New Organization for Healthcare Paralegals Launches

Robin Margolis is at it again.  This industrious paralegal has started another organization for paralegals that fits the current trends in the field.  The Healthcare Paralegal Federation has been formed to meet the needs of healthcare paralegals, paralegals interested in learning more about healthcare law specializations, and legal professionals who are...

Critical Need for e-Discovery Certification & The OLP

Today’s screaming for qualified e-discovery professionals has reached an unprecedented volume. Recently, Socha-Gelbman published an overview of the results of their annual survey on the Legal Technology News site. One of the most important single observations from it is the shortage of expertise in the market-place with providers, law firms and corporations reported as “fighting each other...

Why Would the S.C. Bar Stifle Competency Improvement?

According to the Carolina Paralegal News, South Carolina paralegals won't be seeing voluntary certification and registration any time soon. The South Carolina House of Delegates has tabled a proposal for paralegals to start a voluntary certification program for paralegals.  The delegates referred a proposed Certified Paralegal Program back to the Paralegal Task Force which...

The Organization of Legal Professionals – An association worth joining

The Organization of Legal Professionals, a non-profit organization has launched its membership drive.  Dedicated to certification of e-Discovery and other areas in the legal field, this association has attracted some of the top lawyers and legal professionals in the country and abroad. Dedicated to certification through education and collaboration, The OLP's goals include e-discovery...

Stealth But Powerful Paralegal Organization Celebrates 25th Birthday

This year is the 25th anniversary of the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA).  Surprisingly, not everyone has heard of this influential and powerful association, even after all these years. In fact, compared to associations such as NFPA and NALA, it keeps a comparatively low profile. Yet, the organization is comprised of over 600 paralegal managers in the U.S. and...

Fort Worth paralegal named Legal Professional of the Year

Hearty congratulations to Leslie Stokes for receiving this award reported by Pegasus News:"Leslie G. Stokes, Certified PP, PLS, TSC-CL, at the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C., in Fort Worth, has been named Legal Professional of the Year for 2007-2008 by the Texas Association of Legal Professionals. "Ms. Stokes, a native of Fort Worth, was presented with the award at the Texas ALP's...

Paralegals ‘Adopt’ Military Paralegals

This article from the Richmond (KY) Register -- "Showing you care may be easier than you think" -- shows how you can help support US troops:"Receiving a package from someone special is always exciting, but for troops serving overseas, it’s a little piece of home. "Many people may think it’s a good idea to send some goodies to our men and women who are at war, but don’t...

Conspicuous Hole in [Paralegal] Ethics Training

This commentary in Law.com by an experienced paralegal surprised me. What's your reaction? "For all the talk of the need to prevent ethics transgressions in the legal profession, a glaring education gap exists for one group: paralegals. "Usually, it does not rise to the level of a topic to be covered -- until there is a problem. It generally crops up after an unintentional violation of...

“Florida Supreme Court hears paralegal rule argument”

Paralegals working in Florida will want to keep an eye on the proceedings outlined in the Jacksonville Daily Record:"The Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL) program was established by the Supreme Court of Florida to protect the public against harm caused by unlicensed individuals practicing law. "This program is a proposal only. It has been approved by the Board of Governors of The Florida...

“A Paralegal’s View of The ABA Techshow”

Excellent review of the ABA Legal Techshow posted on the Indiana Paralegal Association blog:"As I write this article, I am on the train heading back from Chicago after four (4) days of legal tech submersion at the annual the America Bar Association Legal Techshow. The ABA Techshow is an annual gathering of the most prominent legal techies from across the country and some say in the entire...