Legal Tech Skills Certificate

Microsoft Word

Recent changes to the rules in New York State courts include new requirements for submission of motions, pre-trial memoranda, and trial exhibits. These changes include strict page and word limits, submission of pre-marked exhibits, use of tabs, indexes, bookmarks, and hyperlinks to refer to supporting evidence, as well as other formatting requirements.

Whether you are filing documents with the court or preparing wills, contracts, or other documents for your clients, this course shows attorneys how to properly use Word’s most important features, including track changes, table of contents, pagination, styles, numbering, headings, outline views, and References.

Adobe PDF

With e-filing in the federal and state courts, attorneys must be able to convert documents to the proper PDF format. In addition, each appellate division has its own set of requirements. Briefs and records must include a table of contents with bookmarks to corresponding pages, hyperlinks to authorities stated, with copies included as a single PDF. PDF submissions may not exceed a specified size, must be reduced and optimized prior to filing, and the PDF must be submitted in the text searchable PDF archival format (PDF/A).

Moreover, attorneys often need to create searchable PDFs from Word and other programs, organize pages with PDFs, edit text in PDFs, sign PDF documents without printing, redact privileged or sensitive information from PDFs, bates-stamp PDFs, and convert scanned PDFs into searchable PDFs. This course will cover all these tasks.

Microsoft Excel Part 1

Many attorneys use Excel to simplify complex tasks. The course provides an excellent foundation for using Excel and developing basic and sophisticated Excel Skills. Attorneys often need to organize a workbook, find, sort, and filter data; manipulate strings, and create and apply formulas. This course will cover all these tasks.

Microsoft Excel Part 2

The course provides an excellent opportunity to learn sophisticated Excel Skills. Many attorneys leverage the power of Excel for complex tasks, such as organizing and analyzing privilege logs and evidence, and exhibits; comparing potential damages scenarios; developing financial models; and calendaring court dates. This course shows attorneys how to use tables, charts, pivot tables, pivot charts to complete such legal tasks.

Microsoft Outlook

This course shows attorneys how to properly use (not administer) Outlook’s most important features, including email signature, email management, search, sort, filter, auto-reply, templates, calendars, Quick Parts and Quick Steps. The course will also cover the importance of email management for security and client confidentiality.