2026-01-19 – Weekly Paralegal News : Streamlining cite-checking processes

Last week in our paralegal community, discussions were vibrant and insightful. Members shared practical advice on improving cite-checking efficiency for civil briefs, with a focus on tools and techniques that save time. The conversation around adapting “Second Request” requirements to real-world scenarios sparked a lively exchange on best practices. There was also a strong interest in enhancing client communication through effective document checklists, and the importance of continuing education that truly aids in closing deals.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Faster cite-checks for civil briefs
An engaging thread on streamlining cite-checking processes for civil briefs with technology and method enhancements.
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Second Request bingo in real life
This discussion unpacks the complexities of handling “Second Requests” and how to navigate them efficiently in practice.
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Leveling up on copyright and contracts
Members are exploring ways to deepen their understanding of copyright and contract law to better serve clients.
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Client-friendly document checklists that work
Creating document checklists that enhance client interactions and ensure thoroughness was a key focus.
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Patent Center filing checklist template
A practical discussion around templates that simplify filing processes in the Patent Center.
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CE that actually helps closings
The conversation here revolves around continuing education courses that offer real benefits in closing transactions.
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Triage workflow for large productions
A look into managing large document productions with effective triage workflows to boost efficiency.
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Reliable redaction and compare tools
Members are sharing their go-to tools for reliable document redaction and comparison, crucial for accuracy and security.
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Discovery trackers that actually work
This thread offers solutions for implementing discovery trackers that genuinely improve case management.
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Streamlining Patent Center and eCO workflows
Discussions focused on optimizing workflows for the Patent Center and eCO, aiming for greater efficiency and ease.
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Wishing you a productive week ahead. Feel free to join in these conversations and share your experiences.

1 Like

We shaved about 25 minutes per civil brief by running Best Authority at the outline stage and flagging suspect cites in a shared sheet — , fixing the TOA at the end always nukes the schedule. > transactions. Read more here Triage workflow for large productions A look into managing large document productions with effective triage workflows to boost Totally agree — the same triage works for cite-checking: first-pass tag severity (missing pin vs wrong reporter vs dead link) so juniors clear the easy stuff while I dig into the oddballs in Westlaw. If you can’t get a paid tool approved, a quick Word wildcard macro to highlight nonconforming pat.

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@d_lucas2022 I get the best gains by auto-inserting a “[PIN]” token after the first cite (via Westlaw/Lexis copy-with-reference or Word AutoCorrect), then Ctrl+F the token at the end and drop in pincites in one sweep; small caveat: writers sometimes delete the token, so I nudge them to leave it in. For case-specific issues, confirm with your attorney.

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