It s great to be a Paralegal! Volume XLV No. 20 Spring Delaware Paralegal Association. The First Stop for Paralegals in the First State

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1 Volume XLV No. 20 Spring 2014 Delaware Paralegal Association The First Stop for Paralegals in the First State Visit In This Issue: President s Message 2 New Members 3 New DCP s 4 Get Yourself Out There 5 National Affairs 6 What is the LLLT Rule 7 Appreciation Letter 9 Annual Meeting Notice 11 Board of Directors 15 It s great to be a Paralegal!

2 Spring 2014, Page 2 Becoming a Paralegal How did you know this was the profession for you? By Shannon J. Hamlin, DCP President, I started my legal career in 2003 working as a bankruptcy ligation clerk for Bayard P.A. The world of litigation was exciting to me. It was fast-paced and the rush of trying to beat the clock for a midnight filing deadline was exhilarating. Watching the paralegals prepare the attorneys for court, draft hearing agendas and anticipating what the attorney needed before he or she even asked was thrilling to me. I was amazed! I was hooked right then and there. I knew this was the profession for me. While employed at Bayard, I was enrolled in school working towards obtaining my paralegal certificate. Once I graduated and had this fancy piece of paper in my hands, I thought ok, so now what do I do with this? I had all these great credentials, degrees and now a paralegal certificate but no experience working as a paralegal. I was determined to work hard to prove to myself and to the firm that I was a valuable asset and I had the skill set to be a paralegal. My initiative and drive did not go unnoticed. I was fortunate enough to have two seasoned paralegals at Bayard notice that I had potential. They took me under their wings and basically showed me the ropes. I would sit with them side-by-side, prepare hearing binders, drafting pleadings and preparing documents for court service. They took the time to give me the hands-on training and experience I needed to advance my career. As paralegals, we may not always receive the recognition or praise for all our hard work, the painstaking hours or for our dedication and commitment. So, with that being said, thank you Tiffany Matthews and Walter Cavers for seeing my potential and for taking the time to show the new kid on the block the ins and outs of the paralegal profession. Thank you for pushing me out on that ledge (without a life jacket) and making me jump in feet first! Now, after being a paralegal for over 10 years, I am truly grateful for the path I have chosen. Being a paralegal is extremely rewarding and gratifying. It is a profession that is respected and is constantly evolving. We paralegals are taking on more challenging roles, our duties have expanded, and attorneys are truly seeing how valuable our positions are. As I asked in the title of this article, How did you know this was the profession for you? Did you always know that you wanted to be a paralegal? Did you have a Tiffany or a Walter guiding you along the path? Or is being a paralegal a second career choice for you? Well DPA wants to hear from you! Tell us how and why you decided to become a paralegal and we will publish your experience in the next newsletter. Let us know what inspired you to make this wonderful career choice!

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4 Spring 2014, Page 4 use the designation Delaware Certified Paralegal or DCP. On May 12, 2005, the Board of Directors approved the Delaware Certified Paralegal (DCP) Program in an effort to continue to promote a high level of education and professionalism, and to encourage continuing legal education for Delaware paralegals. Paralegals seeking the DCP certification must be Full members of DPA, and meet certain education and work experience requirements to submit an application. This is a voluntary certification program. The DCP Committee will examine the qualifications of each applicant for certification and determine whether the applicant meets the necessary requirements. Approved applicants will be issued a certificate indicating certification by the DPA. The paralegal can then use the designation Delaware Certified Paralegal or DCP. Paralegals who are approved for DCP certification must follow DPA s Code of Ethics and renew their certification status every two years. The renewal process consists of completing at least eight hours of continuing legal education with at least one of the eight hours covering ethics. DCP CLE credits will be offered at various monthly DPA lecture luncheons, lunch & learns and other CLE events throughout the year. In addition, there are many other avenues for DCPs to pursue to obtain applicable CLE credit. Please see for more information and for an application. C ommittee will examine the qualifications of each applicant for certification and determine whether the applica meetthe DPA. The paralegal can then use the designation Delaware Certified Paralegal or DCP. We are also pleased to announce our newest Delaware Certified Paralegals! Ashley Venett CONGRATULATIONS! Just a reminder: Each member is responsible to retain their own CLE certificates, they can not be replaced. The does not retain copies. Helpful hint: Make a notebook or folder and store your CLE s there as soon as you receive them.

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7 Spring 2014, Page 7 What is the LLLT Rule and Why is it Important to You? By Alyson D. Poppiti, DCP Board Advisor & nominee for National Affairs Director

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15 Spring 2014, Page 15 Board Directory Website: OFFICERS Shannon J. Hamlin, DCP President Steve Bridgett, DCP Vice-President Kristine Neuhauser, DCP Secretary Adam Kuhn, DCP Treasurer DIRECTORS Heidi Coleman, AACP, DCP Membership Amanda Willey, DCP Programs Cathy Greer, DCP CLE Sharyn Hallman, DCP Job Bank Susan Mayer Smith, DCP Newsletter Mary J. Quinn, DCP Pro Bono Patricia Finn Magee Public Relations Sandra A. Rothermel, DCP Information Technology Tiffany Matthews, DCP Special Projects Stephanie A. McConaghy, DCP National Affairs Jennifer Dill, DCP Kent County Kristin Timmons, DCP Sussex County Vacant Director-at-Large Alyson D. Poppiti, DCP Board Advisor OUR MISSION To promote and maintain high standards and ethics in the profession, to provide a forum for the exchange of information about the profession, to enhance the role of paralegals in the legal community and to encourage the continuing legal education of paralegals.

16 Spring 2014, Page 16 Advertise in The Reporter Per Issue Full Year 1/4 page $80 $280 1/2 page $100 $360 Full page $120 $400 The Reporter is published four times per year. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute DPA endorsement. Those interested in advertising should contact SUSAN MAYER SMITH, DCP, Newsletter Editor. The Reporter is the official publication of the. The subscription rate is included in the membership dues. Non-members may also subscribe for $50 per year. Articles published in The Reporter reflect the views and opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of DPA, its editors or officers. The information published is based solely on submitted written material, and DPA assumes no responsibility for verification of the information submitted. Articles may not be reprinted without the consent of DPA and the author. DPA does not endorse the opinions, services or products appearing in published articles or advertisements. Letters to the Editor are encouraged, but they must be signed in order to be published. The Editor reserves the right to edit material for clarity and space.