4 Courses Required

Additional Details

Target Audience

  • Business leaders
  • Paralegals
  • Law clerks
  • Current and aspiring law students
  • Law enforcement professionals
  • Attorneys and judges
  • Law firm consultants
  • Public and nonprofit professionals
  • Compliance and risk management professionals
  • Anyone looking to work effectively with legal professionals

Accreditation

  • Legal Writing and Communication Certificate from Cornell Law School
  • 40 Professional Development Hours (4 CEUs)

Certificate Description

Every written word can carry legal implications, and how persuasive your communications are can make the difference between mere words and impactful influence that can resonate, captivate, and ultimately shape outcomes in your favor.

This certificate program explores various ways attorneys communicate with their business clients along with the best practices to make those communications more effective for all involved. Whether you're drafting business documents or composing emails with potential litigation ties, our Legal Writing and Communication program empowers you to communicate confidently in today's evolving legal landscape.

Developed by Cornell Law School Professor Michelle Whelan, this program helps you examine the legal implications of your written and oral communications as well as some strategies for mitigating any risks associated with them. Since there may be times when you could be called to testify on behalf of your organization, you will explore how to be an effective corporate representative.

As you delve deeper into the program, you'll explore the intricacies of witness interviews and uncovering potential biases. Witness interviews call for special consideration, and you will discover best practices for capturing witness accounts, including a template for documenting them. Could a hidden bias undermine an effective interview? You will have the opportunity to use a self-test designed to uncover any potential bias you may have. Finally, you will develop your skills of persuasion, which can be critical when creating business documents and drafting emails that could be tied to litigation.

For the best experience in this program, it is recommended to take these courses in the order that they appear.

Certificate Print Title

Legal Writing and Communication
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