Entire Issue - National Association of Legal Assistants

SPECIALCONTRIBUTION
Contribute to Paralegal Education
It is well known that practicing paralegals lead very busy lives.
With work, personal, and family responsibilities competing for their
time, legal assistants are wonders of multi-tasking efficiency.
In spite of what may seem a “full docket,” however, sometimes
we need to expand our horizons and take bold steps. It helps us to
reenergize and refocus, and it is great for our self-esteem.
I have a few suggestions:
Be a Mentor
Helping someone who is just starting out in the paralegal
profession is very rewarding. In AAfPE, we have a mentor program
and we place new program directors with more experienced
ones for advice and suggestions. It has been highly successful. You
can volunteer to be a mentor at your place of employment or
through your local paralegal association. You can help educate and
advise new paralegals.
Join an Advisory Committee
Your local college or university that offers a quality paralegal
program will have an advisory committee. Lawyers, paralegals and
other legal and non-legal professionals are on these committees.
Whether you are a paralegal in the public or private sector, you can
make a valuable contribution through this service.
Advisory committees are utilized by colleges and universities to
advise programs on employment trends, curriculum issues, marketing
strategies, etc. They usually meet once or twice a year. This is a
great way to help guide paralegal programs.
by Joan Fraczek Spadoni
AAfPE President
Electronic Communication Amendment Passed
15.1 Electronic Transmission. Any notice of the time, place if
any, and purpose of any meeting as specified in these Bylaws; any
proxy given by a Member; or any vote of the Directors of the
Corporation; or a vote of a Committee as specified in these
Bylaws shall be deemed given if delivered by electronic transmission.
If notice, proxy, or vote is given by electronic transmission,
the notice, proxy, or vote is given when electronically transmitted
to the individual entitled to receive the same in a manner authorized
by the Corporation. Electronic transmission shall be as
defined in the Oklahoma General Corporation Act, as amended.
15.2 Remote Transmission. If an individual or proxy holder may
be present and vote at a meeting by remote communication, the
individual or proxy holder shall be given notice of the means of
remote communication allowed.
Teach a Class
Send your resumé to a local college or university and offer to
teach part time in the paralegal program. Your specialty areas provide
great expertise, and practicing paralegals can be wonderful
educators. This is an opportunity to share the knowledge you have
gained with future paralegals.
AAfPE is dedicated to quality paralegal education, and we
believe that you can play a vital role. We all benefit when the paralegal
profession is made up of educated and qualified paralegals.
Expand your own horizons and give some of your time to help
achieve this worthwhile goal.
Please visit our website at http://www.aafpe.org to learn more
about AAfPE.
Joan Fraczek Spadoni, J.D. is a
Professor of Law at Bay Path College,
Longmeadow, MA, and has been
involved in paralegal education for
more than 20 years. She has served
on AAfPE’s Board of Directors since
1998 as Director of Baccalaureate
Degree Programs, President-elect and
President. She has also served as
Editor-in-Chief of AAfPE’s professional
magazine, The Paralegal Educator.
jspadoni@baypath.edu
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Members at the July 11, 2003, Annual Meeting unanimously passed the proposed amendment to the NALA Bylaws to allow
establishing procedures for remote communication and electronic transmission. The new article is as follows:
Article XVRemote Communication and Electronic Transmission
15.3 Electronic Meetings. The Directors, Committee Members
as specified in the Bylaws, and Members may participate in a
meeting by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can communicate with each other. All participants
shall be advised of the communications equipment and the
names of the participants in the conference shall be divulged to
all participants. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this
Section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, a meeting as specified in this Section, may be conducted
solely by means of remote communication.
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FACTS & FINDINGS / AUGUST 2003