This course is also available in the 2023 Paralegal Cruise Bundle.

Linguistics expert Alan Perlman presents “You have the right to remain silent…” Obstacles to understanding the Miranda warning, for all legal professionals.

This session explains why the Miranda warning is so easily misunderstood (or not understood at all); the result is the abrogation of rights that the warning was designed to protect.  Numerous factors contribute to the poor comprehension (and low readability scores):

• the situation and contexts in which the warning is used;
• the special linguistic abilities required for understanding it;
• the grammar, vocabulary, event sequencing, and other features of the text. 

The listener must comprehend all of this in less than a minute, which is the time it takes to deliver the warning, and sometimes obstacles are concurrent, thus multiplying the burden of comprehension.  Alan concluded with a suggested workaround, which is markedly different from the standard version but accomplishes the intended aims.

Course Format

This is an on demand seminar – you’ll receive immediate access to the on demand recording, a copy of the PowerPoint and a certificate of attendance/CLE. 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: 56 Minutes

Continuing Legal Education Credit (CLE)

NALA CP or ACP: This program meets the requirements of the NALA Certifying Board for continuing legal education credit required to maintain the CP (Certified Paralegal) credential. This program is pre-approved by NALA for 1.0 hours of substantive CLE including .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 is approved by NALS for .5 CLE Hour and .5 Ethics CLE.

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.

Meet your Speaker

Alan Perlman is a linguistics expert, applying the principles of linguistics and insights from many years of analyzing language, both as an academic and as a professional writer to the examination of legal issues involving authorship, plagiarism, copyright infringement, and the interpretation of contracts and other binding documents.