The annual Paralegal Cruise Conference is one of the most highly anticipated events each year. It is a great opportunity for paralegals to gain valuable insights and knowledge and to network with other paralegals from across the country while also enjoying an amazing tropical vacation adventure.

By signing up for the on-demand sessions, you will have the opportunity to access all the presentations and gain the same knowledge as those who attended the conference in person. You can watch the recordings at your own pace and on your schedule, allowing you to fit the program into your busy lifestyle – your access will never expire. Not only that, but the recorded sessions provide a valuable resource for future reference. You can revisit the sessions and refer back to the information presented whenever you need it.

So why wait? Sign up today to receive the recorded sessions from the 2019 Paralegal Cruise and gain access to valuable insights and knowledge.

Sessions include recordings of live events and may include some background noise or other interruptions typical of live events.

Your access never expires, and there is no set timeline to complete each class.

Course Format

This is a series of on demand videos. You’ll receive immediate access to the on demand recordings and any handouts that were provided by the speaker. You have lifetime access to this program, so once it’s in your account, you can return to complete it whenever it is convenient for you.

Video length: This program is made up of 25 separate courses adding up to a total of 26.5 hours.

Courses

The following courses are included in the 2019 Paralegal Cruise CLE Bundle:

Are you experienced? Or dazed and confused? What you need to know about Social Media and the practice of law

Speaker: Daniel J. Burnick

Social media plays a role in virtually every aspect of a paralegal’s practice: litigation, employment law, criminal, estate planning, and corporate law. Knowing the pitfall of using, or not using, social media can result in serious ethical violations, for you and your lawyers. Learn what you can and cannot ethically do, and the impact it may have on you. You will laugh. You will cry. And you will be amazed at what legal professionals do on social media

Conceptualizing, Creating & Producing In-House Mediation & Trial Exhibits

Speaker: Paul Pelton

It has been said, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” The notion is that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single image or that it is possible to absorb large amounts of data quickly with one picture. In this seminar, we will focus on how to synthesize pertinent, case-related data and create cost-effective, eye-catching demonstrative exhibits for use at hearings, mediations and/or trials utilizing the computer software most paralegals already have on their computers. Both plaintiff and defense paralegals will benefit from this skill-set by keeping the design work “in house” and eliminating design costs for their clients.

Effective Calendaring and Docketing, Tips for Paralegals

Speaker: Candy Ryan

In this course we will learn the relevant Federal Rules of Procedure which as well as gaining an understanding of how to control the important deadlines for the legal environment. We will discuss procedures to follow for case management and becoming a master of time and space! Some of the topics covered include reminders, drop dead deadlines, consequences of missed deadlines, docketing software, maximizing your Outlook calendar and lots more!

Gone to the Dogs: a Closer Look at Support Animals

Speaker: Nancy N. Beaty

With so much publicity lately about emotional support animals, it’s easy to overlook the very valuable work our furry friends can do. This session will look at the various types of service animals, the legal basis for their acceptance, how (or whether) they are credentialed, and related controversies. By the end of the session, participants will be able to: distinguish between the three types of support animals; understand the laws that helped to create our current animal-indulgent culture and learn how dogs are used in courtroom settings.

Making Medical Records Your Bitch: A Love Story

Speaker: Lee Strausberg

Medical records provide a wealth of information beyond the obvious. They can often make or break a case. Lee will teach you the language and anatomy of a medical record, the basics of deciphering handwriting and how to know what you’re looking for so that you can fall in love with medical records and make them your bitch.

Mid-Life: It’s Not a Crisis, It’s an Opportunity

Speaker: Gayle Damiano

This workshop will allow you to:

• Gain a new understanding of what it means to be “mid-life”
• Learn that your circumstances do not define you
• Define your dreams using specific visualization techniques
• Discover hidden opportunities just waiting to be explored

Overcoming Challenges in the Workplace

Speaker: Felice Solomon

This seminar will walk you through some of the challenges that many paralegals deal with on a frequent basis and give you some tips and tricks for handling them. Some of the topics covered include:

• Handling Abusive Bosses – dealing with screamers, not letting employers take advantage of you, setting boundaries and being more compassionate to yourself
• Breaks – lunch breaks, overtime, establishing a support network and disconnecting from work once at home
• Negative Nancies – dealing with gossip, rumors, false information, how to avoid the negativity and stay positive
• Pay – employees vs. independent contractors, 1099 employees, cutting your losses and moving on

Sailing Along with Technology

Speaker: Shelly Hunter and Jim Connor

Do you want to be the captain of the ship on your next deposition adventure? Would you like to set your sails for success by using time saving technologies? Let these three court reporting experts help you and your firm sail through your next deposition or trial using the latest technologies. It’s not just about staying on course. It’s about learning which way the wind is blowing and what’s over the horizon. This fun and interactive seminar will include entertaining stories, live demonstrations, and will also provide some great takeaways for your next “adventure at sea.”

Stepping Up and Stepping Out: How/Why to get involved in a professional association and out of your comfort zone

Speaker: Jill I. Francisco

In this session, we will discuss how and why to get involved and be active in professional association, which may entail getting out of your comfort zone. Attendees will learn reasons to get involved in professional associations and give them examples on how to get started and learn skills they can perfect by getting involved in professional association – public speaking, etc. Attendees will also learn benefits and positive effects getting out of their comfort zone and getting involved in professional association has on your paralegal career. Finally, Jill will discuss some basic information about NALA and what NALA offers its members and all paralegals.

The Evolution of LGBT

Speaker: Amy S. Hodgson

This presentation will explore civil rights of LGBT, legal issues facing LGBT and the impact of marriage equality on parentage laws.

The Power of Listening

Speaker: Gayle Damiano

You will leave with a new understanding of:

• How to pay attention during a conversation
• How to deepen your relationships
• How to deal with criticism and critical people
• What it means to be present in a conversation

Introduction – Online Reputation Management (ORM) for Attorneys and Clients

Speakers: Sameer Somal and Rajiv Sharma

During this presentation, Sameer and Rajiv discussed:

• The Digital Revolution
• The meaning of Online Reputation Management (ORM)
• The Google test
• Build, repair and monitor
• Practical tips

Advanced – Online Reputation Management (ORM) for Attorneys and Clients

Speakers: Sameer Somal and Rajiv Sharma

During this presentation, Sameer and Rajiv discussed:

• Understanding ORM: Attorneys, firms, and clients
• ORM repair
• Best practices & key strategies
• Case studies
• Summary

Ethical Considerations for Working With An Aging Population

Speaker: Marguerita M. Cheng

During this presentation, Ms. Cheng discussed:

• A demographic overview
• Client identification
• Undue influence
• Capacity (Mental and Financial)
• Client waiver
• Elder financial abuse

Litigating a Failure to Warn Claim in Product Liability/Personal Injury Cases

Speaker: Dr. Gerald M. Goldhaber

During this presentation, Gerald Goldhaber discussed:

• Legal vs. practical definition of a warning
• When a warning is needed
• Legal requirements of a warning
• Process of creating/evaluating a warning
• Samples of effective warnings and wacky warnings
• Different perspectives on litigating a failure to warn claim

Litigating Against the Marijuana Industry

Speakers: David G. Evans and Brian Barnes

During this presentation, Mr. Evans and Mr. Barnes discussed:

• Marijuana industry victims
• Damage reports
• Federal laws
• Product liability
• Medical malpractice
• Environmental lawsuits
• RICO
• Server liability
• Drug Dealer Liability Act

Marijuana: The Legal Landscape Today and Tomorrow

Speaker: Donald P. Mazzella

During this presentation, Donald discussed:

• Legal issues of marijuana growth
• Opportunities for attorneys in marijuana growth
• The meaning of marijuana
• Current landscape
• Summation
• The marijuana industry
• IRS issues
• Legal issues
• Monitoring marijuana issues
• Marijuana growth

Parental Alienation in Child Custody Litigation

Speaker: Dr. Ken Lewis

During this presentation, Dr. Lewis discussed:

• Emotional child abuse – Some typical behaviors and definition
• Definition of parental alienation
• Effects of parental alienation
• Behavioral descriptions of parental alienation
• Effects of parental alienation
• Tips for family lawyers

Pitfalls for Contestants in Reality Competition Shows

Speakers: Bernard Resnick and Priscilla J. (Sally) Mattison

During this presentation, Mr. Resnick and Ms. Mattison discussed:

• Background
• Common TV production company requests- business terms
• Treatment of contestants during/after production
• Other fine print issues
• Negotiability
• Common sense considerations for contestants and their representatives

Properly Understand and Investigate Your Audio, Video and Digital Evidence for Use in Mediation and Trial

Speaker: David Notowitz

During this presentation, Mr. Notowitz discussed:

• 13 tips to prevent crucial mistakes with audio, video, and digital evidence
• Issues regarding admissibility of audio and video evidence in court
• Options for recovering erased hard drive and smartphone files
• Preparing audio and video exhibits for clarity and best results
• Challenges of presenting audio, video and still image evidence at trial

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Speaker: Susan Strauss

During this presentation, Susan discussed:

• Difference between flirting and sexual harassment
• Effective elements in your organization’s prevention strategy
• Review complaint procedures that must be incorporated into your harassment policy
• Critical elements of sexual harassment training
• Identify the elements of sexual harassment on the target, the work unit and organization
• Retaliation
• Steps to take if you are targeted by a sexual harasser
• Management’s legal and ethical responsibility in the prevention and intervention of sexual harassment
• Steps to take if an employee complains about an “old” incident of sexual harassment

The Business Case for LGBTQIA Inclusion in the Workplace: Navigating Policies, Procedures and Practices

Speaker: Susan Strauss

During this presentation, Susan discussed:

• The Implicit Association Test
• Recruitment and retention
• Heterosexism assumptions
• International LGBT considerations
• Marketing and advertising
• Restroom access for transgender employees
• Responding to negative reactions to LGBTQI inclusion
• Workplace dress codes, transgender employees, and gender non-conforming employees

Using Medical Legal Support to Optimize Your Case Outcome

Speaker: Deborah Weiner Katz

During this presentation, Ms. Weiner Katz discussed:

• Medical File Reviews
• Chronologies
• Expert Witness
• Cost Projections & Life Care Plans
• Case Management
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• IME
• Peer Reviews
• Elder Care Management
• Guardianship Support
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Workplace Violence

Speaker: Timothy A. Dimoff

During this presentation, Tim Dimoff discussed:

• The motivations that can cause workplace violence — work and non-work related
• What a business’s responsibility is and how to protect employees and visitors
• How to identify and define various types of workplace violence
• How to take a proactive approach to preventing violence
• How to identify various levels of violence and how to properly respond to them
• The process for terminating a violent employee

Speaker: Simon Varley

During this presentation, Mr. Varley discussed:

• Background
• Mobile forensics
• Typical cases
• The forensic process
• Privacy issues
• Digging deeper
• The future

Continuing Legal Education Credit (CLE)

NALA CP or ACP: This course is approved by NALA for 27.0 CLE including 6.5 Ethics CLE.

Florida Bar FRP: As approved by NALA, this seminar meets the requirements under Rule 20-6.1 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar for continuing legal education credit required to maintain the FRP credential.

NALS: This program has been approved by NALS for 27.0 General including 6.5 Ethics CLE Hours.

NFPA RP® or CRP™: NFPA automatically accepts substantive CLE hours which bears the accreditation of NALA on the certificate of attendance.

State Bar of Texas – Paralegal Division – The Division will accept substantive law CLE approved by the National Association of Legal Assistants for credit towards the Paralegal Division mandatory membership renewal CLE requirement.