Upcoming Events & CLEs

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• WSPA General Membership and Board Meeting

  • Start
    11/15/2023
  •  
  • End
    10/16/2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    12 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom

  The WSPA General Membership and Board Meeting is a monthly meeting comprised of the elected Officers and Directors of the Washington State Paralegal Association, and the WSPA membership. We meet monthly to discuss current issues, programs, and goals related to the association, its membership, and paralegal profession in Washington state. 

  All members of the Washington State Paralegal Association are welcome to attend and meet with the current Officers and Directors.

  Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month, starting at 6:30pm. 

  Meetings are currently held virtually via Zoom and we encourage members across the state to attend.

  Please email or message us for Zoom ID and code.

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• Monthly WSPA Connect Meeting

  • Start
    02/14/2024
  •  
  • End
    12/11/2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    11 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom Meeting

  Register

  

  Connect with WSPA members and other paralegals from across the state and even the nation!

  Join our next WSPA Connect meeting every 2nd Wednesday from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm via Zoom.  

  Feel free to drop in anytime during the hour.  

  Topic: WSPA Connect

  Time: 2nd Wednesdays 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

  Join Zoom Meeting

  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88193456997

  Meeting ID: 881 9345 6997

  Passcode: 506819

  We look forward to connecting with you!

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• Legal AI-Powered Discovery: A Paralegal's Complete Toolkit

  • When
    10/15/2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 2:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99093

  Overview

  Create Tailored Discovery Requests, Automate Document Review, and More!

  Empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to use legal AI in the discovery process! This program will provide you with sample prompts and practical insights for using AI tools to streamline discovery and unlock enhanced efficiency. Learn how to craft tailored discovery requests, speed up document review, automate discovery management, and more. Get ahead with the help of AI - register today!

  • Understand the benefits, limitations, and pitfalls of AI tools so you can use them appropriately.
  • Find out how to create interrogatories, document production requests, and requests for admission using AI.
  • Learn how to speed up or completely automate data and document collection, review, and production.
  • Avoid additional hassle with AI-powered discovery management and organization tools.

  *Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. AI-Powered Discovery: Understanding the Tools and Trouble
  2. Discovery Management and Organization With AI
  3. Using AI for Document and Data Collection, Review, and Production
  4. Crafting Discovery Requests and Responses With AI (With Sample Prompts)
  5. Creative Ways to Use AI for Depositions and Expert Witnesses
  6. Quick Tips for Leveraging AI for Legal Research, Due Diligence, and Background Checks

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• Top 30 Corporate Paralegals' Nightmares - and What To Do

  • When
    10/16/2024
  •  
    7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99152

  Overview

  Get the Tools to Face Your Problems Head-On

  Tired of scrambling to meet tight deadlines and untangle complex legal and technical issues? This course empowers you to become a problem-solving guru in business law practice. Tackle top problems corporate paralegals face daily and come away with practical solutions you can put into practice right away. From missing documents and failing tech to unexpected deal roadblocks and uncooperative experts - you will persist. Register today!

  • Get tactics for keeping deals on track despite unexpected changes and challenges.
  • Prevent critical litigation failures, including client and witness mistakes.
  • Use legal research to uncover hidden risks and navigate unfamiliar legal landscapes.
  • Learn how to prevail despite disorganized counterparts and inter-team communication issues.
  • Navigate regulatory labyrinths and government agency communications to ensure business clients' compliance.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Top 30 Corporate Paralegals' Nightmares: Part 1
  2. Top 30 Corporate Paralegals' Nightmares: Part 2
  3. Top 30 Corporate Paralegals' Nightmares: Part 3
  4. Top 30 Corporate Paralegals' Nightmares: Part 4

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• Paralegals' Estate Planning Nightmares

  • When
    10/17/2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99245

  Overview
  

  What Keeps Estate Planning Paralegals Up at Night

  Tired of the same old estate planning lectures? This Halloween season, join us for a frightfully informative CLE course designed to equip paralegals with the knowledge and skills to navigate the chilling realities of estate planning gone wrong. Register today!

  • Identify common pitfalls and drafting errors that result in zombie disputes and delays.
  • Develop strategies to gather information from even the most forgetful or secretive clients.
  • Spot ambiguities and cryptic instructions in estate planning documents.
  • Navigate dark family dynamics and potential conflicts to ensure a battle-free inheritance process.
  • Embrace the spirit of Halloween: learn valuable lessons in a fun and festive atmosphere!

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Client Communication and Information Gathering Nightmares
  2. Cryptic Document Drafting Terrors and Errors
  3. Dark Family Secrets: Missing Heirs, Prodigal Children, Evil God Diggers, and Secret Marriages
  4. Unexpected Complications
  5. Post-Mortem Problems
  6. Case Organization Horror Stories

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• Communicating with Auto Insurance Companies: The Personal Injury Paralegal's Guide

  • When
    10/22/2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99225

  Overview

  Help Your Attorney Get the Results They Want

  You spend a great deal of your day communicating with claims adjusters, and what you say and do have tangible impacts on the final settlement. This program reveals paralegal best practices for communicating with adjusters and preparing demand packages. Be an invaluable asset to your attorney - register today!

  • Discover what you must, what you should, and what you should never disclose to claims adjusters.
  • Find out how to get as much information as you can out of insurance companies to give your attorney more leverage in negotiations.
  • Learn how to craft a powerful demand package and elicit higher offers from the start.
  • Avoid unauthorized practice of law traps for paralegals in the claim negotiation process.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Identifying and Confirming Auto Insurance Coverages
  2. Notification Letter
  3. Relaying Information and Documents to Adjusters: Dos and Don'ts
  4. Communicating With Adjusters to Discuss Medical and Case Updates
  5. Getting as Much Information as You Can on Claims Investigations, Policy Limits, Reserves, etc.
  6. Special Considerations for Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims
  7. Preparing Cases for the Demand Process: Medical Records, Billing, Lien Logs, and More
  8. Compiling the Demand Package
  9. Negotiating and Settling Injury Claims: What Paralegals Can and Can't Do

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• QDROs: What Paralegals Need to Know

  • When
    10/23/2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99094

  Overview

  Foster Your Understanding of QDROs

  From damaging your attorney's reputation to exposing them - and yourself - to legal liability, failure to fully understand qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) can result in a wide variety of consequences. Are you prepared to take that risk? This paralegal-focused guide teaches you the nuts and bolts of QDROs. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge - register today!

  • Find out how to determine the plan type.
  • Build your understanding of common issues associated with defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans.
  • Discover the most effective ways to assist your attorney in drafting QDROs.
  • Clarify your role in seeking approval of a QDRO.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Determining What Type of Plan It Is
  2. Issues With Defined Contribution Plans
  3. Defined Benefit Plan Issues
  4. How to Assist Your Attorney in Preparing QDROs (With Samples)
  5. The Paralegal's Role in Seeking Approval, Working With Plan Administrators, and Monitoring Compliance

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• Social Security Disability Paralegal's Guide to RFC Forms

  • When
    10/24/2024
  •  
    12:00 PM - 3:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99155

  Overview

  Crafting Compelling Narratives of Disability Within the Strict Confines of Government Forms

  Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) forms are the primary tools used in assessing the claimant's disability and limitations. Using dry government forms to create a compelling and holistic view of a claimant's daily life is an art that can be elevated with guidance from our experienced faculty. Discover how the forms are used in various types of impairment claims, what supporting documents are most helpful, and how to get medical professionals to complete them. Build your SSDI skills - register today!

  • Clarify the role of the RFC forms in supporting SSDI claims.
  • Review completed sample forms to save time and prevent mistakes.
  • Discover what information to include in the mental RFCs.
  • Learn how to request RFCs from medical providers to improve results.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Residual Functional Capacity Forms Overview
  2. Physical RFC (SSA-47347-BK) and Supplemental Documents
  3. Mental RFC (SSA-4734-74-SUP) and Supplemental Documents
  4. Crafting RFC Requests for Medical Professionals

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• A Paralegal's Guide to Deadlines and Calendaring

  • When
    10/29/2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 2:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99156

  Overview

  Precision in Practice: Calendaring and Deadline Tools for Paralegals

  Striving to navigate the complex world of legal deadlines with confidence? Join us for "A Paralegal's Guide to Deadlines and Calendaring," a comprehensive course focused on the skills and strategies needed to effectively manage multiple deadlines, stay organized, and ensure compliance. From understanding the various types of deadlines to leveraging calendaring technology, this course covers everything you need to excel in calendaring. Enhance your deadline management and calendaring skills by enrolling today!

  • Improve your understanding of various types of legal deadlines and how to calculate them accurately.
  • Explore helpful resources for determining deadlines and learning jurisdictional procedures.
  • Unlock the full potential of calendaring software to streamline workflows, improve collaboration, and enhance overall efficiency.
  • Discover ways to optimize your calendaring with ticklers, reminders, and trackers.

  *Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Understanding and Calculating Deadlines
  2. Calendaring Strategies
  3. Calendaring Technology Tips and Tricks

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• Complete Trial Preparation Guide for Paralegals

  • When
    10/30/2024
  •  
    8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register:  https://ipe-sems.com/products/99059

  Overview

  Learn How to be an Indispensable Trial Prep Paralegal

  Trials can be won and lost based on what paralegals do during trial preparation. Will you have given your attorney the tools they need to succeed - or will you have left them woefully unprepared for their critical moment on stage? This comprehensive trial prep guide will give you all the insights you need to be your attorney's indispensable aid. From initial planning and task lists to that exciting final day, learn real-world tips that no litigation paralegal should do without. Equip your attorney to win - register today!

  • Get a master task list to ensure you're leaving no steps or details overlooked.
  • Receive practical tips for keeping yourself (and the trial team at large) organized and on track.
  • Discover how to be that vital point of contact between your attorney and the client, witnesses, court, and vendors.
  • Create an ultimate trial notebook that will help (not hinder) your attorney in the heat of battle.
  • Gain real-world insights for making visual aids and exhibits stand out.
  • Uncover vital dos and don'ts for pretrial and trial motions and briefs.
  • Learn how to be an effective sounding board for case themes, opening statements, examination questions, and closing arguments.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Master Task List and Timeline: Everything You Need to Do and When
  2. How to Stay Organized Amid the Chaos
  3. Motions, Briefs, Citations: Critical Do's and Don'ts
  4. Creating a Winning Trial Notebook
  5. Preparing Documents, Exhibits, Visual Aids
  6. Coordinating With Clients, Witnesses, the Court, and Vendors
  7. Offering Insights and Creative Ways to Help Your Attorney Prepare
  8. The Big Day: To-Do's and Tips for Assisting With Jury Selection and Trial
  9. Paralegal Ethics

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• Medicare Liens, Set-Asides, and Medicaid Liens for Paralegals: the Latest Rules and Guidance

  • When
    11/06/2024
  •  
    7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99255

  Overview

  Ensure Full Compliance and Help Secure Reductions

  There are significant consequences for failing to protect Medicare's interests. Is your firm following the latest rules, guidance, and best practices? This program will show you how you should be handling Medicare conditional payment recovery claims, set asides, and Medicaid liens right now. Register today!

  • Explore the most recent amendments to the Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery Act.
  • Discover what all the forms mean and get practical tips for submitting information and documents to CMS's contractors.
  • Learn how to resolve conditional payment recovery claims online through the MSPRP.
  • Find out how you should be working around the many uncertainties surrounding liability Medicare set asides.
  • Get practical tips for working with Medicaid agencies and resolving liens.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Medicare Secondary Payer Act and Amendments: What Paralegals Must Know
  2. Medicare Conditional Payments and Medicare Advantage Plans 2024-2025
  3. Communications and Documentation Guide
  4. Navigating the Latest Version of the Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery Portal
  5. Liability Medicare Set Asides (LMSAs): How to Best Handle the Uncertainties
  6. Workers' Compensation Medicare Set-Aside (WCMSA) Developments
  7. MedicAID Liens Guide for Paralegals
  8. Paralegal Ethics

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• Debt Collection for Paralegals: Demand Letters and Settlement Offers

  • When
    11/07/2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 2:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99361

  Overview

  Ensure Effectiveness in Demands and Offers Without Running Afoul of the FDCPA

  Paralegals play a critical role in the success of debt collection efforts at every step of the process. This practical guide will help you ensure accuracy and compliance in debtor communications when it comes to demand letters and settlement negotiations. Register today!

  • Gather details about the debt, including amount owed, late fees, and supporting documentation.
  • Review and proofread the demand letters for accuracy and clarity.
  • Take every factor into consideration when providing settlement negotiation support.
  • Clarify what must be done to thoroughly document the settlement.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. FDCPA Compliance Governing Demand Letters and Other Debtor Communications
  2. What a Well-Drafted Demand Letter Should Include
  3. Tailoring Demand Letters to Different Types of Debts and Debtors
  4. Top Mistakes and Prohibited Actions
  5. Settlement Offers as an Alternative to Lawsuit
  6. Settlement Negotiation and Proper Documentation

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• The Paralegal's Ethical Playbook

  • When
    11/12/2024
  •  
    11:00 AM - 2:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99364

  Overview

  Tackle Ethical Problems With Ease

  Are you making ethical mistakes that could put your - and your attorney's - reputation on the line? This guide sums up the dos and don'ts of handling the top ethical dilemmas that paralegals encounter. From essential guidelines for preventing the unauthorized practice of law to common ethical mistakes made with technology, you don't want to miss this opportunity to build your knowledge - register today!

  • Uncover practical guidance for safeguarding confidentiality.
  • Develop strategies for identifying conflicts of interest.
  • Discover essential guidelines for properly handling client files.
  • Analyze best practices for addressing ethical issues surrounding technology.

  *Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Paralegal Best Practices for Safeguarding Client Confidentiality
  2. Guidelines for Identifying and Addressing Conflicts of Interest
  3. Preventing the Unauthorized Practice of Law
  4. Handling Client Property and Files: Paralegal Pointers
  5. Technology Ethics for Paralegals

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• Paralegal Tips and Tricks for Handling Common Issues in Family Law

  • When
    11/13/2024
  •  
    8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99357

  Overview

  Your Guide to Resolving Family Law Issues as a Paralegal

  Communicating with clients with mental health diagnoses, handling court reporters, and organizing discovery effectively - these are just some of the issues paralegals regularly encounter in family law. Are you poised to face any obstacle with confidence? This practical course provides you with paralegal tips for family law cases. From the intake process to trial preparations, develop the skills you need to help your team succeed - register today!

  • Discover sample forms to supplement or improve your existing ones.
  • Find out the dos and don'ts of discovery.
  • Develop strategies for conducting legal research and preparing memos.
  • Obtain best practices for preparing for trial.
  • Implement real-world strategies for managing mental health issues in family law cases.

  This program was designed in conjunction with NBI's esteemed 2023-2024 Content Advisory Committee Member Erika MacCormac.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Starting on the Right Path
  2. Ode to Discovery
  3. Legal Research and Case Law Updates
  4. Trial Preparations
  5. Managing Mental Health
  6. Intersection of Family Law and Other Law

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• From Chaos to Control: AI-Powered Case Management for Paralegals

  • When
    11/14/2024
  •  
    12:00 PM - 3:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99362

  Overview

  Free Up Your Time to Focus on More Substantive Tasks

  Do you feel like there isn't enough time in your days? Are the assignments, emails, and stress piling up? Let artificial intelligence do some of the work for you! Join our tech-savvy faculty for case management strategies designed specifically for paralegals. They will show you how to use legal AI tools and techniques to organize documents, automate drafting, speed up legal research, and streamline your workflow. Enhance your case management processes with the power of AI - register today!

  • Use AI to organize documents and pull up relevant information at the snap of your fingers.
  • Get practical guidance for using AI to draft various legal documents.
  • Learn more efficient ways to find cases, statutes, and trade and industry information.
  • Automate routine administrative tasks to improve efficiency and eliminate human error.

  *Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Document and Information Management and Review With AI
  2. Automated Drafting and Proofreading
  3. AI-Powered Legal Research
  4. Task Management, Scheduling Automation, and Client Communication

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• Paralegal Best Practices for Working with Medical Records

  • When
    11/19/2024
  •  
    7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99360

  Overview

  Gain Practical Insights for Medical Records Management and Analysis

  Whether you're new to working with medical records, or you're looking to freshen up your skill set, this course is for you! Join our expert instructors as they reveal strategies for requesting and analyzing medical records. From an overview of the different types of medical records to strategies for preparing medical records for litigation, enhance your knowledge and become an asset to your attorney - register today!

  • Examine best practices for obtaining medical records.
  • Develop strategies for organizing medical records.
  • Determine how to safeguard confidentiality and ensure HIPAA compliance.
  • Uncover practical guidance for analyzing medical bills and records.
  • Identify the dos and don'ts of creating medical summaries and chronologies.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Intro to Different Types of Medical Records and Key Medical Terms and Abbreviations (Including Resources)
  2. Obtaining Medical Records (With Sample Docs)
  3. Tips for Organizing Medical Records
  4. Maintaining Confidentiality and HIPAA Compliance When Working With Medical Records
  5. Practical Guide to Analyzing Medical Records and Bills
  6. Creating Medical Chronologies and Summaries
  7. Pointers for Preparing Medical Records for Litigation
  8. Ethical Issues Facing Paralegals

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• Managing the Discovery Process: A Paralegal's Guide

  • When
    11/20/2024
  •  
    7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99253

  Overview

  Increase Your Effectiveness With Superior Discovery Management Skills

  Conscientious, thorough discovery is the foundation for a good case - and you play an important role in this phase of the litigation process. Are you confident in your ability to draft proper interrogatories and requests for production? Do you know how best to organize documents and avoid spoliation? If you're interested in taking your discovery management skills to the next level, join us for an in-depth look at best practices for incoming and outgoing discovery. Register today!

  • Get proven strategies for making and responding to discovery requests.
  • Identify critical elements to review when you receive discovery from the other side.
  • Learn how to use technology and a discovery management system to enhance your organizational efficiency.
  • Examine issues unique to e-discovery management.
  • Save your firm time and money by anticipating problems and circumventing them with best practices.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Making and Responding to Discovery Requests
  2. Managing Incoming Responses and Documents
  3. Document Review, Redaction, Logs, and Production
  4. Building an Efficient Discovery Management System
  5. Managing E-Discovery
  6. Discovery Problem Solving - Circumventing Snags in the Process
  7. Ethical Issues in Discovery

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• Staying Organized and in Control 2024-2025: What Paralegals Need to Know

  • When
    11/21/2024
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:15 PM
  • Location
    Webcast

  Register: https://ipe-sems.com/products/99363

  Overview

  Discover Creative Tips for How to Stay Organized as a Paralegal

  Elevate your skills! In this practical guide, our veteran faculty share paralegal productivity techniques for minimizing distractions and prioritizing tasks. Get the knowledge you need to increase efficiency, improve your time-management skills, and build your confidence - register today!

  • Gain creative tips and tricks for multitasking.
  • Identify best practices for deadline management and calendaring.
  • Uncover practical guidance for maintaining electronic and physical case files.
  • Explore new tools and tech solutions for streamlining your workflow.

  *Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider.

  Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Multitasking Tips and Tricks: 2024-2025 Guide
  2. Calendaring and Deadline Management: Top Considerations in 2024-2025
  3. Maintaining Physical and Electronic Case Files: Current Guidance and Best Practices
  4. Streamlining Your Workflow With AI and Other Automation Tools: New Tactics, New Risks

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