) to Cite
Formatting Citations
• Why Accuracy Matters
• Format Style Standards
• The Bluebook: Updates to the 21St Ed.
• How to Navigate the Bluebook
• Common Mistakes and Tips
• Citation Management Tools
Understanding Local Court Rules
• Court Websites and the Bluebook
• Judicial and Standing Orders
Overview
• Understanding Court Decisions
• Searching and Identifying Legal Authorities
• Formatting and Standardization
• Local Rules and Orders
Q and A
• Answer Questions From the Audience
• Provide Contact Information
NALA ,NFPA ,Additional credit may be available upon request. Contact Lorman at 866-352-9540 for further information.
Kimberly C. Gordy-Baker & Hostetler LLP, Craig A. Robinson – BakerHostetler
