1. law, govt and politics
2. legal issues
3. legislation
4. family laws

In This Issue
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Notes from the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
The Quarterly Newsletter of
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Paralegal Week Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Luncheon News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Volume 11, Issue 1
National Federation of Paralegals Member Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Editor-in-Chief:
Maryanne Ebner
How Do You Become a Leader? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Managing Editor:
Jo-Ann Williams
Staff Writers:
Kim Walker, RP; Maryanne Ebner;
Diana Cook, RP; Rebecca Young, PaCP;
Joann Williams; Judy Stouffer, RP;
Tausha P. Major; Sharon Denofa, RP;
Janet Johnson
Newsletter Photographers:
Maryanne Ebner, Jana Henry
Editorial Staff:
Judy Stouffer, RP: Vivian Luckiewicz, PaCP, RP;
Christine Flynn; Sharon DeNofa, RP;
Kim Walker, RP; Diana Cook, RP
Keystone Alliance Summer Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
JUST FOR FUN! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
2011 Education Conference Registration Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
PACE/PCCE Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
What’s New? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Did You Know… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
ListServ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Are You Ready? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Upcoming PACE and PCCE Scholarship Awards . . . . . . . . . . .18
Step up and be first! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Paralegal Advanced Cmpetency Exam (PACE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Design:
Mark Viggiano
SUPERSTAR! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
COVER ARTWORK:
Paralegal CORE Competency Exam Pilot Test Results . . . . . . . . . .21
Detail of Boathouse Row I, Elaine Lisle, Oil on canvas
JUST FOR FUN Answer Key (from page 14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
ABOUT THE FORUM
The Philadelphia Forum is published Quarterly and is the official
publication of the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP). The
deadline for articles or submissions of any nature for Volume 11.3
will be November 1, 2011. The deadline for advertising space for
Volume 11.3 is November 1, 2011. Annual subscriptions are
included in PAP membership.
The Philadelphia Forum for non-members is $8.00 per issue. If
you are a non-member and would like an annual subscription, the
cost is $30. Please contact Barbara Nield at (215) 751-2101 for additional information.
PUBLISHING POLICY
Articles printed in The Philadelphia Forum express the opinions of the
individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position
of PAP. Letters to the Editor are welcome and can be sent to Maryanne
Ebner at [email protected]. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute PAP endorsement. All materials are subject to editorial revision.
Any errors or omissions in the Philadelphia Forum should be
reported as soon as possible to Maryanne Ebner, Editor-in-Chief, at
[email protected] for correction in the next issue. The staff apologizes in advance for any errors.
PACE® SCHOLARSHIP Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
PCCE SCHOLARSHIP Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
The Social Media Background Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Professional Development: A Key to Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
The Best Ways to Tweak Your Search When Google
Doesn’t Give You What You Want . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
7 Dreaded Mistakes Managers Make . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
CLE is Just as Important for Paralegals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Paralegals Dealing With Stress - Cause for Crazymaking? . . . . . . . .34
NETWORKING: Your Lifeline in Tough Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Confidence Determined to Succeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Philadelphia Association of Paralegals Board of Directors . . . . . . . .41
Fall 2011
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V11.2
The Philadelphia FORUM
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A
s we say goodbye to the Summer of 2011, we look
back on a number of wonderful PAP events. In
July 2011, Tausha Major, 2nd Vice President, presented the Joan Weldon Memorial Scholarship to Elaine
Sachs of Ballard Spahr at our luncheon at the Radison Plaza
Warwick Hotel. Also in July, our members attended and
celebrated Paralegal Week with a carnival-themed party
sponsored by Magna Legal Services. It was certainly a busy
summer for PAP!
As we turn our attention to Fall, PAP looks forward to
our Education Conference to be held on October 7, 2011
at the Hyatt at the Bellevue Hotel. If you have not already
done so, we would encourage you to register for the conference. It is wonderful day filled with seminars, a luncheon
and networking opportunities. Please visit www.Philaparalegals.org for more information and to register. Later in the
month, PAP is pleased to partner with the South Jersey
Paralegal Association (SJPA) for our fall social event- Pump-
kin Picking at Duffield’s Farm. Information can also be found on our website for this event.
On November 10, 2011, PAP
will host the next quarterly luncheon
at the Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel.
The sponsor of our November luncheon is Golkow Technologies. Our annual election of directors will be held at the November luncheon. Additionally,
we are honored to have Michael E. Adler, Esquire, as our
guest speaker. Mr. Adler will speak on Meaningful Giving:
The Benefits of Helping Others While Networking
Through Pro Bono Work. Please mark your calendars.
Also, if you know of a paralegal who is thinking joining our
association, please encourage them to attend our luncheon!
Happy Fall and Go Eagles!
Christine Flynn
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
A
s summer rolled away, we all had to take a deep
breath and get back to business; back to school for
our kids (and for many of us), back to trial prep
that was postponed from the summer, back to the crazy
pace we somehow kept prior to our vacations. Suffice it to
say, I am sure we all need a little motivation. It is my hope
that this issue can offer you that spark to keep you going,
growing and becoming better than ever.
We had a fun summer - there was a great Paralegal
Day Celebration courtesy of Magna Legal Services; we sent
some more lucky members to the zoo; gave away Eagles
tickets at the July Luncheon; and we are determined to keep
the fun coming, as well as increasing our focus on continuing education, and educating and recruiting leaders.
The fun stuff coming up includes Pumpkin Picking on
October, and the November Luncheon (see inside for
details on both events). The down-to-business events start
right away, on October 7, 2011 at the Hyatt at the Bellevue
Stratford at our Annual Education Conference. The PAP
Annual Education Conference Brochure is available online
at www.philaparalegal.com or by emailing [email protected], as well as in your mailbox with a hardcopy of this newsletter.
Also, The National Association of Paralegals Annual
Convention starts October 12, 2011 in Minnesota, and PAP
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The Philadelphia FORUM
is strongly represented. Next year, this
national conference of paralegals is
being held in Alaska! Since this seems
exciting to most of us, we thought it
would be great to bring a member with
us. So we started a fundraiser selling
Yankee Candles. The top seller wins the
trip - all expenses paid. So please support us and get your Yankee Candles for the Holidays, and submit your orders for a
chance to win a trip of a lifetime. Catalogs are being sent with
the hardcopy of the newsletter or by requesting a copy by
email to [email protected].
I know we have a few seasoned paralegals out there, and
I also know we have many bright, smart, energetic start-ups.
I appeal to all groups: we need your help and leadership. We
need your ideas. We need you to step forward, step up and
take your place. Besides looking good on a resume, coordinating a committee for a non-profit offers a wealth of onthe-job education, insight, loads of new friends and
networking contacts, a sense of self-worth, and the satisfaction of contributing to the greater good. We want to hear
from you.
Enjoy this issue, see you at the Education Conference,
and get your orders for Yankee Candles in by November 1
to win a trip to Alaska in 2012!
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Paralegal Week Celebration
Kudos and many thanks to Magna Legal Services for Sponsoring the 2011
Philadelphia Paralegal Day Celebration. We had a Carnival at the Atrium, and
hope you enjoy the pix from a wonderful day. Thanks again, Magna!
You did a wonderful job, and we all had a lot of fun!
Fall 2011
■
V11.2
The Philadelphia FORUM
5
6
The Philadelphia FORUM
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Luncheon News
Rebecca Young, Pa.C.P.
Events from the July Quarterly Lunch
O
n July 12, 2011 the Philadelphia Association
of Paralegals held its third quarterly luncheon. The hosting venue was the Radisson
Plaza Warwick Hotel located in Center City Philadelphia. The July luncheon was sponsored by Quality Litigation Services. Our guest speaker was Elaine Bianculli, a
legal assistant with the Law Office of Fine, Kaplan and
Black, R.P.C.
The luncheon commenced with Tausha Major, the
second Vice President of the Philadelphia Association of
Paralegals, introducing this year’s Joan Weldon Memorial
Scholarship winner, Ann Marie Daly. Ann is currently a
student at Peirce College in the Paralegal Studies program
completing her Bachelors Degree with an expected graduation date of June 2012. She completed Associates
Degree with the highest academic honor, summa cum
laude, at Peirce College and received her diploma in June
2011. While being a student at Peirce College, Ann had
the opportunity to intern with the Risk Management for
the City of Philadelphia. She interned for Hilary Cornell,
Counsel for Risk Management, and found it to be an
amazing opportunity for learning.
Prior to enrolling into Peirce College, Ann was the
Coordinator of Operations for a small public cyber charter school at which she has been employed full time since
2005. Before switching to a career in cyber education,
Ann worked in the public sector as Operations Manager
of a five store furniture chain, Credit Manager for a furniture manufacturer, and Office Manager for a valve and
fitting company. Ann is also the parent of three wonderful children, two who are now adults and one who is well
on her way to being one. Ann began her involvement
with cyber education as the parent of a student. Ann
became increasingly interested in the concept of cyber
education and became a Board member at the cyber
charter school where her middle daughter initially
attended. Her youngest daughter is going to be a sophomore in high school at a cyber charter school in which
she has been enrolled since fourth grade. Her son is a
Fall 2011
■
V11.2
graduate of the first graduating class of Achievement
House Cyber Charter School.
Life experience, in general, and working in the cyber
charter school, specifically, has made Ann aware of the
challenges that people face in accessing necessary services
which would improve their lives and to which they are
entitled. It was the exposure to the obstacles faced in
accessing services that led her to believe that there is a sincere need for an agency, separate from the agencies providing services, to streamline access to services. Once
Ann began the program at Peirce College and understood
the areas in which paralegals are educated and the skills
in which we are trained, it appeared to her that paralegals
might be a perfect resource to develop and operate a
streamlining agency.
Ann Marie Daly presented her scholarship essay,
Paralegals as Advocates. Dedicated to paralegal profession, Ann shared her passion of helping others. Ann
highlighted her inspiration from Joan Weldon, which she
dispirited in two words, “dedication” and “advocacy.”
Ann shared a story of an underprivileged single mother
who could definitely be benefited by some help had an
agency offering access to free paralegal advocacy services
existed. Ann emphasized paralegals’ capabilities and the
cost effectiveness. Through her essay and powerful
speech, she painted a beautiful picture of a paralegalstaffed advocacy agency.
After Ann presented her essay, our guest speaker,
Elaine Bianculli, was introduced by Maryanne Ebner,
the first Vice President of the Philadelphia Association
of Paralegals. Besides working as a legal assistant at the
Law Office of Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C., Elaine is
also a fashion/beauty consultant. She owns and runs a
business called Your Colour Palette, which is very
dynamic about looking one’s best. Elaine believes in
empowering women to follow their dreams and live
their passion through inspiring words of fashionable
and novel wisdom. Elaine prides herself on inspiring the
everyday, hardworking, multitasking woman to feel
The Philadelphia FORUM
7
confident to create her own “signature style” with classic clothing choices and accessorizing with elegant and
trendy statement pieces regardless of budget or lifestyle.
Being a legal assistant, Elaine understands how stressful
it can be for the paralegals trying to get ready for work
in the morning. She shared her tips on how to look
great in five minutes. Not only Elaine recommended
great beauty products, she also gave away some full size
products as generous gifts.
Nine tickets to the Philadelphia Zoo were raffled
away at this luncheon. Winners were announced by
Maryanne Ebner. Michael Tangradi was the lucky raffle
winner and the recipient of the Eagles ticket sponsored
by Quality Litigation Services.
Maryanne made an announcement about the Yankee
Candle Fall/Holiday Sale Fundraising, which is a major
fundraiser for the PAP. It is a great opportunity for the
participants to enjoy the great products, while at the
same time, support the important work that PAP provides within the community. The contact person for
placing orders is the PAP administrator Jana Henry. Jana
can be reached at 215-255-8405, or via email at [email protected]. Yankee Candle catalog can be
emailed upon request. Orders can be picked up at the
PAP office or at the upcoming event in November 2011.
8
The Philadelphia FORUM
Indication of the location, where the order will be picked
up, must be made when placing the order. As the
Philadelphia Association always makes our events fun,
prizes will be rewarded to the top fundraisers. The first
place top fundraiser may win a trip to NFPA in Alaska.
The 2nd prize is one year free PAP membership. The 3rd
prize is a free luncheon pass.
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals would like
to thank our sponsor for the July luncheon, Quality Litigation Services. Quality Litigation Services offers a complete suite of litigation services including e-discovery,
imaging, coding, litigation copying, facilities management and reprographics. The staff at Quality Litigation
Services strive to provide the highest level of service and
customer satisfaction. For more information about Quality Litigation Serives, please visit their web site at
www.qualityls.com. The upcoming luncheon is in
November 2011. The date and location will be posted on
our web site at http://www.philaparalegals.com.
Rebecca Young, Pa.C.P. is a senior paralegal and the Office
Manager with the Law Offices of Kirk V. Wiedemer, Esq.,
P.C. She is the Co-Chair of the Programs Committee and
Education Committee. She is the Chair of the Immigration
Committee and serves as a member on the Board of Directors
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
NFPA
National Federation of Paralegals
Member Benefits
All Members of the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
are automatically members of NFPA
Individual Members
Regardless of the NFPA® membership option you
choose, each member receives the following benefits:
✶ Individual Involvement* - Individuals can volunteer as much or as little time as they desire as a
Coordinator or as a member of a Committee.
✶ Internet Connection* - The NFPA Internet server,
www.paralegals.org <http://www.paralegals.org>,
offers individuals access to a wide variety of information. NFPA members can view publications,
join list serves, conduct research, and learn about
vendor services.
✶ Educational/Career Opportunities* - Through the
Internet Server, www.paralegals.org, NFPA members can receive current information on issues
affecting the paralegal profession and the legal
community, learn about legislative activities, and
learn about upcoming continuing education programs and NFPA seminars. Members can view
seminars and job postings, and post their own confidential resume on NFPA’s legal-specific Career
Center.
✶ Publications* - Members can order copies, at a discounted member rate, of publications that provide
information on current NFPA activities.
✶ Subscription to National Paralegal Reporter*® Members receive a subscription to this colorful,
high-quality, bi-monthly publication that includes
articles on timely career issues and updates on legislative activities.
10
The Philadelphia FORUM
✶ Support for Individual Members* - Members
receive access to NFPA’s extensive library on paralegal issues and reports on federal and state legislative activities. NFPA assists individuals in filing
amicus briefs when the subject is deemed to have
an impact on the paralegal profession.
✶ Networking Opportunities* - Members meet other
paralegals and exchange ideas at national meetings,
through local NFPA associations and through the
networking groups offered through the Internet.
✶ Discounts and Special Offers* - Members can take
advantage of preferred rates with many retailers
and sites including:
• Walt Disney World Resort - 16 theme parks
in the Orlando area
• Dell products
• 1-800-flowers
• Community America Credit Union
• Aetna Dental Access
• ExecuTrain Virtual Campus
• SmartDraw Legal Solution software
• CaseSoft software
• National Notary Association discounted
membership
• various publications
National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.
(NFPA®)
P.O. Box 2016, Edmonds, Washington 98020
Telephone: 425.967.0045
Fax: 425.771.9588
Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
How Do You Become a Leader?
Cindy Welch, RP
NFPA Regional Director for Region II
W
hen I first joined the Dallas Area Paralegal
Association a little over 15 years ago, I have
to admit that I didn’t think too much about
who was running the organization. I only knew that
when I came to the monthly meeting, everything went
smoothly; there were hosts, a speaker, and friendly faces.
I went to meetings as my job would allow and sort of
kept my head down.
About a year later, one of the annual meetings was in
Ohio, my home state, so I decided
that I could attend the CLE in
Columbus and visit family at the
same time. I met more DAPA and
NFPA folks at this conference. While
I had a good time and learned a lot, I
came back to Texas and didn’t get
involved until someone (not sure
who) introduced herself to me at one
of the monthly meetings and asked
me if I would like to really join
DAPA, and not just on paper.
Oh…sure, I said. Maybe one of
these days when I had a little more
experience under my belt since I was also a fairly new paralegal.
I figured that the “someone” must have been a member of the current board of DAPA because soon after, I got
a call from Cynthia Minchillo, RP, Primary for that year.
She explained that the Secondary was unable to attend the
Convention and would I like to go to Scottsdale to help
represent DAPA. Who could turn that down? The Convention felt overwhelming – sooo many people, lots of
agenda topics, and just a very busy several days in general.
Again I went home and thought I would stay under the
radar until a few months later when the incoming President for DAPA called and asked me to be Parliamentarian.
I was thrilled with the invitation and confident that I
could handle the responsibilities.
When the next incoming President (Krisine Farmer,
RP) was forming her board, I was again invited to join but
in a position with more responsibility. That was in 2000
and I have to say that I’ve been involved with DAPA or
Fall 2011
■
V11.2
NFPA every year since then. I’ve held many positions on
the DAPA board, including President, Secretary, and Primary, I’ve also been the Vendor Advisor, Secondary and
PACE Ambassador. I’ve been an Assistant Coordinator
and Co-Coordinator for NFPA and now currently serve as
Director for Region II. I’ve enjoyed my volunteer time
with both associations and feel that it has helped me grow
both personally and professionally and doors have opened
to me because of this.
So, how does my story translate to you? YOU have to be
proactive on behalf of yourself
AND your local association.
While I don’t consider myself to be
shy, I didn’t get too involved for a
while because I was new to the profession and the organization. It
didn’t occur to me at the time that
being more active in DAPA and
NFPA would help educate me
quicker about the legal industry, so
I needed to be invited to participate – over and over and over
again. Had someone not taken that first step and inquired
about my involvement, I might have sat on the sidelines
for many more years. Because I didn’t turn down many
invitations, the DAPA folks (and eventually the NFPA
folks) continued to ask me to participate. I am very appreciative to Cynthia, Wendi, Susan and Kristine for continuing to invite me to participate in both DAPA and NFPA.
If you want to get more involved, think about attending a local or national meeting that you wouldn’t normally
attend. Sign up for one of the many listserves that NFPA
offers. Get a mentor – they aren’t just for new paralegals –
and learn all you can. Introduce yourself to someone you
admire or someone who has written an article you enjoyed.
With all the technology offered to us, you don’t have to be
in the same room with someone to benefit from their
direction or guidance.
I believe that you will fully enjoy your time either as a
leader, or leader-in-training. Remember that the statements “I can” and I can’t” are both true – it depends on you.
The Philadelphia FORUM
11
Keystone Alliance Summer Meeting
by Vivian Luckiewicz, RP®, Pa. C.P.
O
n July 16, 2011, the Philadelphia Association
of Paralegals (PAP) was pleased to host the
2011 Summer Meeting of the Keystone
Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Many thanks to the
law firm of Spector, Gadon & Rosen, P.C. for the use of
their conference rooms; to Maryanne Ebner, hostess
extraordinaire; and to our Administrative Assistant, Jana
Henry, for diligently taking the meeting minutes.
PAP is an association member of the Keystone
Alliance, which is also comprised of the following paralegal associations: Bucks County Paralegal Association
(BCPA), Central Pennsylvania Paralegal Association
(CPPA), Chester County Paralegal Association
(CCPA), Lancaster Area Paralegal Association (LAPA),
Lycoming County Paralegal Association (LCPA),
Montgomery County Paralegal Association (MCPA),
Pittsburgh Paralegal Association (PPA) and the York
County Paralegal Association (YCPA). The member
associations represent in excess of 1,400 paralegals of
varying backgrounds, experience, education, and job
responsibilities, reflecting the diversity of the paralegal
profession.
As most of you probably know, in April 2008, the
Keystone Alliance was instrumental in establishing a voluntary program for the certification of paralegals in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Each approved applicant is entitled to use the designation “Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal” or Pa. C.P. To date, 33 members of PAP
are Pennsylvania Certified Paralegals.
Denise Farrell, Pa.C.P. (Lancaster Area Paralegal
Association), Chair of the Keystone Alliance, called the
meeting to order at approximately 9:30 a.m. and the 18
delegates in attendance set out to tackle an ambitious
agenda. After the welcoming remarks and introduction
of delegates, Catrina Mackes, CLA, (Lancaster Area Para-
Fall 2011
■
V11.2
legal Association), presented the Treasurer’s Report.
Tracy L. Barnes, RP, Pa. C.P. (Montgomery County Paralegal Association), Chair of the Credentialing Committee, submitted a report detailing new and renewal
applications. Deborah A. Long, Pa. C.P., (Montgomery
County Paralegal Association), Chair of the Standing
Committee, discussed CLE approval procedures. Lynn
Rohr (Chester County Paralegal Association) was nominated and approved as the new CLE Coordinator.
After a short break for a delicious hot lunch, we got
back to work. Volunteers were solicited for a myriad of
tasks, including updates to various organizational documents, the Alliance’s website, and credentialing forms.
The afternoon flew by and the meeting ended around
4:30 p.m.
Keep in mind that as the debate about paralegal regulation goes on, the certification program offered by the
Keystone Alliance offers Pennsylvania paralegals the
opportunity to gain professional recognition and set
qualification standards. To learn more about the Keystone Alliance, please visit the website at www.keystoneparalegals.org. If you are a Facebook member, please
“like” the Keystone Alliance page at www.facebook.
com/pages/Keystone-Alliance-of-Paralegal-Associations.
The Philadelphia FORUM
13
JUST FOR FUN!
A REBUS is a picture representation of a name, work, or phrase.
Each “rebus” puzzle box below portrays a common word or phrase.
Can you guess what it is?
HEAD
HEALS
Answer: Since the word HEAD is over the word HEELS, the answer to the puzzle would
be HEAD OVER HEELS! Get it? That’s great! Now wake up your brain by having some
more fun with the teasers below! Don’t peek at the answers until you make a guess!
1.
2.
3.
Ban ana
4.
0
Dr.PhD.B.A.
gesg
rider
5.
6.
7.
Mce
Mce
Mce
9.
known
FACT
13.
11.
DEAL
14.
BJAOCKX
Nafish
Nafish
Sideside
10.
RUNNING
MT
8.
15.
B
U
R
N
John + MMM
B
U
R
N
FUNNY
FUNNY
WORDS
WORDS
WORDS
12.
Me quit
16.
POIKKKKNT
Answers on page 21
14
The Philadelphia FORUM
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
2011 Education Conference
Registration Form
Registration Deadline is September 30, 2011
(Limited Space will be available for walk-ins)
Friday, October 7, 2011
Hyatt at the Bellevue
200 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102
NAME OF REGISTRANT:
SESSION ONE
_____
_____
_____
_____
9:00 A.M. TO 10:15 A.M.
LOCATION
Please check one seminar from this session that you would like to attend
Corporate Law: Business Entity Governance and Compliance* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clover Room
Instructor: Petrona Varela, Esquire
Immigration: Hot Topics in Immigration for Employers and Individuals . . . . . . . . . . . . State Drawing Room
Instructors: Wendy Castor Hess, Esquire, Yuah Jessica Choi, Esquire and Erin Lovejoy, Paralegal
Legal Writing: Effective Writing for Dispositive Motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Room
Instructor: Judge John M. Younge
Technology: Winning Litigation Technology (ParaCon/Sanction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balcony Foyer
Instructor: Jennifer McCoy, Paralegal
SESSION TWO
10:45 A.M. TO Noon
LOCATION
Please check one seminar from this session that you would like to attend.
_____ Financial Planning: Financial Management Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .R ed Room
Instructor: Sean Michael Pearson, CFP®
_____ Litigation: Avoiding Consequences: Minimizing Risks of Litigation* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clover Room
Instructor: Stephanie Resnick, Esquire and Christine Soares, Esquire
_____ Ethics: Use Your Paralegals the Right Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State Drawing Room
Instructor: Jane Jacobs, Esquire
_____ Pro Bono: Pennsylvania Innocence Project: Training for Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balcony Foyer
Instructor: Marissa Boyers Bluestine, Esquire
SESSION THREE
2:00 P.M. TO 3:15 P.M.
LOCATION
Please check one seminar from this session that you would like to attend.
_____ E-Filing: E-filing in Philadelphia County: An Overiew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clover Room
Instructor: Deborah E. Dailey
_____ Estates & Trusts: Changes in Pennsylvania and Federal Law Affecting Estate Administration . . . Red Room
Instructor: Kathleen A. Stephenson, Esquire
_____ Intellectual Property: America Invents Act:
How the New Law Impacts Your Patent Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . State Drawing Room
Instructor: Elizabeth Lai Featherman, Esquire
_____ Litigation: Qui Tam* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balcony Foyer
Instructors: Sherrie Savett, Esquire and Gary Azorsky, Esquire
Fall 2011
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V11.2
The Philadelphia FORUM
15
SESSION FOUR
_____
_____
_____
_____
3:30 P.M. TO 4:45 P.M.
LOCATION
Please check one seminar from this session that you would like to attend.
Estates & Trusts: ABCs of Estate Planning to Protect Your Family and Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Room
Instructor: Carole B. Sheffield, Esquire
Professional Development: Strategic Career Planning for Paralegals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clover Room
Instructor: Tausha Major, M.B.A.
Family Law: What’s New in Custody, Support, Adoption, Separation &
Domestic Violence* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balcony Foyer
Instructor: Margaret Klaw, Esquire
Social Media: Playing the Social Media Game: The Best Offense is a Good Defense . . . . State Drawing Room
Instructor: Kimberly A. Walker, RP® and Babette Pace, Paralegal
SEMINAR FEES
PAP MEMBER Full Day Rate (includes participation in all four sessions and lunch)** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Price: $155.00
PAP MEMBER half Day Session (includes participation in two consecutive sessions with lunch) . . . . . . . . . . . Price: $120.00
ATTORNEY/NON MEMBER Full Day Rate (Includes participation in all four sessions and lunch) . . . . . . . . Price: $180.00
ATTORNEY/NON MEMER Half Day Session (Includes participation in two sessions and lunch) . . . . . . . . . . Price: $150.00
STUDENT Full Day Rate (Includes participation in all four sessions and lunch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Price: $95.00
STUDENT Half Day Session (Includes participation in two sessions and lunch) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Price: $65.00
LUNCH ONLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Price: $40.00
LUNCH SELECTION
Choose one selection
_____ Chicken
_____ Salmon
Name: ______________________________________
_____ Vegetarian/Gluten Free
Email Address: __________________________________
Firm: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: _________________
*This session has been PA CLE Board approved for 1.0 credit. PAP will cover the attendance fee for attorneys who attend this session.
**TUITION BREAK: Get a 10% discount for 2 or more attendees from the same organization or firm with a full day attendance with
lunch. To qualify for the tuition discount, registration must occur on or before September 25, 2011.
Please make checks payable to: The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Mail payments to:
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals, P.O. Box 59198, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9198
EMAIL REGISTRATION FORMS TO: [email protected]
Membership lists are now available for purchase.
16
The Philadelphia FORUM
To opt-out, check box(es):
❏ NFPA ❏ PAP
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
PACE/PCCE CORNER
By Vivian Luckiewicz, RP®, Pa. C.P., PACE Ambassador
What’s New?
O
n June 11, 2011, 188 qualified candidates were the
first to take the Paralegal CORE Competency
Examination (PCCE) which was administered at testing
sites across the country including New York, Kansas,
Texas, Washington DC, Tennessee, Colorado, California,
Texas, South Carolina, Illinois and Washington. The
candidates are now anxiously awaiting their test results,
which will be issued no later than August 1, 2011.
Those who pass the PCCE will be entitled to use the
CORE Registered Paralegal (“CRP”) credential. Good
luck to all who took advantage of this fantastic opportunity to distinguish themselves in our field!
Did You Know…
P
AP currently has fourteen members who are RPs!
Let’s give them a round of applause!!
• Cynthia Ely, RP, Schwenksville, PA (10/28/97)
• Barbara I. Nield, RP, Philadelphia, PA (12/4/00)
• Donna Colarulo, RP, Haddonfield, NJ (10/13/01)
• Donna McConnell, RP, Logan Township, NJ (7/1/03)
• Valerie Dolan, RP, Philadelphia, PA (5/7/04)
• Sharon DeNofa, RP, Philadelphia, PA (5/18/07)
• Robert Hrouda, RP, Philadelphia, PA (4/26/08)
• Judy Stouffer, RP, Elkins Park, PA (8/4/08)
• Elizabeth Montanti, RP, Stow Creek Township, NJ
(9/4/08)
• Vivian Luckiewicz, RP, Collingswood, NJ (6/6/09)
• Desiree M. Purvenas-Hayes, RP, West Deptford, NJ
(11/29/10)
• Diana M. Cook, RP, Havertown, PA (12/30/10)
• Mary Rachel Swift, RP, Wilmington, DE (1/4/11)
• Kimberly A. Walker, RP, Philadelphia, PA (2/4/11)
ListServ
T
o all RPs, be sure to sign up for NFPA’s RP listserv.
It’s a great forum for networking, finding answers to
work projects, and sharing ideas with your colleagues.
The RP ListServ Registration can be found on NFPA’s
website, www.paralegals.org, under the “PACE/RP” tab.
18
The Philadelphia FORUM
Are You Ready?
I
f you’re thinking about sitting for the PACE or PCCE,
please let me know. Whether you need help figuring
out what to study, want to find a study buddy, or just
need some moral support, your PACE/PCCE Certification Ambassador is ready to help. Let’s get together!
Upcoming PACE and PCCE
Scholarship Awards
PACE. One PACE scholarship will be awarded at
PAP’s Education Conference to be held on October
7, 2011. The scholarship, in the amount of $325,
is to be applied towards the study manual and
examination fee. The scholarship rules are simple:
• You must be a PAP member in good standing.
• You must be PACE eligible (see
www.paralegals.org and click on the PACE tab
to make sure that you meet these requirements).
• You must commit to take the PACE within one
(1) year of the award of scholarship.
PCCE. One PCCE scholarship will be awarded at
our November quarterly luncheon. To be eligible
for this scholarship:
• You must be PCCE eligible (see the
requirements listed below).
• You must commit to take the PCCE within one
(1) year of the award of scholarship.
Interested applicants should complete the
appropriate entry form in this issue of the Forum
and either email it to your PACE/PCCE
Certification Ambassador or simply bring it with
you to the Education Conference or the November
luncheon. If your name is drawn, you will be asked
to certify that you meet the eligibility requirements
and that you plan to register to take the exam
within one year.
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Step up and be first!
We’re anxious to see who will be the first member of PAP to earn the CRP credential. Although the pilot test was a
paper-and-pencil version, beginning in November 2011, the PCCE will be a three hour computerized test which
can be taken at any Professional Exam Services (PES) site in the Delaware Valley. The fee for the computer-based
PCCE will be $215.00.
The Candidate Handbook for the pilot test was a free download. The mini-handbook for the pilot exam was a
very condensed version of the full Handbook which is expected to be available for download in August 2011.
To be eligible to sit for the PCCE, a candidate must meet ONE of the following combinations of
education/experience:
If you have this level of education…
EDUCATION
you also need this level of
experience to be eligible.
EXPERIENCE/CLE
Bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a
Paralegal Certificate
No experience or CLE required
Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies
No experience or CLE required
Bachelor’s degree in any subject but no
Paralegal Certificate
6 months experience and 1 hour of ethics taken in
the year preceding the exam application date
Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies
No experience or CLE required
Associate’s degree in any subject other than
Paralegal Studies, no paralegal certificate
1 year paralegal experience and 6 hours of CLE
(with at least 1 hour in ethics) taken during the
12 months prior to the submission of exam application
Paralegal certificate from a program that meets
or exceeds the requirements set forth in NFPA’s
Short Term Paralegal Program Position Statement
1 year experience and 6 hours of CLE, including 1 hour
of ethics taken in the year preceding the exam
application date
High School Diploma (or GED)
5 years’ experience and 12 hours of CLE, including
1 hour of ethics taken within the two years preceding
the exam application date
NFPA Member Password:
To access the Members Only portion of the NFPA
website (www.paralegals.org) please call the office at
215.255.8405 or email [email protected].
Leaders listed on the inside back cover of this issue
can also provide the most current password.
Fall 2011
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The Philadelphia FORUM
19
PARALEGAL ADVANCED COMPETENCY EXAM (PACE)
An Advanced Exam for the Skilled and Experienced Paralegal
T
he Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) is offered by NFPA to test the competency of experienced and
skilled paralegals. This exam is one-of-a-kind, in that it is the ONLY certification exam that requires at least two
(2) years of substantive paralegal experience for applicants to qualify to sit for the exam.
PACE tests critical thinking and problem-solving skills used by experienced paralegals. PACE, like PCCE, is not
state specific and is a national exam. PACE is not for entry-level paralegals as there are strict eligibility
requirements.
A person is eligible under any ONE of the following combinations of education/experience:
If you have this level of education…
EDUCATION
you also need this level of
experience to be eligible.
EXPERIENCE/CLE
Bachelor’s degree and completion of a paralegal
program with an institutionally accredited school,
said paralegal program may be embodied in a
bachelor’s degree
2 years paralegal experience
Bachelor’s degree in any course of study obtained
from an institutionally accredited school
3 years paralegal experience
Associate’s degree in paralegal studies obtained
from an institutionally accredited school, and/or
ABA approved paralegal education program
6 years paralegal experience
OR, four (4) years substantive paralegal experience on or before December 31, 2000
PACE/PCCE
Contact Information
Feel free to contact your PACE/PCCE Certification Ambassador, Vivian Luckiewicz, RP, Pa. C.P., via email at
[email protected] or call (267) 426-6141.
NFPA, PACE Registered Paralegal, RP, PACE, NFPA – The Leader of the Paralegal Profession and the NFPA design
logo are all Registered Trademarks/Service Marks of NFPA; NFPA – Your Partner in your profession, PACE – The
Standard for Excellence, NFPA Tech Institute, and the PACE design/logo are Trademarks/Service Marks of NFPA.
20
The Philadelphia FORUM
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
SUPERSTAR! ✰
By Vivian Luckiewicz, RP®, Pa. CP
BOB CHUDZINSKI—you’re a star! Bob sat for the
pilot examination of the Paralegal CORE Competency
Examination (“PCCE”) on June 11, 2011, earning him
the dubious distinction of being the first member of PAP
to pass the PCCE. Way to go, Bob!
Bob is presently employed with Pesci Consulting Services in Philadelphia as a business consultant/
paralegal/investigator. He is also Acting Lead Instructor of
the Paralegal Studies Program at PRISM Career Institute
which, you might think, made him a shoe-in to pass the
exam. But Bob wasn’t so sure about that—this was a pilot
test and there was no formal study guide, so he was not
sure what to expect. He decided to take sit for the exam
to test his own knowledge and to see if he could pass without any formal preparation. He also wanted to get a firsthand impression of the test that he could share his
experience with his students and other paralegals. He
joked that throughout a good portion of the exam, he felt
like he was answering questions that he might have given
to his own students. Unfortunately, though, Bob’s teaching career is going to be put on hold once his last students
finish their coursework at the end of September 2011 since
PRISM Career Institute’s campus on Roosevelt Boulevard
will no longer offer the paralegal program.
Bob is proud to be the first PAP member to earn the
CRP credential but states that he “had no idea it would
be recognized with such enthusiasm.” As a paralegal
instructor, though, Bob knows that the PCCE will help
set the standard for the paralegal profession. Since the
test is voluntary, it demonstrates the desire of paralegals
to enhance recognition of the professional status of their
chosen field; sets the standard for quality in the profession; and establishes a credential, in the absence of formal
regulation. To a potential employer, the PCCE provides
evidence of a qualified employee whose skills and knowledge have already been tested; assures the employer that
a paralegal is a professional who has knowledge of legal
ethics, terminology, practices and technology; and assists
employers in making more informed hiring decisions.
Bob, on behalf of the Board of Directors of PAP, let
me congratulate you on a job well done. We’re very
proud of your achievement.
Paralegal CORE Competency Exam Pilot Test Results
O
n June 11, 2011, 188 paralegals took the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam pilot test at 12 test sites
across the country. Of the paralegals who completed the test, 148 achieved a passing score of 550 or better. Those paralegals are the very first CORE Registered Paralegals and have earned the right to use the CRP credential. Congratulations to all who passed!
Please check the NFPA website frequently for additional information and updates concerning the roll out of
the computer based version of the exam in November Please address any questions to [email protected]
JUST FOR FUN ANSWER KEY (from page 14)
(1) banana split; (2) low rider; (3) scrambled eggs; (4) 3 degrees below zero; (5) three blind mice;
(6) side by side; (7) tuna fish; (8) John Adams; (9) little known fact; (10) big deal; (11) sideburns;
(12) quit following me; (13) jack-in-the-box; (14) running on empty; (15) too funny for words
(16) case in point
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The Philadelphia FORUM
21
2011 PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF PARALEGALS
PACE® SCHOLARSHIP
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP), in keeping with our desire to promote and encourage education among current members of the paralegal profession, offers scholarships twice per year to current PAP
members. The designated member will receive a scholarship in the amount of $325 to be applied towards
the study manual and examination fee for the Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination (PACE®)
offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA®).
To be eligible for a PACE® Scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:
• Voting member of PAP.
• Commit to take the PACE® within one year of the Scholarship Award Date.
• Meet one or more of the PACE® eligibility requirements:
• An associate’s degree in paralegal studies obtained from an institutionally accredited and/or American Bar Association approved program and six (6) years substantive paralegal experience OR
• A bachelor’s degree in any area obtained from an institutionally accredited school and three (3)
years substantive paralegal experience OR
• A bachelor’s degree and completion of a paralegal program with an institutionally accredited
school (the paralegal program may be included in the bachelor’s degree) and two (2) years substantive paralegal experience OR
• Four (4) years substantive paralegal experience completed on or before December 31, 2000.
• Complete the PCCE Scholarship Entry form below. One entry per person; one Scholarship per person per year. You do not need to be present at the time of the drawing to win a Scholarship.
Email the entry form to [email protected].
2011 PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF PARALEGALS
PACE® SCHOLARSHIP ENTRY FORM
I would like to apply to be eligible for a PACE® Scholarship. By submitting this entry, I acknowledge
that I meet the criteria stated above and commit to take the PACE® within one year of the Scholarship Award Date. If I do not take the exam within one year, I will forfeit the PACE® Scholarship
and will not be eligible for future PACE® Scholarships.
Candidate Name:
Employer Name:
Employer Address:
Employer Phone Number:
Other Phone Number:
Email Address:
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The Philadelphia FORUM
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
2011 PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF PARALEGALS
PCCE SCHOLARSHIP
In 2011, the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP) will award one scholarship to a member who is
eligible to sit for the Paralegal CORE Competency Examination (PCCE).
To be eligible for a PACE® Scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:
• Voting member of PAP.
• Commit to take the PACE® within one year of the Scholarship Award Date.
• Meet one or more of the PACE® eligibility requirements:
If you have this level of education…
EDUCATION
you also need this level of experience to be eligible.
EXPERIENCE/CLE
Bachelor’s degree in any subject plus a
Paralegal Certificate
No experience or CLE required
Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies
No experience or CLE required
Bachelor’s degree in any subject but no
Paralegal Certificate
6 months experience and 1 hour of ethics taken in
the year preceding the exam application date
Associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies
No experience or CLE required
Associate’s degree in any subject other than
Paralegal Studies, no paralegal certificate
1 year paralegal experience and 6 hours of CLE
(with at least 1 hour in ethics) taken during the 12
months prior to the submission of exam application
Paralegal certificate from a program that meets
or exceeds the requirements set forth in NFPA’s
Short Term Paralegal Program Position Statement
1 year experience and 6 hours of CLE, including 1 hour
of ethics taken in the year preceding the exam
application date
High School Diploma (or GED)
5 years’ experience and 12 hours of CLE, including
1 hour of ethics taken within the two years preceding
the exam application date
• Complete the PCCE Scholarship Entry form below. One entry per person; one Scholarship per person per year. You do not need to be present at the time of the drawing to win a Scholarship.
Email the entry form to [email protected].
2011 PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF PARALEGALS
PACE® SCHOLARSHIP ENTRY FORM
I would like to apply to be eligible for a PCCE Scholarship. By submitting this entry, I acknowledge that I meet the criteria stated above and commit to take the PACE® within one year of the Scholarship Award Date. If I do not take the exam
within one year, I will forfeit the PACE® Scholarship and will not be eligible for future PACE® Scholarships.
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Fall 2011
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V11.2
The Philadelphia FORUM
23
The Social Media
Background Check
Brendan McKenna
O
n May 9, 2011, the Federal
Trade Commission approved
the Social Intelligence
Corporation as a consumer reporting agency in compliance with the Fair
Credit Reporting Act. The commission
noted that Social Intelligence can now issue
legal background checks “because it assembles or evaluates consumer report information that is furnished to third parties that
use such information as a factor in establishing a consumer’s eligibility for employment.”
As part of the approval, the FTC
required that Social Intelligence ensure
maximum accuracy of social media information
collected — and that the company is under “obligation to
provide employees or applicants with notice of any adverse
action taken on the basis of these reports.” While the FTC found
that no further action was required, the commission said it might
evaluate Social Intelligence’s operations in the future if public objections are raised.
How does Social Intelligence go about creating social media background checks? It scours a wide range of social
media sites for objectionable information. But this search is not limited to the most popular social networking sites,
such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. The company also seeks out postings on Craigslist and will even conduct a
“deep search” of college and other sites that are more private. These are pages that are generally considered to be “incapable of being discovered by searching through a conventional search engine like Google or Bing,” says the About.com
Job Search site. About.com notes that this list also includes “some university, academic, government, and private databases unavailable to the general public.” In other words, all posts, everywhere they can track down (based on information the candidate provides the employer).
Used by permission, ALM Publications, as seen on Law.com, Law Technology News, July 14, 2011.
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The Philadelphia FORUM
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Because the company is bound by FTC rules, it must
limit what it can search for to avoid FCRA violations.
This means that Social Intelligence cannot provide information, says About.com, on “protected class characteristics that federal anti-discrimination laws deem unusable
in the hiring practice” (including race, religion, natural
origin, age, sex, familial status, sexual orientation, disability status, and so on).
According to Gizmodo, the report only considers a
fairly limited number of behaviors, from violent or
aggressive acts, to illegal activities, racist statements, and
sexually explicit actions. Interestingly, as Gizmodo notes,
the employment screening doesn’t include sending along
identifiable photos to employers. “Basically,” Gizmodo
says, “it just wants to know if you’re the kind of asshole
who will cause legal hassles for an employer.”
As for images provided to employers, Gizmodo
found that the person was sufficiently blacked out so that
ethnicity could not be identified — presumably leaving
just the part of the photo that suggests a candidate is not
suited for the position (such as an offensive T-shirt).
The service bills itself as a safe alternative to employer
“Googling” — Social Intelligence does the social media
research so that employers can stay compliant and avoid
lawsuits from spurned candidates. “Employers are only
exposed to information that is job relevant,” the service
says. Not only that, but “while reports must be stored
[for seven years] for FCRA compliance, the data within
past reports is never re-used.” That is, each finding can be
used once. The candidate must consent to the report, and
will be notified if results impacted his or her hiring.
Inevitably, and despite stopgap measures, privacy
concerns arise when it comes to social media. Much of
Inevitably, and despite stopgap
measures, privacy concerns arise
when it comes to social media.
Much of the related content online
discussing social media background
checks reminded users that the
best way to avoid the employer
spotlight is to set everything to
maximum privacy settings.
Fall 2011
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V11.2
The written word can
easily be taken out of context;
how many times has a
statement of some sort been
misconstrued as sarcastic —
when it was meant literally?
the related content online discussing social media background checks reminded users that the best way to
avoid the employer spotlight is to set everything to
maximum privacy settings. The website Facecrooks.com
writes that “if you’re clean, then there’s really not much
of an issue” but adds, “How many of us have committed a social networking faux pas at one point in our
lives?” And the site finds it disconcerting that people
would need to watch their step each and every time
something is posted online. The written word can easily be taken out of context; how many times has a statement of some sort been misconstrued as sarcastic —
when it was meant literally?
But the ultimate problem may be with such an
information-gathering service’s techniques. While
algorithms are probably run to dig deep into the web
for social media information, the report is perfected
by real people. Real people have widely divergent feelings about sexuality and aggressive acts. The website
Socialtimes.com writes that “it’s hard not to feel like
we’re getting a little too complacent with big brother
watching us. Who determines what constitutes
aggressive or discriminatory?” The site points out that
since participation in a Facebook group or angry status updates could very well factor negatively in the
reports, Social Intelligence employees may be able to
write reports based on their own personal objections
— or even the concerns or policies of the company
the report is prepared for.
So the onus is shifted away from employer — liabilities removed for a Google search gone wrong. And while
Social Intelligence assures everyone that everything is fair
in the process, will the FTC in fact be faced with a sea of
objections from Americans concerned about privacy?
Just another new social media uncertainty to add to
the mix. And it may be a good idea to revisit MySpace
and even friendster to make sure there aren’t any forgotten profiles floating about.
The Philadelphia FORUM
25
Professional
Development:
A Key to Success
Jo Ann Williams
Over the years, I have learned that professional development is essential for the growth
and enhancement of one’s paralegal career. Now more than ever, employers are looking to
hire paralegals who posses advanced skills as clients seek to minimize costs.
Advancements in technology, in particular, demand that paralegals keep abreast of the
latest software tools and electronic discovery practices. The obligation is on both paralegals and attorneys to preserve evidence and mitigate risks. As we move into this new era,
many paralegals and other legal professionals may resist these changes. However, they are
worth embracing. Indeed, many of the available e-Discovery tools and applications permit
a paralegal to more easily access large volumes of information, saving time, money, and
office space.
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The Philadelphia FORUM
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Certainly, career workshops are available to assist a
paralegal in achieving his or her professional goal of understanding this new technology. Many law firms and other
companies encourage, and often subsidize, these workshops. A paralegal’s willingness to seek out these opportunities, despite the challenges that they often present, will
lead to increased responsibilities and greater job satisfaction. Informed paralegals are also more likely to feel a part
of the team, and attorneys will identify those individuals
first to work on new cases and projects. Paralegals are
often called upon to train other members of the office on
new technology, adding another dimension to one’s work.
It is often said that paralegals have a responsibility to
develop the profession. I agree, and have learned that
professional organizations can help to achieve this goal.
Paralegal organizations provide programming and educational forums to advance the professional development,
objectives and goals of their members. They also provide
excellent networking opportunities with fellow paralegals, attorneys, and other legal professionals. Members
are often exposed to leadership opportunities and are
encouraged to promote public awareness of the role of
paralegals within the legal profession. Now more than
ever, paralegals are expected to be good communicators.
And so, the opportunity to regularly share experiences
with like-minded people can increase a paralegal’s confidence in his or her public speaking abilities.
Identifying a mentor is also important for the development of your paralegal career. Undoubtedly, it can be
Fall 2011
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V11.2
intimidating to ask a supervisor to recommend useful
educational and training programs, or to assist in developing a career plan. However, I have learned that there
are many successful and seasoned paralegals who are willing to share their experiences with paralegals who are just
starting out in their careers, or those who may be looking
to change course.
I also encourage paralegals to create their own professional development plans in order to identify their career
objectives. Without a doubt, reflecting on your career
will increase self-awareness and help to organize and synthesize goals. Paralegals should think about what skills
will be helpful to assist the attorneys with whom they
work, and which skills are important to increase their
own effectiveness and work quality.
No longer can we take for granted that we will
remain in one position for the length of our careers. New
technology may eliminate a position or cause a position
to be reinvented, and we must prepare ourselves for
change. Thus, it is important to be proactive and to feel
empowered to take control of your own career.
Employer, colleagues, and other members of the legal
community will benefit from your willingness to develop
your paralegal skills.
J. D. Williams is a paralegal in the Philadelphia County
and active member of The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals. She currently serves as Assistant Editor of The Forum
newsletter and sits on PAP’s Board of Directors.
The Philadelphia FORUM
27
The Best Ways to Tweak
Your Search When
Google Doesn’t Give
You What You Want
Adam Dachis
I
deally, a simple Google search will give you exactly
the results you need. When it doesn’t, here are the
best ways to tweak your web searches to help you get
relevant results.
We all (or, well, most of us) love Google but it may
not be the best search tool for everything. While the following information will concentrate heavily on Google,
we’ll also be looking at other search engines and options
that might suit you better for certain tasks. If you’re not
getting the results you want from Google, in some cases
another search engine may be the best fix.
Creating an Effective Search Query
As much as Google (and other search engines) may
try, they don’t speak English or any other human language. If you ask a search engine a specific question, it’s
probably not going to yield the best results. Fortunately,
there are some tricks you can learn to form a really good
Google query and end up with more relevant results.
Don’t Use Words You Don’t Need
Don’t search for full sentences or ask full questions.
Search for the keywords in what you’re looking for. Google
will just ignore certain words it knows are common and
irrelevant, but this may not be the case with all search
engines; either way, you’ll save yourself some typing time.
Just leave out anything you don’t need. For example
“dimensions and weight of the 2010 macbook air” works
just fine as “dimensions weight 2010 macbook air.”
Use the AROUND() Operator
By default, Google searches for your search terms
everywhere in the page and they don’t necessarily have to
be near each other. This is annoying when you’re searching
for something <like idol white> and you end up with an
article about Billy Idol that later mentions his song White
Wedding (it happens all the time, right?). Of course you
can put “white teeth” in quotations and make sure that
phrase shows up in the article, but then you’re restricted to
that ordering of the words. Think of all the teeth whitening articles you’ll miss because of the arrangement of the
words. That’s where the AROUND() operator comes in.
It’ll let you search for things like teeth AROUND(2) white
to make sure both words are near each other but not necessarily next to each other or in a specific order. The number you give to AROUND specifies the proximity. A lower
number means the words need to be closer together and a
higher number means they can be farther apart.
Used by Permission, Lifehacker.com. You can contact Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at [email protected]. You
can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Eliminate Terms You Don’t Want
and Force Terms You Do
Want to eliminate something from your results? Use
a hyphen in front of any terms you don’t want to show
up. For example, defrost pipes -ehow will remove any
eHow results from your search query. If you want to
make sure a word appears in every result, just put a plus
sign in front of it. (Thanks for the tip, simcdee!)
You can search for different options by using the OR
operator. For example, if you wanted a blue or black hat,
you could search for hat (black OR blue). This search
query will ensure you end up getting results about hats,
but allow those results to vary between hats of the black
or blue variety. (Thanks for the tip, wjglenn!)
Search Titles Only
Do you only need to search for page titles and ignore
the actual text on the page? In Google you can do this by
prepending your query with allintitle:. When searching
on Bing or Yahoo!, you can do the same thing simple by
using title:.
Search for a File
Maybe you’re not looking for a web page at all, but
instead a specific kind of file. You can easily restrict your
search to a file type by typing filetype:extension in front
of your search terms. For example, if you were searching
for a PowerPoint file you’d use filetype:ppt.
Conduct Site-Specific Searches
Sometimes you’re looking for an article you know
you saw on, say, Lifehacker, but you can’t remember what
it’s called. Maybe said site has, uh, a less-than-perfect
search mechanism and you turn to your favorite search
engine to help you find it. Adding site: in front of the
site’s URL (e.g. site:lifehacker.com) will force Google,
Bing, and Yahoo! to return only search results from that
specific domain. For example, if you know you were
looking for an article about manipulation and you know
you saw it on lifehacker, you could search for site:lifehacker.com manipulate and you’ll find some relevant,
Lifehacker-specific results.
The more specific you can be with your query, the
fewer results you’ll have to sift through. Assuming the
queries you give to Google, or any search engine, are
accurate to what you want this should work in your favor
and help you find what you’re looking for more easily.
Getting Quick, Specific Answers
Most search engines will try to provide you with
answers when you ask it specific questions or provide it
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with data it can detect based on a given format. Ask
Google or Bing “what time is it in Los Angeles?” and
you’ll be provided with LA’s local time. If you simply ask
Google “what time is it?” and your IP address is providing an approximate (but accurate enough) location, you’ll
get your local time. This is just one of many types of data
you can enter into Google to get answers without the
need to track down a special tool in your search results.
For more Google options, check out our top 10 obscure
Google search tricks.
While both Bing and Google can offer lots of quick
results, Duck Duck Go is a search engine designed to
give you quick answers without the need to even look at
your search results. Here are a few examples:
• Using age can give you the age of someone prominent. For example, searching for “age of Obama”
will provide you with Barack Obama’s age.
• Want to know how many calories are in two eggs?
Search for calories in 2 eggs. In fact, calories in will
yield calorie counts for basic foods.
• Want to know how much something weighs? Use
weight. For example, weight of an apple.
• Need a random number? Type in rand plus the
range. For example, rand 1 100.
• Want to search Wikipedia? Just type WIkipedia and
your search terms and you’ll be given an abstract
from Wikipedia in addition to your search results.
Here’s an example for Lifehacker.
These are just a few examples of searches you can
conduct with DuckDuckGo to get quick information
without actually visiting another web site. Here are several more. In addition to DuckDuckGo, WolframAlpha
(which DuckDuckGo utilizes to get information in certain cases) is an excellent tool for getting quick answers to
specific kinds of questions. The downside is that it won’t
provide you with actual search results as well, but we’ve
discovered some pretty neat things you can ask it.
Turn Frequent, Repetitive Searches
into RSS Feeds
If you search for the same thing often (e.g. yourself,
maybe?), you can turn that search into an RSS feed and
get notified of new results. This will prevent you from
combing through results to find new additions or doing
a bunch of extra work to find new results that don’t turn
up so easily. Google lets you turn searches into RSS feeds
using Google Alerts. Bing lets you create search result
RSS feeds as well by just adding &format=rss to the end
of your search’s URL.
The Philadelphia FORUM
29
PARALEGALS AS MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Editor’s Note: Many senior paralegals hold positions in management, and are often placed in team leadership roles.
Accordingly, this series addresses those managers and administrators amongst us.
7
Dreaded Mistakes
Managers Make
Avoid these managment pitfalls that will drive your employees away.
I
t’s not easy to be a manager. You have to be concerned with the aims and objectives of the company,
as well as the needs and priorities of the people on
your team, and you are expected to orchestrate it all with
the grace and precision of a symphony conductor.
Regardless of industry or profession, whether your
team is made up of highly trained professionals or people
who are flipping burgers and steaming cappuccinos, the
goal remains the same: to get a team of people to work
together and reach certain specific goals.
As a recruiter and job search coach, I have heard
thousands of stories from people who are looking for a
change because they are not getting what they need from
their manager or their company.
These are some of the key problems and mistakes I
hear over and over.
1. Failure to take responsibility.
Just as the conductor is responsible for the sound of the
orchestra, the manager is responsible for the production
of their team.
Bad managers blame problems on their employees.
They point fingers and offer excuses for not creating
results, saying their people aren’t doing a good enough
job, or they don’t have the resources they think they need.
President Truman had a sign on his desk in the White
House:The Buck Stops Here. He knew he was ultimately
responsible for what got done, which is the attitude that
makes for real leaders. If you’re the boss, then your job is
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By: Leslie Ayres
to make things happen, and if they don’t, it’s on your
shoulders.
2. Forgetting we are all real human beings.
I’ve worked for people who are so wrapped up in the
tasks of their job that they forgot that we were all real
people, with real lives, emotions and challenges. One
boss I worked for never even learned the names of the
people on his team and another never even said a word to
a key employee when her mother died.
Your people are human beings, and their job is just
one part of their life. Keep your heart open and remember to make a personal connection with everyone who is
on your team. Say please and thank you, and be warm
and caring with your people.
3. Not defining standards and goals.
People need to know exactly what you want of them, and
what you will consider the mark of reaching their goals.
Don’t assume that someone will just magically understand how you define success.
If you have exacting ways you want things done, put
them into a manual so people can refer to them easily. If
you have corporate values and guidelines, put them in
writing. Then people will know what you expect and
what you’re committed to.
Specific and measurable results are important. It’s
easier for a team to pull together when they have a specific goal in mind, and they will have a much more ful-
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
filling sense of accomplishment, too, so set the goals
and give feedback about progress along the way.
4. Not being committed to training.
Even very experienced workers need training when they
join a new company, and that need doesn’t go away.
Lifelong learning and continual improvement are the
mark of a strong company, and that applies to employees
at every level. Employees who are up on the latest technology and industry information feel more confident and
do a better job, so invest in them.
Even if your budget is limited, you can still have training sessions where you ask key people to share their tips or
present the newest information about your industry.
5. Only acknowledging star performers.
Often managers save their praise and acknowledgment
for just the top performers, but the truth is that the average workers often contribute just as much to the company’s bottom line.
A culture aimed at cultivating superstars often leaves
the dependable and solid average performers feeling
unseen, when in the long run, they may be more profitable, because they have less turnover and bring other
positive things to the team.
Spread your love around and find ways to shine a
light on everyone’s contribution.
6. Micromanaging and nitpicking.
Some managers focus on controlling people’s behavior
and actions, and forget that the ultimate goal is to pro-
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duce results. If you watch over their shoulders and nitpick on every detail, your people will feel smothered, and
then they’ll start looking for a new job.
Instead, delegate the work with results in mind, and
set short and long-term goals and check-in points, and
then allow your people as much freedom as possible to
choose how and when they get things done.
7. Not taking time to celebrate a win.
Life is a series of victories, and the victories can be the
most fun part of the job, so celebrate each of them.
When the team closes a big sale, bring in lunch.
When they break the sales record, give them each a bottle of champagne, or an unexpected afternoon off or even
just a heart-felt thank-you card or high five.
Celebration is a great reward and lets people know
that you appreciate them and the work they do.
Management is a skill that can be learned, and by following these guidelines, and learning to be someone who
brings the best out in others, you can be that manager
people want to work for.
Leslie Ayres is The Job Search Guru. A staffing expert and
executive recruiter for more than 20 years, she currently
places senior executives for cutting-edge technology startups.
When the dotcom crash shook the job market and many people found themselves out of work, Leslie also became a job
search coach and speaker, sharing her expertise in how to get
a job that fits, even in a very competitive market. Her articles can be found at www.lifegoesstrong.com.
The Philadelphia FORUM
31
CLE is Just as Important for Paralegals
Christine M. Flynn, PAP President
WHAT IS CLE?
The purpose of continuing legal education (CLE) is
to maintain or strengthen knowledge and skills in a particular area. Some courses examine new areas of the law
while others review basic practice and principles. As
noted below, programs for continuing legal education are
sponsored by a variety of groups, including bar associations, schools, law firms, paralegal associations and
employers. While continuing legal education is mandatory for attorneys in most states, there is no mandatory
CLE requirement for paralegals in Pennsylvania at this
time. However, CLE plays a vital role in the growth of
paralegals on both a personal and professional level.
serve to broaden paralegals’ understanding of a particular
area of law.
CLE classes can also serve to strengthen and develop
a particular skill set, such as legal writing or medical terminology. CLE classes are also offered to strengthen professional competence. For example, paralegals need to be
aware of the ever-changing case law and rules in order to
be compliant with the various courts. Finally, it is also
important for paralegals to uphold the ethical standards
of the legal profession. CLE programs in the area of
ethics will assist paralegals in keeping apprised of ethical
issues as well as direct them on how to avoid the unauthorized practice of law.
WHY IS CLE IMPORTANT?
The paralegal profession has evolved and paralegals
are now performing at a much higher level. Even though
attorneys are required to maintain CLE credits annually,
there is no formal, annual requirement for Pennsylvania
paralegals at this time. However, that does not mean that
CLE is not just as important for paralegals in the legal
field. In fact, just as it is important for attorneys to keep
apprised of changes in the field and grow their legal
knowledge, so too is it essential for paralegals to do the
same. Attorneys rely heavily upon paralegals to know the
“ins and outs” of the legal field; therefore, it is important
for paralegals to have up-to-date knowledge of the various issues and laws.
Continuing legal education serves a multitude of
purposes with respect to the paralegal profession. While
some paralegals desire to keep their knowledge updated
in a specialty area, other paralegals seek to develop their
skills in new areas. For example, social media has now
infiltrated just about every area of legal practice. Cases
are literally being decided daily in various jurisdictions
(both state and federal) that have long-reaching implications, including discovery issues. Paralegals would be
otherwise unaware of these changes if not for continuing
legal education. As such, these type of CLE courses can
WHERE TO FIND CLE?
Now that we know the importance of continuing
legal education in the career of paralegals, where should
paralegals register for CLE classes? There are a variety of
choices depending upon your situation. Here are a few
general suggestions:
Local Schools/Colleges. Paralegals can look “right in
their back yard” for CLE classes. For example, research
the local schools/colleges in your area. Oftentimes, paralegal alumni associations at the various schools will
develop paralegal continuing legal education classes for
their graduates. These classes may be offered at a reduced
rate. Contact the director or administrator of your local
paralegal program for additional information on upcoming CLE classes.
Employers. Several employers offer in-house CLE courses
to their employees throughout the year. Employees may
find this option favorable in light of the cost effectiveness
and convenience. Additionally, most of the in-house CLE
programs are taught by actual employees of the company
or law firm. Check with your human resources department
to obtain a list of upcoming CLE programs. If your
employer does not have an in-house CLE program, perhaps offer your assistance in developing one.
Used with permission, ALM Publications, Legal Intelligencer, August 2011
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The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Local Bar Associations. Several local bar associations offer
a calendar of ongoing CLE programs throughout the year
at a discounted rate for non-lawyers. In Pennsylvania, these
CLE programs are offered at both the local/state bar associations as well as through outside organizations such as
Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI), the continuing education
branch of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The benefits
of taking classes through associations such as PBI include
the availability of a wide variety of topics, as well as flexibility in time and location. Several courses are even offered via
simulcast, webcast, podcast or through self-study.
Paralegal Associations. Perhaps the best choice for CLE
programs, however, is your local paralegal association.
For example, The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
offers an annual education conference every fall. This
year, the education conference is scheduled to take place
on October 7, 2011 at The Bellevue in Center City. The
conference will feature 16 different educational sessions
as well as a luncheon and keynote speaker. Sessions are
taught by practicing judges, attorneys, instructors and
paralegals. Please see The Philadelphia Association of
Paralegals’ Web site at www.Philaparalegals.com for additional information regarding the education conference, as
well as registration. Additionally, in Pennsylvania, it
should be noted that there are nine different paralegal
associations with a wide variety of ongoing CLE programs. Check the Keystone Alliance of Paralegals Associations’ Web site at www.keystoneparalegals.org to
locate your local paralegal association and paralegal CLE
programs.
The role of continuing education has evolved over
time. No longer are paralegals limited to just one location or one time for classes. Instead, programs are now
offered at a variety of locations, times and methods.
Thus, there is no excuse for paralegals not to take advantage of continuing education programs in their area.
Paralegals need to be aware that their education does not
necessarily cease upon graduation from a paralegal program. Paralegals should always be on the lookout for
opportunities to development and/or maintain their proficiency as well as continue to learn of current legal trends
and changes. This can only serve to benefit the paralegal
as well as the attorney/firm.
Paralegals Dealing
With Stress - Cause
for Crazymaking?
Jamie Collins
D
o you have a reservation made for “Crazy Paralegal - Party of One?” Do you ever find yourself completely overwhelmed by the daunting
multitude of tasks you need to accomplish within a short
span of time? Ever find yourself wondering how in the
world it is even possible to get it all done?
Welcome to paralegal world. I currently find myself
on the verge of three first choice jury trials in the same
month and in all honesty, I find myself wondering the
same thing. Next time you find yourself sinking into the
dark abyss of stress, use these tips to help navigate your
way back to the light.
Buckle down. Step one is to fully commit yourself to
the project. This may take a matter of minutes, hours or
even days. If it is a highly complicated project, it may
even take you a few weeks. The key is to commit fully
and unconditionally to the project. Think of it as a marriage ceremony uniting person to project, for better or
worse, minus the cake and flowers. You must take full
ownership in order to begin your reign as the ultimate
taskmaster.
Perform an analytical assessment. For repetitive projects, this will be easy. For less familiar projects, you may
need to put your analytical skills to good use. Determine what needs to be done, the order in which it should
be completed, the best way to accomplish each aspect or
component, and which staff members or vendors, if any,
you will utilize to complete the project from start to finish. Create a list, chart table or outline to track your
progress. Don’t lose sight of your destination, but put it
on the back burner of your mind for now. Once your
analysis is complete and you have developed a clear and
focused strategy, it’s time to move on.
Turn off the negative voices in your head. Each of us
has a little voice, which perpetuates either positive or
negative feedback from within. You may find yourself
working on a particular project and typing at your desk
— when all of a sudden, the little voice creeps in stating
“I can’t possibly get this done,” “This is not even possible,” “I can’t do this,” “I really need to work on x.”
Silence all negative feedback. Stifle it. It serves no purpose and has no place in your endeavors. Negative
thoughts will only serve as rough terrain in your climb to
progress. When you feel this voice creep into your head,
replace it with affirmative phrases such as: “I can get this
done” or “I will get this done.” You may literally need
to say one of these catch phrases to yourself three to five
times in a row before the negative thoughts will dissipate.
Just try it! It really does work.
Be diligent and industrious. Keep in mind that a billion small tasks or a complicated project will not be
accomplished any more quickly than time will realistically allow. If you think too much about the big picture,
it can make you feel overwhelmed, so focus only on one
particular task at a time. If you are working on a thirtystep project, focus on step one, then step two. While
seemingly logical, this is precisely when you need to refer
back to the tip above. You cannot get to where you are
going if you do not stay on course. As author Robert
Frost so eloquently stated: “The best way out is always
through.” Knock down tasks one by one and you will
make it to the end goal.
If you are truly embarking on an utterly impossible
project, then you will accomplish all that is humanly possible within the time allotted. You are a paralegal - not a
miracle worker, although the terms are often interchange-
Reprinted with permission, Slate, March 2011, by Annie Lowrey, Posted Thursday, May 26, 2011, at 5:57 PM ET
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The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
able. Anyone who has followed a high caliber paralegal
around for a day would quickly come to this realization.
Strive valiantly to do your absolute best in spite of any
pre-conceived notions regarding the project. Paralegals do
not surrender; they go down in a blaze of glory.
If someone offers you help, take it. One of the biggest
mistakes is to turn away help. I get it. You are so overwhelmed and think it would take longer to explain a task
than to “just” do it yourself. However, when you have
entered the paralegal pressure cooker, this is not true! If
there is a task you could delegate with 5 minutes of
instruction that would save you 30 minutes of real time, it
is a worthwhile trade off. Be sure to realistically assess
what you can delegate and delegate it! When a kind coworker approaches you — do not coil like a cobra ready to
strike upon approach. Find something to give this kindhearted, generous Good Samaritan…unless you find overwhelming pressure and self-condemnation refreshing. If
you do this, you will feel some relief. A little help and
support goes a long way.
When in need of encouragement – look to the past.
If it is possible, you will get it done. You always have.
Think back to a time when you felt equally as crazy, overloaded and overwhelmed and realize that you fully executed on that task, just as you will this one. Revisiting
your past accomplishments will help to instill personal
confidence. If this is the first placard to be hung on your
paralegal wall of fame: remain focused. You can do it!
Think of it as your first real opportunity to seize greatness.
Step away from the desk. I repeat: Step away from
the desk.
Take a brief respite. Go to the restroom, grab a
drink, grab a snack, chat briefly with a co-worker or catch
some fresh air. You will return with more clarity and
focus and will be a more productive paralegal because of
it. Conducting a typing/sorting/reading marathon at
your desk is no different than attempting to take a 10-15
hour road trip without pulling over to take a bathroom
break. Take a brief recess from the madness! I promise
you — that pile of work will still be there when you
return. You can count on it.
In the event some catastrophic event should befall
you during your mental respite — rest assured your attorneys will gladly provide you with a bedside laptop and a
lovely array of banker’s boxes to keep you occupied.
Do not do a “roll out” and come to work. I know you’re tired and getting “ready” for work will take a toll
on you. It’s so much easier to go from your bed to your
car with minimal effort. Too bad! Put at least a halfhearted effort into the looks department. The only thing
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worse than having a bad day is looking a “hot mess”
while doing it. It will only help solidify your title as the
queen or king of darkness and secure your reign as the
omnipotent ruler of the damned. If you look good — at
least you’ll have one thing going for you. If the dark
clouds should happen to part, you’ll be ready to enter the
land of flowing fields, butterflies and happiness. Okay,
in reality, you may be ready to hit the Mexican cantina
down the road for a margarita after work, but either way
you will look moderately appealing. Not a bad thing.
Who knows, you may even get a compliment to lift your
spirits. No roll outs. We’re all watching you…
Acknowledge that today may suck and rise to the occasion.
Granted, this may not sound too pleasant, but it is a reality. You must acknowledge that today may suck. Not
every day is going to be a holiday and not every meal is
going to be a picnic. There are always going to be bad
days and bad projects. It’s a part of life. All you can do
in this situation is cling strongly to your sense of self and
general happiness and remember - today may suck, but
you can overcome it. You will. You simply need to
accept your perilous circumstances at face value and continue to move toward the goal. Think positive. It is
merely a challenge; and one you will overcome.
When a great level of stress exists, an opportunity for greatness also exists. Will you allow this one stressful event to
steer you off course or will you put your fortitude to the
test? It’s your choice. The land of stress is a true breeding ground for failure or greatness. The paralegal that
works valiantly under pressure and makes it to the end goal
with grace and confidence will emerge as a true gladiator
(perhaps a crazy one, but a gladiator nevertheless). Attorneys do take notice of the savvy paralegals around them
who consistently adhere to the gold standard. They take
mental notes. They know exactly who they would prefer
to accompany them into battle. Will you make that list?
When a great level of stress exists, an opportunity for greatness also exists. View stressful events as opportunities.
Mentally prepare yourself. Be a gladiator!
If all else fails, make that reservation for “Crazy
Paralegal – Party of Two” and I’ll join you!
If you enjoyed this article, please be sure to follow Jamie’s litigation column - KNOW Business - featured in KNOW:
The Magazine for Paralegals and watch for her future guest
blogs on The Estrin Report. You can find Jamie on
LinkedIn or send your comments to her directly at: [email protected]. Need a mentor? E-mail away!
Used with Permission.
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35
NETWORKING:
Your Lifeline in Tough Times
Helen M. Howlett
N
etworking is more important than ever in
today’s economic climate. Whether you are
currently employed and looking to enhance
your value or are looking for a new position, having connections to turn to can be your lifeline.
Despite the technological advances in our modern
age, many jobs are still found through interpersonal connections. So if you’re looking for employment, expanding your network enables you to hear about
word-of-mouth job openings that might not otherwise
be publicized. Additionally, if you have a personal recommendation from someone who already works at your
chosen firm, this greatly increases your chances of being
interviewed and subsequently hired.
For those already employed, your network is an
invaluable resource for learning and for problem-solving.
For instance, I recently needed help with a legal software
application and, through my contacts, was able to sit-in
on a class being taught on the very program I needed
help with. The very next day, I was able to put what I
learned to good use. Of course, one must always maintain confidentiality but for general assistance as noted
above, reaching out to your network really helps.
So, how does one go about networking? There are so
many ways to connect, both in-person and online.
Below are some examples to help you get started. Don’t
limit yourself to one type or another — be sure to implement all types of strategies.
One of the best ways to network is to join professional
organizations such as the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (“PAP”). PAP is open to membership for paralegals,
students, schools and law firms and other organizations
and offers a discounted membership for paralegal students.
PAP also has committees you can serve on and volunteer
with. PAP and its committees sponsor many events that
are perfect for networking. Additionally, membership
with PAP automatically affiliates you with such esteemed
organizations as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. You can therefore make connections with paralegals
outside of our immediate area.
Another option is to join your school’s paralegal
and/or alumni organizations. Go to their events and network there. Some gatherings are profession-specific but
some are just for fun. Either way, it’s another opportunity to expand your horizons.
Reprinted by permission from ALS, Legal Intelligencer, 2011
36
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The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Network online. Spend at least 15 minutes per day
on LinkedIn, either updating your profile, making connections or requesting recommendations. Be sure to do
this on your own time, particularly if you are seeking new
employment. Completing your LinkedIn profile can be
intimidating; but if you do a little bit each day, your profile will be complete before you know it and you’ll have a
whole slew of connections. Check out paralegal blogs
and follow legal-related Tweets.
Do pro bono work either through PAP’s pro bono
committee, with your firm or on your own. Not only will
you be making a significant contribution to society, you
will gain skills and self-confidence that current and
prospective employers find desirable. Additionally, doing
pro bono work may help you focus your career goals in a
specific area. For instance, you’ve concentrated on criminal defense but find yourself drawn through your pro bono
work to consumer protection. You’ll then have the contacts and the experience to make a transition.
Volunteer in your community. Again, you’ll be making a contribution and it’s a great way to meet people.
Volunteering always helps you maintain a positive,
upbeat outlook which employers always value.
As my colleague, Judy Stouffer, suggested in her
article last month, don’t underestimate the value of per-
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sonal contact. For instance, informational interviews
with those in your chosen field will help you find out
what this career actually entails from a hands-on perspective. If you are already employed, you can increase
your knowledge base.
For those seeking employment, always, always have
your resume up-to-date and easily accessible (electronically and hard copy). Never leave home without your
business cards. Don’t have any? Go right now and get
them. They are readily available, either online or at an
office supply store, and are not very expensive.
No matter how the economy fluctuates, following
these steps and building connections will give you an
edge whether you’re gainfully employed or hoping to be
so soon. I look forward to seeing you at a networking
event in the future. Until then, have those business cards
handy.
Helen M. Howlett is a paralegal at Reed Smith LLP, specializing in commercial litigation. She sits on the board of the
Philadelphia Association of Paralegals is an active member
of its Professional Development Committee. Additionally,
she serves on the Advisory Board for the paralegal program at
Community College of Philadelphia and is a past recipient
of their Alumni Award.
The Philadelphia FORUM
37
Confidence Determined to Succeed
Janet Jackson
A
s I have been honored to continue writing articles for The Philadelphia Forum,
I hope you were able to enjoy reading
my first article “Courage for the Discouraged” in
the Student Corner section in our summer issue.
My goal is to touch hearts and help others continue in their daily struggle as we are not alone. I
received my paralegal certificate from Prism Career
Institute where I remained a straight A student
with a 96% grade point average.
As I venture to walk through the doors of
employment, it feels like I am sliding down and
swirling into the bottomless whirlpool of unemployment. My dialogue is “Real Talk” as my journey continues to present challenges which trigger
adjustments to my goals. Even though I have
received my paralegal certificate, most positions
require that you possess usually 3-5 years previous
experience or an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree.
As I previously mentioned, a possible opportunity
at the District Attorney’s office also requires a Bachelor’s
Degree. Also, we know that timing in life is everything,
and unfortunately, I was not able to take advantage of the
Internship program as the summer session was filled. I
have had to redirect my education goals to achieve my
Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies.
I discovered it is necessary to demonstrate not only
courage but it must be combined with confidence. Confidence is an integral part of our blueprint for success.
When we think of the definition of confidence, the string
of words that formulate in our minds should be “trustworthiness,” “belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities.”
As we think of a favorite song we would sing, we start
humming the tune and then we begin to sing the words
of the song as it bellows from the radio or the CD.
38
The Philadelphia FORUM
Despite the sounds of our vocal cords we sing that song
with confidence. We must produce this same level of
confidence in seeking employment or attending school in
the legal field. We can also indulge in reading books as
one was recommend to me entitled “A Piece of Cake” by
Cupcake Brown. This book discusses that regardless of
the author’s tribulations, she still was able to triumph in
the legal world. I feel this book demonstrates how displaying the appropriate confidence can bring success.
Confidence is like a two headed sword, one part is
internal and the other part is external. Much of our confidence is inside of our heads knowing who you are,
understanding your strengths, thinking positively about
what you do and the situation you are in. We have to sell
ourselves.
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
At the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals luncheon in July, our guest speaker was Elaine Bianculli of the
law office of Fine, Kaplan and Black, R.P.C. She discussed “How to Look Better in Five Minutes.” Honestly,
those at my table could not fully appreciate why this
would be a topic at our luncheon. A first-time male
attendee mentioned how he was surprised at the topic
being discussed as he was expecting someone like a judge
to be speaking. I, too, did not fully appreciate the importance of the topic at the time. Then, as I was writing this
article a light bulb turned on. Since we can all relate to
how we feel when our hair is not groomed properly, it
effects how we present ourselves to others. So, how we
look externally affects the level of confidence we have
internally. Now the correlation is crystal clear and I can
now see why this was a very important theme.
I believe the courtroom setting captures the essence
of confidence we need to express on a daily basis. When
I attended Prism, we took class trips to various courts and
the Criminal Justice Center was my favorite. First, seeing the court room setting “live“ was so intriguing to me
as I am totally a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
buff. I was totally engrossed in watching the criminal
cases. This environment has numerous people handling
Fall 2011
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V11.2
various roles. The positions in a courtroom are comprised of the judge, prosecutor, attorneys, stenographer,
security, clerk and jury. Each person demonstrates confidence in fulfilling their role with detail. As the prosecutor demonstrates his skills in presenting the facts of the
case to convict the defendant, the defense attorney’s present their case to show the defendant is innocent. Each
side must display incredible confidence that their presentation of their case and the evidence will bring their
desired verdict.
This is the level of confidence we need to nurture
with our attorneys. When given an assignment, we want
our attorneys to feel confident that they will receive our
finest work. Whether we are researching on Westlaw,
creating a spreadsheet, typing a pleading or contacting a
client, we want them to feel confident that we will be
detailed, accurate and have current information.
Stay tuned for my next installment as I continue to
bring insight from my Bird’s Eye View of my world.
Believe me when I say that courage & confidence are excellent tools that will help us become and remain successful
in the legal field. As I continue to apply these characteristics in my life, I look forward to sharing my experience as
I venture out to become gainfully employment.
The Philadelphia FORUM
39
P.O. Box 59198, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9198
Telephone: (215) 255-8405
Website: www.Philaparalegals.com
Email: [email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Christine Flynn
(215) 299-4387
[email protected]
1st Vice President
Maryanne Ebner
(215) 241-8831
[email protected]
2nd Vice President
Tausha Major
(856) 524-3540
[email protected]
Secretary
Kimberly Walker, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
Assistant Secretary
Judy Stouffer, RP
(215) 790-8800
[email protected]
Treasurer
Karen Daemer, Pa.C.P.
(215) 972-7848
[email protected]
Board Member
Diana Cook, RP
(215) 656-3359
[email protected]
Board Member
Sharon A. Denofa, RP
(215) 751-9192
[email protected]
Board Member
Helen Howlett
(215) 851-8237
[email protected]
Board Member
Vivian Luckiewcz, RP, Pa.C.P.
(215) 732-8232
[email protected]
Board Member
Jo-Ann Williams
(267) 299-7908
[email protected]
Board Member
Rebecca Young, Pa.C.P.
[email protected]
Board Advisor
Lyndora Patterson Tiller
(215) 241-3556
[email protected]
COMMITTEE AND SECTIONS
Education
Lyndora Patterson Tiller
(215) 241-3556
[email protected]
Employee Benefits
Open For New Chairperson(s)
Environmental
Judy Stouffer, RP
(215) 790-8800
[email protected]
Estates and Trusts
Debra DiCicco
(215) 851-8100
[email protected]
Family Law
Shannon Braun
(215) 751-2515
[email protected]
Terri Enright
(215) 665-3252
[email protected]
Financial Reorganization
Open For New Chairperson(s)
Immigration
Rebecca Young, Pa.C.P.
[email protected]
Intellectual Property
Kathy Merlino
(215) 665-4697
[email protected]
Litigation
Christine Flynn
(215) 299-4387
[email protected]
Health Care Issues
Kimberly Walker, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
Keystone Alliance
Christine Flynn
(215) 299-4387
[email protected]
Vivian Luckiewcz, RP, Pa.C.P.
(215) 732-8232
[email protected]
Member Services
Sharon A. DeNofa, RP
(215) 751-9192
[email protected]
Newsletter
Maryanne Ebner
(215) 241-8831
[email protected]
NFPA
Kimberly Walker, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
Maryanne Ebner
(215) 241-8831
[email protected]
NFPA Region IV Director
Valerie Dolan, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
PACE-PCCE Certification Ambassador
Vivian Luckiewcz, RP, Pa.C.P.
(215) 732-8232
[email protected]
Pro-Bono/Community Service
Judith Bardsley
[email protected]
Professional Development
Tausha Major
(856) 524-3540
[email protected]
Programs
Rebecca Young, Pa.C.P.
[email protected]
Elaine Sachs
(215) 665-6820
[email protected]
Public Relations/Marketing
Kirsten G. Fullerton
(215) 979-3871
[email protected]
Technology
Kimberly Walker, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
Babette Pace
[email protected]
Job Bank
Kirsten G. Fullerton
(215) 979-3871
[email protected]
Web site Coordinator
Kimberly Walker, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
Legal Intelligencer Coordinator
Christine Flynn
(215) 299-4387
[email protected]
Legalman Project Coordinator
Kimberly Walker, RP
(215) 875-4657
[email protected]
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