Description
This course focuses on the importance of accuracy and efficiency in the review and preparation of briefs and motions. In particular, it stresses an attorney’s duty of competence, which includes an obligation to accurately cite and quote legal authorities in the briefs presented to the courts, as well as the duty to cite only valid legal authorities and to disclose adverse authorities.
Additionally, it addresses the duty lawyers owe to their clients to work as efficiently as possible in the preparation of briefs and motions, which includes a concomitant obligation to leverage available technologies to assist in performing these tasks.
Ultimately, the course illuminates the legal technologies currently available to assist lawyers with reviewing and preparing briefs accurately and efficiently.
Topics of Discussion:
I. Explanation of the relevant ABA model rules requiring attorneys to keep abreast of legal technology to assist in servicing clients (10 minutes)
II. Retrieving and reviewing cited authorities more efficiently with legal technology, (10 minutes)
III. Validating citations more accurately and efficiently with legal technology, (10 minutes)
IV. Validating quotes more accurately and efficiently with legal technology, (10 minutes)
V Preparing and updating tables of authorities more efficiently with legal technology, (10 minutes)
V. Researching concepts from an opponent’s brief more efficiently with legal technology, (5 minutes)
VI. Gathering intelligence efficiently regarding companies, law firms, judges and other entities in an opposing brief using legal technology, (5 minutes)