WordRake Holdings, LLC, a software company focused on clear and concise editing for professionals, is partnering with the Paralegal Studies Program, within the School of Education and Public Service, at Midlands Technical College (MTC) for the 2021-22 academic year. This is the second year of the collaboration. Together, WordRake and MTC are investing in the foundations of formal paralegal training and highlighting the value of paralegal work.
The WordRake-MTC collaboration introduces paralegal students to legal writing technology widely used throughout the legal profession and allows students to hone their legal writing and editing skills in a supportive environment. About 200 paralegal students will receive one-year WordRake licenses to use the software on their personal computers for writing assignments.
“Any legal professional must learn to see editing as a critical part of the legal writing process—including paralegals—so it makes sense to incorporate WordRake’s legal editing software into paralegal training programs,” said Ivy B. Grey, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for WordRake.
Paralegals assist lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities and perform legal research, prepare documents, interview clients, and more. Midlands Technical College trains paralegals for that role and offers an Associate Degree and academic Certificate in Paralegal Studies. Both paralegal education programs are approved by the American Bar Association.
“Due to the professional nature of the law, lawyers and paralegals are expected to have excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing,” said Attorney Debra C. Galloway, Paralegal Studies Program Director for Midlands Technical College. “Because of that expectation, and our ethical mandate, our program has made effective communication skills, including legal writing and legal research, a pillar of our paralegal studies’ program, beginning with a student’s first semester. In addition to mastering communication skills, as a paraprofessional, paralegals are expected to have mastered the document creation process and the technology associated therewith. By incorporating WordRake into our paralegal courses, students will have better legal writing skills and technology abilities that will prime them for success as a paraprofessional.”
About Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College is a two-year comprehensive community college serving Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties in South Carolina. The Paralegal Studies Associate Degree program is a 61-credit-hour program. The Paralegal Studies Certificate program is a 24-credit-hour program.
About WordRake
Launched in 2012, WordRake is editing software designed by writing expert and New York Times bestselling author Gary Kinder. WordRake runs in Microsoft Word and Outlook, and its suggestions appear in the familiar track-changes style. It uses complex, patented algorithms to find and improve weak lead-ins, confusing language, and high-level grammar and usage slips. Learn more about bringing WordRake to paralegal programs or law schools. A free 7-day trial is available at https://www.wordrake.com.
