The Paralegal Press Delivering E-News You Can Use (Newsletter of the Paralegal Section)

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1 October, 2010 The Paralegal Press Delivering E-News You Can Use (Newsletter of the Paralegal Section) Fall Quarterly Edition IN THIS ISSUE ByLaws Adopted 2 August and September General meetings 3 CASA Presentation 4-5 Electronic Data 6-8 Scholarship Winner 9-10 Paralegal Student of the Month 11 JLTLA & CASA Ocean Prime Happy Hour 12 Paralegal of the Month 13 Safe Hands Luncheon 14 DAPA, JLTLA, FWPA Home Run 15 Steps to be a Successful Paralegal 17 Elections Time and Special Announcements President s Message By Carla Dennis, Tax Paralegal, Jones Day Fall is already upon us and we are moving quickly through this membership year. The football season has begun and I know if you are like me, you are looking forward to cooler weather and have started thinking about the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. What a wonderful time of the year when we all enjoy great food, visiting with friends and family members and engaging in all the festivities that come along with the holiday season. My term as President is almost up and I must say it has been a very busy quarter! We signed our First Amended and Restated Bylaws at the July 10 th meeting and are now ready to affiliate with the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ("NALA")! How exciting is that! This has been a long and arduous process, to which we owe most the credit to our Bylaws Chair, Terri Ford, for taking on this tremendous task. In August, our 2010 Fall Scholarship Contest ended and we presented our first ever scholarship to one of our paralegal student members, Rene' Reddick. This was one of many happy moments for me this year! A few years ago, I never would have guessed the Paralegal Section would be giving out a scholarship. Our membership has increased tremendously, and we currently have 57 members and counting! What a great year this has been for the Paralegal Section! Our first newsletter received rave reviews and comments from our members, the attorneys, as well as others that we've provided copies to. Kudos goes out to Andréa Clark for creating such a great newsletter and to Toya Walker for coming up with the name! We have participated in several events this year with the Dallas Black Women Attorneys ("DBWA"), and look forward to joining them again on October 23 rd for the Sparkler at Chief Justice Wright's home. We have had some great speakers and social events the past few months, and have participated in several community service projects. Our participation at the legal clinics this year has been phenomenal!

2 2 THE PARALEGAL PRESS President's Message Continued. Thank you for giving back to the legal community. The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program is a great way to get involved in the community and it is good to see that a lot of our members participate regularly in volunteering at the legal clinics. My hope for the final quarter of my term as President is that everyone will make an effort to get more involved and start recruiting new members for the 2011 membership year. As I've stated before, the association needs your help and support in order to continue to grow and be successful. I would also like for each member to start inviting at least one potential member to a general membership meeting, a social outing, or talk with them about the Paralegal Section and all the great things we've done this year. If we all work together, imagine all the great things we can accomplish. As members, we should all do our part in helping to get the word out about the organization. I hope everyone will plan to join us for all the fun and exciting events we have planned for the remainder of the year! Paralegal Section Adopts and Approves Its First Amended and Restated Bylaws at the July General Membership Meeting (Left to Right) Teri Ford, Toya Walker, Vivian Duren, Tangela Jackson, Georgette Collins, Carla Dennis, and Sandra Key At the July 10, 2010 general membership meeting, the Paralegal Section adopted and approved its First Amended and Restated Bylaws to incorporate language that will allow the Section to affiliate with the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ( NALA ). What a great moment this was for those that have been a part of this process from the very beginning. Terri Ford, the Bylaws Committee Chair worked diligently for several months making the necessary changes and revisions to conform to the requirements of the NALA. The officers wore their Paralegal Section T-shirts to mark this momentous occasion!

3 3 Special Thanks to the August Vendor Sponsor Our vendor sponsor and presenters for the August 14, 2010 general membership meeting were Brian Orr and Michael Conner with icontrol ESI. They gave an informative presentation on their products and services the company offers, which include consulting services, data collection and extraction, ESI processing and repository hosting. Information regarding icontrol ESI may obtained on their website at Special Thanks to the September Vendor Sponsor DATAMAX TEXAS AND DALLAS CASA PRESENTATION AT SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING BY CARLA DENNIS, TAX PARALEGAL, JONES DAY On September 11, 2010 Jeana Simons with Datamax Texas, and Beverly Levy and Lynn Brooks with Dallas CASA gave presentations to the Paralegal Section at our general membership meeting. Datamax Texas, the vendor sponsor for the meeting, is one of the top three independent Canon vendors in the nation, and also supports products such as Konica Minolta, HP and others. They specialize in supporting clients who have an initiative to better manage and control expenses while improving efficiency and productivity. Ms. Simons discussed how the company can successfully align itself with a firm to help eliminate time traps. She spoke specifically on how Datamax can assist paralegals and gave examples on how we can maximize our time and efficiency.

4 4 THE PARALEGAL PRESS Beverly Levy and Lynn Brooks with Dallas CASA gave a presentation to the membership about becoming a volunteer advocate and showed a DVD entitled The Every Day Heroes. As with the presentation given at the Belo, Ms. Levy and Ms. Brooks talked about the process involved in becoming an advocate, the need for paralegal volunteers, the training involved, and how great of a need there is for African-American volunteers. Georgette Collins, JLTLA Paralegal Section past President, spoke on her experience growing up and being raised with foster children in her home. She stated that her mother was a foster parent for 25 years and she can always remember having a foster child in her home from a very early age. She made a plea to the members present to consider becoming an advocate and spoke on what a rewarding experience it was for her and her family. JLTLA & Paralegal Section Joint CASA Informational Session Written by Carla Dennis, Tax Paralegal, Jones Day and Toya Walker, Litigation Paralegal, Allen Stewart, P.C. JLTLA and the Paralegal Section conducted its Informational Session Part II with Dallas CASA at the Belo Mansion on Tuesday, August 24, The meeting was opened up with a video of actual children that CASA assists. Following the video, Lynn Brooks, Dallas CASA Volunteer Recruiter, talked about the need for volunteers. Ms. Brooks explained that each CASA volunteer generally spends approximately fifteen to twenty hours per month working on a child s case. A lot of the time spent working on a case can be done in the evenings or on weekends, but there are several court appearances each year that the volunteer will have to attend, as well as phone calls and occasional meetings scheduled during working hours. Potential volunteer advocates must attend a 30 hour classroom training that will include topics such as dynamics of child abuse and neglect, family violence, permanency planning, court proceedings, and advocate responsibilities. All classes must be completed and the potential volunteers will be evaluated before they are sworn-in as Court Appointed Special Advocates and appointed to a child s case in court. The volunteers also receive 12 hours of continuing education each year and work with a CASA staff supervisor who provides guidance throughout the court process. Attorney and CASA Volunteer Gerard Hudson said a few words to the group which consisted of Karen McCloud, Emmanuel Obi, Carla Dennis, Toya Walker, Phyllis Cephas, Beverly Levy, Jennifer Bell-Garcia, and others. Gerard let the attendees know how rewarding it is to serve as a CASA volunteer. Gerard said the training that he received from CASA helped him to understand the child and what steps to take when trying to figure out the child s interests and needs. Gerard is an attorney, a husband, and a father of three children but he finds time within his full schedule to give back by being a CASA volunteer. Beverly Levy indicated that there is a critical need for volunteers to assist the African-American children that are a part of the CASA program. Currently, on an average day in Dallas County, nearly 2000 abused and neglected children are in foster care because they cannot live safely at home. 52% of the children in the Dallas CASA program are

5 5 African-American. The resources just aren t there for African-American families that are involved in the Court system and this is why CASA Volunteers are so important. At the conclusion of the session, Lynn Brooks provided the attendees with a Checklist on becoming a Dallas CASA Volunteer, a Volunteer Application, and a New Volunteer Information and Training Schedule for Summer/Fall 2010.

6 6 THE PARALEGAL PRESS It s Discovery Time Do You Know Where Your Electronic Data Is? By Michael Conner, icontrol ESI Data centralization can help reduce risk and simplify the discovery process. More and more, discovery is about Electronically Stored Information (ESI). Collecting it. Organizing it. Culling it. Making it available to opposing counsel, the courts, and regulators. The start of a discovery proceeding can trigger a complex, often harried effort to assemble relevant data or ESI and then secure and ultimately analyze it in a timely manner. While each circumstance is unique and not suited to a simple one size fits all solution, the use of a single provider and location to centralize data can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and provide an added level of quality control. Consider the challenges. During the process, litigation support and e-discovery professionals are tasked with gathering word processing documents, s, voic s, database records, and more from custodians throughout the organization. ESI residing on laptops, desktops, and servers located down the hall or, often, in multiple locations across the world needs to be processed, analyzed, and produced in order to comply with opposing party demands, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), or the equivalent state guidelines. Several factors are increasing the demands on the organizations and people involved in the e-discovery process. One is the sheer growth in ESI volume. Corporations continue to generate and accumulate ESI at increasing rates. Today many organizations may require multiple terabytes of data to be collected and processed, and some cases are likely to reach a staggering petabyte of data. Unfortunately, the time window to process and produce data has not increased in keeping with the expansion of data volumes, and often, in fact, contracts. Delays such as procrastination, technical issues with the IT operations, or challenges from inhouse counsel can endanger fulfillment of data requests and meeting deadlines. Maintaining data security is also critical. The people, processes, and technology associated with e-discovery need to be dependable and reliable to support data protection. The challenge of securing ESI, however, seems to get more complicated every year. The cost of e-discovery presents another significant challenge. In the extreme, the expense of meeting discovery requirements can tip the balance toward settling a case instead of fighting it. The stakes can be high. Mishandling of discovery requests can result in severe penalties, hefty fines, and reputational damage for both corporate clients and law firms. Courts have even switched the burden of proof from plaintiffs to defendants over datarelated violations. How data centralization can help companies overcome challenges. Overcoming the challenges associated with handling ESI can be daunting; however, an important step in the process of acquiring, preparing, and providing ESI during discovery that could mitigate risks and reduce costs is data centralization. By employing a single provider and location to centralize data, companies can benefit from a more cost-effective and efficient process. For instance, processing ESI can involve applying keyword searches or other analytical tools to terabytes of data. The goal is to extract only the smaller, potentially more relevant subset of information, which is then made available for review by the opposing party. However, problems can arise if multiple vendors handle different datasets. The use of multiple vendors can make the process more susceptible to challenges and potential issues, such as the use of inconsistent policies and procedures during the processing stage. Both opposing counsel and the courts may challenge whether the data has been collected and provided in a forensically sound manner using consistent technologies and processes. Centralizing data can help avoid such situations. Hosting data in a single location can help lower the risk of data collection and processing problems resulting from the use of different evidence databases. It can help reduce chain of custody issues and it can increase security by providing consistent controls and protection of all data in one location. These increased efficiencies may also result in potential cost savings. Advanced centralized systems can also provide robust data tracking. From the outset of a project, attorneys and clients can log into a portal to find out the status and location of data being provided by various custodians. Such systems can also provide archiving capabilities, which can lead to time and cost benefits in the event another legal matter arises requiring the same data.

7 7 Keeping it in or sending it out. Depending on the size and complexity of the matter at hand, counsel may have to decide whether it is better to host and process discovery data internally or turn the job over to an outsourcing provider. Some firms choose to do it themselves, preferring to have complete control over all ESI, including how it is handled, the personnel involved, and compliance with deadlines. However, using an equipped, experienced service provider often can help increase the efficiency and reliability of the discovery process, particularly since many law firms do not have data centralization capabilities. More often, law firms are opting to offload much or all of the process. Litigation can be a rollercoaster. Several cases may come in a flurry, or none may arise for several months. Maintaining staff for the peak periods can be a sizable ongoing cost for salaries and benefits. On the other hand, not having people when needed can result in overlooking crucial information, making mistakes, or missing deadlines. An outside service provider can leverage economies of scale, spreading the investment in leading technologies, secure facilities, and specialized staff across multiple organizations. Consideration of several key issues can help guide law firms and their clients through the process of deciding whether and to whom they might outsource e-discovery tasks. What services does the provider offer? Some service providers handle a single aspect of the e-discovery process such as forensic collection, processing or hosting while others provide a broad range of services. Considering what services are needed and mapping them to a provider s capabilities can help with the decision process. If a firm does business with clients in multiple countries, it might be easier to use a service provider that has operations in those locales or access to reliable local resources. Who exactly is doing the work? Understanding the skill sets of the professionals performing the discovery work is an important consideration, particularly if the firm has hired contractors to perform some of the tasks. For example, have the professionals utilizing the e-discovery processing software received the necessary training or certifications to use the software? Choosing a provider with data centralization capabilities could likely decrease the amount of contractors involved in the process and may make it easier to discern a provider s capabilities since the work will be performed at only one facility. Is the service provider using appropriate software? In choosing a data centralization service provider, knowing what software the service provider supports is important and can help you assess whether it will address your needs. For example, software that is not Unicode compliant cannot process documents in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. How solid is the company? Exploding demand has brought a host of new companies into the e-discovery arena. You may not want to give your data to a firm that could go under six months down the road in the midst of litigation. Law firms should consider a service provider s size, stability, and track record to determine whether it has appropriate, well-defined processes and proper controls for handling data. Streamline handling of discovery data Discovery is a complex issue for companies engaged in a lawsuit or investigation and is one of the mostly costly processes facing corporate legal teams. Multinational companies may need to collect and process data from servers, hard drives, and devices from various locations all over the world to fulfill a discovery request, and as the type and quantity of ESI continues to expand, those requests become more challenging to fulfill. Furthermore, if a discovery request is mishandled; firms can face millions of dollars in fines and sanctions. Faced with ongoing discovery challenges, attorneys and litigation support professionals should consider the benefits of centralizing data. Data centralization can help counsel and clients know where data is at all times, who is handling it, and that it is secure. With the amount of data involved in a typical case growing exponentially, companies are increasingly concerned with how to store data in a cost effective, yet secure manner. Having your data in one place can help reduce costs and provide an additional level of security. In considering the benefits of data centralization, law firms may also weigh the merits of handling the discovery process internally

8 8 THE PARALEGAL PRESS or turning to outside resources. Streamlining the handling of data through one provider and one location can help to overcome some of the challenges associated with the discovery process. However, law firms are encouraged to look closely at their potential providers capabilities to help ensure that the services provided are aligned with their need or needs. While law firms and their clients will continue to face obstacles related to the discovery ESI, bringing disparate data under one roof can help address the growing demand for ESI in legal and regulatory proceedings by improving efficiency, increasing responsiveness, and reducing risk in the discovery process. Contributor: Material for this article was contributed by Michael J. Connor. Michael joined icontrol ESI in He has over 14 years of experience in the collection, processing, and production of electronic data involved in litigation. Specializing in electronic discovery, database analytics, and forensic acquisition, he has worked with domestic and international law firms as well as the legal departments of national and multinational companies. He has worked on several stock option backdating cases, government investigations, and litigation matters. THIS ARTICLE IS REPRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR, MICHAEL CONNER WITH ICONTROL ESI. THE JLTLA-PARALEGAL SECTION APPRECIATES THE COURTESY EXTENDED TO THE ASSOCIATION. PUBLIC ACCESS TO COURT RECORDS NOW AVAILABLE ON DISTRICT CLERK WEBSITE Dallas County District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons has announced that public access to family, civil and criminal court records is now available from any computer any where at Until now, attorneys have been able to view only docket information on-line. They can now view actual court case documents on-line after Mr. Fitzsimmons office scanned more than 13 million pages of documents dating to 2003, with more being scanned each day. The site s documents will be updated concurrently with courts documents as they are scanned from this date forward. Presently, there are records from all District Family, seven District Civil, eight District Criminal and one County Court-At-Law from which pending documents are available. Documents from the remaining courts are expected to be on-line by the end of 2010.

9 9 You Can Win with the JLTLA-Paralegal Section! Article written by Toya Walker, Litigation Paralegal, Allen Stewart, P.C. Congratulations Rene Reddick 2010 Recipient of the First JL Turner, Paralegal Section Scholarship And the winner is.rene Reddick!!! The JLTLA-Paralegal Section conducted a scholarship essay contest for its paralegal student members where they had a chance to win a $ scholarship award to go towards their legal studies at their respective institution of higher learning. The students had to submit a 2-3 page typed essay including all of the following points: From your personal perspective (student) discuss how your paralegal program contributes to the skills of a paralegal. Use examples. Which classes have you had or might take would you consider highly contributory to your employability as a paralegal? Discuss what you understand to be the responsibilities of a paralegal and document your source(s). What criteria would you use to decide which job to take if you were offered three jobs simultaneously? Prepare and include the Decision Chart to visually depict the choices. As to the Judging criteria, the Judges considered equally (1) did the response address all of the questions, (2) writing and grammar skills, and (3) quality of the responses. After careful review and consideration of all of the essays that were submitted, the winning essay was that of Rene Reddick. Rene Reddick is one of our newest student members. Rene is currently enrolled as a part-time student at ITT-Technical Institute in DeSoto, Texas where she is pursuing her Associate of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies. Rene s background as a legal assistant in a solo practitioner s office and her ability to take on any task that was assigned to her (no matter how big or how small), coupled with the professional training that she is receiving as a paralegal student, enables her to know and understand what the duties and responsibilities are for a paralegal. In her essay, Rene suggests that one of the classes that she feels would improve employability would be Technology and the Paralegal. Simply put, Rene feels that the paralegal raises the bar if he/she knows the latest technology because in doing so, they will help the office be more efficient in processing documents.

10 10 THE PARALEGAL PRESS Rene s decision chart with respect to three (3) job openings/positions that were offered to her and the selection process she chose to arrive at her decision was remarkable. The factors that Rene considered when making her decision as to which position she would accept were as follows: Salary Location Size of the Firm/organization Connection with the.attorney Type of Caseload (i.e., family, criminal, real estate) Hours worked Support higher education Health Benefits Holidays Vacation Time Supervise Others (yes or no) UPCOMING EVENTS October 9 th JLTLA Scholarship Awards Gala Sheraton Hotel, Dallas 5:30 pm Rene s essay was exceptional. Congratulations Rene and keep up the excellent work. During our monthly meeting on August 14, 2010, Rene was presented a certificate and a check in the amount of $ for the first paralegal scholarship of the year. The paralegal section will be awarding three (3) scholarships in the amount of $250. October 16 th Employment Workshop Urban League of Greater Dallas 9:30 am to 1:30 pm October 23 rd DBWA Sparkler Paralegal Day December 2nd Holiday Luncheon Belo Mansion 12:00 noon December 17th (From Left to Right) - Loren Gilbert-Smith, Toya Walker, Tangela Jackson, Rene' Riddick, Linder McIntosh, Denisha Adams, Carla Dennis and Sandra key Making You Smile with Some Legal Humor End of Year Happy Hour/Membership Drive

11 11 SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2010 FALL SCHOLARSHIP DONORS Thanks to the following individuals for their donations to our 2010 Fall Scholarship Contest: Tatiana Alexander Frederick and Tammy Barrow Vicki Blanton Andrea Clark Carla Dennis Terri Ford Tangela Jackson Dalerie Moore Emmanuel Obi Dr. Harry Robinson, Jr. Shannon Cooper Savage Crystal Wyatt John Warren Your donations and support of the Paralegal Section s first Scholarship Contest is greatly appreciated! Because of your donations, the Paralegal Section was able to give out its first ever paralegal scholarship to Rene Reddick, the winner of the essay contest and recipient of the $ scholarship award. Thanks for your support of the JLTLA-Paralegal Section! MEET STUDENT OF THE QUARTER MONIQUE SCOTT Our featured student this quarter is Monique Scott. Monique is currently enrolled in the paralegal program at El Centro College and will graduate in December She has been a member of the Paralegal Section since 2009 and has recruited several student members to the Section. She accepted a position with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas in July of 2010 and is responsible for coordinating the East Dallas Legal Aid Clinic. After graduation in December, she plans to explore paralegal certification and possibly graduate school. She enjoys tennis, salsa dancing, traveling and trying new foods. She entered the El Centro Paralegal Program because she has always had an interest in law and was ready for a career change.

12 12 THE PARALEGAL PRESS Save the Date! JLTLA and CASA Happy Hour Mixer at Ocean Prime By Toya Walker, Paralegal, Allen Stewart, P.C. On Wednesday, July 28, 2010, JLTLA and our host, the Dallas Court Appointed Special Advocates ("Dallas CASA"), engaged in a fun filled social at hotspot Ocean Prime. This was an exciting networking opportunity. Dallas CASA is an organization of volunteers who are voices in court for abused and neglected children. As the Honorable Cheryl Lee Shannon, District Judge of the 305 th District Court stated during the event, there is such a need for advocates for kids in court and volunteering as a CASA advocate is a wonderful opportunity to get involved and give back. Dallas CASA is in need of 100 new volunteer advocates right now. We encourage you to show your support and give back by becoming a volunteer for Dallas CASA. If interested in volunteering, please feel free to contact Lynn Brooks, Recruitment Coordinator, at lbrooks@dallascasa.org or go to their website at Election of Officers/ Annual Meeting November 13 th Carla Dennis, Toya Walker, Beverly Levy and Marla Lee End-of the Year Happy Hour/Membership Drive December 17th Karen McCloud, Steve Bolden and Hon. Cheryl Lee Shannon Holiday Luncheon December 2 nd Tangela Jackson, Emmanuel Obi and Winifred Cannon

13 13 JLTLA Paralegals Are Outstanding Take a Look at One of our Premier Professional Paralegals Article Written By Tangela Jackson, A.S.A.P. Process Delivery Terri O Neal Ford earned an A.A. from the El Centro College Paralegal Studies Program. She received a B. S. from the University of Texas at Arlington. She received a M. A. from Prairie View A&M University and she is currently a Doctoral student at Texas Woman s University. Ms. Ford has 18 years of paralegal experience. She is currently employed as a paralegal for the Dallas City Attorney s Office. She is an adjunct instructor at Kaplan College teaching ABA approved paralegal classes. Ms. Ford is a frequent speaker and panel guest at local paralegal schools. Served as Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the State Bar of Texas Paralegals; Member of the Paralegal Committee of the J.L. Turner Legal Association; Serves on the Advisory Committee of the Paralegal Studies Program at El Centro College. We are Honored to Know a Professional of Great Dignity Distinction Character Perfection And Did I Mention a Role Model Yes Girls Can. Can What? Succeed The JLTLA Paralegal Section helped to make sure that a few girls could have that chance by caring and supporting the The Girls Inc. Summer Fund Great Job JL Turner Paralegals!.

14 14 THE PARALEGAL PRESS SAFE HANDS Lunch at Belo Mansion Thank You JLTLA Paralegals for participating in this successful event We made sure that several youth with the SAFE HANDS Organization Had necessary School Supplies to Start the Year Off Right

15 15 JLTLA PARALEGAL SECTION, DAPA, AND FWPA HIT A HOME RUN! LEGAL CLINICS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY On Friday, July 24, 2010, members of the JL Turner Legal Association- Paralegal Section ( JLTLA Paralegal Section ), Dallas Area Paralegal Association ( DAPA ), and Fort Worth Paralegal Association ( FWPA ) attended the Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels baseball game at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. This was the first time the three (3) paralegal associations joined together for a sporting event. There was lots of food, fellowship, and fun while watching America s favorite sport. Thanks to everyone in attendance. We definitely hit a home run with this event! If you are interested in obtaining information about volunteering at the legal clinics held by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program ( DVAP ), please contact Sondra Groves, DAPA member, Carla Dennis, Tangela Jackson, Toya Walker, and Melissa Leslie (DAPA Member) Tangela Jackson, Community Service Chair at luvasapprocess@ya hoo.com Tangela Jackson, Katrina Lea, FWPA members, and Carla Dennis Toya Walker, Cindy Welch (DAPA President) and Cindy's mom

16 16 THE PARALEGAL PRESS Got Jokes? You like Jazz? The Happy Hour Social Event Was a Success Several paralegals and attorneys attended For a night of networking and fun Toya Walker, Tangela Jackson, Loren Gilbert-Smith, and Carla Dennis Monique Scott, Denisha Adams, Alicia Perkins, Tannell Davis, and Loren Gilbert-Smith Georgette Collins, Vivian Duren and Loren Gilbert-Smith Alicia Perkins and Monique Scott smiling for the camera.

17 17 Steps A Successful Paralegal Undertake Article Written By Terri O Neal Ford, Paralegal, City Attorney s Office A paralegal s learning is a career-long process. The benchmark of completing paralegal studies triggers the beginning of actually learning the processes in regards to law and legal procedures. Schooling has merely provided you with the knowledge base. It is imperative you supplement what you retain in class by talking and networking with paralegals who work in the various professional environments. You maximize the opportunity to become successful when you embark on this. As a paralegal, you will perform administrative tasks such as filing, retrieving and organizing documents, photocopying, and the ever-popular numbering of pages. Depending on the employer, when taking a break from hole-punching, you may get to participate in more glamorous tasks such as interviewing witnesses or drafting legal documents. Regardless of tasks, even if onerous, remember the totality of the case or the big picture. WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Robert Moore, Jr. Rene Reddick Lilia Gonzalez Kenneth Griffin LaToya Goins Meredith Vasquez Katrina Lea Be mindful that the advancement of technology expands the role of many paralegals also. Now an indispensible component in the daily life of any paralegals, computer-use and knowledge of technology must be mastered. A good way to learn more about a specialized area of law or keep up to date on latest developments in law and technology is to attend a continuing legal education course. Most bar associations and paralegal associations offer on a regular basis opportunities to advance your learning, take advantage of this opportunity. Successful paralegals not only possess specific knowledge but must be able to claim a set of communication skills that include reading, speaking and listening; these skills will always make you employable. Communication skills are successful in law as well as in most any working environment. As you continue to progress, you realize that the scope of paralegal activities and duties vary from one setting to the next. Because paralegals today perform many of the task that lawyers used to perform, demands on paralegals to be professional and efficient have increased, thus you need a variety of skills. Use your mind productively. Give thought and consideration to the attitude with which you will approach your responsibilities and your career. Strive to develop a repetition for reliability and candor. Work effectively and efficiently with effective communication both orally and written. Be professional at all times, dress appropriate, be honest and courteous to all personnel who you come in contact with. Paralegals that are responsible and reliable earn respect and trust of the attorney s with whom they work. Like physical presence, your emotional presence can affect your work. It is not only important to look good but to also privately manage your personal life outside the lens of the office. Paralegal work is rewarding, self-sustaining, a source of energy, and provides a sense of high self-esteem. No matter where you ultimately land remember professionalism must be constant. You will always need to continue learning, continue your education and be the best; you owe it to others and to yourself. Lastly, you must utilize networking to make yourself known in your profession, join a professional organization and become active today.

18 18 THE PARALEGAL PRESS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT End-of-the Year Scholarship Contest The Paralegal Section will award (3) three scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each to paralegal student members who are currently enrolled as a part-time or full-time student at a college, university or other postsecondary school or paralegal school/certificate program. Each applicant must write a 2 3 page essay on the importance of continuing education to the professional paralegal and the importance of organizations such as the J.L. Turner Legal Association, and meet other requirements that are outlined in the 2010 Scholarship Qualification/Guideline Sheet. The scholarships will be awarded at the Paralegal Section s Holiday Luncheon and Awards Ceremony that will be held at the Belo Mansion on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 12:00 noon. If you are interested in applying for one of the scholarships, please contact Toya Walker or Carla Dennis for the 2010 Scholarship Application and return it along with all supporting documentation to Toya Walker, Paralegal Section Treasurer and Scholarship Committee Chair at twalker@allenstewart.com The application must be turned in on or before Friday, November 12, If you have any questions, please contact Carla Dennis, Paralegal Section President & Chair, at cydennis@jonesday.com Why You Do Not Want to Miss the October General Meeting 2 nd Annual Employment Workshop The Paralegal Section s 2 nd Annual Employment Workshop will be held on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Urban League of Greater Dallas. There will be presentations on What to Do After Paralegal School, Interviewing Techniques/Resume Writing & Critiquing, Keeping the Job When You Get It, Social Networking Websites, Networking & Best Practices, Business Cards & Follow After the Interview, Dressing for Success, and mock interviews will also be conducted. A few employment agencies will also be on hand to discuss the job market and what to expect when you look for a job. Please mark your calendars to attend!

19 19 ELECTION NOTICE IT S TIME TO NOMINATE OFFICERS Nominations for Paralegal Section Officers/Board Members will begin October 15th and run through November 5th. A Nomination Form and a Statement of Intent to Run for Office must be completed and returned to the Elections Chair, Terri Ford by the deadline of November 5, Officer Positions: President Elect Vice-President Secretary Treasurer PARLIAMENTARIAN HISTORIAN MEMBERSHIP CHAIR EVENTS/FUNDRAISING CHAIR An will be sent as a reminder by the section secretary. If there is a position that you have interest in serving and want to know what it entails, please contact Carla Dennis. Special Recognition to the Writers/Contributors of the Fall Quarterly Newsletter Andréa Clark Carla Dennis Toya Walker Tangela Jackson Terri Ford Michael Conner

20 20 THE PARALEGAL PRESS What Is the JL Turner Paralegal Section The J.L. Turner Legal Association Paralegal Section ( JLTLA Paralegal Section or Paralegal Section ) is a committee of the J.L. Turner Legal Association ( JLTLA ). Founded in 1952, the J.L. Turner Legal Association is the African-American Bar Association in Dallas, Texas. JLTLA is an organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life in our community through education, service and scholarship. The Paralegal Section is a voluntary non-profit organization composed of paralegals/legal assistants working in all areas of the law who are interested in furthering their professional development and dedicated to the advancement of the paralegal profession. The Paralegal Section is devoted to the training and professional development of paralegals and students who aspire to one day become paralegals. It is dedicated to promoting the professional objectives and goals of paralegals, and encourages and conducts programs of continuing legal education and professional development to assist in enhancing the paralegal s career as a whole. The purpose of the JLTLA Paralegal Section is to promote and encourage professional development in all areas of law and to ensure equal justice in the community through education, scholarship and service. The Paralegal Section s main goal is to foster an environment of professional growth for African-American paralegals by conducting and administering programs to enhance overall knowledge and understanding of the law, legal procedures and codes of conduct, and to advance the legal and paralegal profession through strategic alliances between the private and public sectors. The Paralegal Press The Paralegal Press is published quarterly by the J.L. Turner Legal Association Paralegal Section as a means of sharing information and news about the organization and its members. Any opinions expressed in the newsletter are strictly those of the writer and are not necessarily those of the JLTLA Paralegal Section. Publication of any articles or other items in the newsletter does not imply endorsement. Please submit information regarding the paralegal profession, notices of upcoming events, meetings, or other materials that you would like included in the monthly newsletter to the Editor, Andréa Clark, Editor, at andrea@paralegalace.com no later than the 25 th of each month. Monthly submissions will be added in the next quarterly edition. An will be sent as a reminder when article submissions are due. To produce the newsletter to reach our membership in a timely manner, the above deadline must be adhered to, and any material not received within 5 days of the requesting articles, will not be featured in the quarterly edition. Your cooperation, understanding and appreciation in meeting our deadline will be greatly appreciated. Pictures must be submitted in jpeg format. The Editor and Newsletter Committee reserve the right to edit articles submitted for grammar, clarity and space.

21 21 JL Turner Legal Association meets the 2 nd Thursday of the Month. Paralegal members are encouraged to attend. JL Turner Paralegal Section meets the 2nd Saturday of the month. For more information, Contact Carla Dennis cydennis@jonesday.com Visit Our Website at JL Turner Legal Association President Karen McCloud Rawlins McCloud, P.C Maple Avenue, Suite 400 Dallas, Texas (214) kmccloud@karenmccloud.com President-Elect Eric Blue Akin Gump Straus Hauer & Feld, LLP 1700 Pacific, Suite 4100 Dallas, TX FAX eblue@akingump.com Director (Immediate Past-President) Art E. Anthony Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell,LLP 2200 Ross Ave Suite 2200 Dallas, TX FAX aanthony@lockelord.com 2010 Paralegal Section Officers/Board of Directors Carla Dennis, President and Chair cydennis@jonesday.com Tangela Jackson, Vice President luvasapprocess@yahoo.com Sandra Key, Secretary skey@bd-law.com Toya Walker, Treasurer twalker@allenstewart.com Loren Gilbert-Smith, Parliamentarian lorengs@yahoo.com Linder McIntosh, Historian linder.mcintosh@alston.com Vivian Duren, Membership vduren@krcl.com Denisha Adams, Events Planning/Fundraising nikiadams7@aol.com Terri Ford, Member-at-Large terri.ford@dallascityhall.com Georgette Collins, Immediate Past President wifecollins1@prodigy.net 2010 Committees Chair & Co-Chair Bylaws Committee Terri Ford, Chair terri.ford@dallascityhall.com Sandra Key, Co-Chair skey@bd-law.com CLE Committee Carla Dennis, Chair cydennis@jonesday.com Community Service Committee Tangela Jackson, Chair luvasapprocess@yahoo.com Employment/Job Committee Wandra James, Chair Wandra.James@txdot.gov Events Planning/Fundraising Committee Denisha Adams, Chair nikiadams7@aol.com Phyllis Cephas, Co-Chair phylliscephas@hotmail.com Membership Committee Vivian Duren, Chair vduren@krcl.com Terri Ford, Co-Chair terri.ford@dallascityhall.com Newsletter/Website Committee Carla Dennis, Chair cydennis@jonesday.com Andréa Clark, Editor, Co-Chair andrea@paralegalace.com