23 rd Annual Meeting and CLE Seminars Keeping Current with the Law Successfully Keeping Up with Changes in the Legal Field

Transcription

1 Presents its 23 rd Annual Meeting and CLE Seminars Keeping Current with the Law Successfully Keeping Up with Changes in the Legal Field FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 Annual meeting and luncheon: 12:00 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Continuing Legal Education classes: 1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown (Garden City Parlor D Conference Room) 200 South Pattee Missoula, Montana PENDING APPROVAL FOR 3.0 CLE CREDITS Montana Association of Legal Assistants*Paralegals P.O. Box 9016 Missoula, MT mala@malanet.org

2 SCHEDULE 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Check in and registration (Annual Meeting and Seminars) 12:00 1:15 p.m. MALA Annual Luncheon Meeting and Election of Officers 1:15 1:30 p.m. Check in and registration (CLE Seminars) 1:30 2:30 p.m. Going to Trial in the Electronic Courtroom and Managing E-Discovery (Susan B. Mayer, Litigation Abstract) 2:30 3:30 p.m. Contract Administration (Annette Brown, ACP) 3:30 4:30 p.m. Medical Evidence in Litigation (Ellen Carey, RN and Lori Talbot) 4:30??? p.m. Informal no host reception/social in the lounge or other location as agreed upon for everyone who would like to spend time together after the seminar 2014 ANNUAL SEMINAR COMMITTEE Jaime Burkhalter Sabrina Hallsten Becky Henderson, ACP Lindsay Guttermuth Celia Pilgrim MALA OFFICERS ( ) PRESIDENT: Lynsey Lund, CP VICE PRESIDENT: August Swanson SECRETARY: Celia Pilgrim TREASURER: LaCinda Hanenburg, CLAS NALA LIAISON: Jennifer Maichel, CP MONTANA STATE BAR LIAISON: Sheri Taylor, CP PARLIAMENTARIAN: Sabrina Hallsten The Montana Association of Legal Assistants *Paralegals (MALA) is very pleased to have speakers who have offered their knowledge and expertise at our seminar. Guest speakers will make themselves available to answer your questions after their presentations. MALA is an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Our purpose is to promote the educational, professional and ethical standards of the legal assistant/paralegal profession.

3 REGISTRATION MALA is offering these complimentary seminars to legal assistants, paralegals and paralegal study students in the State of Montana. Please confirm your attendance for the annual meeting and/or seminars by marking the appropriate line(s) below and sending this registration form on or before March 21, 2014 to: MALA P.O. Box 9016 Missoula, MT or scan and this registration page to Please note that the annual meeting is open to non-members as well as members and we d love to have you attend! These Seminars are free to everyone! I am a MALA member and plan on attending: Annual meeting Annual meeting and luncheon (see menu below; free to members) CLE Seminar(s) I am not a MALA member and plan on attending: Annual meeting Annual meeting and luncheon (see menu below; $16.80 per person) CLE Seminar(s) The luncheon menu is the Pintlar Buffet consisting of Chinese Chicken Salad Seasonal, Fresh Fruit Salad, Spicy Noodles & Peanut Sauce with Cilantro & Lime, Rolls with Butter and Fortune Cookies. The cost for the luncheon buffet is $16.80 per person for non-members; no charge for MALA members. If you select the luncheon, and you are not a MALA member, please forward a check in the amount of $16.80 made payable to MALA along with this registration. You are welcome to join us for the annual meeting! NAME: FIRM: ADDRESS: PHONE: Rooms will be available at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown at a discounted rate of $ tax per night for single/double occupancy. Please call Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown directly at to reserve your room. Be sure to ask for MALA s Courtesy Block in order to receive your discount. Reservations must be received on or before March 23, 2014 before 5:00 p.m.

4 WHY JOIN MALA? *MALA is the only NALA affiliate in Montana *Affiliation membership allows for CP/ACP (Certified Paralegal/Advanced Certified Paralegal) Certified Program testing opportunities within the state not available for nonmembers *Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes and teleconferences almost monthly throughout each year on a wide variety of topics relevant to the legal field *Establish contacts within the legal community and promote the professionalism and utilization of legal assistants and paralegals *Membership applications are available on MALA s website at or request an application by ing mala@malanet.org

5 FACULTY/SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS ANNETTE R. BROWN, ADVANCED CERTIFIED PARALEGAL (ACP), CORPORATE PARALEGAL. Annette R. Brown, ACP, is a Corporate Paralegal for the non-profit corporation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Inc., where she has worked since Her practice focuses on real estate, contracts, intellectual property, and charitable giving. She has earned three ACPs in Real Estate, Contracts Administration/Contracts Management, and Trademarks. Annette is a strong advocate for paralegals, and has promoted the profession her entire career, both locally and nationally. Annette has been a member of the Montana Association of Legal Assistants*Paralegals since 1994, and served MALA as its President during , where she initiated the discussion to add Paralegal to the MALA logo. Other MALA officer positions Annette has held include Secretary, Parliamentarian and NALA Liaison. She has chaired or served on many other MALA Committees, including Professional Development, Bylaw, Legislative Monitoring, and Audit. She has presented MALA seminars and promotes MALA, NALA, and the CLA/CP to paralegal students. Annette has been a member of NALA The Association of Legal Assistants*Paralegals since 1998, and most recently served NALA as Chair of the Professional Development Committee from 2010 to 2012, which included responsibility for its Leadership Enhancement and Preparation program (LEAP). She also served NALA as Region VIII Director from 2006 to 2009, and has held additional leadership positions with NALA including Board Parliamentarian, Affiliated Associations Secretary, Convention Committee Chair, and Continuing Education Council member. She has served the Paralegal Section of the State Bar of Montana as the Professional Development Officer, MALA Representative and State Bar Liaison. She also served for 10 years on the advisory committee of the University of Montana, College of Technology for its ABA-approved Paralegal Studies degree program; and worked with the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval Commission on the 10-year reapproval site visit for the University of Great Falls bachelor degree Paralegal Studies program in Annette has been published in Facts & Findings, Legal Assistant Today, The Montana Lawyer (the state Bar s monthly publication), West s The Law of Corporations and Other Business Organizations, Third Edition, and The Paralegal Professional, Third Edition. She is a graduate of the Paralegal Studies program at the University of Montana, College of Technology, where she was awarded West s Educational Publishing Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION PRESENTATION SUMMARY - This presentation will examine the Evolution of a Contract, using examples from my transactional law experience. Topics covered will include: Types and uses of contracts; Contract negotiation and drafting; Structure and language of a contract; Contract review, execution and implementation; Performance, breach and defenses to breach; and Performance Management.

6 ELLEN CAREY, RN, BSN, NURSE CONSULTANT. Ellen has worked within the nursing field for over 30 years as a direct care provider and in management/administration/program development. Areas of clinical experience included community based public health, Head Start and school nursing. Her hospital based experience included inpatient Pediatrics unit, outpatient Pediatric Specialty Clinics, Education and Staff Development, Quality Improvement, Occupational Medicine and Employee Health & Safety. Ellen has been a Nurse Consultant at the Carey Law Firm since In that capacity, she evaluates potential medical malpractice claims and evaluation and determination of causation, produces medical summaries and chronologies, contributes to ongoing case/claim management and provides input and information to the attorneys to support the medical portion of settlement demands. Ellen also works as an independent Nurse Consultant. LORI TALBOT. Lori has been a paralegal/office manager with the Carey Law Firm for the past 17 years. Previously, she worked as a legal secretary at Garlington, Lohn & Robinson for 8 years. She is responsible for everything from screening new clients, file organization, transcription, preparing for trial, overall support of three attorneys, accounting and billing, and general office management. She has a wealth of experience in a variety of legal areas, and determines on a case-by-case basis what will be necessary to bring a matter to trial, settlement, and/or closure. She has worked closely with nurse consultants for 17 years, and specifically with Ellen Carey for the last 8 years. Lori s unique perspective ensures flow and function of the law firm, benefits the client, and contributes to the success of their attorneys. MEDICAL RECORDS PRESENTATION SUMMARY: Are Medical Records controlling you? Take charge. 1. Identify before you get started what work product you will need in the end. Pre-litigation Discovery Worker s comp Social Security Medical malpractice Personal Injury 2. File Organization / Logistics Paper files Electronic file Organization for Discovery Federal Court Exhibits 3. Working together: How the Nurse Consultant can assist the Legal Assistant and the Attorney 4. Group discussion: Sharing what works well and what is problematic

7 SUSAN B. MAYER, LITIGATION ABSTRACT, INC. Ms. Mayer is President and CEO of Litigation Abstract, Inc. She has been providing technology assisted litigation support services to the legal community in both the public and private sectors since Ms. Mayer has consulted on the design and implementation of databases for numerous document reviews and productions in litigation across the United States. She and her team at Litigation Abstract, Inc. are working with attorneys to make e-discovery more accessible and cost effective for small to mid-sized law firms. Ms. Mayer is one of the most experienced electronic trial consultants in the United States, with experience in state and federal courts and civil and criminal trials. She earned her B.A. degree from Duke University. GOING TO TRIAL IN THE ELECTRONIC COURTROOM AND MANAGING E- DISCOVERY PRESENTATION SUMMARY This session provides information on preparing and presenting evidence electronically in court. Topics include hardware and software, tips and pitfalls, and practical advice. Also included is use of the JERS system in federal court, using video depositions in trial, and a checklist of To Do s. This session will also address managing e-discovery and use of databases for data management.