July 1, OPA s fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31 of each year. For the 2013 fiscal year the membership of OPA is 40 as follows:

Transcription

1 Oklahoma Paralegal Association Annual Report July 1, 2016 The Oklahoma Paralegal Association ( OPA ) was formed in October, 1985, with the purpose of providing a forum for legal education and professional growth for legal assistants throughout the State of Oklahoma and in furtherance of the delivery of quality legal services. It is paralegals working together for the fellowship of members, education achievements, ethical attainment, and participation with legal associations, state legislatures, and other legal professionals in the community for the advancement of the paralegal profession. Membership OPA s fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31 of each year. For the 2013 fiscal year the membership of OPA is 40 as follows: Active Members: 37 Student Members: 1 Sustaining Members: 1 Honorary Members: 0 Associate Members: 1 Website OPA has a website that includes news, officers, calendar of upcoming events, and links to ABA approved paralegal programs throughout the state. Oklahoma Paralegal Association 127 N.W. 18 th Street 73103

2 Education OPA offers seminars three times through the year: Spring, Fall and Summer. They are held throughout the state so as to encompass any paralegal that wishes to attend. In the fall of 2015, the seminar was held in Midwest City, OK and included 5.0 hours of CLE including hours of ethics. Our Annual Meeting Seminar was held in November, 2016 in Guthrie, OK and included 4.0 of CLE with hours of Ethics. The spring seminar had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Our next seminar is schedule for August, Seminar topics have included the following: Date Speaker Topic CLE August 15, 2015 November 14, 2015 Carrie L. Foster, Attorney Norman, OK Ted N. Pool, attorney Sheila Sewell, US Federal Bankruptcy Court, Western Dist. of Oklahoma Ellen Buettner, Director of Operations OK Dept of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Mark Ready, Attorney Piedmont, OK Debbie Overstreet, ACP NALA Treasurer Porter, OK Kent Frates, Attorney President OPA Michelle Harrington, Attorney Paralegals and the Oklahoma Financial Privacy Act Helping Paralegals Navigate the Open Records Act The Basics of Bankruptcy Court Filings and Proceedings Paralegals and Their Role in Helping Attorneys Maintain Ethical Standards When serving in Non- Attorney Roles Wind Energy and the Role of Paralegals Paralegal Education and Participation in NALA: Two Keys towards Being a Versatile Paralegal Oklahoma s Most Notorious Cases Paralegals Role in Ethical Considerations and Ethics Updates The Role of Paralegals for Trial Preparation of Clients Oklahoma Paralegal Association 127 N.W. 18 th Street 73103

3 Awards The Founder s Award In 2014, J. Lynn McKay was the recipient of one of the NALA Affiliated Association Achievement Awards The Founder s Award. J. Lynn has been a paralegal for over 20 years. She has contributed to many paralegal organization including serving as President of the Oklahoma Paralegal Association, a member of the Central Oklahoma Association of Legal Assistants (COALA), National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) and the American Bar Association (ABA). As a member of COALA, she served in numerous leadership positions including First Vice President and Second Vice President and was honored as the organization s Legal Assistant of the Year in J. Lynn also served on the 2008 Early Bird Reception Committee for NALA s annual convention in Oklahoma City. She has played an active role in lobbying to form a paralegal division of the state s bar association. J. Lynn has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association s Paralegal Committee since its reinstatement in 1999, serving as secretary for the Chairperson in 1999, 2001, and 2002, as well as serving on the Committee s Subcommittee on Qualifications and Definitions and the Division of the OBA Subcommittee. Currently she is serving on the Committee in an advisory capacity. J. Lynn is always striving for the highest standards of excellence and has humbly contributed her expert work for the benefit of the legal profession. Over the years she has used her legal expertise as a co-contributor to the national multi-state treatise Patton and Palomar on Land Titles, Third Edition, Volume 3, Part 2, Muniments of Title (West), author of Chapter 10, Title by Decree, Devise, Descent, Entry, Etc. addressing probate issues relating to real property in all 50 states. She is also a co-author of Chapter 4, Voluntary Conveyancing in Volume 5A, Vernon s Oklahoma Forms Second Edition Real Estate: Oklahoma Real Property Forms and Practice (West). J. Lynn played an important role in the revision of these publications, both of which are vital to the real estate practice of law. Judges, attorneys, legal secretaries, and paralegals would be at a loss without J. Lynn s contributions to both publications. In addition to her full-time employment and her volunteer work with the local and national paralegal associations, Ms. McKay continues to give back to the paralegal community. She is a featured speaker at numerous paralegal events as a subject matter expert in addition to promoting the paralegal profession at state and local colleges. Most recently, J. Lynn was invited by the Oklahoma Bar Association to participate in a continuing legal education program on ethics. J. Lynn has also been an Adjunct Professor in the ABA approved Legal Assistant program at the University of Oklahoma Law School for the past 9 years. Making a Difference Award Brian T. Candelaria was nominated by the Oklahoma Paralegal Association for NALA s Making a Difference Award. When Brian joined the Oklahoma Paralegal Association (OPA), he took OPA s mission Oklahoma Paralegal Association 127 N.W. 18 th Street 73103

4 to heart. He immediately volunteered as Seminar Committee Chairperson, and took on the majority of the responsibilities associated with coordinating quality legal education seminars. Brian has an amazing talent for finding outstanding speakers and unique venues that keep OPA s continuing education programs in great demand. He works tirelessly to make arrangements to find speakers, meeting space, and arrange catering for seminars. Once all arrangements are finalized, Brian confirms with NALA that the seminar qualifies for CLE credit. Brian is the first person at the seminar site and the last person off the site. He goes above and beyond his duties to ensure a flawless event. Brian is an invaluable asset to OPA. Brian s skills as a paralegal rival his volunteer skills. In 2005, Brian completed the University of Oklahoma s Legal Assistant Program and in 2007 he received his Bachelor s Degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Currently, Brian is employed as a paralegal with Resolution Legal Group after working as a Legal Assistant II for Special Counsel and Loss Prevention at CompSource. In addition to his full-time employment and volunteer work for OPA, Brian dedicates his time to worthy causes. While in college he was active in numerous campus councils, including the OU Student Congress. Brian is a trained moderator and mentor for National Issues Forums. OPA Scholarship Award Melissa Milburn was awarded the OPA $500 Scholarship on April 13, 2016 by President, J. Lynn McKay. Melissa attends Rose State College. OPA Board of Directors President Vice President Secretary Treasurer NALA Liaison Regional Directors: Johnanna Oglesby, CLA Cheryl Hassell Ann E. Atkinson, CP Debbie Overstreet, Eastern District Lois Clarkson, Western District Oklahoma Paralegal Association 127 N.W. 18 th Street 73103

5 Committees and Chairpersons OBA Liaison NALA Liaison Budget and Finance Bylaws and Standing Rules Membership/Roster Public Relations OPA Joint Seminar/Hospitality Room Seminar Committee Chair Student Liaison Ann Atkinson, CP Johnanna Oglesby, CLA Cassandra Oliver, ACP Brian T. Candelaria Melissa Milburn Respectfully Submitted, NALA Liaison Oklahoma Paralegal Association 127 N.W. 18 th Street 73103