Join the Montgomery County Paralegal Association for a CLE
September 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Metadata and Professional Responsibility
via Zoom
presented by Victoria Molloy, Pa.C.P.
Electronic documents routinely contain information beyond what appears on the screen. Metadata may reveal document authorship, revision history, comments, hidden content, speaker notes, formulas, location data, and other information that can impact confidentiality, privilege, litigation strategy, and client protection.
This program examines metadata through the lens of professional responsibility and legal ethics. Participants will learn how metadata intersects with duties of competence, confidentiality, supervision, and safeguarding client information. The program also provides practical guidance for identifying, reviewing, and managing metadata within commonly used legal documents and communications.
Join the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association for a CLE
September 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Create an Optimal Search Strategy for Common Liens and Other Searches
via Zoom
presented by Robert McHugh III, Esq., Transactional Business Consultant, CT Corporation
Formulating a lien search plan to uncover information about a debtor or target company is a vital part of most deals. In this session, we will guide you through this complex process, covering jurisdictional nuances and important considerations related to UCC liens, judgment liens, state and federal tax liens as well as litigation and bankruptcy searches. Participants will learn how to formulate an optimal search strategy and interpret search results.
Join the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association for a CLE
September 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Begin with the End in Mind: A Paralegal’s Playbook for Summary Judgment Success
via Zoom
presented by Lisa M. Siefert | Shareholder, GRB Law
This one-hour educational program examines the role of litigation paralegals in developing and maintaining the evidentiary record necessary to support or oppose a motion for summary judgment, with particular emphasis on practice in Pennsylvania state courts and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The presentation will review the applicable summary judgment framework and explain how the requirements for dispositive relief should inform case management from the inception of litigation through discovery and motion practice. Participants will also gain insight into what litigation attorneys need and expect from paralegals at each stage of a case, including how paralegals can anticipate counsel’s needs, identify potential strengths and weaknesses in the developing record, and provide strategic support rather than simply responding to individual assignments. Participants will learn practical methods for organizing case files around the elements of claims and defenses; identifying, preserving, and tracking material evidence; managing discovery responses and deposition testimony; creating citation-ready exhibit and transcript systems; identifying evidentiary gaps and authentication issues; and assisting counsel in preparing statements of material fact, affidavits, declarations, exhibits, and other components of the summary judgment record. The program will also address procedural distinctions between Pennsylvania state and federal practice, including federal and Western District requirements concerning record citations and statements of material fact, as well as common technical deficiencies that can undermine dispositive motion practice. Through practical examples and hypothetical case studies, the program will demonstrate how strategic case organization, careful record development, and effective attorney-paralegal collaboration throughout the life of a case enable paralegals to become more proactive and valuable members of the litigation team when seeking or opposing summary judgment.
KEY LESSONS AND TAKEAWAYS
- Begin with the End in Mind. Attendees will understand why preparation for summary judgment begins at case inception and how early decisions concerning file organization, issue identification, preservation, and evidence management can directly affect the ability to obtain or defeat dispositive relief.
- Organize the Case Around Legal Issues, Not Just Documents. Attendees will learn practical methods for connecting documents, discovery responses, deposition testimony, and other evidence to the elements of claims and defenses so that the record can be efficiently evaluated and used in dispositive motion practice.
- Develop “Motion-Ready” Evidence Throughout Discovery. Attendees will learn to identify and maintain evidence with admissibility, authentication, and future citation requirements in mind, including the use of pinpoint deposition citations, organized exhibits, evidence matrices, and early identification of gaps or inconsistencies in the record.
- Understand What Attorneys Need from Paralegals at the Dispositive-Motion Stage. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of the paralegal’s role in preparing a complete and technically sound summary judgment record, including statements of material fact, supporting exhibits, affidavits and declarations, record citations, and quality-control review, with attention to Pennsylvania state practice and the requirements applicable in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Join the Lehigh County Paralegal Association for a CLE
September 30, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough: Perfectionism in the Legal Professions
via Zoom
presented by Brian Quinn, Esquire
“Everyone tells me I’m doing a great job. My clients, my colleagues, my family. Why do I feel like I don’t measure up- that my work just isn’t that good?”
“If I ask for help, everyone will know the truth about me.”
“I’m ok. I can work this out for myself.”
Sound familiar? If so, you may be struggling with the perfectionism and self- doubt that has plagued members of the legal profession for years. When the pressure placed on lawyers/paralegals externally to succeed is outweighed by the pressure lawyers/paralegals place upon themselves, the impact on mental health can be devastating if left untreated. There is a misconception among lawyers/paralegals that only people who have “hit bottom” need for ask for help. The statistics say otherwise as recent surveys indicate that the overwhelming majority of legal professionals believe they have suffered negative mental health consequences as a result of their chosen profession. Recent studies have shown that there has been a dramatic increase in impairment due to alcoholism, addiction and mental health disorders among members of the legal profession. The statistics are compelling and clearly indicate that 1 out of 3 attorneys will likely have a need for substance use or mental health services at some point in their careers.
Mr. Quinn will discuss:
1. The early warning signs of distress and impairment due to substance misuse and mental health issues.
2. Perfectionism as both a commonplace and manageable condition among members of the legal profession.
3. Why legal professionals are at higher risk to develop mental health and substance use disorders.
4. Strategies for a realistic work/life balance.
5. The free, confidential services provided by Lawyers Assistance Programs.