Name: From Draft to Masterpiece: Editing for Excellence
Uploaded: 2025-11-14T12:00:00-08:00
Description: Effective editing is key to persuasive legal writing. Learn how to streamline writing projects with standardized editing workflows, time-management strategies, and self-editing techniques. This CLE course also explores technology tools to detect errors and enhance collaboration between writers and editors for a polished final product.

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From Draft to Masterpiece: Editing for Excellence

Effective editing is key to persuasive legal writing. Learn how to streamline writing projects with standardized editing workflows, time-management strategies, and self-editing techniques. This CLE course also explores technology tools to detect errors and enhance collaboration between writers and editors for a polished final product.

Topics covered include:

Legal Writing Law Practice

Agenda:

Introductory Overview

Brief introduction of the presenter
Icebreaker poll of attendees
Review of agenda, topics to be covered, and anticipated takeaways

Why Editing Matters

Review of judicial editing practices
When editing is required
Editing enhances persuasiveness

Preparation Before Editing

Setting aside time for editing
Creating an outline
Organizing research

Self-Editing Techniques

Overview of self-editing
Self-editing tips
Editing tables of authorities

Guidance for Additional Review

Scope of additional review
Who should edit
Tips for being a good editor of others’ work

Technology Tools

Review of editing, grammar, and finishing technologies

Questions & Answers (as time permits)

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: November 14, 2025 12:00 PM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction

Keisha Stokes-Hough is introduced as the speaker, detailing her role at the Southern Poverty Law Center and her legal background. Keisha discusses the importance of editing in legal practice, noting it is often a skill developed during practice rather than taught in law school. She encourages attendees to reach out via LinkedIn for further questions and introduces a poll to gauge attendees' editing habits.

05:22 Importance of Editing in Legal Practice

Keisha outlines the agenda, focusing on the importance of editing, preparation, self-editing techniques, and technology tools. She emphasizes the rigorous editing process in courts, highlighting its role in enhancing persuasiveness and credibility in legal documents. Keisha discusses the necessity of editing when using AI tools, citing the ABA's stance on verifying AI-generated content. She highlights the importance of reviewing work done by legal support professionals to ensure accuracy before submission. Keisha addresses the issue of perfectionism in the legal profession, advocating for a shift towards an excellence standard. She recommends proactive scheduling for writing and editing to avoid last-minute stress and offers a sample 14-day schedule for managing deadlines.

16:00 Preparation and Self-Editing Techniques

Keisha stresses the importance of outlining to improve the flow and structure of legal writing. She advises organizing research conducted in electronic databases and recommends the highlight and annotate method for efficient referencing. Keisha discusses self-editing techniques, emphasizing the need for a break before reviewing one's work to gain fresh perspective. She provides practical tips for self-editing, including verifying citations, using Control F for consistency checks, and ensuring proper punctuation. Keisha highlights the importance of maintaining a civil tone in legal writing and discusses formatting requirements for block quotes. She advises on editing tables of authorities, ensuring accuracy in page numbers and simplifying entries by removing unnecessary details.

40:22 Additional Review and Collaborative Editing

Keisha discusses the importance of additional review for substantial legal documents, recommending editors with strong writing skills and attention to detail. She suggests utilizing interns and newer attorneys for editing support, providing them with valuable exposure to legal practice. Keisha offers tips for being a good editor, emphasizing respect for the author's voice and thorough review of the work. She advises using 'consider' for stylistic suggestions and highlights the importance of timely feedback to avoid delays.

47:35 Technology Tools and Q&A

Keisha discusses technology tools for legal editing, including Best Authority, Westlaw's drafting assistant, and proofreading software like Perfected. She cautions against overreliance on AI tools, recommending verification of AI-generated content before submission. She emphasizes selecting tools that integrate with existing technologies and reduce stress around writing. Keisha answers audience questions, advising on managing time constraints and differentiating between major reorganizations and light edits. She discusses the role of teamwork in managing court-specific requirements and addressing confirmation bias in self-editing. Keisha highlights the importance of collaborative editing, allowing for discussions and safeguarding strong arguments.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Speaker

Keisha Stokes-Hough Deputy Director of Legal Management
Southern Poverty Law Center

Keisha Stokes-Hough is the Southern Poverty Law Center’s deputy director of legal management, where she assists with overseeing the operations of the SPLC’s legal department, and coordinates programming for attorneys and law students. Her experience includes a range of legal and advocacy work seeking economic justice, as well as habeas litigation on behalf of indigent petitioners.

Keisha received a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University and a law degree from Harvard Law School, where she was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

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California CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: June 30, 2026

New Jersey CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.20 General

Earn Credit Until: November 13, 2026

North Carolina CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: February 28, 2026

Texas CLE

Status: Approved

Credits: 1.00 General

Earn Credit Until: October 31, 2026

This presentation is approved for one hour of General CLE credit in California, and North Carolina. This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 1.20 hours of total CLE credit. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.00 credit hours.

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