september2010issue examtime!€¦ · examtime! paralegals spent their september cramming for...

Exam time!Exam time!A North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Publication

September 2010 issue

Former paralegal defiedgrade school expectations

to become a lawyerpage 3

Uninspired at work?Look for ways toshake things up

page 5

Facing UPL?Get a new job,

Early sayspage 8

Handgun incident a scaryreminder that ethics issues

can arise anywherepage 10

Paralegals spent theirSeptember cramming for

national, local certification examspage 6

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0 � V o l um e 4 , N um b e r 8

Carolina Paralegal News2 September 2010

INSIDE

PARALEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Q&A with Jamie Early . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8The president of Legal Staff Professionals of South Carolina

discusses mandatory licensing, unauthorized practice and

changes that have taken place in the paralegal profession.

Q&A with Scott Coates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9North Carolina paralegal Scott Coates said the first few months

are stressful for a paralegal with no prior experience.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUEUpcoming event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Paralegal Association News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Carolina Paralegal News

COLUMNS

Soaring Eagles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Living with integrity will help ensure an open,

honest professional and personal life, according

to Dave Favor and Cheryl Leone.

Overheard at the Water Cooler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Uninspired at work? Look for ways to shake things up.

You are the Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Her attorney brought a handgun to work.

Annette Church explains how she responded

to the series of events that followed.

NEWS & FEATURES

She proved them wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3North Carolina’s Jackie Houser was told she wasn’t college

material in high school. But the former paralegal defied

those expectations and became an attorney.

Exam Time! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Paralegals spent their September cramming for national

and local certification exams.

Do you know someonewho should be profiled?

Please [email protected]

September 2010 Carolina Paralegal News 3

Houserdefied grade school expectations tobecomea lawyerLIFE STORY

By KimBErLy JoHnson, special to CPn

In high school, Jackie Houser wastold she wasn’t “college material.”She wasn’t in the gifted program. Her

standardized test scores were low. Shedidn’t have a chance to graduate and gostraight on to receive a bachelor’sdegree.But she did have an abiding interest

in the law — and a talent for it.That’s how she ended up where she

is today, as a paralegal-turned-attorney inthe law firm of Walker Allen inGoldsboro, N.C.Robert D. Walker Jr., senior partner

at the firm, said Houser exemplifies thetraits of a modern-day champion.He praised the single mother’s ability

to balance her family responsibilities,job as a paralegal and her educationalaspirations.“Jackie has been a personal hero of

mine for years,” said Walker, who hasknown her since 1987. “No one worksas hard as a single mother, and she’saccomplished all her goals while simul-taneously raising two great kids.”“When Jackie worked for us as a

paralegal, she handled just about every-thing that came with a litigation file.She dictated pleadings, interviewed wit-nesses and 1,000 other [types of] tasks.Her work was always first-rate,” headded.

Love of learningHouser’s first foray into the legal pro-

fession came in 1985, when she washired as a legal secretary for sole prac-titioner Tom Barwick, also of Goldsboro.“Almost immediately, I was bitten by

this bug to know more and learn moreabout the law,” she said. “It was TomBarwick who introduced me to the para-legal field, and within a year I wasenrolled in the paralegal program at thelocal community college,” said Houser.

During her time at JohnstonCommunity College in Smithfield, N.C.,Houser discovered a support system ofpersonal and professional contacts whohelped her balance night classes, workand family responsibilities.Sometimes sacrifices were made.

Houser carried a textbook with herwherever she went — to her children’sballgames and even in the school pick-up and drop-off line.She recorded class lectures and lis-

tened to them in the car while runningerrands.“There were a lot of sacrifices I had

to make, especially when it came tosocial events, and there were times whenI grumbled about that,” Houser toldCarolina Paralegal News. “But the goalwas important to me, and we were ableto survive the journey without anybumps or bruises.”In fact, there were triumphs.Houser received her degree in para-

legal technology in 1992. She said cross-ing the stage at graduation was amoment she was “so happy to sharewith my children and family who helpedme along the way.”And her hard work did not go unrec-

ognized.When one of the instructors in the

paralegal program at JCC went onmaternity leave, Houser stepped in as asubstitute teacher.In 2000, the school offered her a full-

time position.From student to teacher

Students said that Houser’s combi-nation of hands-on teaching methods andpractical experience made her a rolemodel for aspiring paralegals.“She had been a paralegal before and

presented an in-depth knowledge farbeyond the reach of what any of thetexts could teach,” said former pupil andcurrent JCC instructor Jennifer Williford.

“She was ableto provide areal sense ofwhat wew o u l de n c o u n t e rwhen wefound a job.That definitelyaffected theway I wantedto teach.”“Jackie wouldoften sharewith the classdifferent cir-

cumstances and past case experiencesshe had faced, which really helped usstudents to not just memorize the mate-rial but to learn to apply it efficiently toeach case,” added Candace Seagroves,a paralegal with Kirk, Kirk, Howell,Cutler & Thomas in Wendell, N.C.“Because of her passion for the law andher sharing it with paralegals likemyself, I have been motivated to furthermy own legal career and plan to becomean attorney.”

‘Do not fail’The call to attend law school grew

louder for Houser around 2002, whenshe was divorced and her children wereteenagers, soon to be in college.Houser and her friend Valerie Chaffin

were “whining about going to lawschool,” Houser said.The duo hatched a two-year plan for

taking the LSAT and applying to lawschools.Houser entered the Liberty University

School of Law in Lynchburg, Va. in2006. Her daughter Diane was a soph-omore at Liberty and Houser’s son, Wes,was a freshman at the University ofNorth Carolina at Wilmington.Law school was tough.That’s not to mention that Houser

had taken quite a few leaps of faithwhen decided to attend Liberty.“I had bet the farm on this venture

— selling my house, quitting my job— so I had a lot to lose,” she said.Her first year was a killer.“During 1L year, I bet I didn’t sleep

more than three or four hours a night,”Houser recalled. “The rest of the time Iwas reading, writing, researching, study-ing, updating course outlines or meetingwith a study group.”She started the year with the goal to

be at the top of the class and on lawreview.“By the end of the first semester,

my goal was lowered to ‘do not fail,’”she said. “Of course I did not fail andwas ranked No. 10 in my class, but Ihad to stay focused on short-term goalsthat would have a direct impact on mylong-term goal of finishing lawschool.”‘Three years and a summer of hell’After graduating with her law degree,

Houser devised a plan to study allsummer for the rigorous two-day N.C.bar exam. She worked at Walker Allenwhile she waited for the results.One Monday, her mother called to

say a letter from the state Board of LawExaminers had arrived.“We had already been told ‘every

letter is the same’ whether you pass ornot, so the size of the envelope didn’tmatter,” Houser said. “I think I staredat the envelope for two minutes beforeopening it and seeing the first word thatsaid, ‘Congratulations.’“I have no idea what the letter said

after that because I burst out crying.This was three years and a summer ofhell. This was the fruition of a dream ofa little girl. It was such an emotionalmoment.”Today, Houser is an associate attorney

at Walker Allen.

Houser


You tend to react randomly to eventsdriven by the moment.One of the first questions we ask

staff members when we come into a lawfirm is, “Why are you here?”We are looking for that stake in the

ground. Do you know what your job is,what the expectations are and how thisall relates to your life?People who know the answer to that

question develop a passion for theirwork and their lives. They also knowthe vision of the law firm, and how thefirm’s vision supports their own per-sonal vision.

The second puzzle they must figureout is how to reach their goals.To answer that question, they have

to know their values. The people whocan answer these questions understandthe rules of the game and how to win it.That knowledge puts them on the roadto integrity. In the business world, thattranslates into a leadership role.To wrap the self-mastery series up,

let’s look at the four paradigms we havediscussed:• Fear: If you live in fear, you make

no progress. You spend your timelooking for anything that will supportyour fear. You are totally ineffective.• Duty: If you live in duty, you don’t

really trust everybody, but you will doyour duty. You go to work, pay taxes,etc. You become a good worker and addvalue to the business.• Achievement: If you move up to

achievement, you start to question thetruth around you — including your owntruth. Your focus is on accomplishingyour purpose in life. You become anentrepreneur. If your vision and valuesare similar to that of the business, youbecome a valued employee and start toadvance in the company.

By CHEryL LEonE and DavE Favorspecial to CPn

As a reminder, the principles of self-mastery can be placed into four para-digms — fear, duty, achievement andintegrity. No matter what type of taskyou seek to accomplish, arriving atintegrity is the ultimate goal of self-mastery.Integrity means being true to your-

self, your beliefs and your values. Thiswould be simple to do were it not fortwo unfortunate factors.First, many of us do not know what

our values are. We tend to respondbased on the moment.The second complication is that

people have different perceptions basedon their cultures. Have you ever heardthe expression, “My truth is not neces-sarily your truth?”Now add another layer to this mix:

your work culture. You now have toconsider the values and beliefs of thebusiness in which you work. Ideally,your values and the established values ofthe business are the same — or close.If your own values and business

values match, you are ready to moveinto the integrity paradigm.The problem we often have to work

around is perception. People around youwill form a perception of who you arebased on your actions, your professionand their culture.In other words, they will judge you

before they know you.To overcome any differences, your

actions must be consistent. That doesnot mean everyone will like it.

Throughout history, there have beenpolitical figures with great integrity thatwere disliked. They may have hadintegrity, but you may not have likedtheir values.People in the integrity paradigm

become leaders as they prove them-selves. As your actions demonstrateintegrity, people will begin to trust thatyou will continue to act the same wayall the time. You will have the ability tomove into a leadership role.The journey to self-mastery is cumu-

lative. You perform your duty and addvalue to the business. You achieveresults, thus increasing your value to thecompany even more. You demonstrateintegrity, thus increasing your potentialto be a leader.You can become stalled anywhere

along the way. The journey starts manytimes every day when you choose toreact to an event.The best way to prepare for it is to

have a firm grasp of your end goal.If you have no idea where you are

going to end up, you have no purpose.

Pursue integrity to live an ‘open, honest’ business andpersonal lifeSOARING EAGLES

Leone Favor

WILSON AND ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, INC.CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINER

Ann M Wilson, MBA, CPA, CFE 638 Nickolas Place NW, Concord, North Carolina 28027704-467-4424 • [email protected] • www.wilsonandassociatescfe.com

Forensic AccountingFraud InvestigationLitigation Support

• Integrity: If you move intointegrity, you have an open and honestlife. You establish values related to yourbeliefs and (some say) spiritual guid-ance. Your self-confidence builds andyou become a leader.Your assignment is to discover who

you are. Why are you here (in this job,in this life, on this project, etc.)? Identifyyour values, your passions, your purpose— and start your journey.Editor’s note: Cheryl Leone and

Dave Favor are the principals inCatalyst Group, Inc., a national profes-sional development company in Raleigh,N.C. Both speak and write nationallyon law firm development and mentorand coach lawyers and paralegals inpersonal and professional development.Soaring Eagles is the name they applyto law firm personnel when speakingand writing. The company website iswww.catalystgroupinc.com. SoaringEagles blogs can be found at www.law-firmcoachblog.com.

A career fair for paralegals will beheld at the North Carolina Bar Center inCary on Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.The event is co-sponsored by the

Paralegal Division of the N.C. BarAssociation and the Research TriangleParalegal Association.Participants at the career fair will

include law firms, paralegals and para-legal students and other area businesses.Employers will be available to

educate attendees on their hiring prac-

tices and recruit potential full-time andpart-time employees and interns. Theevent will also foster paralegal profes-sional development and mentoringopportunities.The Bar Center, located at 8000

Weston Parkway in Cary, has free on-site parking and will provide partici-pants with snacks and refreshmentsduring the career fair.For more information, contact

Stephanie McGee at [email protected].

UPCOMING EVENT

‘’

The problem weoften have to work out is

perception. People around youwill form a perception of whoyou are based on your actions,

your profession and theirculture. In other words, they

will judge you beforethey know you.


events where the staff and attorneysgather at lunch for food and laugh-ter.One event was a pancake lunch

where they brought in griddles andtried a variety of pancake recipes.Another was a Mayberry-themed partywhere Goober’s grease rags (orderedfrom the Internet) were the prizes inthe Mayberry trivia contest. These areinexpensive yet fun ways to buildcamaraderie and feel a connection tothe firm.If feeling uninspired strikes often,

it may be time to reevaluate your sit-uation. Maybe it’s a sign of depres-sion and you need to reach out to aprofessional. Maybe it’s time to finda new job and a visit with a lifecoach or job counselor would bebeneficial.Next month’s column will focus on

how a life coach and/or a job coun-selor could help make your work morechallenging or take your career to thenext level. If you have a personalexperience in working with a profes-sional in either of these categories, I’dlove to hear your story to share withour readers. You can contact me [email protected] or CPNManaging Editor Diana Smith [email protected]’s note: Camille Stell is

director of client services for LawyersMutual Liability Insurance Companyof North Carolina. She worked as aparalegal for 20 years, taught ethicsand law office management in theMeredith College Paralegal Programand served as president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association, the NorthCarolina Paralegal Association and asDistrict II Director of the NationalAssociation of Legal Assistants.

By CamiLLE stELL, special to CPn

If you work in a law office, youare faced with deadlines. Some areasare more deadline-driven than others— for instance, litigation practiceshave court-imposed deadlines — butevery area of practice involves tasksthat must be done and time framesfor completion.Do you ever show up and feel

uninspired to do what you’ve beenassigned to do?Do you look at the list and you

can’t find anything that you want tostart?Or do you keep ignoring the top

priority on the list because you don’twant to start that project?I believe all of us experience this

feeling. I arrive at work on Mondaymorning, and while I appreciatehaving a job, today it feels like justthat — a job. The thought of goingthrough the motions is daunting.For some people, this avoidance is

procrastination.According to www.psychologyto-

day.com, 20 percent of people identifythemselves as chronic procrastinators.They have developed a lifestyle ofnot paying bills on time, missingopportunities to participate in eventsbecause they don’t get around to pur-chasing the tickets and shopping onChristmas Eve.These individuals have plenty of

excuses, but at the end of the day,they don’t tend to be any busier thantheir work mates who are also bal-ancing full lives and hectic schedules.Psychologists would tell us that pro-

crastination is not a time managementproblem or organization problem, but thatprocrastination is a learned response.

A perfectdistraction for aprocrastinator ise-mail. Theability to checkand respond toe-mail underthe guise ofwork makes ithard to disci-pline an em-ployee for notworking eventhough the projects and large tasksaren’t getting done. While procrasti-nators can change their behaviors, itinvolves more than buying a planner.Another reason people are unin-

spired to tackle their work is boredom.Many employees don’t feel engagedat work. They feel under-utilized orthey may not feel a connection to theorganization. In today’s economy,employees are less inclined to leave ajob, so they stay put longer than theywould have in better financial times.What do you do to become

inspired?How about making a change in

your morning routine? Take a differ-ent route to work or go for a shortwalk or exercise. Turn off the televi-sion and read something inspirationalbefore attacking the day. Buy a coffeeor bagel for a co-worker or someother small act of kindness.Remind yourself that you are part

of a profession versus a job and thatwe have clients expecting us to do ourbest today to help meet their needs.My friends at K&L Gates were

fighting their own battle with beinguninspired when they started somefirm “morale building” activities.Staff members planned monthly

OVERHEARD AT THE WATERCOOLER

Uninspired atwork?Look forways to shake thingsup

Stell

Women ineDiscovery chapterforms in Charlotte

By CamiLLE stELL, special to CPn

The Charlotte chapter of Women ineDiscovery held its inaugural meeting inJune.

Women in eDiscovery was founded onMay 2, 2007 with the mission of bringingtogether businesswomen interested inlegal technology and to provide opportu-nities to help themselves and other busi-nesswomen grow personally andprofessionally through leadership, educa-tion, networking, support and nationalrecognition.

The organization has grown interna-tionally to over 4,000 members with newmembers from all over the world joiningdaily. At the present time, there are over28 chapters with regular meetings.

The Charlotte chapter meets on thesecond Wednesday of every month at 12p.m. at various locations. The meetings aresponsored, so there is no cost to attendees.If you are interested in learning about thenext meeting, please contact DebbieLawrence, the Charlotte chapter’s member-ship director, at [email protected].

Also, a group has met to discuss theformation of a Research Triangle areachapter. Due to restraints on the forma-tion of new chapters, it cannot officiallybe formed until 2011.

However, the Research Triangle groupplans to conduct some informationalmeetings during the next few months tobuild interest and a potential membershiproster. Again, contact Debbie Lawrence ifyou are interested in receiving informa-tion about the chapter.

For more information on Women ineDiscovery or to join the organization, visitwww.womeninediscovery.com to register.Membership is free.

Editor’s note: Camille Stell is director ofclient services for Lawyers Mutual LiabilityInsurance Company of North Carolina. Sheworked as a paralegal for 20 years, taughtethics and law office management in theMeredith College Paralegal Program andserved as president of the Raleigh-WakeParalegal Association, the North CarolinaParalegal Association and as District II Directorof the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Remind yourself that you arepart of a profession versus a job and that

we have clients expecting us to do our besttoday to help meet their needs.

‘’


FEATURE

By Diana smitH, CPn managing [email protected]

Lynne DeVenny promised to behonest when she announced on her blogin August that she would routinelyreport her progress on studying for oneof the nation’s top paralegal certifica-tion exams.So it took some pride-swallowing on

Sept. 7 for the North Carolina paralegalto tell readers that she didn’t pass thesample Communications quiz for theNational Association of Legal Assistants’certification exam.

“I thought, ‘I was an English major.Words are my thing. Communicationswill be easy,’” said DeVenny. “But Iswore I would tell the truth, even whenI fell on my face. I fell on my face,”she said.September is a big month when it

comes to paralegal exams, with two ofthe three national certifying organiza-tions — NALA and NALS — offeringtests for interested professionals.And last Saturday, almost 200 hope-

fuls sat for the N.C. State Bar’s certifi-cation exam.The National Federation of Paralegal

Associations offers its ParalegalAdvanced Competency Exam all year.Some say the degree of difficulty of

the paralegal exams is on par with whatattorneys encounter on the bar exam.“I have heard that from lawyers who

have looked at their paralegals’ studymaterials,” said Elizabeth Mann, assis-tant dean for the paralegal program atGreenville Technical College in SouthCarolina.All of the national tests have multi-

ple sections and cover basic topics suchas grammar and punctuation, but alsoevaluate legal writing, research, ethicsand analytical ability.The exams also test on various areas

of substantive law, such as contracts,civil litigation, administrative law, familylaw, criminal law and procedure andtrusts and estates, among others.Because of the variety, many para-

legals start studying at least six monthsbefore taking the tests, and in somecases as much as a year in advance.“Everyone approaches it in their own

specific way,” said Melissia Ford, pres-

Emily J. Will, D-BFDECertified Document ExaminerCourt Qualified – 23 years

Box 58552 Raleigh, NC 27658919.556.7414 local877.699.7414 toll free

www.Qdewill.com

Handwriting, altered documents – examination, reports, testimony.

Nationalcertification examcomparison chart

Here’s a rundown of the three national certifica-tion exams available for paralegals.

NFPA examName: Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam(PACE)Credential earned: RPFirst year offered: 1996Test structure: Computer-based and covers fivedomains, including administration of client legalmatters; development of client legal matters; factualand legal research; factual and legal writing andoffice administration. Ethics questions are pepperedthroughout each domain.Testing time: Four hours.When offered: Every day except Sundays and hol-idays at Prometric Testing Centers across the U.S.Certification renewal: Every two years, with 12 hoursof CLE credits (including one hour of ethics) required.Eligibility requirements: Vary based on level ofeducation and experience.Cost: $25 application fee and $225 test fee formembers; $75 application fee and $250 test feefor non-members.Website: www.paralegals.org

NALA examName: Certified Paralegal/Certified Legal AssistantExamCredential earned: CP, CLAFirst year offered: 1976Test structure: Computer-based and tests fiveareas of general knowledge: communications, ethics,legal research, judgment and analytical ability.Examinees also select four areas of substantive lawto be tested on, including: administrative law;bankruptcy; business organizations; civil litigation;contracts; criminal law and procedure; estate plan-ning and probate and real estate.Testing time: Examinees have a 30-day windowto start the test and have up to two years to com-plete it, including retakes. Results are released 30days after the closing of the test window.When offered: Three times per year in January,May and September.Certification renewal: Every five years, with 50hours of CLE credit (including five hours of ethics)required.Eligibility requirements: Vary based on level ofeducation and experience.Cost: $250 for members; $275 for non-members.Website: www.nala.org

NALS examName: Professional Paralegal Exam. NALS alsoo ffe r s t h e Acc re d i te d Le g a l S e c re t a r y a n dProfessional Legal Secretary certification examsfor legal professionals.Credential earned: PP, ALS, PLSFirst year offered: 2004Test structure: Four parts: written communi-cations, legal knowledge and skill, ethics andjudgment and all areas of substantive law.Testing time: One day.When offered: First Saturday in March and lastSaturday in September.Certification renewal: Every five years, with75 hours of CLE credit (including five hours ofethics) required.Eligibility requirements: Vary based on levelof education and experience.Cost: Between $150-250 based on which examis taken.Website: www.nals.org

Exam time!Paralegals spent their September crammingfor national, local certification exams

DeVenny Ford Mann Lovelace Dover

� See ExAm page 7

Preparation for Nationwide Certified Paralegal Examination

November 11–13, 2010 • Charlotte, NCRenaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel

For paralegals preparing for the Certified Paralegal exam, those wanting to freshen up their professional skills and knowledge, or for certificated paralegals to fulfill requisite CLE to maintain certification. This will be the only CP Short Course before the January and May 2011 computer-based CP examinations. Now in its 35th year, the CP credential is recognized nationwide as the standard of paralegal professionalism.

The distinguished faculty provides a general overview of the following topics and presents specific knowledge and skills needed by paralegals.

American Legal System—Karen Sanders-West, ACP, JD Judgment & Legal Analysis—Virginia Koerselman Newman, JD Legal Research—Virginia Koerselman Newman, JD Ethics 1 & 2—Kay Kasic, CP Contracts—John W. Dunn, LLB, & Karen M. Dunn, ACP Real Property—John W. Dunn, LLB, & Karen M. Dunn, ACP Business Organizations—Connie Kretchmer, ACP, & Virginia Koerselman Newman, JD Estates & Trusts—Virginia Koerselman Newman, JD, and Connie Kretchmer, ACP

The Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel is an all-suite, smoke-free property located among upscale restaurants and opportunities for shopping, entertainment, and the arts. The suites feature dual-line telephones with voice mail and data ports, microwave ovens and refrigera-tors. There is also a full-service business center. Call (800) 266-9432 and mention this event for the special NALA rate of $99/night. Room reservation deadline is October 18.

Details and online registration at www.nala.org

NALA Members: $390 • Non-members: $450

Continuing Education CreditThis seminar meets the continuing education requirements for Florida Registered Paralegals as set forth in Rule 20–6.1 of the Rules Regulating the Florida Bar. NALA is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider. NALA has Accredited Sponsor Status with the Montana Commission of Legal Education. The Short Course meets the requirements of the NALA Certifying Board for credit toward maintaining Certified Paralegal status. Attendance at all sessions of the program will qualify for a maximum of 20 CLE credits.

1516 S. Boston Ave., Ste. 200 • Tulsa, OK 74119 www.nala.org

Photos Courtesy of Visit Charlotte


ident of the S.C. Upstate ParalegalAssociation.Ford passed the NALA exam in 2007

after taking Mann’s 15-week prep course.She also studied for one to two hoursevery weeknight and up to four hourson weekends for about six months.Ford said preparing for the substan-

tive areas of law questions was the mostdifficult.“My paralegal career has been pre-

dominantly litigation, and even moreparticularly, in medical malpractice, per-sonal injury and construction,” Fordexplained. “Litigation is only one teeny,tiny aspect of [the test], so you do haveto step outside of your comfort zone.”

What certification meansPassage of the exams qualifies para-

legals to use an association-based cre-dential to market themselves andhighlight their qualifications with clientsand lawyers.NALA-certified practitioners are

allowed to append the term “certifiedparalegal” or “certified legal assistant” totheir names on work-related communi-cations. NFPA uses the “registered para-legal” designation.NALS, because it serves other pro-

fessionals such as legal secretaries,offers more than one credential andmore than one test.NALA and NFPA also offer advanced

specialty certification in certain areas oflaw. Both have their own credentials aswell.NFPA is also in the process of devel-

oping a second test, called the ParalegalCore Competency Exam, which will betailored to entry-level paralegals.That new test is expected to roll out

in 2011, according to NFPA presidentGeorgette Lovelace.The exams are all voluntary, but

passage renders proof of competencythat follows paralegals from job to job,said NALA executive director MargeDover.In some cases, passage can also

translate into monetary perks, with someemployers supplementing a newly cer-tified paralegal with a bonus or changein job title, added Lovelace.That’s why so many test-takers report

feeling nervous before taking the exams.“The stakes are high,” acknowledged

Dover. “You don’t want to take it andfail. It’s nationally recognized and willgo with you wherever you go. But youshouldn’t be frightened of it.”DeVenny’s not scared.However, studying has taught her that

the NALA test is no walk in the park.“You’re not doing yourself any favors

if you walk in cold,” DeVenny toldCarolina Paralegal News.Lovelace, of NFPA, agreed.“There are people who can do it, but

I’d say it’s pretty darn risky,” she said.Why do it?

Paralegals say they have differentreasons for sitting for the certificationexams.“For me, it was primarily for pro-

fessional promotion and self-promotion,”said South Carolina paralegal DebraBailey, who passed the NALS exam in1993. “I’m more well-rounded becauseof it.”Bailey, who has been with large firm

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarboroughfor 23 years, said she “hates to admit”that she did not pass the NALS examon her first try. Attempt No. 2 was thecharm.Bailey believes being certified is part

of the reason that she was able to movefrom working in the firm’s municipalfinance group to its executive commit-tee within three years of her start date— particularly because she had noformal paralegal education.“I’m not sure I would have been

considered for that had it not been fortaking the exam and being a part of anassociation,” said Bailey, a member ofLegal Staff Professionals of theMidlands. “I believe that sets us apartsomewhat.”But others are less certain about the

relevance of certification over formaltraining.Robin Giangrande was the first para-

legal in South Carolina to be certifiedthrough NFPA, according to the asso-ciation’s website.She hurried to pursue certification in

2000 because NFPA — who rolled outthe PACE exam in 1996 — was stilloffering a grandfathering period wherebyparalegals with no formal educationcould sit for the exam.Giangrande said she didn’t need the

credential at the time because she wasworking in her then-husband’s lawoffice.However, “it had interesting ramifi-

cations when I would apply for jobs inthe future because despite the certifica-tion, I would still be excluded becauseI didn’t have a degree,” saidGiangrande.But that sentiment is starting to

change in the legal community.Employers are more frequently

including certification credentials in theirhiring qualifications, Lovelace said.Still, Mann told CPN the prevailing

explanation paralegals give for pursu-ing certification is the sense of personalaccomplishment they feel when theypass the exams.“It’s very validating for the men and

women in this career field who don’totherwise get a whole lot of validation,”she said.Editor’s note: For paralegals prepar-

ing for the next NALA exam, the asso-ciation is offering an exam review shortcourse Nov. 11-13 at the RenaissanceCharlotte Suites Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

FEATURE

Exam� Continued from page 6


Q&A: JAMIE EARLY

FacingUPL?Get anew job, Early saysJamie Early is the current president

of Legal Staff Professionals of SouthCarolina. Early is a paralegal in the lawdepartment of BlueCross BlueShield ofSouth Carolina. Here, she tells CarolinaParalegal News what she thinks thefuture holds for the paralegal profes-sion.

CPN: What, if any, formal educationdo you have in the legal field?Early: I have one year of under-

graduate studies, which included busi-ness law, accounting and businessadministration. Most of my educationhas come from the experience ofworking in private law firms, practic-ing in all areas of the legal field, forthe 28 years prior to my present positionin a corporate law department where Icontinue to learn.

CPN: What degrees or certificatesdo you hold?Early: I hold two national certifica-

tions through NALS…the associationfor legal professionals. I earned my PLS(professional legal secretary) certifica-tion in 1994 by passing all seven partsof a two-day examination.In 2004, NALS offered its inaugural

PP exam, which I took at the associa-tion’s headquarters in Tulsa, Okla. Ipassed, becoming the first certified PPin South Carolina.

CPN: How have paralegal respon-sibilities changed since you began yourcareer?

Early: I think paralegal responsibil-ities have evolved out of the duties ofthe legal secretary, which is the posi-tion I held when I began my career over30 years ago. For small firms, the rolesof support staff remain pretty inter-changeable and titles are not so dis-tinctive, while the large firms havespecific designations and duties for thelegal secretary, administrative assistant,legal assistant and paralegal.In my opinion, the main change in

responsibilities for the paralegal is theindependence in work product withbilling capabilities, but always under thesupervision of an attorney. Paralegalsare assuming many of the traditionalresponsibilities reserved at one time forattorneys only.

CPN: What are your feelings aboutthe mandatory licensing of paralegals?Early: Mandatory licensing of para-

legals would define the gray areas andsort the wheat from the chaff, so tospeak. While I am not a stickler forposition titles personally and am proudof my background as a legal secretary,I do feel there are those staff personswho call themselves a paralegal whenthey don’t know as much yet as a goodlegal secretary.There are also those attorneys who

promote their staff as paralegals tosound better to clients being billed.Therefore, I think mandatory licensing isa good idea from the experience andcapability standpoint of staff in defin-ing who can do the actual job as

opposed to justholding the actualtitle itself.

CPN: If licen-sing was man-dated, who do youthink should be incharge of it?Early: I think

a paralegal divi-sion of the S.C.Bar would be aneffective instrument in the licensing ofparalegals. This division could then gaininput from the various national legalstaff associations as well.CPN: What characteristics do you

think someone wanting to get into theparalegal profession should have?Early: Since I have “survived”

working for attorneys for over 30 years,I guess I can safely say that beingorganized and a perfectionist are my topcharacteristics. Any staff position in thelegal field is detail-oriented, and the lawdemands that everything has to be doneexactly right.The ability to effectively communi-

cate and ask questions is extremelyimportant. After all, you don’t knoweverything and your attorney doesn’teither. You need to be willing to explorethings with initiative and creativity, espe-cially in today’s world of computers andInternet information.You need to be able to think things

through completely. You have to beready to follow rules and procedures,and keep up with them since theychange constantly. With many morecharacteristics that could be discussed, Iwill just say that your prioritizing skillswill be used every day and every hourto assist with the stressful situations thatcan arise in any given moment in thelegal field.

CPN: What are the best and worstduties for a paralegal?Early: I think the best duty is the

interaction that you have with clients.The appreciation shown by a client

whom you have helped is a feeling thatcannot be measured. In extendedmatters, you become like a best friendor family member to a client, especiallysince you are sometimes the first, andusually the most frequent, contact inyour law firm. Just a kind word andsmile can put a client at ease and makeyour day better as well.The worst duty for me would be to

have to deal with an attorney who con-stantly procrastinates, making it diffi-cult to get your work done in a timelymanner and to ensure that he maintainshis responsibilities as well. Time is veryprecious in a law firm and it does notneed to be wasted on repeated remindersof actions that should have already beenaccomplished.

CPN: Has an employer ever put youin a situation that made you questionif it was unauthorized practice?Early: No, I am very fortunate that

I have never been put in the positionof the possibility of the unauthorizedpractice of law. If it were ever to takeplace, I would not hesitate to refuse todo what the attorney asked and remindhim of the Rules of ProfessionalConduct, and then I would immediatelystart looking for another job.

CPN: What, if anything, do youforesee changing in the future forpersons employed in the profession?Early: While paralegals have

assumed many of the responsibilitiesthat were once done by attorneys, thenew generation of attorneys is becom-ing more self-supporting and self-suf-ficient, especially with today’stechnology. Yet the paralegal profes-sion is still evolving such that someattorneys themselves are not even surewhat a paralegal can or should do. Ifirmly believe that attorneys willalways need paralegals and that attor-neys are recognizing the value of agood paralegal with the fast-changingtimes. The future will hopefully bringa true team-oriented relationshipbetween the two professionals.

Early

AvailabilityDependabilitySpeed

� Court Reporting and LegalTranscription Services

� Available When and Where You Need it� Reporters located across North Carolinaand Across the Country

� Standard, Expedited, Realtime, Livenote,Videography, Videosynch,Videoconferencing, Translation andInterpretation Services, Standard/Condensed/ASCII/E-Tran

� Toll Free Statewide and Nationwide Scheduling� Anywhere� Any time� Attorney Owned and Operated

One Stop Shop For All YourCourt Reporting Needs

Charlotte Raleigh(704) 543-7103 (919) 832-4114(800) 289-1017 (800) 289-1017

www.crsdepo.com


Scott Coates is a paralegal for attor-ney Cynthia L. Alleman in Asheville,N.C. He focuses his work on adultguardianship, incompetency and estateplanning and probate issues. Coatesgraduated from Asbury College inKentucky with a degree in music andmedia communications. In addition tobeing a paralegal, he is the organist forSkyland United Methodist Church inAsheville.

CPN: How long have you been aparalegal?Coates: About three years.

CPN: What drew you into the career?Coates: A brief foray into media law

in a television production class incollege piqued my curiosity about law.Becoming a paralegal seemed like alogical step to see if law might be agood career for me.

CPN: When you talk with otherparalegals, what are the main concernsor issues they face on a daily basis?Coates: I have very little interaction

with other paralegals and when I do inter-act, it’s only about cases our attorneysare working on.

CPN: If you could snap your fingersand create the perfect CLE, what would

it be and why?C o a t e s :

Drafting theperfect will in acinch and otherestate planningissues.

CPN: Whenyou were a kid,what did youwant to be whenyou grew up?Coates: A radio announcer and later

on, I wanted to be a veterinarian.

CPN: Knowing what you know now,if you weren’t a paralegal, what elsewould you want to do?Coates: I’m a part-time church musi-

cian now, and if I weren’t a paralegal Iwould probably pursue church music asa full-time career, or pursue media (suchas television production or film) becausemedia communications was my secondmajor in college.

CPN: What do you wish you knewwhen you were getting started in theprofession that you know now?Coates: How to do my job! I had

no experience at all as a paralegalwhen I became one and the first fewmonths were very stressful as I was

Q&A: SCOTT COATES

Noprior experiencemakes firstmonthson the job ‘stressful,’ paralegal says

PUbLiShEr

TONYAMATHIS, [email protected]

EDiTOriAL

DIANAO. SMITH, CPNManaging [email protected]

TERESA BRUNO, Esq.,Opinions [email protected]

FREDERICKHORLBECK, J.D., [email protected]

PAULTHARP, Esq., [email protected]

SYLVIA ADCOCK, [email protected]

CirCULATiON

mAggY JONES, Circulation,Marketing& Events [email protected]

SUEHARDEE,Sales&[email protected]

ADvErTiSiNg

JENNIFERCLEMENCE,[email protected]

SHARONLIPPS,[email protected]

KATHERINELEWIS,[email protected]

ArT

MICHAEL D. ZELLMER, [email protected]

JIM SLEEPER,[email protected]

NOELLE EDWARDS ,[email protected]

ADmiNiSTrATivE

MIREILLE SEGER, [email protected]

NELL FRANKE, Administrative [email protected]

ThE DOLAN COmPANY

JAMES P. DOLAN, Chairman, President/CEO

SCOTT J. POLLEI, Executive Vice President/CFO

MARKW.C. STODDER, Vice President/Newspapers

© Carolina Paralegal News. Material maynot be republished, resold, recorded, orused in any manner, in whole or in part,without the publisher’s explicit consent.Any infringement will be subject to legalredress.

Established 2007Circulation to S.C. and N.C. Paralegals

Published monthly byNorth Carolina Lawyers Weekly

and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly1-800-876-5297

Questions or comments:1-800-876-5297x12

Carolina Paralegal News is publishedmonthly by N.C. Lawyers Weekly,107 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601and S.C. Lawyers Weekly, 701 GervaisStreet, Columbia, S.C. Standard postagepaid at Raleigh, N.C. and additionalmailing offices.

taking in and learning a ton of newinformation.

CPN: What is the best thing aboutyour job?Coates: Being able to assist people

who want to help their loved ones. Itis always wonderful to hear from aclient who is grateful to us and appre-ciates the work we did for them.

CPN: And what part of your jobcould you do without?Coates: Difficult and demanding

clients who want everything yesterday,but don’t provide the information werequested from them. Occasionally, attor-neys can be a little on the moody side(but my employer apologizes!).

CPN: What one thing, either per-sonally or professionally, are you mostproud of?Coates: Compliments from the Clerk

of Court’s office that they are verypleased with my work.

CPN: Where would we find you onthe weekends?Coates: Hiking on the Blue Ridge

Parkway, attending a classical musicconcert or people-watching in downtownAsheville while drinking some greatwine.

Coates

Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association2010 Annual CPE SeminarFriday, October 8, 2010

Location:Jane S. McKimmon Conference and Training Center

1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC 27606Telephone: 919-515-2277

Members: $185.00Non-members: $275.00Students: $ 75.00

Save $25.00 if you register by August 31, 2010VISIT OURWEBSITE ATWWW.RWPA.NETTO VIEWAND PRINT THEAGENDAANDAPPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION

Space is limited, so get your application in today!This seminar meets the requirements of the Certifying Board for Legal Assistants of theNational Association of Legal Assistants, for continuing legal assistant education creditrequired to maintain the CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) credential in the amount of 6 hours.

This seminar meets the requirements of the North Carolina State Bar for continuingparalegal education credit in the amount of 6 hours (including 1 hour of ethics/professionalresponsibility).

TELL USABOUT YOUR

ACHIEVEMENTS

Carolina Paralegal Newswants to let yourcolleagues know aboutyour successes —whether they be awards,new positions, jobchanges, educationalattainments or any of theother milestones thatmark advancement inyour career. Please sendyour information and ahigh-resolution photo toDiana Smith atd i a n a . s m i t h @nc.lawyersweekly.com.Your announcementcould be the next itemfeatured.


Handgun incident a scary reminder that ethics issues can arise anywhereBy annEttE CHUrCH, special to CPn

It was the first time that I needed togo to the office supply closet at my newjob. I was startled the moment I openedthe door.A handgun lay next to a box of

envelopes. There it was, in plain viewfor anyone to see. Still taken aback, Iquickly retrieved the paper clips Ineeded and returned to my desk.Nearly a year passed before I men-

tioned the gun in the supply closet tothe attorney I worked for.His response was casual. He assured

me it was not loaded and belonged to aclient who asked him to “hold onto it”for him. By now, the gun was just partof the office scenery.This was my first job in the legal

field and I looked forward to going towork each morning. I was the only

employee of a sole practitioner and Ihad developed respect and trust for myattorney. Working in his office providedme the opportunity to learn about trialpreparation and to follow it through toassisting in the courtroom.The job was a wonderful learning

experience and a madcap adventure allrolled into one. This attorney wasalways teaching me the “why” behindour work, which often involved thespectacular aspects of First Amendmentlaw.About two years passed. Then one

morning, my employer called me intohis office.The gun from the supply closet was

in his hands.He instructed me to take the weapon

from his right hand.When I inquired as to why I needed

to do so, his response was pointed: “To

get the feel of the gun.”Initially, I did not think his absurd

request was serious. He had a historyof being an elaborate practical jokester.If this was his idea of pulling me intoone, I was going to bow out right fromthe start.Our dialogue continued back and

forth until I reached a point of exasper-ation. My attorney would not let it go.What was I going to do? Countless

uncertainties flooded my mind.I had to make a quick decision.

Either way, if he intended this as somesort of bizarre joke, it was too creepyfor me.The other point — which I hadn’t

processed yet — was that the door to amyriad of ethical issues had just beenblown wide open.As uncomfortable as the circum-

stances were, I had only one option and

did what I hadnot done prior tothat moment: Irefused to dosomething mye m p l o y e rrequested me todo.

Mockingly, hechuckled at myresponse.

Trembling insilence, I exitedhis office and

returned to my desk.I was angry. He had not been joking,

and he meant for me to take the weaponfrom him. Only when I refused did heattempt to lighten the situation. Hiseffort to convince me he was merelyhaving fun at my expense was in vain.Regretfully, this attorney’s law career

later unraveled for his involvement inactivities prior to the date he hired me.Within a few days after I resigned

from my job, the North Carolina StateBar took the situation into their hands.The erratic behavior I witnessed in

the last months of my employmentbewildered and confused me. Comingto terms with the reality that myemployer was not the person I hadbelieved him to be was difficult.For many months following the

chaos, people would often commentabout how sorry they were I hadworked for this particular attorney.Knowing they meant well, I understoodthe kindness intended by the remarks.Yet as much as I was dismayed by

the attorney’s dishonorable activities, Ihad no regrets I worked for him. Ireceived hands-on education as we pre-pared for federal court cases and theexperiences of the cases themselves areirreplaceable.During the subsequent State Bar

investigation, I was told I was going tobe interviewed. Having no idea what toexpect, I was fearful.Was I going to be implicated by

association? Did I need to have anattorney?I called a lawyer who was a family

friend. He was with me at the inter-view.Ironically, he asked me a question

that shocked me more than any of thoseasked by the State Bar attorneys:“Is there anything you need to tell me,Annette?”“No,” I replied.He said he just had to make certain.“As difficult as this may be, you

must answer all of their questions. Ifyou find yourself struggling, look at me.You have to tell them the truth, evenif you think there is a possibility it mayimplicate your prior employer. Yousimply must,” he instructed.My attorney-friend was wise. He

knew I was still conflicted. I still wasnot convinced the attorney I had workedfor was as wicked as the rumors aroundtown were indicating.However, I also knew that some-

where, something had gone very wrong.A few weeks later, at 7:10 a.m. on a

weekday, my telephone rang.When I answered, one of the Bar

investigators told me that the newsregarding my prior employer had beenleaked to the local press. He said hehad done his best to keep my name outof it. However, he wanted to let meknow ahead of time to be prepared, justin case.I appreciated his professionalism,

both as an attorney and investigator. Hehad a diligent work ethic and the qual-ities of someone I would be proud tocall my boss. As I set out to look formy next job, I used him as my stan-dard.Editor’s note: Annette G. Church is

an N.C. State Bar-certified paralegalwith Ted A. Greve and Associates ofCharlotte.

YOU ARE THE LINK!

Church


North Carolina BarAssociation Paralegal DivisionUpcoming events:• Oct. 13: 2010 NCBA Paralegal Divisionand Research Triangle Paralegal Associationcareer fair at the N.C. Bar Center, 8000Weston Parkway, Cary.Notes• Visit www.paralegaldivision.ncbar.org

for information about news and informationabout upcoming meetings and CLEs.

North Carolina ParalegalAssociation, Inc.Notes:• Remember that the CLA/CP exam is now

computer-based. The deadline to register forthe next testing window is Dec. 1. The examwill be available from Jan. 1 through Jan. 31,2011. E-mail [email protected] details.• The NCPA will be sponsoring an essay

contest for its annual student scholarshipprogram this fall. Any paralegal studentenrolled in an accredited North Carolinaparalegal educational program is eligible.The official start date for applications is Oct.1. Visit www.ncparalegal.org for details.• Any paralegal association that is inter-

ested in becoming an affiliate of NCPA maycontact affiliates director Teresa Stacey [email protected].• NCPA is now on Facebook and

MySpace. Contact Beverly King at [email protected] if you have trouble locatingNCPA on Facebook. For MySpace questions,e-mail Erin Galloway at [email protected].• Thanks to everyone who participated

in the NCPA 2010 Paralegal Utilization andCompensation Survey. For full survey results,www.ncparalegal.org.

N.C. State Bar Boardof Paralegal Certification• The board will have an open seat for a

certified paralegal beginning October 2010and the nomination process has begun. Thefollowing paralegal associations may submit

nominations: N.C. Bar Association ParalegalDivision, Research Triangle ParalegalAssociation, Alamance Paralegal Associationand Asheville Paralegal Association.Tara Wilder, assistant director of the

Board of Paralegal Certification, will contacteach association to submit nominees. Votingwill take place online, and the top two can-didates will be up for selection at the StateBar Council meeting in October.Certified paralegals interested in serving

on the board should contact one of the eli-gible paralegal associations and request anomination.

N.C. Advocates forJustice Paralegal DivisionUpcoming events:• Oct. 15: N.C. Advocates for Justice Fall

Conference for Paralegals, Grove Park Inn,Asheville. Attendees are eligible for 6 CPEhours, including one ethics hour. Topics tobe covered include: proper procedure forfiling, UM/UIM considerations and proce-dures, preserving evidence, technology,workers’ compensation administrative filingsand ethics issues for paralegals. For moreinformation or to register, visitwww.ncaj.com.

Research TriangleParalegal AssociationUpcoming events:• The Research Triangle Paralegal

Association meetings occur the thirdWednesday of June, August and October. Aholiday meeting will occur in December.• Oct. 13: 2010 NCBA Paralegal Division

and Research Triangle Paralegal Associationcareer fair at the N.C. Bar Center, 8000Weston Parkway, Cary.Notes:• RTPA regularly supports Interact of

Wake County (www.interactofwake.org) andchallenges you and your firms or compa-nies to get involved. Please visit ourwebsite at www.rtpanc.org for additionalinformation about upcoming meetings andevents.

Metrolina Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• Monthly membership meetings: Second

Thursday of each month at 12 p.m. at St.Peter’s Episcopal Church, 115 W. 7th St.,Charlotte.Notes:• MPA is now on Facebook and

LinkedIn.

Asheville Area Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• Monthly membership meetings occur

the first Thursday of each month at 12 p.m.at a downtown Asheville restaurant. Visitwww. aapaonline.net for meeting details andlocations.• Topics vary from meeting to meeting.

They are posted online at www.aapaon-line.net. RSVP with menu selection isneeded.Notes:• AAPA welcomes its members to submit

articles of interest for potential posting tothe association’s website. Send your sub-missions to Jenny Iaquinto, chair of the pub-licity committee, at [email protected].• AAPA will support MANNA Food

Bank and the Salvation Army in 2010.

Legal Support Staff of AshevilleUpcoming events:• Monthly meetings will be held at 5:30

p.m. on the third Thursday of each month atthe law offices of Northup, McConnell &Sizemore, 123 Biltmore Ave., Asheville. Nomembership necessary to attend. ContactSusan D. Austin at [email protected] for details.

Catawba Valley Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• Monthly meetings are held the second

Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at variouslocations. Membership is open to paralegals,legal assistants, legal secretaries, attorneys, stu-dents enrolled in paralegal programs of study,paralegal educators, employees of judicial enti-

ties and other recognized legal agencies.For more information, visit

http://www.catawbavalleyparalegalassoc.org.• Oct. 12: Election of new officers at 6

p.m. at CVCC.Notes:• For membership inquiries, contact

Cyndy Adams at [email protected] or Leah Poovey at [email protected].

Cumberland County Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• Monthly membership meetings: Second

Thursday of each month at 12:30 p.m. atvarious locations. Visit www.ccpara.com fordetails.

Guilford Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• GPA meets on the second Tuesday of

every month in either Greensboro or HighPoint. Meetings are open to any attorneys,legal support staff and others connected tothe legal profession. Visit GPA’s website atwww.guilfordparalegalassociation.org forinformation on meetings, events and localcontinuing education opportunities.

Raleigh-Wake Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• For 2010, RWPA membership meetings

will occur bi-monthly. Meetings will takeplace from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the secondWednesday of February, April, June, August,October and December at the Holiday Inn,4100 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh. Featured ateach luncheon are guest speakers from avariety of practice areas and local businesses.The 2010 annual seminar will not be affectedby the change and will proceed as scheduled.• Oct. 8: RWPA annual CPE seminar

from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the McKimmonConference & Training Center, 1101 GormanSt., Raleigh.Notes:• Any questions about RWPA can be

directed to Sherry Grady [email protected].

SEND US YOUr NEWS:Carolina Paralegal News is happy topublish announcements of upcoming events, as-sociation anniversaries or meetings scheduled foryour paralegal organization. Please e-mail yournews to [email protected] byOct. 30 for the next issue.

Charleston Associationof Legal AssistantsUpcoming events:• Membership meetings are held the third

Wednesday of each month. Attendees canearn CLE credits for their participation inthe luncheons.• Dec. 2: CALA holiday party at the

Charleston Yacht Club.Notes:• CALA is now on Facebook. Log in to

the website and enter “CharlestonAssociation of Legal Assistants” to accessthe page.

S.C. Upstate Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• Educational luncheon meetings are held

on the second Thursday of the month at12:30 p.m. at the Poinsett Club, 807 E.Washington St., Greenville.• Oct. 1: 15th annual seminar, Embassy

Suites Hotel, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville.

Legal Staff Professionalsof GreenvilleUpcoming events:• LSPG’s regular membership meetings

are on the third Wednesday of every monthfrom 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Poinsett Club.The meetings offer educational speakers andone half-hour of CLE credit. For reserva-tions, contact Myra Culbertson at 864-239-5959 or at [email protected] or LauraHarling at 864-232-8722 or at laurabhar-

[email protected].• Oct. 21-24: NALS 59th Annual

Education Conference & National Forum inBranson, Mo.• Oct. 22: LSPG probate court seminar

from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at theGreenville County Probate Court.• Nov. 21: Membership drive. Details

TBA.• Dec. 3: LINKS deadline.Notes:• For membership inquiries, contact Laura

Harling at 864-232-8722 or [email protected]. Please visit www.lspg.orgfor updates and additional information.• Members who are interested in receiv-

ing the Greenville Bar Association’s newslet-ter can contact Melinda Davidson [email protected] to be added to the dis-tribution list.

Legal Staff Professionalsof South CarolinaUpcoming events:• Oct. 21-24: NALS 59th Annual

Education Conference & National Forum inBranson, Mo.Notes:• LSPSC is continuing to support the

S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violenceand Sexual Assault. Donated items mayinclude paper towels, toilet tissue, paperitems, cups, plates, napkins, utensils,envelopes, stationery, personal items, barsof soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush,

sanitary products, diapers and baby wipes.• For LSPSC information, please contact

Tara Jean Prevatte at 864-271-7940 or visitwww.lspsc.org.

Legal Staff Professionalsof the LowcountryUpcoming events:• Regular membership meetings are held

on the third Monday of every month at 6p.m., Sunfire Grill & Bistro, 1090 SamRittenberg Blvd, Charleston. The meetingsoffer educational speakers and one hour ofCLE credit and a short business meeting.For reservations or additional information,please contact Jennifer Cook at (843) 724-1115 or [email protected].

Legal Staff Professionals of the MidlandsUpcoming events:

• Regular membership meeting on thesecond Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m.,1320 Main St., Meridian Building, 17thFloor, Columbia. A presentation by a legaleducation speaker will earn members a half-hour of CLE credit. A short business meetingwill follow. Bring your lunch and a friend!For additional information, please contactJamie Early at (803) 422-6813.

Palmetto Paralegal AssociationUpcoming events:• Regular membership meetings on the

third Wednesday of each month from 12:30to 2 p.m.

• Sept. 30: Deadline for scholarshipessays.• Oct. 15: PPA’s 20th annual seminar at

the Columbia Convention Center. The reg-istration fee is $70 for students and $135for all other attendees. Some of the topicscovered will be: electronic discovery, realestate, workers’ compensation, mediation,ethics, wills/trusts/probate, civil litigation,personal injury and federal electronic court-rooms. For more information, contactVictoria Baker at [email protected].• Nov. 17: Annual business meeting and

election of new officers.• Nov. 30: Deadline for Paralegal of the

Year nominations.• Dec. 8: Holiday social.• Dec. 31: All CLE credits due to edu-

cation chair.

S.C. Association ofRoster AdministratorsUpcoming events:• Regular membership meetings on the

third Tuesday of each month from 1 to 2:15p.m. at various law firms in Columbia. Visitwww.scrosteradministrators.org for moredetails.• Oct. 19: Annual elections meeting.

News:• The S.C. Roster Administrators has

announced the members of its current lead-ership. They are: Laurie Jennings, president;Sharon Hyland, vice president and Jay-JayFlanagan-Granneman, secretary.

National Association of Legal AssistantsNotes:• NALA Campus LIVE provides online educational courses

for paralegals. The courses are offered during two sessions peryear. Twelve of the 44 courses offered through the program arerecommended as preparation for the certified paralegalexamination.For more information, visit www.nala.org.

• Starting in the fall, the NALA certification exam will be com-puter-based. The new exam format will be available at all NALAtesting centers nationwide.

National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.Upcoming events:• A calendar of upcoming events and webcasts can be found at

http://www.paralegals.org/calendar.cfm.

NorthCarolina

SouthCarolina

National

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Call 1-800-451-9998www.sclawyersweekly.com

THE INDUSTRYIS ALWAYSEVOLVING.

Prepare yourself, your �rmand your clients to adapt to

the changing landscape of the law.

Get your own subscription today.

september2010issue examtime!€¦ · examtime! paralegals spent their september cramming for...

Documents