WordRake Holdings, LLC, a software company focused on clear and concise editing for professionals, announced it would award six-month WordRake for Word licenses to all 2023 LEX Scholarship Competition applicants considered by American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE).
Toni Marsh, National Director of Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX), AAfPE’s national paralegal honor society, said, "We’re delighted to offer the students who enter the LEX scholarship competition the opportunity to use WordRake for six months. As legal professionals, words are our tools and using them better makes us better at everything we do."
Like LEX, WordRake supports excellence in legal writing. WordRake software works in Microsoft Word and Outlook, and offers context-specific editing suggestions to improve brevity and simplicity. The software was originally designed specifically for legal writing, so it respects key legal content and terms of art.
“We’re excited to team up with LEX to promote competition participation and give paralegal and legal studies students the chance to try WordRake,” said Ivy B. Grey, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at WordRake. “Thoughtful editing for clarity and brevity is key to persuasive, substantive legal writing that serves clients well. Our software provides editing practice, which reinforces and complements the legal writing skills applicants are learning in class.”
The 2023 LEX scholarship competition organized by AAfPE recognizes students who uphold LEX’s pillars of scholarship, leadership, and integrity. Applicants for the annual competition must be enrolled in paralegal or legal studies programs in schools with a LEX Chapter. To participate in the competition, students must submit an essay of no more than 1,000 words on this year’s topic, along with a scholarship application and Certificate of Good Standing, before the September 15, 2023 deadline. This year’s essay topic centers on ethics violations related to sourcing information for an appellate brief, including use of AI. Winners will be announced at the AAfPE 42nd National Conference in Seattle this October, which WordRake will attend as a sponsor and vendor.
All applicants will receive a six-month license for WordRake software; one winner and one runner up will be awarded scholarships and the chance to share their essays with the legal world. A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to the winner, and a $500 scholarship will be awarded to the runner up. Winning essays will be published in AAfPE’s peer-reviewed journal The Legal Educator, which is read by thousands of legal professionals nationwide. The winner and runner up can also opt to record a three- to five-minute presentation of their essay, which would be played during the plenary session at the conference.
Ivy Grey expanded on WordRake’s value for paralegal and legal studies students now and in the future: “Judges and top legal students alike have told us WordRake was integral to building their outstanding legal writing skills. We’ve brought WordRake to law schools and paralegal programs like Midlands Technical College for several years now. We look forward to partnering with more schools in the future through our flat fee programs for paralegal programs and law schools.” Grey continued, “There is a global trend demanding documents be more accessible, written clearly and concisely. WordRake will help keep students ahead of the curve by practicing editing that makes legal writing more useful and effective.”
About AAfPE and LEX
American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) is the nation’s oldest and largest paralegal education organization. It promotes quality paralegal education, develops educational standards, and encourages professional growth.
Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) is AAfPE's national paralegal honor society. Standing on the three pillars of scholarship, leadership, and integrity, LEX recognizes outstanding paralegal students who will go on to lead the profession.
About WordRake
Launched in 2012, WordRake is editing software designed by writing expert and New York Times bestselling author Gary Kinder. WordRake edits for brevity and simplicity 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. Try WordRake for free with a 7-day free trial.
