UpGrade | Emond Publishing

Built for the modern paralegal classroom

Real learning for students, smarter assessment for instructors

When a written submission can be generated in seconds, traditional written assignments alone are no longer a reliable measure of student learning. UpGrade offers a new way to teach and assess real-world paralegal skills by evaluating the reasoning, judgment, and communication skills students need in practice.

Interactive Learning + Assessment

Assessments for the modern paralegal classroom

When a written submission can be generated in seconds, traditional written assignments alone are no longer a reliable measure of student learning. UpGrade offers a new way to teach and assess real-world paralegal skills, built to evaluate the reasoning, judgment, and communication skills students need in practice.

Interactive Learning

UpGrade assesses students through conversations. Working with an AI learning companion, students engage in one of two formats:

Roleplay

Students take on a professional role and respond to realistic, evolving scenarios. UpGrade can act as a client, a supervisor, or whatever the scenario calls for, so students can practise thinking and responding like they would in real-world situations.

Defence of work

Students submit their work and UpGrade follows up with targeted questions designed to probe their understanding.

Your course, your way

UpGrade adapts to your course, not the other way around.

Graded assignment

Replace or supplement traditional written submissions.

Participation tool

Generate evidence of student engagement.

Coaching resource

Identify gaps and give students a low-stakes environment to practise.

Discussion

Scenarios become the basis for in-class debrief and reflection.

Interested in using UpGrade within your course?

Contact the Emond team to learn more about UpGrade and how it can support interactive learning and assessment in your classroom.

Inquire About UpGrade

Digital Study Tools

UpGrade comes with a full suite of study tools to support learning every step of the way.

Practice Quizzes
Glossary Tools
Podcasts and Videos
Flash Cards
Study Aids and Tips

UpGrade is available with these select titles

Criminal Law for Legal Professionals, 4th Edition

Employment Law for Paralegals, 3rd Edition

Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals

Legal Research: Step by Step, 6th Edition

Tort and Contract Law for Legal Professionals, 3rd Edition

How much does UpGrade cost?

Nothing. It’s included free with the purchase of select Emond titles.

How do I integrate this into my LMS?

As an instructor, you can export your students’ grades into an Excel document and import them into your gradebook from there.

How do I ensure my students aren’t using AI to complete these assignments?

While no assignment is 100% AI-proof, these dialogue-based, AI-powered assessments are designed to make it easier for the student to engage with the assessment than to use generative AI. Plus, the copy and paste function is disabled, so students have to type their answers directly into the platform.

What if I don’t like the grade assigned to my student?

You can change it. Students do not see the grades until you’ve reviewed and approved them.

What if the feedback my student receives is inaccurate?

You can change it. Students do not see the feedback until you’ve reviewed and approved it.

Where did you get the rubric for these assessments?

The rubric and feedback are based on the Emond book with which the assessment is paired.

Can I modify the assessments?

No.

Will these be available with more books soon?

Yes. We plan to create more of these types of assessments based on feedback we receive from earlier adopters.