A North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Publication July 2014 issue

A WAY THROUGH THE DARKNESS

im Blackburn is living his life in Technicolor Ignoring stress these days, but he walked a long hard road to get out of the darkness. Anyone old enough to have paid attention to the news between the late 1970s and the 1990s can be a person’s knows about Blackburn’s dramatic rise and fall. Blackburn was a young assistant U.S. Attorney who rose to great fame after he suc- undoing. Take it cessfully prosecuted Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, the Green Beret soldier convicted of the 1970 murder of his young wife and daughters. The MacDonald case cast a spotlight on everyone in- from someone who Jvolved as it spawned books and a television movie. Even today, media attention swirls around the case. Shortly after the trial, Blackburn was appointed U.S. Attorney. He resigned within a year to enter private prac- has come undone. tice in Raleigh. At that time, he had no idea his life was about to plunge out of control. story by Teri Saylor Blackburn remained a prominent attorney in his practice, and outwardly appeared successful, so friends, colleagues and the general public were shocked in 1993 when he pleaded guilty to a variety of corruption charges, MORE INSIDE lost his law license, spent a few months in prison, and underwent intense psychiatric counseling. How to spot the symptoms of stress Throughout his stratospheric rise, he was not aware and what to do if you see them he had been harboring the deep and festering depression and personality disorder that would send him into a near PAGE 6 ■■ See DARKNESS Page 6

Figuring out what Five tips for effective Leave yourself to do next can be the intergenerational a little room in your hardest part communication stress cup Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Inside Carolina Paralegal News July 2014 v Volume 8, Number 4 COLUMNS

The Unbalanced Life...... 3 Q&A with Sarah Kaufman...... 8 Columnist Cheryl Leone has a simple way to manage work when it seems “I seem to remember the most trivial of details about cases, which impossible to accomplish every assignment. sometimes pays off during trials.” Overheard at the Watercooler...... 4 COMMENTARY New ways of communicating are needed in workplaces where multiple generations interact with one another. Down with initial caps...... 9 In the Trenches...... 5 Overuse of initial caps gums up legal writing. A life-altering event can change your perspective in a way that helps you ALSO IN THIS ISSUE with managing time and stress. Association News...... 10-11 PARALEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Q&A with M. Tyler Helms...... 8 “As a paralegal, you must be flexible yet maintain superior organizational skills.”

LIABILITY INSURANCE LAWYERS COMPANY OF original MUTUAL NORTH CAROLINA “traditional” logo Celebrating 35 years of service.

LIABILITY INSURANCE LAWYERS COMPANY OF updated design MUTUAL NORTH CAROLINA

CELEBRATING YEARS OF SERVICE Stay Current. Subscribe Today! COMMUNITY Put your client’s best interests LAWYERS LIABILITY INSURANCE updated design with of lawyers,COMPANY OF of slightly different text MUTUAL NORTH CAROLINA people first. Be the most prepared you can be. Subscribe to Lawyers CELEBRATING YEARS. 1977-2012 Weekly now and get the news What is community? The idea that the whole is and information you need to greater than the individual members, and the win. belief that participating in the community makes

you better lawyers and better people. subscribe.sclawyersweekly.com/H2ZSUB 1-800-451-9998 (Promo Code: H2ZSUB)

bonnie j. refinski-knight name, title harris creech ward & blackerby, pa www.lawyersmutualnc.com lm eastern nc community board Read us online:

LIABILITY INSURANCE LAWYERS COMPANY OF H2ZSUB 919.677.8900 800.662.8843 MUTUAL NORTH CAROLINA connect with us

2 Carolina Paralegal News July 2014 The Unbalanced Life Figuring out what to do next can be the hardest part

Seeing a talented paralegal shut down because of to the project to do it? Is there time and project management is disheartening. The someone on the team who can do very best of the talented paralegal gets lost in the it faster or better? Are my skills reactive nature of the legal work and the inability to needed to do this? Many times in be proactive. law firms we have to make lawyers Many of our clients, in fact the majority of our rethink how they delegate work. clients, are swallowed up in attempting to do the A large copying project becomes impossible by completing all things pressing in one pretty expensive when you have a day. Each day gets a bit worse. The ability of a legal paralegal do it. I have found that professional to manage his or her work is directly Cheryl Leone most law firm owners want sugges- related to the success of that individual in whatever tions on how to keep costs down. endeavors he or she wants out of life. The person is Sometimes using processed-based like the gerbil on a wheel that looks good but never people in a firm helps highly skilled paralegals get gets anywhere. the job done. Draft a proposal and see if someone will We set up a very simplistic way to manage work listen. that seems impossible to accomplish and it seems to Dump it! My theory is that over 50 percent of your work. Here’s our advice: work is busy work that makes you feel good. Ask Before you go home write down everything you yourself honestly if the task at hand will cause your think you have to accomplish the next day. Do not world to cease as you know it. Throw it in trash can. wait until the next morning. We suggest a quiet time Take it off your list. Here’s a hint: All those maga- in the office just before leaving, a yellow pad and zines you intend to read, throw them away. If you an honest pencil. Don’t try to organize your desk or can’t read it the day it comes in, toss it. review documents, simply write out a list. Do it! That which is left is what you will do the Follow the ABC’s of delegation. Each task will next day. be rated A, B, or C. A is non-negotiable. Basically There is great emphasis today on decluttering your the world will stop as you know it if it isn’t done. B personal life. I believe you need to take the same ap- is something that is pressing but another day won’t proach to decluttering your work life. In the practice matter. C is of no consequence. If you have more than of law, few things are absolute. We tend to do what 3 to 4 A’s on your list, you or your job is ineffective. we enjoy. We tend to let pile up that which we don’t. The person who tries to do Worse, you are trying to do it all yourself. There becomes a spring in your step when the weight Another trick to getting your work under control is of irrelevant matters are taken from your shoulder. everything in one day is like the to make some simple decisions each day. gerbil on a wheel that looks good Do it! It takes you to do it. No other person, and it Cheryl Leone is a principal in Catalyst Group, Inc., has to get done. Ask yourself if the world as you know a Raleigh-based national mentoring company for but never gets anywhere. it will stop if you don’t do it. law firm practices and small businesses. Delegate it! Can I ask someone else more suited

July 2014 Carolina Paralegal News 3 Overheard at the water cooler Five tips for intergenerational communication For the first time in American history, • Millennials were born from 1981 – ideas. Rather than focusing on the fact that and networking events. we have four distinct generations working 1999 and are the majority of law students “everyone” is using the new tools or the Boomers, make clear your expectations together. Generational differences affect and paralegal students and young lawyers financial benefits, you may also want to fo- with regard to client contact, billing time, every aspect of work from recruiting new and legal professionals today. Millennials cus on how efficiencies better serve clients. face time in the office and availability after employees to building effective teams. Our are realistic, confident and appreciate Traditionalists and Boomers, remember that hours. But also recognize that technology communication skills are being tested with diversity. Millenials feel empowered to take financially sound business decisions today has changed the legal profession and be so many different generations competing to positive action when things go wrong – this provide that the firm will be around for realistic in your expectations of face time. speak and be heard. is an excellent trait for a young professional generations to come. Legal Writing. The most common com- Who are the players? in a client service driven profession. Parents Get Out of Our Way. Millenials are plaint by Boomer Bosses about Millennials’ • Traditionalists of Millenials included them in the day-to- confident and are ready to take action. substantive work skills is the lack of excel- were born before 1945. day negotiations at home, so Millennials Millennials often express this in an at- lent writing skills. This skill is honed by They value patriotism, expect as much from the office. This can titude that says “tell us our goals and get practice. loyalty, hard word and lead to challenges as Traditionalists and out of our way.” This is reflected in the • Solution: Millennials, constantly strive respect. They have a Boomers often lead their teams with a popular style of mentoring often requested to improve your writing. Learn from the “top down” approach “need to know” mentality rather than invit- by Millenials – situational mentoring. edits and rewrites that your Boomer boss to management. They ing all team members to participate in the Boomers were the recipient of traditional makes to your drafts. lived through World discussion. mentoring that included hands-on training, Problem Solving. Ultimately lawyers War II and the Great Given the potential for conflict based on shadowing partners in client meetings and get paid to resolve client problems, and Camille Stell Depression and were these generational gaps, here are five tips the courtroom, participating in long lunches the paralegal needs to contribute to that greatly influenced by to help you maneuver through these chal- to hear war stories and many introductions process. Learning how to analyze problems these major events. Their names appear on lenges. to the pillars of the local bar. and search for solutions is a key in your de- the doors of many of the law firms across Where is your sense of tradition? • Solution: Millennials will benefit from velopment as a valued member of the team. our state. Traditionalists and Boomers value tradi- listening and learning. There is a good • Solution: Look for opportunities to lis- • Baby Boomers were born from 1946 – tion. They are proud of the law firms they chance you will not be mentored in the ten in on negotiations and possible solutions 1964 and make up the majority of partners built. They also experience conflict with same way as the more established parale- to client problems. Listen to your client in law firms today. Boomers are competi- the many changes that have happened in gals. Take every opportunity to receive an and understand what a “win” looks like for tive, idealistic and optimistic. Boomers plan the legal profession. They are particularly introduction, to get involved with a profes- them. Understand what a “win” looks like to keep working as long as they can be troubled by the idea that the practice of sional association and to ask for advice. for your supervising attorney to make sure productive. law is viewed as a business rather than a Honor Your Obligations. Understand you are working towards the same goal. • Generation Xers were born from 1965 profession. the requirements of the job before you take Overcoming our stereotypes about – 1980. They are skeptical, independent and As a result, they often feel Millenials it. If working long hours and weekends is generational differences will help us to resourceful. The divorce rate tripled dur- have no sense of tradition or respect for the expected, your Boomer boss will frown communicate effectively. ing their generation and both their parents ways things have always been done. upon you having an excuse that prevents worked earning them the moniker “latch- • Solution: Millennials, honor the past you from working those hours. Camille Stell is the Vice President key kids”. They often distrust the perma- by acknowledging that many things about • Solution: Communicate proactively and of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. nence of institutional or personal relation- the law do not change quickly. If you make sure everyone has the same expec- Continue this conversation by contacting ships. Many Gen Xers are your supervising understand the resistance, it may help you tations. Millennials, meet all deadlines. Camille at [email protected] attorneys. develop better language to share your new Attend required and suggested work events or 800-662-8843.

4 Carolina Paralegal News July 2014 In the Trenches Leave yourself a little room in your stress cup By ERICA MCADOO in the legal field and what it took to be a great paralegal. I have pretty much made my job my Then I had my first child, a daughter. life. I have been first in, last out, worked People told me that if/once I had a child, on weekends, worked from home, I would not find my job to be quite as worked through all of my lunches, taken important, and that I would not be as on any extra duties or responsibilities, driven or care as much about being a helped everyone else with their caseload, great paralegal. They were wrong. Other and still maintained my own caseload. people were more vague and just told me People used to tell me I would burn out that having a child “changes things” and if I kept that up. People would also tell makes you re-assess your priorities. me that if I worked through lunch all the That second group of people may have time, my employers would get used to me been right, but not in the way I expected. working through lunch, and then when/if What has changed for me is that I think I started taking a lunch break, everyone I have gained some perspective, and that would wonder why my productivity had has its own way of changing things. For gone down. example, my job allows me to come in to I kept up this pace for about five work anytime as long as I’m in by around years. And I actually didn’t burn out. My 9 a.m. In the past, I would have been in productivity and efficiency stayed high. the door at 7:30 or 8 a.m. But, now that I I thrived on the adrenaline, the rush, the have a daughter, if I do not arrive at work expectations and the deadlines. I still when I got in the office the next morn- didn’t have very much water in it to be- until 8:45 or 9 a.m., it’s probably because found time for my husband, my friends, ing. I would wake at night in a sweat gin with. Other people walk around with I spent a little longer playing with her and my animals, and participated in after having a nightmare that usually a cup that is almost full to the rim with in the morning before leaving for work. community service events. involved some form of my forgetting to water. As soon as just a couple drops I can’t put a value on that. Getting in to But that is not the whole picture. My file a complaint before the statute had of additional water are added, their cup work 15 or 30 minutes earlier does not stress levels were pretty high. OK … my run or forgetting to mail off discovery overflows and there is little they can do have the same value to me as getting in stress levels were really high. I man- responses on the due date. to contain the spill. an extra 15 or 30 minutes of playtime aged OK, and to most people on the I once heard people and their stress I had a pretty full cup most of the with my daughter. I will still get my outside, I’m sure I seemed completely levels described as a cup with water in it. time. I think I handled it pretty well for work done, I will still be in “on time”, fine. I wasn’t even aware of how stressed The water represents stress. Some people the most part, but I tended to internal- I’ll still work hard when I get there, and I was and how it was making me feel. have a cup that has just a little water in it ize things. So again, while I may have I will still give my job 100 percent. But I remember nights when I couldn’t fall all throughout the day. If a large amount seemed OK on the outside, I felt pretty soon enough, my daughter will be too asleep because I was thinking about what of water was suddenly added to their wound up and anxious on the inside. busy getting ready for school to play with I needed to do the next day. I would lie cup, their cup may be close to full at that That said, there was a large part of me in bed at night planning what to do first point, but it wouldn’t overflow because it that just assumed that’s how it felt to be ■■ See STRESS Page 7

July 2014 Carolina Paralegal News 5 Feature

“I tended to think I could be all things to all people, to always win, and to DARKNESS always please people,” he says. See the signs, lend a hand Blackburn has made it his mission In his seminars on stress and ethics, former lawyer Jim Blackburn to help others avoid the crash and burn warns of the symptoms of stress: scenario he experienced. ■■ Continued from Page 1 • Inability to focus, to get work done ‘My dog knows all my secrets’ death-spiral. But he was able to come out • Procrastinating on simple tasks until it is too late of that spiral, and today he is thriving • Failure to return phone calls The CVPA survey revealed a few and devoting his career to helping others. • Making up stories or lying to cover failings disturbing responses. One participant ad- More than 20 years have passed, and mitted to dealing with stress by visiting even though Blackburn admits his life • Abnormal behavior a local watering hole, drinking booze, is not perfect, he is much happier. He no • Being tired all the time and a lot of it, then taking a taxi home longer practices law, but manages Jim • Not following through on projects and sleeping it off, all the while realizing Blackburn Seminars, an organization de- • Arriving at work late or leaving early on a regular basis a hangover would spoil the following voted to helping lawyers, paralegals and workday. • Working full days, but getting little done others in the legal community through Another survey respondent reported programs on ethics, professionalism and • Gaining or losing weight suddenly taking stress and frustration out on the mental health in North Carolina and office staff, and another reported throw- across the United States. Blackburn suggests several ways to reach out if you notice ing things and breaking objects. On the phone, Blackburn is friendly a colleague exhibiting these signs: Other survey participants offered kind- and open. He is patient and kind to a • Simply ask “How are you doing?” er and gentler ways to deal with stress. caller whose phone drops three calls dur- • Offer to go to lunch or to take a walk Adams has a network of friends who ing a single conversation. help each other. “I am extraordinarily nonjudgmental,” • Tell a colleague one or two of your own issues to encourage them to “Some are paralegals and some are he says. “My story is fairly well-known, open up nonparalegals. We are a close-knit group and yes, mine is a success story, but it • Engage in conversation and fellowship and we can confide in each other,” she took a long time and many stumbles to • Offer emotional support, understanding, patience, friendship and says. “It helps to say the words, to share get here.” encouragement our burdens.” Through his seminars and writings, • Listen She also keeps a journal and takes her Blackburn is reaching beyond lawyers dog on long walks. • Reassure colleagues they are not alone and their situation can be im- and helping paralegals, too. “My dog knows all my secrets. She’s proved been with me for 10 years, and she’s Deadline pressure • Offer assistance in finding professional help heard it all,” Adams says. Walking the dog also takes her out The Catawba Valley Paralegal Members of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Paralegal Division can of her house, and provides some exer- Association of Hickory devoted an entire access BarCARES at 800-640-0735 or find information at www.ncbar.org/ cise and a change of scenery, all classic issue of its March 2014 newsletter, Para about/barcares stress-busters. Sight, to mental health, and featured an — Teri Saylor essay by Blackburn. Too few seek counseling The issue is close to Cyndy Adams’ heart. For severe cases of stress and depres- Adams, who is the CVPA’s president, sion, it takes professional help to feel spent 10 years working for an attorney ing to defeat you, and you work under one. Then a few others will fall. It’s like better. who had a significant drinking problem. enormous deadline pressure.” Blackburn a chain reaction. You never know what “Seeing a counselor or a psychologist “I didn’t know about his problem for explains. might cause your entire apple cart to be is tough,” Blackburn says. “It can be a long time,” she says. “He was good at For paralegals, this stress can be com- upset and topple over.” expensive, unless your insurance covers hiding it.” pounded. At a recent seminar, Blackburn met a it, but the decision to see someone may When he entered a rehabilitation pro- “The paralegal’s main job is to make paralegal who serves four attorneys. be one of the most important decisions gram, Adams and her small team, includ- sure the trains run on time, and they are “I can’t imagine the kind of stress that you can make.” ing another paralegal and an associate, under a lot of pressure,” he says. entails,” he says. “My seminar ended at Some workplaces have employee as- managed to keep the practice going and Adams, who has been a paralegal for 4, and she still had two or three more sistance programs, either through their the attorneys’ personal and office bills 34 years, works with the Cody Law Firm hours of work ahead of her, and that is health insurance providers or through a paid until he returned to work. of Hickory. She designed a survey on hard.” separate company. He never completely recovered. Adams stress for her local legal community, and He says he knows paralegals who must The North Carolina Bar Association eventually took another job. asked paralegals, lawyers and judges to also cover for attorneys when they fall offers services to legal professionals and Weeks after the attorney was charged complete it anonymously. She received behind in their workload. students through its BarCARES pro- with mishandling funds in 2012, he was nearly 50 responses. “Many paralegals work through lunch. gram. found dead in his home. The death was Deadlines topped the chart as the They eat at their desks. They struggle to The program’s president, Ellen Hancox, attributed to natural causes. greatest stressor in the legal workplace. keep up with their billable hours. If they says BarCARES has been in place for According to statistics, practicing law “I fancy myself as a juggler,” she don’t get enough done, they are a wreck. attorneys nearly 20 years and has been is one of the most stressful jobs in our says. “I have been in this profession for That’s a hard way to make a living, and it available to paralegals since 2008. society today. a while. I’m good at it. I can keep five can be very stressful,” Blackburn says. BarCARES provides confidential “When you work at a law firm, you apples in the air at one time. But if I’m During his own journey to mental counseling resources through HRC tackle many cases in which there is tired, if a bee flies by and captures my health, Blackburn learned a big part of always someone on the other side try- attention, if my phone rings, I might drop his problem was his inability to say “no.” ■■ See DARKNESS Page 7

AWR is a valuable resource for any law office, and provides the BEST customer service with top notch

A. William Roberts, Jr. & Associates quality and professionalism. 800-743-DEPO Melissia Ford, Paralegal

scheduledepo.com Charleston • Columbia • Greenville • Myrtle Beach • Hilton Head • Charlotte

court reporting | videography | videoconferencing | trial presentation

6 Carolina Paralegal News July 2014 Feature

“Regardless of how pressure to myself, I’m sure I waste time “stressing”, worrying and thinking about DARKNESS you felt yesterday, STRESS everything that has to be done and won- dering how I will get it done…instead or how stressed you of just doing it. If I am distracted by my ■■ Continued from Page 6 were last week, you ■■ Continued from Page 5 own self-imposed pressures, my work product probably declines in quality. Behaviorial Health & Psychiatry P.A. can change today mommy in the mornings, so I am taking This article is not about having kids, The Bar Association recognized this and tomorrow.” advantage of every extra minute I can get or about encouraging paralegals to have is a service paralegals need. with her. kids in order to be better paralegals, or “The legal support staff shares in Another thing I have learned since geared towards only those paralegals stress as much as attorneys do,” says Jim Blackburn having a child is that I can only do as who have kids or who are consider- Hancox, a trial court administrator in much as I can do. That sounds like a ing having kids; I am simply sharing Cumberland County. simple concept, but I used to always ex- my story. I think my main point is that, “I was practicing law in 1985, and pect more out of myself. No matter how since having my daughter, I have finally it was a big deal to have an answering the country referred just 1,000 cases to much I did, or how much I accomplished, learned some things about stress, self- machine,” Hancox says. “Later voice treatment programs. or how well I did my job, I always felt imposed demands and unreasonable mail and returning phone calls started Hancox believes the BarCARES like I could/should have done more. I expectations that have actually helped extending the work day. Thanks to program is not used as much as it now find myself accepting that there are me be not only a better mom to my technology, we now are accessible could be. He would love to have more things that perhaps I “could” or “should” daughter, but also a better paralegal and 24/7. You have your office phone, your professionals use the program. do better (like trimming the vine on my a better person. Looking back on it, I cell phone, computer, text messaging, In South Carolina, the Bar mailbox, mowing my grass more often, think I could have utilized some of these home computer, email, home phone, Association offers a Lawyers Helping wiping down the baseboards, or cleaning lessons and concepts prior to having a and fax machines.” Lawyers program to attorneys, but the the blinds), but those things just don’t daughter but for me personally, it took Today’s law offices also maintain organization does not offer similar matter the way they used to. My daughter having a child to make me truly realize web pages and a presence on social services to staff. is alive, happy and healthy. I have chosen and embrace these things. media. Paralegals suffering from stress to focus on her and let some of the other My newly gained perspectives have “Paralegals keep things organized, and depression in South Carolina and things go. If I start to feel like I “could” helped my time management, my stress and keep our offices organized. It’s a elsewhere could find ways to take care or “should” do more, I remind myself levels, my anxiety levels, my work lot of work,” Hancox says. “The ability of each other. that I am making a conscious choice, and productivity, and my parenting. I love my to look after your own well-being is While that can be rewarding, it can my daughter and I are both reaping the job as a paralegal. I love my daughter. I very important.” also be tricky, Blackburn says. benefits of my choice. love being a mom. I’m not always great Any member of the North Carolina “It is hard to get people to open up Embracing the concept that I can only at all of these things, but I always give Bar Association Paralegal Division and talk, and it takes a lot of guts to do as much as I can do has actually made 100 percent. The vine on my mailbox can access BarCARES, and their as- reach out to help people,” he says. “As me better at my job and more productive. may be a little out of control, but that can sociation dues cover the cost of three a paralegal, the main thing you can do I can put as much pressure and stress on wait ‘til tomorrow. contacts a year. is just take your co-worker’s tempera- myself as I want to, but I will still only Last year, the American Bar ture by simply asking ‘How are you get a certain amount of work done. I can Erica McAdoo is a North Carolina Association Commission on Lawyer doing?’ ’’ push myself to put out high quality, ef- Certified Paralegal. She currently works Assistance Programs released the find- Even on the darkest days, Blackburn ficient work product, but if I am already as a litigation paralegal at McAngus ings from a 2012 survey of state and tells lawyers and paralegals to keep giving my best, there is nothing addi- Goudelock & Courie. local Lawyers Assistance Programs facing forward. tional to give. If I add extra stress and from across the country. “Everything can be fixed or modi- The most surprising discovery was fied and improved upon, as long as you the fact that across the board these are still here,” he says. “Regardless of services are under-utilized. how you felt yesterday, or how stressed In 2012, according to the survey, you were last week, you can change Lawyers Assistance programs across today and tomorrow.”

ACCREDITED Certified Paralegal Program Receives Accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)

On April 30, 2014, The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) granted accreditation to the NALA Certified Paralegal program for demonstrating compliance with the NCCA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs.

NCCA is the accrediting body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. The NCCA Standards were created to ensure certification programs adhere to modern standards of practice for the certification industry.

The NALA Certified Paralegal program joins an elite group of more than 120 organizations representing over 270 certification programs that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation.

More information on the NCCA is available online at www.credentialingexcellence.org/NCCA.

Information describing the Certified Paralegal program is available at www.nala.org/certification.aspx.

July 2014 Carolina Paralegal News 7 Q&A: M. Tyler Helms Paralegal of the Year found his way after the Recession

By TERI SAYLOR job responsibilities possibly with multiple matters, while at a range from providing corporation your focus is one client with a As a paralegal, you M. Tyler Helms has not only survived confidential admin- multitude of matters. Some other benefits must be flexible yet being a 2008 Recession graduate, he has istrative support to of working in-house would be the fact thrived. Within two years of graduating the general counsel to that you don’t have to worry about billable maintain superior from Pfeiffer University he was laid off managing FairPoint’s hours, time entries or invoice generation. organizational skills. from two jobs. His first lay-off led him to trade and fictitious My “fee-related” duties in-house include move from his hometown of Newton to name filings. I oversee processing outside legal bills and helping Charlotte, and his second lay-off led to the the secure portal used to manage outside counsel fees, but I actu- launch of his paralegal career. M. Tyler Helms for materials being ally enjoy doing that. my role model. When he entered college, he was sent to our soard of di- interested in going to law school, but he rectors, as well as the compilation of hard- CPN: What is the most challenging CPN: When you were a child, what did decided to take a break from his studies copy materials used at board meetings. I aspect of your profession? you want to be when you grew up? after undergrad. Among the 254 jobs he handle the preparation, editing and distri- MTH: Never knowing what fire you MTH: Growing up, this constantly applied for was the one he landed as an bution of various agreements, contracts, will have to put out before the end of the changed. My craziest ideas consisted of entry-level legal assistant at The Hamel minutes and policies. I enjoy the law and day has to be the most challenging aspect wanting to work at a Play-Doh factory or Law Firm. He credits his boss, Rick the legal field. I enjoy the challenging of the paralegal profession. As a paralegal, become a clogging instructor. Hamel, as having a great influence on environment and the responsibilities of you must be flexible yet maintain superior his career, and Helms went on to get his my position. My job allows me to leave organizational skills. I find this to be one CPN: What is one thing you are most paralegal degree and certification. Last work each day feeling accomplished and of the best parts of a paralegal’s job too proud of? spring he received the Metrolina Paralegal appreciated, which is important to me. – no two days are ever alike. You must MTH: I am proud to be the first person Association’s Paralegal of the Year think big picture, on your feet and ahead in my family to attend college. It was Award. At Pfeiffer, Helms majored in CPN: What attracted you to the of your boss at all times. never expected of me to go to college, but English and political science. Today, he is corporate world? How does working as I knew that education was my key to suc- a paralegal at FairPoint Communications, a paralegal for a corporation differ from CPN: Who are your role models and cess and a better life. a leading provider of broadband Internet working for a traditional law firm? why are they important? access, local and long-distance phone, MTH: After working at a law firm, MTH: I’ve been fortunate to know CPN: What is your favorite way to television and other high-capacity data I really wanted to work for an in-house some really awesome people, but when spend the weekend? services to customers in 17 states. legal department, preferably for a publicly I think about people that I admire my MTH: I have to say I really enjoy an traded company. An instructor at CPCC grandmother comes to mind. My paternal all-day Netflix binge every now and CPN: Describe your job. What aspect worked in-house, and she always told grandmother, Betty, raised me and she again. I’m somewhat embarrassed to do you like best? us how much she enjoyed it. I think the always put my siblings and me before admit it (not really though) but I watched MTH: To be an effective paralegal, you biggest difference would be that at a law herself. She’s the first person who taught the second season of “House of Cards” in must thrive in the details department. My firm you tend to have multiple clients, me unconditional love, and for that she is one sitting.

Q&A: Sarah Kaufman Award-winning paralegal loved how Della Street saved the day

By TERI SAYLOR CPN: What at- CPN: Paralegals must be experts at I seem to remember tracted you to the law? time management. What is your secret Sarah Kaufman had planned to be- And why did you for juggling priorities and managing your the most trivial of come an attorney or a high school band decide to become a workload in order to make your deadlines? details about cases, director, but she loved being a paralegal paralegal? SK: That’s a skill that I’m still learn- so much that she made it her career. SK: I watched ing! The only way that I can survive is to which sometimes On May 9, she received the North “Perry Mason” grow- create to-do lists. You also need to have Carolina Bar Association Paralegal ing up and loved how open and honest communication with pays off during trials. Division’s 2014 Distinguished Paralegal Della Street always your attorneys so that they also know Award at the division’s annual meeting in Sarah saved the day. I have what you have on your plate. No para- Greensboro. Kaufman always had a strong legal works in a vacuum and there is no She is a litigation paralegal with Ellis mindset for treating way any of us could ever get everything CPN: What are your greatest chal- & Winters in Cary. others fairly, and law always appealed done without having other paralegals at lenges? Growing up, Kaufman split her time to me. My original plan was to get a our firms to “have our backs” and help SK: Remember that time management between Danville, Va. and Topsail degree in music education from ECU out. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have question? That and getting my time en- Beach. Her parents owned a house at and then go to law school. That way, if I had great paralegal team members both tered on a daily basis. You’d think after Topsail, and her mother was a teacher, so didn’t like being an attorney, then I could at Moore & Van Allen and now at Ellis 29 years I’d have that part down, but it’s they spent their summers at the beach. always be a high school band direc- & Winters. still a challenge. Many of the kids she met at Topsail tor. However, ECU had other plans for became her classmates at East Carolina my major and frankly, the idea of three CPN: What is the most rewarding CPN: Throughout the course of your University, where she majored in politi- more years of school after college grew aspect of your job? career, what have you learned about cal science with a minor in psychology. less and less appealing. My plan than SK: I like learning new things, yourself? She went on to Meredith College for her changed to going to paralegal school, whether it’s new software or about a cli- SK: That I seem to remember the paralegal education and certification, being a paralegal for a year or two and ent’s unique type of business. I also like most trivial of details about cases, which and started working with Moore & Van then returning to law school. However, completing a project knowing that I have sometimes pays off during trials. I’ve Allen at its Raleigh office until the office mid-way through paralegal school, I real- done my best on it and that we have done also learned that I can do more than I closed. She moved to Ellis & Winters in ized that I had no interest in becoming the best for our client that we could. think that I can and manage more than I 2003 and has been there ever since. an attorney. think that I can.

CPN: How does it feel to receive the Distinguished Paralegal Award and what does it mean to you? SK: It feels very humbling. While I was honored to have been nominated by my supervising attorney, it was even more so to have also been nominated by a peer. I Time is Money have always looked up to the other para- legals that have received this award and That's why you need your OWN copy of Lawyers Weekly. have always thought of them as my men- Don't lose another minute of billable time. Sign up for your tors. To be included in such a group has been one of the biggest honors of my life. OWN subscription today and quit waiting for the office copy! CPN: What do you like to do for fun and relaxation? SK: Our son is a competitive saber and foil fencer, so we spend a lot of time Call 1-800-451-9998 or visit traveling for his competitions. I still love www.sclawyersweekly.com and subscribe today! being at Topsail any chance I can get as well, especially if I can read or knit while I’m there.

8 Carolina Paralegal News July 2014 COMMENTARY It’s time to break up with initial caps

By KARIN CIANO you’re not including a glossary or defini- Dolan Media Newswires tions page (and for your reader’s sake, I really hope you’re not) then you’re prob- MINNEAPOLIS — Dear Initial Caps: ably not dealing with terms of art, hence We’ve Traveled a Long Way Together. no need to capitalize. The Moment I Saw You, I Couldn’t Take My Eyes Off You, and I Still Respect Embrace lowercase. The Way You Get My Attention on a Just for fun, try writing the body of Crowded Page. But Lately I’ve Been your next brief, memo, or letter in all Asking Myself if This Has Gone Too lowercase (except for Garner’s three Far—If Our Relationship Is Becoming rules). Pretend it’s a novel. Don’t make Unhealthy. I Rely On You Far Too capitalization decisions on the fly, when Much, and Find Myself Capitalizing your resolve is weak and your attention Words for No Reason. This Needs to wanders. Save them for the end, as part End, and So I Must Say Goodbye. It’s of the editing process, when you can Not You, It’s Me. make a decision that will be consistent Can you relate? I count myself among throughout the document. It feels strange, the lawyers who have capitalized com- I know, to leave those little words all mon nouns not wisely but too well, and alone in a big document without initial therefore also among those who must caps to protect them, but you know what? be eternally vigilant lest initial caps over- They can handle it. So can you. And I take a page like dandelions in a spring promise you’ll have a much healthier re- lawn. lationship with Initial Caps in the future. Initial caps are helpful, of course: they are the time-honored way to show a read- Bonus track. er that This Is Important. Bryan Garner ALL CAPS are ALWAYS hard to read writes, “[t]here are really just three rules: should be capitalized in legal writing Request for Production of Documents.” and give the reader the impression that capitalize the first word of a sentence, include: [a couple of pages of rules and If it’s the only request in dispute, folks, you’re SHOUTING. Avoid them, unless the pronoun I, and proper names. What exceptions]. we don’t need the title. Talk like a nor- of course you’re commenting on a blog could be easier?” Which brings us back to that some- mal person and stick with the common post. But. Lawyers generally agree initial what lesser impulse… how to figure this nouns (“Defendant has not produced the caps are appropriate for those times out so we can finish our writing and get documents plaintiff requested.”) And by Karin Ciano is owner of Karin Ciano when you need to avoid ambiguity on with our lives? For those of us who the way, litigators: plaintiff and defen- Law PLLC and director of Twin Cities or show respect, as in proper names live at the corner of Cautious Drive and dant are common nouns, not terms of art. Custom Counsel PLLC. Contact her at (Barack Obama), honorifics (President), Respectful Road, here are a few tips to Your brief, memo, or letter is intended karincianolaw.com. and terms of art (about which more later). add to Garner’s three rules. to communicate and to persuade. If The question is where to stop … and the answer for most of us is, who knows? Respect the Court. Perhaps it’s the tension between the Every court gets introduced in initial noble impulse to be respectful and ac- caps, as with a proper name (e.g., the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association curate, and the somewhat lesser impulse United States Court of Appeals for the to get the darn thing written without Eighth Circuit). But when referring to it 2014 Annual CPE Seminar taking forever to resolve obscure ques- the second time, should we use “Court,” tions of orthography. I begin with good or “court”? Let’s go with the Bluebook Friday, October 10, 2014 intentions, but after sprinkling a few here, which recommends “court” for Initial Caps into the text, my heart starts all courts except (1) the United States to bleed for all those sad little lowercase Supreme Court, and (2) the Court you’re words. In a spirit of empowerment, I start in front of right this minute. capitalizing here and there, just to show That means if I’m writing a brief to the respect. I think, what’s the harm? And Minnesota Court of Appeals, I will refer then — dandelions. to an opinion of the Minnesota Supreme Enter the style manuals and usage Court thus: “as the court held in Text v. guides, offering variations on the theme Footnotes....” Okay, I’ll admit, I need to of “capitalize this, not that.” Garner’s take a deep breath and it still gives me “Modern American Usage,” devotes two the shivers. But it’s correct — at least pages to the topic, including nine conven- until the court publishes a rule requiring tions intended to assist writers in their otherwise. judgment calls. Shouldn’t every Court get a capital? Lenne Espenscheid, “The Grammar They’re all important, of course. But Location: and Writing Handbook For Lawyers,” often, you’ll be referring to many Courts Jane S. McKimmon Conference and Training Center spends more than six pages on the topic, in a single piece of writing. Capitalizing 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 while acknowledging that the rules are the word Court every time you use it is Telephone: 919-515-2277 “sometimes arbitrary and constantly respectful, but confusing to the reader changing so when in doubt, consult a — because the reader expects the capital Members: $125.00 current desk dictionary to ensure ac- letter indicates a particular court, the Non-members: $225.00 curacy.” equivalent of a proper name or a term of Students: $50.00 The Bluebook has developed a whole art. (Currently Enrolled in a Paralegal Program) rule just for capitalization (Rule 8). “(a) Headings and titles. Capitalize words Capitalize terms of art only if they’d Register before August 29, 2014 to qualify in a heading or title, including the otherwise be ambiguous or confusing. for “Early Bird” registration initial word and any word that immedi- And speaking of which, let’s think Early Bird Member: $100.00 ately follows a colon. Do not capitalize about terms of art for a minute. In a articles, conjunctions, or prepositions contract, a term of art has a definition; Early Bird Non-member: $200.00 when they are four or fewer letters, un- it means one thing, and (we hope) one AGENDA AND APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION less they begin the heading or title, or thing only. Documents designed to with- WILL BE FORTHCOMING immediately follow a colon. (b) Internet stand a close read and an authoritative in- main page titles and URLs. Capitalize terpretation (that is, statutes, regulations VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.RALEIGHWAKEPARALEGAL.NET URLs and words in an Internet main and contracts) must avoid ambiguity, and page title in accordance with the actual initial caps are a useful tool for distin- Pending approval, this seminar will meet the requirements of the Certifying Board capitalization of the source. (c) Text. guishing between terms of art and ordi- for Legal Assistants of the National Association of Legal Assistants, for continuing Except for headings, titles, and Internet nary common nouns. Second Financing main page titles and URLs, capitalize Agreement means a particular document, legal assistant education credit required to maintain the CP/CLA credential in according to this rule. When this rule and once it’s defined as “Agreement,” the amount of 6 hours (including 1 hour of ethics/professional responsibility). does not address a particular question the initial capital makes clear you don’t of capitalization, refer to a style manual mean just any old agreement between the Pending approval, this seminar will meet the requirements of the North Carolina such as the Chicago Manual of Style or parties. State Bar for continuing paralegal education credit in the amount of 6 hours the Government Printing Office Style As so often happens, litigators see this (including 1 hour of ethics/professional responsibility). Manual. Practitioners should also refer and think, “Cool!!! That would look great to Bluepages B7.3 for further advice on in my brief!” So we write, “Defendant capitalization. Additional words that has not complied with Plaintiff’s Third

July 2014 Carolina Paralegal News 9 association news

NORTH CAROLINA Upcoming Events: supporting these members, contributions • Oct. 3: The Metrolina Paralegal can be made via http://www.firstgiving. NALA chooses Charleston Association will hold its Fall Fest CLE com/team/269705. • Charleston is the site of the 2014 National Seminar at the Omni Hotel in Uptown Notes: Association of Legal Assistant’s 2014 Charlotte. For information on speakers, • RWPA memberships are still available for Convention, taking place July 23-25 at the programming and CLE hours, visit www. 2014. Membership Dues have been reduced Charleston Marriott. charlotteareaparalegals.com/mpa-seminars. and are now only $50 per year for general html. members and free to students currently Alamance County Notes: enrolled in a paralegal training program in Paralegal Association • M. Tyler Helms, a legal assistant with Wake County. The association currently Upcoming Events FairPoint Communications in Charlotte, has more than 90 members. • Regular membership meetings are on the has been named the Metrolina Paralegal PUBLISHER third Thursday of every month at 12:30 Association’s 2014 Paralegal of the Year. Research Triangle LIZ IRWIN, Publisher p.m. at Carver’s on Elm Street. Paralegal Association [email protected] North Carolina Bar Upcoming events: Asheville Area Paralegal Association Association Paralegal Division • Aug. 20, 2014: Bi-monthly lunch meet- EDITORIAL Upcoming Events Upcoming Events: ing from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Syngenta in AMBER NIMOCKS, Editor • Monthly membership meetings (which • Oct. 2: Practical Skills for Paralegals at Research Triangle Park. [email protected] often qualify for CLE/CPE credit) are held the N.C. Bar Center – Live and Webcast • Oct. 15, 2014: Bi-monthly lunch meeting TERESA BRUNO, Opinions Editor on the first Thursday of each month at • The Paralegal Division offers a variety of from noon to 1:00 p.m. Information avail- [email protected] noon at Strada, 27 Broadway, Asheville. CLE and professional development oppor- able soon PHILLIP BANTZ, Staff Writer Monthly meeting topics vary. They are tunities throughout the year, in person and • RTPA holds bi-monthly lunch meetings [email protected] posted at our new website, www.ashevil- via webinar. They are free to members of hosted at area law firms or corporations DAVID DONOVAN, Staff Writer leparalegals.com. If you are interested in the NCBA Paralegal Division and $25 for that employ RTPA members. Each meet- [email protected] attending a meeting, please email Vice non-members. Each course offers one hour ing focuses on a variety of topics intended President, Jenny Iaquinto, ACP, NCCP of CLE credit. to encourage our members’ professional HEATH HAMACHER, Staff Writer [email protected] at [email protected]. Meetings, • For more information on these seminars and personal growth. Topics discussed which are open to paralegals, legal assis- and other Paralegal Division programs, at past meetings have included career LAURIE LANDSITTEL, Staff Writer tants, legal secretaries, legal support staff, visit www.paralegaldivision.ncbar.org. counseling, paralegal certification legisla- [email protected] attorneys, paralegal students and teachers Notes: tion, paralegals as mentors, useful internet SCOTT BAUGHMAN, Digital Media Manager are free. There is a $12 charge for lunch. • Sarah Kaufman, a real estate paralegal research tools, financial counseling, and [email protected] with Ellis Winters of Raleigh, received stress management. PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS Catawba Valley Paralegal Association the Distinguished Paralegal Award at Notes: Upcoming Events: the Paralegal Division’s Annual Meeting • For more information about membership, LORA WEGMAN, • The Catawba Valley Paralegal on May 9 at the Grandover Resort in meetings, and activities visit www.rtpanc. Design editor [email protected] Association will provide CPE opportunities Greensboro. org or email [email protected] at 6 p.m. Aug. 12 and Sept. 9. Most CPE • The Paralegal Division has awarded JOHN RENO, Production Manager programs take place at the Catawba Valley its two scholarships for 2014 to Phyllis [email protected] Community College Auditorium. More M. Hines, CP, NCCP of Morrisville and SOUTH CAROLINA information will be available closer to the Jennifer Hoefling, a student in the UNC- ADVERTISING course dates. Visit www.catawbavalleyp- CH Paralegal Certificate Program. Hines, Legal Staff Professionals SHEILA BATIE-JONES, aralegalassoc.org for more information. who won the Division’s member scholar- of South Carolina Advertising Account Executive Notes: ship, will receive Division and Section Upcoming Events: [email protected] • Debra Ellen Brown is the first recipient memberships for a year, registration for the • July 26: LSPSC Summer Membership KATHERINE LEWIS, Advertising Account Executive of the CVPA Lynn Price Scholarship. She Division’s annual meeting and seminar, a Meeting, Nelson Mullins Riley & [email protected] plans to use the $500 award to help her CLE/CPE Passport to various programs, Scarborough, 1320 Main St., Meridian CAROLYN GOLDEN, Inside Sales Representative complete her paralegal degree at Western and travel reimbursements. Hoefling, the Building, 17th Floor, Columbia. Oct. 2-14: [email protected] Piedmont Community College this sum- student scholarship winner, will receive NALS 63rd Annual Education Conference mer. To make a contribution to the Lynn $500 to help with her tuition and books. and National Forum. ACCOUNTING & ADMINISTRATIVE Price Scholarship fund, make your check The Paralegal Division awarded the schol- AMANDA PASSMORE, Business Manager payable to the CVPA with a notation in the arships at its 2014 Annual Meeting at the Charleston Association [email protected] memo section and mail it to P.O. Box 3068, Grandover Resort in Greensboro on May 9. of Legal Assistants Hickory, N.C. 28603. • The NCBA Paralegal Division has more Notes: CIRCULATION than 1,600 members throughout the state. • Membership meetings are the third TRACY BUMBA, Cumberland County Dues for joining are $60 per year, and Wednesday of each month. The luncheons Audience Development Manager Paralegal Association anyone interested in becoming a member offer opportunities for attendees to earn [email protected] Upcoming Events: can apply and pay dues online. CLE credits. • Monthly membership meetings are the • For more information visit www.charles- THE DOLAN COMPANY second Thursday each month at 12:30 p.m. North Carolina Advocates tonlegalassistants.org CHRISTOPHER A. EDDINGS, Vice President, at various locations. Visit www.ccpara.com for Justice Paralegal Division Business Information Division for details. Upcoming Events: Legal Staff Professionals of Greenville • Oct. 16-19: The North Carolina Notes: GLENDA J. RUSSELL, Guilford Paralegal Association Advocates for Justice Mountain Magic and • New officers are: President Vickie Group Publisher Upcoming Events: Fall Conference for Paralegals takes place A. Halstead; President-Elect Dee Dee • The Guilford Paralegal Association meets at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Callison; Vice President Membership Katie © Carolina Paralegal News. Material may not on the second Tuesday of each month, Notes: Johnson; Treasurer Tara Brown; Secretary be republished, resold, recorded, or used in alternating at locations in High Point and • In addition to live seminars, webcasts and Michelle Dender; Parliamentarian Debbie any manner, in whole or in part, without the Greensboro. Meetings start with an infor- webinars, NCAJ offers a variety of video Reynolds. publisher’s explicit consent. Any infringement mal networking and refreshment period at replays of CLE programs. • LSPG’s regular membership meetings will be subject to legal redress. 6 p.m., with the business session following • Visit www.ncaj.com for information on are the third Wednesday each month from at 6:30. Meetings are open to any legal sup- these programs and other activities for 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Poinsett Club. Established 2007 port staff, attorneys, paralegal students, and paralegals. Or email [email protected] The meetings offer educational speak- Circulation to S.C. and N.C. Paralegals prospective paralegals. ers and deliver one half-hour of CLE Notes: Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association credit. Contact Tara Brown at tara@ Published bi-monthly by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly • The Guilford Paralegal Association Upcoming Events: davidgreeneattorney.com and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly has elected new officers for 2014-2015 • Oct. 10: The Raleigh-Wake Paralegal • For information about joining LSPG and 1-800-876-5297 as follows: President, Beth Cox; Vice Association’s Annual Seminar will be participating in it activities visit www.lspg. President, Pearl Melton; Secretary, held at the McKimmon Center on Gorman org Questions or comments: Zendre Bell; Treasurer, Dick Lockwood; Street in Raleigh. Six credit hours will be 1-800-876-5297x12 Parliamentarian, Emma Cemansky; NALA available including 1 hour of ethics. Fees South Carolina Upstate Liaison, Karen England for 2014 seminars have been reduced and Paralegal Association Carolina Paralegal News is published an early bird registration will be available. Upcoming events: bi-monthly by N.C. Lawyers Weekly, Legal Support Staff of North Carolina Visit www.raleighwakeparalegal.net for • SCUPA holds its educational luncheon 510 Glenwood Ave., Suite 223, Raleigh, NC Notes: information about membership and the meetings on the second Thursday each 27603 and S.C. Lawyers Weekly, 701 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C. • The Legal Support Staff of North annual seminar. month at 12:30 p.m. at the Poinsett Club, Carolina is open to all legal secretaries, as- Notes: 807 E. Washington St., Greenville. More sistants, paralegals, attorneys and students. • Jennifer Evans and Meeghan Ramsey, information is available at www.scupa.org LSSNC offers opportunities throughout the members of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Notes: year to earn CLE credit, including at its an- Association, will be participating in the • SCUPA held its 18th annual legal seminar nual meeting and fall seminar. Schedules 5th Annual “Over the Edge” event to on October 11. Attendance was strong, with for certification exams are also available. support Special Olympics North Carolina over 60 participants and 17 paid vendors. LSSNC also has an awards program recog- in Raleigh on Oct. 4 at the Wells Fargo nizing educational accomplishments. For Capitol Center Building in downtown Legal Staff Professionals more information, visit www.lssnc.com. Raleigh. Evans and Ramsey each need of the Lowcountry to raise $1,000 to rappel down the Wells Notes: Metrolina Paralegal Association Fargo building. If you are interested in • Regular membership meetings are on

10 Carolina Paralegal News July 2014 association news

the third Monday each month at 6 p.m. at Legal Staff Professionals membership are an interest in the South National Federation Sunfire Grill & Bistro. The meetings offer of the Midlands Carolina civil court roster system and of Paralegal Associations educational speakers and webinars, one Notes: a willingness to share information and Upcoming Events: hour of CLE credit and a short business • New officers are: President Donna knowledge. Contact Laurie Jennings at • Oct. 9-12: The National Federation of meeting. For more information contact Bailey, PLS; President-Elect Jamie Early, [email protected] Paralegal Association’s Annual Convention Gina Hall at [email protected] PP,PLS; Functional Director Education takes place at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Maris Cannon, CM; Functional Director Texas. This year marks the association’s Hilton Head Legal Staff Professionals Membership Myriam Brown, PLS; NATIONAL 40th Anniversary. Notes: Secretary/Treasurer Sharon Wotherspoon, • New officers are: President Susan PLS. National Association of Legal Assistants NALS – The Association L. Olmstead, PLS; President-Elect/ • The Legal Staff Professionals of the Upcoming Events: for Legal Professionals Parliamentarian Betty M. Parks; Secretary Midlands meets the second Tuesday each • July 23-25: 39th Annual Convention, Upcoming Events: Carolyn Fender; Treasurer Betty M. month at 1 p.m. at Nelson Mullins Riley Summer Educational Institutes, Charleston • Oct. 2-4: NALS will told its 63rd Annual Parks; Functional Director Membership & Scarborough, 1320 Main St., Meridian Marriott, Charleston, S.C. The following Education Conference and National Forum Rebekah Shoup; Functional Director Building, 17th Floor, Columbia. A pre- area associations will host an early bird re- at the Crowne Plaza in Houston, Texas. Certification Carlene B. Kilgore, PLS; sentation by a legal education speaker ception: Charleston Area Legal Assistants; Over 40 sessions will focus on a variety Functional Director Education Meredith earns members a half-hour of CLE credit. Metrolina Paralegal Association; North of topics including litigation/civil law; Lazarski, ACP; Functional Director Public Meetings also feature a brief business ses- Carolina Paralegal Association; South corporate law; estate planning; family law Awareness/Marketing Lu Hansen sion. Bring your own lunch, and bring a Carolina Upstate Paralegal Association; and general practice. Attendees can earn • Regular membership meetings the second friend too. Contact Jamie Early at 803-422- Southeastern Association of Legal up to 16.5 hours of CLE and will have an Tuesday each month at 6 p.m. The location 6813. Assistants. opportunity to engage in valuable network- changes monthly ing over the course of the conference. Palmetto Paralegal Association Notes: • NALS has announced “A Day in the Life Legal Staff Professionals Notes: • The National Commission for Certifying of a Legal Professional: From Shadows to of Orangeburg • Regular membership meetings are on the Agencies has accredited the NALA the Spotlight” as its 2014 theme for Court Notes: third Wednesday each month from 12:30 Certified Paralegal certification program Observance Week Oct. 13-17. This is the • New officers are: President Mary Kay to 2 p.m. for a five-year period, expiring April 30, 40th Anniversary of this observation. In Oliver; Vice President Mary F. Brant; • Membership in PPA is open to any 2019. The Certified Paralegal credential 1974, President Gerald Ford proclaimed the Secretary/Treasurer Sonia L. Hunt; paralegals employed by the public or (CP) has been awarded to over 17,822 second full week of October as National Chapter Liaison Lauritza S. Hill. private sector organizations providing legal paralegals over nearly 40 years, with 8,900 Legal Secretaries’ Court Observance Week • Regular membership meetings are on the services. Students may also join. paralegals currently credentialed. to recognize the contributions of legal third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. • Contact www.ppasc.org for more infor- • NALA Campus Self Study Programs are assistants in the judicial system. NALS, The location changes each month. mation. available on a 24/7 basis. Programs feature its state and local chapters and local busi- • Visit www.lspsc.org for information about an instructional slideshow with text, along nesses have participated in this program the association and its activities. S.C. Roster Administrators with an audio recording and tests to deter- and promoted it in their communities for Notes: mine understanding of the material. four decades. Spartanburg County • The S.C. Roster Administrators hold • For more information about NALA Legal Staff Professionals regular membership meetings the third certification or other programs visit www. Notes: Tuesday each month from 1 to 2:15 p.m. at nala.org. • Regular membership meetings the second various law firms in Columbia, S.C. Visit Thursday of the month, 1 p.m. at the www.scrosteradministrators.org for details Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park on upcoming meetings and events. SEND US YOUR NEWS: • For information about the association and • Membership in S.C. Roster its activities, visit www.lspsc.org Administrators is free. The organization Carolina Paralegal News is happy to publish announcements of upcoming events, focuses on learning from others using the association anniversaries, meetings, or news about your organization. Please South Carolina roster system and to teach email your news to [email protected]. others about the system. Requirements for

July 2014 Carolina Paralegal News 11 Xxxxxx

12 Carolina Paralegal News July 2014