Description: Learn how to leverage AI tools to manage your program and ABA reporting, including assessment, advisory committees, surveys, course development, and student data.

Description: While legal clinics housed in law schools allowing students to get practical experience have been an element of law school curriculum for many years, legal clinics focused on paralegals and housed in or collaborating with paralegal programs is a more recent focus of paralegal curriculum. A collaboration between Washtenaw County and Eastern Michigan University, the Legal Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit committed to providing individuals with legal matters in Michigan community access to the legal system. During one of their last semesters, paralegal students intern at the Legal Resource Center, under the supervision of a licensed attorney. The internship allows students to use their knowledge and skills to engage with individuals seeking help as they navigate the legal system. Students typically highlight this work on behalf of the community on their resumes and rely on connections made with legal professionals as they explore employment and post-graduation opportunities.

Description: This session will focus on the progress being made in our conference's home state, while also soliciting input from attendees on appropriate skills and the accompanying teaching strategies necessary to prepare today's students for the expanding roles of tomorrow.

Description: In this informative panel discussion, speakers who serve as paralegal program directors as well as members of the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals and Approval Commission will discuss best practices for achieving compliance with the 300-series of the ABA Guidelines - Educational Programs, which addresses the development and assessment of legal specialty courses in various synchronous and asynchronous instructional formats, as well as library requirements.

Description: This session will explore strategies for expanding the global reach and relevance of paralegal education. Attendees will learn how paralegal programs can engage both domestic and international students through curriculum development, study abroad opportunities, partnerships with foreign institutions, and the inclusion of comparative legal systems. Whether you're looking to broaden your program’s appeal, foster cross-cultural competencies, or build global partnerships, this session will offer actionable ideas and inspiration for integrating international dimensions into paralegal studies.

Description: It’s not just “hallucinations”... it’s our job.This session looks beyond merely admonishing students not to become a “ChatGPT” lawyer, but also examines why we should be actively teaching and promoting the use of generative artificial intelligence tools for persons preparing to enter the legal profession. It examines the interplay of artificial intelligence and existing State Bar Disciplinary Rules, considers the increasing use of artificial intelligence within the profession and the expectation of the Bar that we as legal educators will teach its ethically appropriate use, and finally offers concrete examples of how to incorporate artificial intelligence skill training into our classrooms.

Description: This presentation will give new educators the tools to create a project that their students can develop throughout a semester. A detailed discussion, including examples, will be offered to demonstrate ways both instructors and students can incorporate the Six Rules of Journalism (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) into research and writing assignments. At what stage of the learning process do each of these rules apply? What are the criteria for each rule?Portions of a fictional case study will be shared to demonstrate how students were initially required to complete specific research tasks using Lexis+ in the exploration phase of their research assignment. Subsequently, students were encouraged to analyze and investigate options using the Lexis+ artificial intelligence feature before reaching a conclusion. Several of these comparative results will be shared with participants.A brief closing Q&A will provide time for sharing new student possibilities and alternative research and writing options.

Description: Enhanced critical thinking. Ethics and integrity. Emphasized transparency. These skills are paramount for instructors to share with their students as they begin their paralegal careers, which will likely intersect and be influenced by artificial intelligence (AI). Attendees will gain insight into various ways of explaining the six rules of journalism and how these concepts can be applied in classroom assignments. This presentation provides the basics needed to develop a first-year project whereby students understand what is expected of them as they research fact patterns, investigate alternatives, and substantiate new findings, all while preparing a draft assignment or document for the law office. A comparison and contrast of multiple sources will be emphasized.

Description: The Indiana Supreme Court appointed a Commission on the Future of the Legal Profession. The Commission's recommendations included the certification of Allied Legal Professionals. Discussion will include the ways that a community college's paralegal program contributed to the recommendations and how the necessary internal and external partnerships were developed.

Description: The pace of innovation in legal technology has accelerated dramatically in recent years, offering new tools that are reshaping how legal professionals research, draft, collaborate, and serve clients. This session will take participants on a dynamic tour of cutting-edge legal tech—ranging from AI-assisted legal research and smart contract platforms to virtual reality courtroom simulations and document automation tools. The session will demystify the buzzwords and spotlight practical applications of these technologies in real-world legal practice. Through live demonstrations and case studies, attendees will gain insight into how forward-thinking firms and legal departments are using these tools to improve efficiency, enhance accuracy, and increase access to justice.

Description: A “Think, Act, Reflect” approach to supporting student clubs. The successful establishment of school clubs provides a great opportunity to continue teaching outside the classroom and a further chance to engage with students. Facilitating the creation of a Paralegal Club provides meaningful engagement between faculty and students and builds on experiential education and professional networking opportunities, fomenting a professional awareness of the legal community. Come learn how Southwestern College’s Paralegal Studies Program creates engagement opportunities for students through its Student Paralegal Association.

Description: The presentation will provide instructors with information on assisting their students with soft careers in preparation for the legal workforce.

Description: Discover how SharePoint can revolutionize the way students and faculty connect, collaborate, and engage within your college program. This session will guide you through the essentials of using SharePoint as a dynamic platform to create a more unified and interactive academic environment.

Description: Session will involve a look at AAFPE's revised Electronic Resource Library, how to find materials, and how to submit them.

Description: Critical thinking skills are vital to paralegals, and critical thinking proficiency varies widely among paralegal students, depending on their academic, work, and life experiences prior to entering the paralegal classroom. Incorporating critical thinking curriculum within your paralegal studies courses early in the program can help students improve their understanding of complex legal concepts, more effectively apply those concepts, and improve their own outcomes in the classroom--better preparing them for the legal workforce.

Description: An interactive deep-dive with bestselling author, and former paralegal Robin James, who will guide us through the book’s core arguments, recurring motifs, and real-world resonance. Drawing on her unique blend of scholarly insight, media-studies expertise, and hands-on legal background, Robin will spark lively discussion, answer your questions, and highlight passages that speak to both theory and practice.

Description: Transparent teaching and assignment design makes a difference for students in the classroom and later, in their professional careers. Come learn about Transparency in Teaching and Learning in the paralegal context. This presentation is for instructors looking to promote student success and make connections between the classroom and the workplace and for Program Directors looking for straightforward ways to support instructors in quality assignment design.

Description: Domestic violence (DV) is a pervasive issue affecting individuals across all walks of life, including those in higher education. In this session, we will explore the prevalence of domestic violence on college campuses, its far-reaching effects on students’ academic success, and the long-term impact on their careers. Many college students experience intimate partner violence, which often leads to challenges in academic performance, emotional distress, and interpersonal difficulties. Moreover, the effects of domestic violence spill over into the workplace, hindering professional development and productivity. This presentation will examine how DV affects both college students and the workplace, while offering strategies to support survivors and provide essential resources. Attendees will gain an understanding of the prevalence of DV in higher education, how it interferes with learning, its influence on workplace performance, and how educators, administrators, and employers can provide support and resources to help survivors thrive academically and professionally.

Description: This presentation offers a comprehensive analysis of workforce trends, professional utilization, and job market developments within the paralegal field. Drawing on national employment data and current projections, the session will examine the evolving expectations for entry-level paralegals, including core competencies, durable skills, and the impact of emerging technologies. Attendees will explore effective strategies for enhancing job placement outcomes, such as building partnerships with local legal employers, engaging with professional associations, and establishing structured mentorship and internship opportunities. In addition, the session will highlight key resources available to both educators and students, including career development tools, strategies for professional engagement, and emerging pathways in the legal field. Participants will leave with actionable recommendations and access to materials designed to support student success and strengthen connections between paralegal education and the legal employment sector.

Description: Discover the revitalized The Legal Educator, AAfPE’s peer-reviewed publication dedicated to advancing paralegal and legal studies education. After a hiatus, this vital resource is returning to showcase innovative teaching strategies, share scholarly research, and foster collaboration across legal education. This presentation will explore the publication’s mission, opportunities for faculty and professionals to publish, and how engaging with The Legal Educator can elevate your academic profile and contribute to the field’s growth. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or new to publishing, join us to learn how you can be part of this exciting new chapter in legal education publishing.

Description: Program directors, coordinators, and department chairs have extremely difficult jobs. Preparing ABA interim reports, planning and conducting ABA site visits, and hiring and keeping faculty are just some of the obligations of the position. All of these are administrative functions and equally important in their own right. However, very few individuals are prepared to lead. Lead faculty, lead students, and therefore lead a program. There is a vast difference between what a supervisor is and does and what a leader is and does. Which one are you? This presentation will cover the do's and don'ts of great leadership. Several leadership styles will be discussed emphasizing their advantages and disadvantages. The goal is to allow you to reflect and determine which of these styles or combinations thereof fits you and your situation. In addition, areas such as communication, decision-making, and time management will also be explored. Whether you are new to your position or have been at this for some time everyone should walk away with a tip on how to become a better leader.