Every lawyer knows the feeling: the research is (mostly) done, the filing deadline is close, and the cursor is blinking on an empty screen. What happens next often determines whether the hours that follow are productive or agonizing. This CLE webinar session argues that much of the real writing work – the thinking, sorting, and shaping of an argument – happens before a single sentence gets typed. We'll look at the habits and mental moves that separate writers who draft with confidence from writers who stall, rewrite, and second-guess their way to a weak draft or a blown deadline.
Join writing coach and former attorney Rick Horowitz as he takes you through the invisible stage of writing: the thinking that happens before the drafting. Explore why short-changing that stage is what often makes first drafts so painful to produce (and to fix!).
Key Takeaways:
How to convert your research and raw notes into a working structure before drafting begins
Practical approaches for deciding what to include, cut, or rework
Strategies for overcoming "blank- screen syndrome” and turning that early thinking into a confident first draft
Webinar duration: 60 minutes.
This webinar is eligible for CLE credit in multiple jurisdictions.*
In which U.S. states is this webinar CLE credit eligible?
This program is eligible for 1 hour of CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 50 minutes of CLE credit in 50-minute states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. CLE credit has been applied for in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY. For states not listed above, you may still apply for reciprocity CLE credit if applicable.
Who is eligible to receive CLE credit?
To be eligible for CLE credit for this webinar, you must attend the entire LIVE duration of this webinar and participate in the polls. Note, partial CLE credit for this course is not available.
You cannot watch the program in a group if you wish to earn CLE credit. If you do choose to watch the event in a group, ensure that you are also logged in on your own personal device, under your log-in credentials, as we will need proof of your attendance (though it is highly recommended that you view the event from your own personal device).
How do I receive CLE credit?
If you have met the participation requirements, you will receive a personalized CLE affidavit from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org for the program at which you attended at least one session to completion. Please check your spam or junk folders as these emails often end up there. Please note you will fill out one affidavit for the full event. Once you complete the affidavit, you will be able to download your certificate(s) of attendance and they will be emailed to you as well from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org. You must fill out your CLE attendance affidavit and have your certificate in-hand within 3 weeks after the program ends to be eligible to receive CLE credit from this webinar.
In which U.S. states is this webinar CLE credit eligible?
This program is eligible for 1 hour of CLE credit in 60-minute states, and 50 minutes of CLE credit in 50-minute states. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules. CLE credit has been applied for in the following states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, and WY. For states not listed above, you may still apply for reciprocity CLE credit if applicable.
Who is eligible to receive CLE credit?
To be eligible for CLE credit for this webinar, you must attend the entire LIVE duration of this webinar and participate in the polls. Note, partial CLE credit for this course is not available.
You cannot watch the program in a group if you wish to earn CLE credit. If you do choose to watch the event in a group, ensure that you are also logged in on your own personal device, under your log-in credentials, as we will need proof of your attendance (though it is highly recommended that you view the event from your own personal device).
How do I receive CLE credit?
If you have met the participation requirements, you will receive a personalized CLE affidavit from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org for the program at which you attended at least one session to completion. Please check your spam or junk folders as these emails often end up there. Please note you will fill out one affidavit for the full event. Once you complete the affidavit, you will be able to download your certificate(s) of attendance and they will be emailed to you as well from mcle-smokeball@americanbar.org. You must fill out your CLE attendance affidavit and have your certificate in-hand within 3 weeks after the program ends to be eligible to receive CLE credit from this webinar.
Rick Horowitz is the founder and Wordsmith in Chief of Prime Prose, LLC, offering writing, editing, and messaging services to institutions and organizations across the country. A graduate of Brandeis University and N.Y.U. School of Law, Horowitz worked for a Washington law firm, specializing in communications law, and as a legislative assistant to a member of the congressional leadership. He went on to become a nationally syndicated columnist, winning two National Headliner Awards; and a commentator for Milwaukee Public Television, where he received eight Regional Emmy Award nominations and two actual statuettes.
His current project? Trying to get lawyers to write more like human beings, at least some of the time.