Course Features

For Those Studying for CP Exam or Those Wishing to Improve Legal Writing Skills

  • Legal Writing Course

    CP Exam Review Skills is a legal writing course which instructs learners on how to write a legal memorandum. It is perfect for those studying for the CP exam but also for those persons who want to improve their legal writing. It is a step-by-step process of examining each part of a legal memorandum.

  • Charts, Diagrams for Facts, Issues, Analyses, Conclusions

    Observe the first parts of each lesson within the two chapters. Our Skills course has various charts, diagrams, and visuals to aid your exam preparation: Relevancy Continuum Chart, Legal Issue Dartboard, Application Formula, Conclusion Equation.

  • AchieveVia Highway, Legal Memorandum Road Map

    See the AchieveVia Highway. This legal memorandum road map has the most important features you encounter on your journey to writing a legal memorandum. Each feature is a stop along the path with samples and explanations to successfully write a legal memorandum.

  • Format for Legal Memorandum

    Look at the first parts of the format for a legal memorandum. The Skills course has an extensive review with examples of each of the main parts: facts, issue, analysis, and conclusion.

  • Relevancy Continuum Chart

    Work with relevant facts. The visual in the Skills course demonstrates that relevancy of facts and law may vary. Shows facts and law from least relevant (distractor facts and law) to most relevant (key facts and law).

  • Legal Issue Dartboard

    Use a dartboard to prepare issues. In our Skills course, the dartboard explains the four characteristics of a legal issue. Aim those four darts (characteristics) at the center target of a dartboard (the most perfectly written issue).

  • Application Formula for Applying Law to Facts

    See the first part of the lesson on Joining relevant law to relevant facts into the same sentence or same paragraph. Examples and demonstrations on how to apply law to facts using the Application Formula.

  • Conclusion Equation

    Review the first parts of the Skills course chapter on conclusions. Introduction of conclusion equation and explanation of the parts of a conclusion. Discussion of how to write a conclusion. Plus, chart of the equation and an example.

  • Sample Legal Memorandum

    See the first parts of a sample legal memorandum with all components of the format and the main sections: facts, issue, analysis, and conclusion.

Chapter Components

  • Welcome, for each chapter

  • Keywords, for each chapter

  • Quizzes, for each chapter

  • Discussions, for each chapter

  • Examples, for each chapter

  • Visuals, charts, diagrams, for chapters on facts, issues, analyses, and conclusions

Course Chapters

  • Chapter 1, Writing

  • Chapter 1 Lesson, Style Manuals and Legal Citation Formats

  • Chapter 1 Lesson, Grammar

  • Chapter 1 Lesson, Punctuation

  • Chapter 1 Lesson, Capitalization

  • Chapter 1 Lesson, Spelling

  • Chapter 1 Lesson, Clarity of Expression

  • Chapter 2, Critical Thinking

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Reading Comprehension

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Analysis of Information

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Decision Making

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Facts

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Issue

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Analysis

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Conclusion

  • Chapter 2 Lesson, Sample Legal Memorandum

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If this course is for learners studying for the CP Exam, why would a Certified Paralegal or others enroll?

    This is a legal writing course for those studying for the CP Exam and anyone interested in legal writing. In a step-by-step process, the course is a comprehensive review of the writing process for facts, issues, analyses, and conclusions. The course has many samples of the parts of a memorandum, which illuminate the daily work of paralegals. Parts of facts, issues, analyses, and conclusions are found in affidavits, declarations, motions, judgments, orders, witness statements, deposition questions, letters, email messages, briefs, summaries, internal and external memoranda, and even trial notebooks. For example, a good understanding of the facts, issues, and analyses for a case makes for a strong and helpful trial notebook. The attorney's proof (facts) on a point (an issue) and the witnesses who will testify or provide documents (the proof) may be placed in the trial notebook or may be used to prepare an affidavit or declaration of a witness in support of a motion.

  • Does AchieveVia have a method of how I study for the CP Skills Exam?

    Yes, the complete AchieveVia CP Exam Review Skills course has detailed information on the parts of a legal memorandum and how to prepare for the CP Skills Exam. Review the AchieveVia lessons and: 1). complete the multiple-choice questions provided by AchieveVia, 2). memorize the format for a legal memorandum, 3). write a statement of facts, 4). write an issue, 5). write an analysis, and 6). write a conclusion. Repeat the writing parts (3 to 6) to become more proficient as you go. We suggest three actual cases for you to practice your writing skills.

  • Do you provide feedback on legal memos submitted by enrollees?

    Yes, we provide feedback on memos written for the three cases we suggest in the AchieveVia Skills course. Just submit your memo to us and we will provide feedback and a sample legal memo on that case. The sample memo will be in addition to the sample memo all enrollees see in the AchieveVia Skills course.

  • What happens when I enroll in this Skills preview?

    In this preview of the Skills course, we give you the very first parts of each lesson. In the full course, we explain concepts, show charts and diagrams, give you many examples, and suggest ways you can practive this specialized writing. With this preview, you start your journey to successfully pass the NALA CP Skills Exam! All parts and chapters are open to you as soon as you enroll, including a sample legal memorandum. We want to lessen anxiety with this important exam for certification so we explain and demonstrate the parts in our full Skills course in detail, explain how the parts come together, and then show you how the parts look in a sample.

  • What do I need to know to pass the CP Skills Exam?

    You will be asked to write a legal memorandum for the Skills Exam. That is the only part of the Skills Exam, which does not include any multiple-choice questions. The memorandum is worth 30 points and we show you the points breakdown in this AchieveVia course. The exam tests English language skills such as grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and clarity of expression. You should know the format for a legal memorandum. And you must write about the four main parts: facts, issue, analysis, and conclusion. You may use the points breakdown to concentrate your studies to earn the most points possible.

  • How do I write a facts statement, an issue, an analysis, and a conclusion?

    In this preview, we give you a bit of how we teach these parts. The AchieveVia Skills course is a complete course covering all parts of writing a memorandum. We break down each part and explain what is included in each part. Charts and examples are used as you move through the course.

  • Why does AchieveVia use multiple-choice questions for the CP Exam Review Skills course?

    Although there are no multiple-choice questions on the CP Skills Exam, we find them helpful as a review of vocabulary you might encounter on the Skills Exam. It is also always good to brush up on English language skills and to know English rules from a style manual.

  • What does a legal memorandum look like?

    We have a complete sample legal memorandum in the course. It shows the format used for writing legal memoranda. The sample demonstrates the four main parts: facts, issue, analysis, and conclusion. It is an important sample for you to see along your journey to successfully pass the CP Exam!

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