Entire Issue - National Association of Legal Assistants

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Departments President’s Message – Vicki J. Kunz, CLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 From the Editor – Candy Pederson, CLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Convention Awards & Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Education – A Road Worth Traveling The ABA School Approval Process by Pamela J. Bailey, CLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Technobits – Use the Technology Electronic Discovery by Alan Kays, Uniscribe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Practice Tips – Knowledge Really IS Power Behold the Power of the Internet by Patricia J. Gustin, CLA, CFEI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Professional Development – Technological Impact on Workplace Culture by Charlsye J. Smith, CLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Ethics Tips – Simple Good manners Be Sure You Stay a ‘Good Apple’ by Libby Roleson, CLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Special Contribution: Contribute to Paralegal Education – by Joan Fraczek Spadoni, AAfPE President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Affiliates Column – Making the Most of Affiliation with NALA by Melissa A. (Lisa) Vander Weide, CLAS . . .51 Breaking News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Communication Corner – by Virginia Koerselman, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 Features FACTS &FINDINGS The Journal for Legal Assistants / Volume XXX Issue 2 www.nala.org NALA 2003 Award Recipients Connie Kretchmer Founder’s Award Anatomy of a Construction Defect Case by Carolyn Yellis, CLA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Automotive Product Liability by Margaret Lucas Agius, CLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Power Windows Can Kill by Robert M.N. Palmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Digital Millennium Copyright Act by Cathy L. Clamp, PLS, CLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Get ‘Wired’ for Savings by Robert Gibson and Jennifer Beauharnais. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 An American Paralegal in Paris by Ann Marie Verity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Find, and Find Out About Experts on the Internet by Carol Levit, JD, MLS, and Jim Robinson, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Vicki Voisin President’s Award NALA News and Information New Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 NALA Affiliated Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 New CLAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 NALA Official Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Pat Elliott Affiliated Associations National Achievement Award See Pages 29-32 for all award recipients, new board and regional directors, and convention snapshots.
PRESIDENT’SMESSAGE Remember the Nalamo! Surrounded by Success Being surrounded at NALA’s 28th Annual Convention and Membership Meeting in San Antonio was a completely different situation than what the Texians who fought at the Alamo 167 years ago faced, but there was passion in both cases. Ours was a celebration of the progress and evolution of NALA in meeting its mission to remain the leader of the paralegal profession by enhancing the competency of individual legal assistants and advancing our careers. That mission was never more apparent than while watching attendees in the educational sessions and membership meetings. A team spirit could be felt in the dialog and discussions between affiliates, members, and NALA officers. I was particularly pleased to see greater attendance than at any time in my memory in the various membership and business meetings, including at the Board of Directors meeting on the final day. Many NALA successes were announced and discussed at the convention that are worth reviewing here. CLA Specialty Program—A special report at the Membership Forum covered the new expanded specialty program to be released in the upcoming year. Support for the more specialized certification and on-line program was overwhelming. More information on the upcoming enhancements can be found in this issue’s “Breaking News” section. CLA Program—This program is almost 28 years old and continues to be the number one certification for paralegals in the nation. There were almost 12,000 CLAs as of May 2003. New CLA Certificates—As part of NALA’s commitment to meeting the needs of members, new CLA certificates were recently redesigned to include the certification mark “CP” as well as “CLA.” This acknowledges the reality reflected by much of the legal community today that many would prefer to have a choice of which term they use—legal assistant or paralegal. Both marks are indicators of the NALA certification program. It’s a Fact—“Legal Assistant” and “Paralegal” are synonymous terms. This is not a choice or position of NALA, but a fact based on numerous state court rules, statutes, Supreme Court opinions, and bar association definitions and guidelines. We would not want to muddy the waters fussing over definitions and divert our attention from far more important issues paralegals have worked so hard for over the past 30 years. The kinds of issues we need to stay focused upon are fee recovery for legal assistant services, expanded services provided by the profession, and defining tasks performed by legal assistants as substantive in nature, rather than clerical. Improved Communications—We continue to stay current with the latest in technology, and have recently subscribed Vicki J. Kunz, CLAS to two new services to provide advanced communication for more timely distribution of information. Broadcast e-mail messaging to members, (with strong security features to protect privacy) was introduced in early June, and Web-based presentations (called See My Screen) can now be used for continuing education, conducting NALA business, and making presentations to board members, committees, affiliates, and other groups requesting visitations with the new program. Live On-Line Educational Seminars—The See My Screen program will be able to host one-hour continuing education sessions. Students can participate and learn from the convenience of their own office or home computer. Programs are currently under development, and a schedule will be announced by 2004. Our Association continues its influential role in stimulating the positive growth and development of the paralegal profession. Legal assistants look to NALA for ways to acquire greater expertise and achieve recognition. This may be through the certification and specialty programs, continuing education, participation on the board or committees, or the important role of active membership. The association and its board of directors, with the vital help of members, can heighten the public’s recognition of our profession and its contributions to society with continual communication about who we are and what we can do to assist lawyers in providing legal services. Is there much for NALA and our members to celebrate? You Bet! Which takes me right to my next message—start making plans for next year’s convention July 14-17, 2004 in Reno, Nevada. With the Nalamo celebration still fresh in our memories, it will be a hard act to follow, but plans have been underway for some time to make the Reno convention the best ever. Put it on your calendar as a “must do.” F& F FACTS & FINDINGS / AUGUST 2003 5
Page 4 and 5: Call for Proposals 2004 Convention
Page 6 and 7: Anatomyofa Construction Paralegals
Page 8 and 9: Anatomy of a Construction Defect Ca
Page 10 and 11: Resources & Opportunities Reviewed
Page 12 and 13: Automotive Product Liability contin
Page 14 and 15: Po Windows er Can by Robert M.N. Pa
Page 16 and 17: Estimated Number of Persons Injured
Page 18 and 19: The Digital Millennium Copyright Ac
Page 20 and 21: Get ‘Wired’ for Savings by Robe
Page 22 and 23: Get ‘Wired’ for Savings continu
Page 24 and 25: y Ann Marie Verity Paris may be the
Page 26 and 27: An American Paralegal in Paris cont
Page 28 and 29: CONVENTIONSNAPSHOTS July 9-12, 2003
Page 30 and 31: CONVENTIONSNAPSHOTS NALA Board and
Page 32 and 33: Experts on the Internet continued f
Page 34 and 35: Experts on the Internet continued f
Page 36 and 37: EDUCATION A Road Worth Traveling Th
Page 38 and 39: TECHNOBITS Use the Technology Elect
Page 40 and 41: PRACTICETIPS Knowledge Really IS Po
Page 42 and 43: Practice Tips: Behold the Power of
Page 44 and 45: members demonstrates the importance
Page 46 and 47: y the United States Bankruptcy Cour
Page 48 and 49: AFFILIATESCOLUMN Making the Most of
Page 50 and 51: ility of course content and materia
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& NEWS INFORMATION Phyllis L. Dunha
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& NEWS INFORMATION NORTH DAKOTA Red
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& NEWS INFORMATION Alicia L. Castil
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