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Overview
Let the Science of Reading Do the Work
Most legal writing is technically correct and practically ignored. Judges skim. Clients reread the same paragraph three times. Partners send drafts back covered in the same comments they made last month. The problem usually isn't legal knowledge - it's that the writing wasn't built for how a reader's brain actually works, and the drafting process wasn't built to catch that before it went out the door. This course fixes both ends of the problem. You'll learn the cognitive science behind what readers remember, skim, and forget, and you'll leave with a concrete AI-assisted drafting workflow (from prompt library to firm-wide precedent bank) that captures your voice and your firm's language so every draft starts closer to done. Pair that with sharper structure, cleaner citations, and a real editing process, and your writing stops competing for attention and starts winning it. Register today!
- Understand the cognitive science behind why readers misread or forget legal writing.
- Learn how to structure documents to work with the brain instead of against it.
- Build an AI drafting partner that reflects your voice, your firm's precedent language, and its preferred contract terms.
- Apply drafting techniques that prioritize structure and comprehension from the first sentence.
- Manage citations so they support the argument without breaking the reader's flow.
- Use a layered editing process that catches structural, sentence-level, and word-level problems before a document goes out.
*Mention of specific products or providers is informational only and does not constitute NBI endorsement. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.
Abbreviated Agenda
- How Your Reader's Brain Works
- Training AI to Act as Your Writing Partner
- Drafting for the Reader From the Start
- Citations Without Disruption
- Editing: The Most Important Step
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Credit Details
Credits Available
| Credit | Status | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Alabama CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Arkansas CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Arizona CLE |
|
4 Total |
| California CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Colorado CLE |
|
5 Total |
| Connecticut CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Delaware CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Florida CLE |
|
5 Total |
| Georgia CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Hawaii CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Iowa CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Idaho CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Illinois CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Indiana CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Kansas CLE |
|
4.5 Total |
| Kentucky CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Louisiana CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Maine CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Minnesota CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Missouri CLE |
|
4.8 Total |
| Northern Mariana Islands CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Mississippi CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Montana CLE |
|
4 Total |
| North Carolina CLE |
|
4 Total |
| North Dakota CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Nebraska CLE |
|
4 Total |
| New Hampshire CLE |
|
4 Total |
| New Jersey CLE |
|
4.8 Total |
| New Mexico CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Nevada CLE |
|
4 Total |
| New York CLE |
|
4.5 Total |
| Ohio CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Oklahoma CLE |
|
5 Total |
| Oregon CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Pennsylvania CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Rhode Island CLE |
|
4.5 Total |
| South Carolina CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Tennessee CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Texas CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Utah CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Virginia CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Vermont CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Washington CLE |
|
4 Total |
| Wisconsin CLE |
|
4.5 Total |
| West Virginia CLE |
|
4.8 Total |
| Wyoming CLE |
|
4 Total |
Select Jurisdiction
CLE
Agenda
-
How Your Reader's Brain Works
- Primacy and Recency Effects: What Readers Remember and Why
- Cognitive Load Theory: When Writing Becomes Work
- Attention, Fatigue, and the Cost of Complexity
- Implications for Legal Documents Specifically
-
Training AI to Act as Your Writing Partner
- What Writing "Style" Actually Means and How to Articulate Yours
- Using AI as a Drafting Partner: Brainstorming Strategies
- Building a Firm-Wide Knowledge Base of Precedents and Decision Patterns From Senior Attorneys
- Building a Prompt Library That Reflects Your Voice
- Creating Templates/Projects/Agents for Frequently Drafted Documents
- Calibrating to the Firm's Preferred Contract Language
- Practical Workflows: Before, During, and After Drafting
-
Drafting for the Reader From the Start
- Structure Before Sentences: Organizing for Comprehension
- Sentence Length, Rhythm, and the Burden of the Passive Voice
- Word Choice: Precision vs. Accessibility
- How to Avoid Legalese
- Headers, White Space, and Visual Hierarchy as Cognitive Tools
-
Citations Without Disruption
- How Citations Break Reading Flow and How to Manage It
- Inline vs. Footnote: When Each Serves the Reader
- Streamlining Citation Strings and Parentheticals
-
Editing: The Most Important Step
- Why Drafting Brain ≠ Editing Brain
- The Layered Edit: Structure → Paragraph → Sentence → Word
- Reading Aloud, Reverse Outlining, and Other Practical Techniques
- Common Legal Writing Habits Worth Breaking
Who Should Attend
This legal course is designed for attorneys. Paralegals, legal writing specialists, and knowledge management professionals will also benefit from this practical, skills-focused training.
Speakers
Speaker bio
Adam G. Gutbezahl
is an attorney with Ruberto, Israel & Weiner with nearly a decade of experience representing individuals and businesses in a wide variety of matters, including complex commercial, employment, land use, and real estate disputes. He has a proven track record of success in Massachusetts Land Court and Superior Court, as well as the Massachusetts Appeals Court. In addition to handling contentious, high stakes cases in Massachusetts state and federal courts, Mr. Gutbezahl counsels his clients on the importance of developing best practices to avoid litigation and mitigate risks. He represents municipalities in a wide array of litigation matters, including labor and employment, land use, and zoning. Mr. Gutbezahl is also a recognized thought leader on the legal implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence and serves on multiple steering committees and task forces regarding the use of this technology. He is also a member of the Trust Fund Commission in the Town of Wayland, a position to which he was first elected in 2019. Mr. Gutbezahl's municipal experience includes time serving on multiple boards and committees in Wayland, including the Select Board, Finance Committee, and Cultural Council. Prior to moving to Massachusetts, he was employed by multiple legislative committees within the Council of the District of Columbia, through which he performed oversight for administrative agencies and authored more than 20 pieces of legislation addressing various topics, including consumer protection, employment law, and tax transparency. Since joining the private sector, Mr. Gutbezahl has been recognized by various organizations and publications, including Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Boston Magazine, Super Lawyers Magazine, and the New England Real Estate Journal. While attending The George Washington University Law School, Mr. Gutbezahl served as an executive editor of The George Washington Law Review and was a member of the Moot Court Board. He earned his B.A. degree from George Washington University and his J.D. degree from The George Washington University Law School. Mr. Gutbezahl is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts.
Speaker bio
Jena G. Emory
is an associate in Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP's Commercial, Class Action and Product Liability Litigation practices, with a specialization in insurance coverage. She brings extensive experience and a proven track record in handling complex legal matters, drafting legal documents, and representing clients in complex insurance coverage and general liability cases. Additionally, Ms. Emory has experience managing cases solo in both the Superior and Magistrate courts and drafting motions including complex federal jurisdiction. She currently serves as the programming manager for the Young Lawyers Division and co-chair of the Young Advocates Committee for the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. Ms. Emory is also the former Newsletter co-editor for the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, where she played a crucial role in distributing important legal updates and supporting the professional growth of fellow attorneys. Additionally, Ms. Emory is a 2020 graduate of the State Bar of Georgia's YLD Leadership Academy. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and her B.S. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina.
Speaker bio
Dan Gibson
is a partner with Davis Hartman Wright LLP. He practices appeals, North Carolina Constitutional law, and civil litigation throughout North Carolina. Martindale-Hubbell has rated Mr. Gibson as AV, and he has been recognized as a Rising Star by Thomson Reuters and Business North Carolina lists him among their Legal Elite for Appellate Practice. He has written articles for the North Carolina State Bar's Journal, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, and the North Carolina Bar Association on appellate practice and civil procedure. Mr. Gibson is the co-author of Cemetery Law: the Common Law of Burying Grounds. He has taught CLEs for the Wake County Bar Association and North Carolina Bar Association, including Appellate Practice for Trial Work. In addition to private practice, Mr. Gibson is an adjunct professor teaching legal writing for Judicial Chambers at Wake Forest University School of Law. He earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Campbell University and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Speaker bio
Jonathan J. Schutrum
is an associate in Dickie McCamey & Chilcote, P.C.'s Litigation Department, where he focuses his practice in medical and professional malpractice defense, nursing home litigation, municipal and governmental litigation, product liability, and insurance defense litigation. An experienced attorney, Mr. Schutrum has successfully prosecuted and defended legal actions in both New York state and federal courts. He also has experience handling and resolving matters through alternative dispute resolution and mediation. Mr. Schutrum graduated, magna cum laude, from George Washington University, before earning his law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and Bar Association of Erie County.
Speaker bio
Tony Arias
is an associate with the Denver office of Holland & Hart LLP, where he helps clients navigate complex and rapidly evolving laws and regulations, deploying industry best practices across AI, privacy, security, consumer finance, and risk management issues. He holds CIPP/US, CIPM, and AIGP certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. With clients ranging from nimble startups to prominent Fortune 500 companies, Mr. Arias provides counsel on U.S. and international privacy, security, and fintech regulatory compliance and contractual matters. As corporate counsel and data privacy officer for a fintech company, he gained valuable experience providing SaaS solutions to top-tier financial institutions. In this role, Mr. Arias negotiated and executed complex, high-value transactions and improved the business's data management and privacy compliance. He also brings private practice experience representing clients in consumer finance regulatory compliance matters, complex commercial lawsuits, and federal and state government investigations. Beyond his professional commitments, Mr. Arias is deeply involved with his community, serving as a mentor and adopting leadership roles in various professional and civic organizations. He has been instrumental in establishing and distributing scholarship funds for deserving individuals, championing equity in education, and contributing to increased visibility for local artists. Mr. Arias earned his B.A. degree from University of Evansville and his J.D. degree from University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
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