Paralegal
Committee
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Paralegal
Committee
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2006-07
Meeting Minutes January 30, 2008 – 12 pm to 1:30 pm Attendees (In-Person): Sylvia Naim, RP, September Holmblad, PP, PLS, Lynette Gilliland, PP, Barb Peppersack, Judi Stinson and Sue Bores. Attendees (via Teleconference): Helen Federline, Mavis Pattee, Sally Dahlquist, John Kastan and Henry Evans Committee members examined each of the survey questions and answers on the MSBA attorney survey regarding paralegal certification. Committee members discussed each of the comments made by survey respondents regarding questions 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Finance committee was proposed to analyze finances needed to start and maintain the MSBA Paralegal Certification program. Helen Federline announced that the following states have voluntary paralegal certification with fees: North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. Helen also announced that the Wisconsin Supreme Court will consider Paralegal Licensure in April 2008. When asked how much MSBA would need to fund the paralegal certification program, Sue Borres announced it would cost about $20,000/year to maintain the program. There are a total of 16,000 attorney members of MSBA. Committee asked John Kastan (MPA President and Committee member) if MPA would survey the paralegals regarding certification/regulation interest. John agreed it would be a good idea. ACTION ITEMS (for next meeting):
Next Meeting will be held February 27th at noon to 1:30 pm at the MSBA offices. Meeting Adjourned. PRESENT: Jean Diekmann, Sally Dahlquist, Heidi Slegers, Helen Federline, Ranae Fry, Penny Cierzan, Sylvia Naim, Barb Peppersack and Michelle McCullough
2. LETTER TO MSBA COMMITTEES AND SECTIONS: The committee discussed feedback they had received from the various sections and committees. Barb shared that the Probate Section suggested we get involved in Wills For Heroes, CLE’s and luncheon seminars. Other members were in the process of following up with their section/ committee. The committee expressed an interest in presenting at various Institutes and Michelle will contact MNCLE to see about getting involved. 3. CERTIFICATION: The Committee discussed the recent proposal by Meaghan Harper to implement a local Certification program run by the MSBA.
4. NEXT MEETING: The committee decided to meet on May 30, 2007 in order
to discuss the certification program further. PRESENT: Jean Diekmann, Sally Dahlquist, Heidi Slegers, Helen Federline, Ranae Fry, Barb Peppersack and Michelle McCullough
2. LOGO: The logo was tabled for next month as Cathy’s husband has been extremely busy at work and has not been able to work on it. Michelle has an artist friend she will ask to work on it. 3. LETTER TO MSBA COMMITTEES AND SECTIONS: The committee reviewed a draft provided by Michelle. The committee preferred the letter verses the invitation-style. Michelle will revise the letter for the next meeting. The committee then reviewed the list of sections and committees and picked several of each to target with the first letters: Children and the Law (Jean), Elder law, Family law (Sally), Immigration law (Michelle), Law Student and New Lawyers (Sally), Probate and Trust law (Barb), Real Property law (Renee), Military law, Human Rights, Diversity and LAD. 4. MEMBERSHIP PHAMPLET: The committee reviewed membership pamphlets from other paralegal organizations and discussed what should be included in the pamphlet. It was suggested we should definitely include practicelaw.org, Court Ops and Sections and Committees. Everyone liked the brochure by the Ohio State Bar Association, so we will model ours after that. Helen mentioned that we do not want to state that CLE’s are a specific benefit as any paralegal can receive the same rate as the reduced MSBA member rate. Helen also wanted to clarify how the membership pamphlet was going to be presented: is it being published by the MSBA or our committee? Michelle will provide Sue with the text for the pamphlet and Sue will make the brochure using PageMaker. 5. NEW PROJECTS & NEW BUSINESS: Committee was already running over
the scheduled time and did not get to new business. MSBA PARALEGAL COMMITTEE PRESENT: Jean Diekmann, Martha Sartoris, Cathy Kennedy, Sally Dahlquist, Barb Peppersack and Michelle McCullough
2. MISSION STATEMENT: The committee reviewed a draft Mission Statement
prepared by Michelle and Martha. Several revisions were suggested. The
final version for approval is: The goals of the Committee are: • Promote effective utilization of paralegals Logo: Cathy presented a draft logo for the committee to review. Several options were discussed, including adding scales, shaking hands, open hands, 2 people facing each other, the Norway Pine, the MN Judicial Center or court house. The committee also consulted several other paralegal committee logos and suggested Cathy draft a logo with the state of Minnesota and legal scales or the Norway Pine tree. The committee also liked the wording “MSBA Paralegal Committee” around the outer circle. 3. PARALEGAL MEMBERSHIP PAMPHLET AND UTILIZATION PAMPHELT: The committee decided to table the pamphlets until the mission statement is approved. Michelle offered to work on a draft pamphlet. 4. NEW PROJECTS AND BUSINESS: Michelle shared an update on the Wills for Heroes program being implemented by the Probate and Trust Sectional. This program will send volunteer attorneys, paralegals and secretaries to fire stations and police stations to prepare wills for first responders. They will definitely need paralegal volunteers and once the program is ready to go, this will be a great pro bono opportunity for paralegals. Michelle suggested looking at current bar programs to see if we can get more involved in existing programs. Barb suggested sending a letter of introduction and interest to the other MSBA committees and offered to draft a letter for our review at the next meeting. Sue said she would contact Emily, the MSBA liaison for Mock Trial to see how they could use our help. Michelle offered to follow up with Class Action, after several members mentioned seeing an advertisement for volunteers in the MSBA Digest.
Minutes by Michelle McCullough, Chair PRESENT: Jean Diekmann, Martha Sartoris, Sally Dahlquist, Jeanne Kosieradzke, Heidi Slegers, Barb Peppersack and Michelle McCullough
2. MISSION STATEMENT: The committee reviewed MCBAPB’s mission statement and discussed the key elements of the mission statement. It was suggested that the mission statement should possibly have short bullets, be broad vs. specific and have long term v. short term goals. It was decided that Michelle and Martha would work on a few drafts and present them at the next committee meeting. Any ideas should be sent to Martha at Martha.sartoris@nhcc.edu. Michelle and Martha will look at other Bar Committee’s mission statements for more examples. Several goals were suggested by the committee: 1) help students transition into jobs and 2) share more information on who needs entry level paralegals. Logo: The graphic designers at The Minnesota School of Business have not provided Cathy with a logo yet; she will continue to try and get something. 3. JOB BANK: The mission statement discussion segued to whether we want to post jobs on our committee’s web page in order to link potential employees and employers. It was pointed out that we would have to make sure this was OK with the MSBA. It was also suggested that we could have links to the county bar associations for employment access. 4. CLIFF RHODES: Michelle shared an email from Cliff Rhodes, Dean of Presentation College – Fairmont Campus, who requested paralegal job statistics to determine the demand for a paralegal program. The committee suggested he look to the U.S. Department of Labor and the MN Demographer (www.demography.state.mn.us). Sally offered to speak with Cliff if he had any further questions. 5. MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: Sally suggested the committee think about starting a mentorship program, possibly in conjunction with the MPA. Barb relayed that the MPA’s mentorship program is not active because they can’t find mentors. The committee discussed how we could set up a program to benefit attorneys and paralegals. Suggestions for a mentorship program or educational program included 1) host sessions on various topics and 2) offer technology training with CLE credit. The question whether mentors could get CLE credit was also raised. The committee will continue to brainstorm and review program options. NEXT MEETING: October 25, 2006 Minutes by Michelle McCullough, Chair
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Last Updated 10/25/06 -
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