Massachusetts Paralegal Association upcoming events

Citation → Validation → Remediation: Safeguarding Briefs Against the Legal AI Hallucination Crisis CLE (Tuesday, July 07, 2026)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Join our Ethics and AI Chair Tiffany Pacheco for an upcoming informative CLE!

Course Description: As generative AI drafting utilities and advanced large language models are increasingly adopted across modern legal workflows, litigators face unprecedented exposure to professional liability. Generative tools frequently introduce plausible-looking yet entirely fabricated legal citations, fake pinpoint cites, and warped case quotes into drafting pipelines. Because paralegals serve as the critical primary line of defense in civil and criminal document preparation, mastering an ironclad verification workflow is vital. This practical, technical session steps away from theoretical discussions to map out an explicit, three-tiered framework: Citation (identifying generative failure vectors), Validation (implementing objective, binary database verification techniques to guarantee citation existence), and Remediation (executing version-controlled corrections under Rule 11 guardrails before final filing).

Learning Objectives: By the conclusion of this 1-hour CLE session, attendees will be equipped to:

1. Decode the structural engineering flaws in RAG frameworks and LLMs that result in automated document cross-contamination and citation fabrication.

2. Establish a formalized, independent "validation gate" within the firm’s standard file preparation routine.

3. Identify, cross-reference, and cross-examine deep-nested text strings directly against official state and federal court registries without compromising client data privacy.

4. Build a defensible Rule 11 Verification Log to systematically insulate handling attorneys from judicial sanctions and citation accuracy issues.

Summer Sips #2: Free Networking Event (Tuesday, July 28, 2026)

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Big news! The Massachusetts Paralegal Association is thrilled to announce that membership is now open to Legal Assistants, and we’d love for you to celebrate this with us!

Join us for a relaxed, after‑hours gathering sponsored by Magna Legal Services, known for their litigation support expertise, and hosted by Deb Curran and the MPA.

It’s the perfect opportunity to mingle with fellow professionals, learn more about MPA’s expanding community, and discover how we’re building connections through networking, professional development, and shared experiences.

All MPA members are welcome, as well as Paralegals and Legal Assistants interested in joining (litigation roles preferred)!

When Automated Systems Decide: Lessons from Housing, Disability, and Civil Rights Cases CLE (Tuesday, August 04, 2026)

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Summary:

As government agencies, housing providers, healthcare systems, and employers increasingly rely on automated decision-making, errors can have life-altering consequences for the people affected. This presentation examines real-world housing, disability, and civil rights cases where automated processes, data inaccuracies, and administrative failures resulted in significant harm.

Participants will learn how to identify automation-driven failures, evaluate the evidence behind institutional decisions, document procedural breakdowns, and develop effective advocacy strategies. The session will also introduce emerging concepts in AI accountability, validation, and transparency that can help legal professionals better assess decisions made by automated systems.

Featuring Teresa Villa, Founder of JusticeTree.ai.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common risks associated with automated decision-making systems.

• Recognize how data errors can cascade across multiple agencies and
institutions.

• Analyze housing, disability, and civil rights cases involving
administrative automation.

• Apply evidence-based methods for investigating and challenging
questionable decisions.

• Understand emerging approaches to AI accountability and validation.