Houston, Texas. Annual Report to NALA-The Paralegal Association

Transcription

1 Houston, Texas Annual Report to NALA-The Paralegal Association Prepared/submitted by: Sharon Jones, ACP NALA Liaison June 1, 2018

2 HOUSTON PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & COMMITTEE CHAIRS ROSTER President Montye Holmes, ACP, TBLS-BCP Civil Trial Law President-Elect Linda Carrette, ACP, TBLS-BCP Civil Trial Law 1st Vice President CLE Chair Jonathan Chan, CP Executive Committee Secretary Jennifer Armendariz Treasurer Finance Committee Chair Ruth Conley, ACP Parliamentarian, Election Committee Chair Gina Holder 2nd Vice President Membership Chair LaKeisha Simmons, CP 3rd Vice President Public Relations Chair Kristal Scheffler NALA Liaison Sharon D. Jones, ACP Committee Members Annual CLE Committee: Exhibitors Committee Speakers Committee Gina Holder Jonathan Chan, CP Mary Shiloh, TBLS-BCP Montye Holmes, ACP, TBLS-BCP Ruth Conley, ACP Linda Carrette, ACP, TBLS-BCP Sharon Jones, ACP Job Bank and Website Chair: Jennifer Armendariz Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,

3 Houston Paralegal Association (HPA) continues to work diligently in being example leaders, mentors and a thriving organization for its members. Our membership steadily increases each month and our membership dues continue to be held at an affordable price for individual membership at $ We also offer student memberships at a discounted rate for students enrolled in paralegal certificate or paralegal degree programs. As of date, our membership total stands at 188 members. HPA s summary of continued activities since the last 2017 NALA conference are as follows: July 2017 Board members, Montye Holmes, ACP, TBLS-BCP, Linda Carrette, ACP, TBLS-BCP, Ruth Conley, ACP, and Sharon Jones, ACP, attended the NALA Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida, that was held July 19-21, HPA s exhibitor booth at the conference was a huge hit with our theme of Who Needs a Wizard When You Have a Paralegal? and our decorated table with a Harry Potter theme drew a big crowd to whom we were able to promote our organization. July 21, 2017, HPA s monthly Brown Bag CLE featured Gabriela M. Barake, Esq. on the employment law topic Wage and Hour 101. August 2017 HPA s annual meeting and installation of officers was held on August 23 at Tejas Grill in downtown Houston. The slate of candidates was presented and the electronic voting results were announced. September 2017 HPA s monthly Brown Bag CLE featured Jeffrey Watts, Paralegal Director of Lone Star College, on the topic Different Ways a Texas Consumer Can Turn the Tables on a Third-Party Debt Collector. October 2017 HPA sponsored a CLE luncheon for Texas Paralegal Day on October 23. Our keynote speaker was Ruthie N. White, Esq. of the firm Jackson Lewis P.C., who spoke about the benefits of using paralegals in preparing for trial. December 2017 HPA hosted its Annual Holiday Social on December 6 at Tony Mandola s. This event is open to members, nonmembers and vendors. January 2018 HPA s montly Brown Bag CLE featured attorney Robert J. Hazeltine-Shedd and paralegal Sally Almendarez of the Harris County Attorney s Office providing a thorough review and understanding of civil appellate practice. Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,

4 February 2018 HPA s monthly Brown Bag CLE featured Trey Peacock, Esq. who enlightened attendees with an overview of moving forward into a paperless society and tips and suggestions for selecting the best equipment and technology that can be instrumental in accomplishing a paperless society. March 2018 HPA s monthly Brown Bag CLE featured David Isaack, Esq. with an informative presentation on Parallel Civil and Criminal Proceedings. March June 2018 HPA conducted and continues to lead a study group for the NALA CP Examination with volunteers from our members who have achieved the CP or ACP credential helping to mentor others who are studying for the exam. Facilitators and instructors not only present sessions on each of the topics covered by the CP Exam, but work directly with the study group participants to mentor them one-on-one when necessary to help encourage each person on their journey toward a successful completion of the CP Exam. HPA has also made sure the study group is aware of the latest development and knowledgeable of the new changes made to the CP exam. NALA has completely revamped its CP Examination process for April 2018 April 7 th, HPA board members, Montye Holmes, ACP, TBLS-BCP, Linda Carrette, ACP, TBLS-BCP, and Sharon Jones, ACP attended the 2018 TAPA (Texas Alliance of Paralegal Associations) conference and seminar in Houston, Texas. The conference/seminar was hosted by the Houston Corporate Paralegal Association. April 26 th, HPA kicked off its annual Spring CLE seminar with a social event themed Rock the Docket. This social allowed an opportunity for members and vendors to enjoy a relaxed evening of playing games and networking. April 27 th, HPA held its annual Advanced CLE Conference at the Galveston Island Convention Center in Galveston, Texas (see Conference Agenda (description of tracks/speakers at end of report)). The conference was opened with a videoconference greeting from NALA President Cassandra Oliver. NALA provided a complimentary webinar for a door prize for the conference. The winner of the webinar was Vinette Elkins. The annual conference drew over 100+ attendees and over 20 vendors participating as exhibitors. May 2018 HPA s monthly Brown Bag CLE offered members and attendees an up close and personal discussion with Judge Jeffrey P. Norman, United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas, regarding bankruptcy court procedures and expectations. This close setting allowed Judge Norman to answer and clarify questions asked by the participants. Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,

5 Upcoming events June 2018 June 2, HPA will conduct a full day mock exam testing for study group participants embarking on the NALA CP exam. June 2, HPA members will participate with the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas as volunteers at the Houston Food Bank. June 20, HPA will host a Networking Social at Painting with a Twist in Mid-town. July 2018 July 12-14, HPA board members, Montye Holmes, ACP, TBLS-BCP, Linda Carrette, ACP, TBLS-BCP, Ruth Conley, ACP, and Sharon Jones, ACP, will attend the 2018 NALA Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, and will present at the conference a session on the topic of How to Grow Your Association s Membership with a Stellar CLE Conference at the Affiliates Exchange. HPA has promoted and invited members and nonmembers to attend the conference. July 18, HPA will host a summer social at MKT Bar. This event will allow the opportunity to network with members but to also give the board members an opportunity to speak with and recruit members to serve on HPA s board. Continuing Legal Education HPA organizes continuing legal education opportunities for members in the form of Brown Bag CLE Luncheons, as well as our Annual Spring CLE Seminar. Brown Bag speakers are invited to give a one hour presentation and attendees earn 1 hour of CLE credit. HPA s continued goal is to bring quality continuing legal education to our profession by holding monthly Brown Bag CLE events at no cost to the paralegals who attend. We have the gracious support of various law firms offering conference rooms to our association at no cost and our Sustaining Members support the event as dessert sponsors. The Annual Spring CLE Seminar is an all-day event held in April and attendees can earn up to 6 hours of CLE credit. CLE events are open to both members and non-members. The CLE Seminar Speaker Committee was comprised of HPA members, Montye Holmes, ACP, TBLS- BCP, Linda Carrette, ACP, TBLS-BCP, Ruth Conley, ACP, Sharon Jones, ACP, Jonathan Chan, CP and Mary Shiloh, TBLS-BCP, who worked to obtain speakers for our Spring CLE seminar. In preparation for our Spring seminar, the CLE Committee met weekly to make final preparations for our event. Note: see CLE Seminar Agenda at the end of this report for a chart reflecting the topics and speakers for the Annual CLE. Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,

6 Community Activities HPA supports local charities, including the Child Advocates and the Galveston Island Humane Society. Additionally, after Hurricane Harvey devastated large portions of the Houston and surround areas, HPA participated in a local clothing drive for professional women who lost everything during the flooding aftermath of the storm and we donated professional clothing, handbags, shoes, and other items to the Help Professional Women Affected by Hurricane Harvey organization. This drive was sponsored by the Houston Association of Women Attorneys, the law firm of Fullenweider Wilhite, and Twin Oaks Cleaners & Laundry. Many other law firms were involved as collection sites and HPA is proud to have played a small part in supporting this worthy cause and helping our fellow professional women to recover from this epic storm and devastation of many Houston area professional women. HPA also partnered with the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas in a volunteer opportunity at the Houston Food Bank. Social Events HPA promotes camaraderie and networking to our members through our social events. As listed earlier, HPA hosts two summer social and an annual holiday social. Our social events are well-attended, and continue to bring out returning and new attendees. ************************ HPA continues to be honored to serve our members as well as the legal community. We encourage and support NALA and other local CLE events sponsored by other paralegal associations. HPA also continues to encourage continued education and certification through both NALA and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Board Certified Paralegals. Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,

7 CONFERENCE AGENDA 7:30-8:30 Registration (Pre-function Area - 1st Floor) 7:30 3:30 Exhibitors Hall Open (Pre-function Area - 1st Floor) 8:00-10:00 Continental Breakfast (Pre-function Area - 1st Floor) 8:20 8:45 Welcome from NALA President Cassandra Oliver, ACP and General Announcements 8:45 9:45 Case Law Updates on Sexual Harassment and the #METOO Movement Barbara Gardner, Esq., Gardner Employment Law, 9:45 10:00 Mid-Morning Break (Pre-function Area - 1st Floor) 10:00-11:00 Ethical and Evidentiary Issues Relating to the Recovery of Attorney s Fees Tanya Garrison, Esq., Weycer, Kaplan Pulaski & Zuber, PC, TRACK 1 TRACK 2 11:00 Noon Avoiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law Family Law Property Issues: Big Budget to Small in Litigation Management Budget including Tracing, Characterization, Valuation H. Gray Burks, IV, Esq. Aaron Reimer, Esq. Shapiro Schwartz LLP Jenkins & Kamin LLP 12:00 1:15 Luncheon (Pre-function Area - 2nd Floor) 1:15 2:15 ABCs of U.S. Patent Litigation Bankruptcy Update Sumita Ghosh, JD, PhD, Of Counsel H. Gray Burks, IV, Esq. Salazar IP Law Group Shapiro Schwartz LLP 2:15 3:15 Litigation Case Law Update In-House Counsel: Duties and Expectations Mia Breaux Lorick, Esq. George Mesrey, Esq. Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC The Dow Chemical Company 3:15 3:30 Mid-Afternoon Break (Pre-function Area - 1st Floor) 3:30 4:30 The Opioid Crisis Special Session for Students John R. Shepperd, Esq. Improve Your Job Prospects with a Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP Stellar Online Profile 4:30-5:30 Bingo Grand Prize Winners Announced and Seaside Social (must be present to win) NALA has approved 6.0 substantive CLE credit, including 1.0 Ethics CLE credit. TBLS has approved the following CLE credit: Bankruptcy Law (4.0), Civil Trial Law (6.0), Family Law (3.0), and Personal Injury Trial Law (4.0). This advanced full-day conference is taught by attorneys and professionals in the legal industry, is specifically designed for paralegals and other legal professionals, and includes time for your questions. Fees include a continental breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and course materials. Wi-Fi in the Conference Center is complimentary. Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,

8 Houston Paralegal Association P.O. Box Houston Paralegal Association Annual Report to NALA June 1,