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Message from the President Star Moore, CP
I am very proud to be a member of such a great organization as the Fort Worth Paralegal Association. I believe we have one of the finest associations in the State of Texas. We have so many opportunities for our members to obtain their CLE. Our Programs Chair, Julie Sherman has had a fabulous line up this year so far and has more to come. The Education Chair, Katrina Lea, and her Specialty Chairs, Stacey McGinney, Susy Johnson, Mary Ann Shurley and Crystal Berryhill have also all had a great line up. Our District representative from the Paralegal Division, Allen Mihecoby, and his local CLE Chair, Michelle
Rayburn, have brought us even more great CLE. There is no way that our members cannot get a minimum of ten to twelve hours a year right here at home. The rest of our Board works very hard behind the scene. I want to thank Debbie House for the wonderful job she is doing on the Cowtown Parlegal Reporter. If anyone would like to share something for the CPR, just let Debbie know. She is always looking for articles. Have you heard that FWPA is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year? Yes, I know you have and you will hear it a few more times before October. I just hope that you will all mark the date - October 20, 2012- on your calendar and join us in the celebration. The Planning Committee is working very hard to make sure that you will have a great time. Try to stay cool this summer and I do hope to see all of you at the membership meetings which we have the fourth Thursday of each month, except for the last meeting of the year in November which is the third Thursday because of Thanksgiving.
FORT WORTH PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
COWTOWN PARALEGAL REPORTER
Volume 30.4 www.fwpa.org July/August 2012
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Table of Contents
Articles and Photos
Message from the President ........................................................................................... 1
President Elect / Education Chair Message............................................................... 3-4
LinkedIN......................................................................................................................... 4
Programs Report ............................................................................................................ 5
Meeting Pictures ............................................................................................................ 6
Membership Report ..................................................................................................... 7-8
30th
Anniversary Announcement ................................................................................... 8
Got Kudos? ................................................................................................................ 9-10
Real Estate/Probate Specialty Section Report............................................................. 11
Technology Specialty Section Report .......................................................................... 11
Litigation Specialty Section Report ............................................................................. 11
Salary Survey Announcement ..................................................................................... 11
July Membership Luncheon ........................................................................................ 12
August Membership Luncheon ................................................................................... 13
Family Law Specialty Section CLE ............................................................................. 14
FWPA Scholarship Information ................................................................................. 15
Paralegal Division TAPS ............................................................................................. 16
Paralegal Division TAPS 2012 Scholarship Information .......................................... 17
FWPA Job Bank ..................................................................................................... 18-20
EWD Advertisement ..................................................................................................... 20
2012 FWPA Calendar of Events ................................................................................. 21
2012 FWPA Board of Directors ............................................................................. 22-23
CLE Form Reminder ................................................................................................... 24
FWPA’S MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the FWPA is to promote the professional objectives and goals of paralegals, to encourage, promote and conduct programs of continuing education and professional development and to promote the advancement of high standards of integrity and professionalism for paralegals to the end that both the public and the legal profession are better served.
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PRESIDENT - ELECT / EDUCATION CHAIR July/August 2012
So you have completed your paralegal certificate program and are ready to enter the paralegal/legal assistant workforce but no one will hire you due to ‘lack of experience.’ What can you do? A. Externships and Internships Externship and Internship positions can be found in many industries such as banks, insurance companies, corporations, law firms, the government sector, and non-profits.
Externships are usually offered through your educational program and you may be able to earn school credit. You may have to do a little research to find an internship because they are not often advertised. These opportunities are usually unpaid and the best sources to locate one are local bar associations and law schools or career placement departments of the paralegal/legal assistant/legal secretarial program. B. Part-time Jobs Due to the economy, the nature of the business, and other factors, a lot of firms and corporations experience high turnover and you may be able to find an initial opportunity as a messenger, file clerk, document preparation clerk; copy room, mail room, or clerical personnel. Although, these types of positions may not be your end-goal, they can allow you to get a foot in the door. It is wise to be open to all possibilities. C. Temporary Jobs Temporary jobs are usually short-term assignments obtained through a legal staffing agency and the pay is generally less than permanent jobs due to the agency taking a cut of the hourly pay. Although temps are not considered employees of organization and do not receive benefits or other perks; the agency may offer optional benefits. Some companies may initially hire you as a temporary employee, on a trial basis, with the opportunity to go permanent at the end of the assignment. These types of jobs are a good way to learn different areas of law and the various types of companies and firms. D. Contract Jobs Law firms and corporate legal departments continually seek ways to reduce costs and opportunities for contract employees are on the rise. Contractors are considered independent contractors, which are hired to work on a short-term, project-specific basis, and are not considered employees of the firm or corporation. As an independent contractor you may be hired to review, manage, and index documents related to e-discovery, regular discovery, compliance and regulatory requests, and subpoenas. These opportunities can be found via networking or legal staffing agencies and can last for however long the firm/corporation determines. If you perform well as an independent contractor, you may be able to transition into full-time employment with the firm/corporation.
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E. Volunteering Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the community, make a meaningful contribution, and obtain work experience in the legal field. There are many areas that offer volunteer opportunities such as legal aid organizations, local bar associations, paralegal divisions of the state bar, non-profit organizations, and community-based organizations. Even though you are not paid for volunteering, it is an excellent way to gain experience and meet others working in the legal field; especially if you find organizations that align with your passions, past/present experience, and education.
Best regards,
Katrina L. Lea President -Elect / Education Chair
______________________________________________________________________
The next FWPA Board Meeting will be held at Noon, Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Members are welcome.
Our next General Membership Luncheon is Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Joe T. Garcia’s. The August General Membership
Luncheon is Thursday, August 23, 2012, also at Joe T. Garcia’s.
______________________________________________________________________
The Fort Worth Paralegal Association is now on LinkedIn!!
Join our group - -
After login, Search "Fort Worth Paralegal Association" and send us a ‘request-to-join.’
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PROGRAMS REPORT By: Julie Sherman, TBLS
First Vice President / Programs
Brad Dowell and Lu Pham with Cantey Hanger were the speakers for the June General Membership
meeting. Mr. Dowell and Mr. Pham discussed current Labor and Employment law issues, including
exempt vs. non-exempt status for Paralegals.
If you have questions, or would like to contact Mr. Dowell or Mr. Pham, they may be reached at
[email protected] and [email protected]
Our June sponsor was Inventus. As always, please support our Patron Members.
Our speaker for our July General Membership Meeting will be M. Keith Branyon and the topic will be
“Creditors’ Claims in Both Dependent and Independent Administrations”. Please join us.
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June General Membership Meeting
July Board Meeting
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MEMBERSHIP REPORT Jessica Acosta – Second Vice President
July/August 2012
Members as of April: Voting Members: 99 Associates 16 Freelance 1 Student 19 Sustaining 8 Emeritus 4 Patron 25 Total Membership 172 We would like to welcome the following 2012 Fort Worth Paralegal Association new members: Suzanne Boyd- Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP Sarah Hayes- Anderson Legal Group, P.C. Mary Maxwell- Bodoin, Agnew & Maxwell, P.C. Shanna Mello- Law Office of Reed Wainwright Jacquelyn S. Mosley- Bakutis, Mc Cully & Sawyer, P.C. Janet Nolley- Law Office of Mark B. French Rebecca Vidal-Bond- Bakutis, Mc Cully & Sawyer, P.C. Linda Yowell- Law Office of Jim Jeffrey We are pleased to introduce our newest Patron Members for 2012: Veracity Research Co. Investigations Neil Punt – 940-240-5029 Provides: Investigations, Records check Kim Tindall &Associates, LLC Eileen Steng- 214-838-5722 Provided: Court Reporting & Litigation Service Rogers Private Investigations Group Jim Rogers- 817-703-9914 Provided: Investigations & Process Service HG Litigation Miranda O’Neal- 214-521-1034 Provided: Court Reporting, Videography, Trial support
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Renewal Patron Member: Courtroom Sciences, Inc- Legal support services To show our appreciate, when in need of services, please keep in mind The Fort Worth Paralegal Patron Members.
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Got Kudos?
How to Use Them in Your Resume
By: Laura Smith-Proulx
Built a reputation for success over the years? Spent your career building
profitable operations or high-performance teams?
If you’re now in the job market, it’s time to leverage the accolades you’ve earned, and ensure that new
employers understand just how far you’ve come in your career. One of the best ways to do this is to
gather – and capitalize on – testimonials and accolades.
These 3 strategies for using kudos in your resume can help ensure that it reflects your well-
established reputation:
1 – Pull in accolades from your letters of reference.
Been commended through a letter of reference or with a company award? Be sure to weave this
information throughout your career marketing documents.
Many professionals and executives pull a snippet of an endorsement or accolade and reference it on a
resume, allowing them to display performance feedback as proof of their achievements.
This can be in the form of a direct quote, or a more subtle reference to the brand message already stated
on your resume.
Either way, doing so reinforces your overall promise of value and shows that others can verify the
revenue you’ve generated, costs saved, infrastructures built, and so on.
2 – Gather—and capitalize on—numerous LinkedIn endorsements.
If you have yet to request or receive LinkedIn testimonials from others in your network, now’s the time
to ramp these up. Even if you don’t personally believe these endorsements can add value, they will be
looked over—in detail—by recruiters and your networking contacts.
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One way to get the ball rolling with endorsements is to recommend others, as LinkedIn will prompt
other to return the favor after you’ve recommended them.
Once you’ve started to gather this feedback, be sure to sprinkle it throughout your resume and within
your executive biography, as described above, either through a direct quote or by using the positive
feedback to describe your value proposition.
3 –Use feedback from performance reviews or private commendations.
One of the easiest ways to speak to your reputation on your resume is to request (and use) casual
endorsements, especially from others that might not otherwise be able to write you a public testimonial.
Often, even job-hunting colleagues or other executives on the verge of leaving their employers will
provide a confidential testimonial in the form of an email, letter, or reference – making it difficult for
you to use this information “publicly.”
In this case, it’s best to analyze the feedback that you gain from others, looking for patterns in what they
say about your work.
Then, note the highlights and pull in this information into either descriptive phrases (such as
“motivational leader”) or note the actual impact that you’ve had on a project (“Brought in $10M SAP
initiative under budget”). Doing so allows you to benefit from these more private commendations, while
still keeping the source confidential.
In summary, there ARE great ways to capitalize on the reputation you’ve earned in your career, by
taking a few moments to gather and incorporate feedback from others. The result can be a much more
powerful—and relevant—leadership resume.
For any paralegal seeking employment or a
change of position, please send your resume to the
Placement Chair, Lisa Jones, to be kept on file.
Oftentimes a potential employer will not post a
position but simply request ‘resumes on file.’
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REAL ESTATE/PROBATE SPECIALTY SECTION Susy Johnson, Chair
Upcoming 2012 Brown Bag CLE Luncheon for Real Estate/Probate Section:
Wednesday, October 10, 2012 David Bakutis A topic under the “Probate” heading (To Be Determined) Location: THE WOODMONT COMPANY offices 2100 West 7th Street, Fort Worth, TX 76017
TECHNOLOGY SPECIALTY SECTION
Crystal Berryhill, Chair
There is one more technology CLE to attend this year. It will be October 12 with John Browning - “When the Jury Box Becomes Pandora’s Box: Dangers of the Online Juror.”
LITIGATION SPECIALTY SECTION Stacey McGinney, Chair
Upcoming 2012 Brown Bag CLE Luncheon for Litigation Section:
Thursday, August 9, 2012 A topic under the “Litigation” heading (To Be Determined) Location: Texas Wesleyan School of Law 1515 Commerce Street Fort Worth, Texas 76102
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The FWPA Salary Survey is now
available. You may access it at
www.FWPA.org under the Members only
section – “Salary Survey Results 2011”.
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EVENT: FORT WORTH PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
JULY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
DATE: Thursday, July 26, 2012 TIME: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. LOCATION: Joe T. Garcia’s Restaurant - La Puertita Room (Small Church Blvd next door to Joe T’s) 2201 North Commerce St,, Fort Worth, TX 76106 TOPIC: Creditors’ Claims in Both Dependent & Independent Administrations SPEAKER: M. Keith Branyon, Esquire
COST: $15.00 for Members and $17.00 for Guests RESERVATION DEADLINE: Monday, July 23, 2012. Telephone or facsimile reservations will not be
accepted after 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012. Checks and exact change only accepted at the door. There is a $25.00 charge for insufficient checks. Your cooperation is appreciated.
FWPA REGRETS THAT REFUNDS CANNOT BE MADE FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
Please complete this form and return it with your payment(s).
ATTENDEE MEMBER GUEST STUDENT (Please indicate CLA, TBLS, etc.) ______________________________ ________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ ________
______________________________ ______________________________ MAIL TO: Julie Sherman, TBLS Cantey Hanger, LLP 600 W. 6th Street, Suite 300 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Tel. 817-878-6005 Email: [email protected]
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EVENT: FORT WORTH PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
AUGUST MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
DATE: Thursday, August 23, 2012 TIME: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. LOCATION: Joe T. Garcia’s Restaurant - La Puertita Room (Small Church Blvd next door to Joe T’s) 2201 North Commerce St,, Fort Worth, TX 76106 TOPIC: TBD SPEAKER: State Representative Phil King
COST: $15.00 for Members and $17.00 for Guests RESERVATION DEADLINE: Monday, August 20, 2012. Telephone or facsimile reservations will not be
accepted after 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 2012. Checks and exact change only accepted at the door. There is a $25.00 charge for insufficient checks. Your cooperation is appreciated.
FWPA REGRETS THAT REFUNDS CANNOT BE MADE FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
Please complete this form and return it with your payment(s).
ATTENDEE MEMBER GUEST STUDENT (Please indicate CLA, TBLS, etc.) ______________________________ ________ ________ ________ ______________________________ ________ ________ ________
______________________________ ______ ________ ________ ________
______________________________ MAIL TO: Julie Sherman, TBLS Cantey Hanger, LLP 600 W. 6th Street, Suite 300 Fort Worth, TX 76102
Tel. 817-878-6005 Email: [email protected]
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Please bring your own lunch and drink
Family Law Specialty Section CLE
Answering Discovery [Family Law]
Speaker: Bob Leonard, Attorney [with Bob Leonard Law Group ]
Tuesday, September 11, 2011
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Family Law Center 200 E. Weatherford St.
Assembly Room - 2nd Floor Fort Worth, Texas
$10.00 FWPA Members $15.00 Non-FWPA Members
FWPA regrets that refunds cannot be given for non-attendance 1.0 hour of approve CLE credit anticipated
Sponsored by the Fort Worth Paralegal Association Mary Ann Shurley, Family Law Specialty Section Chair
Family Law Specialty Section 2012 C L E Please register
FWPA Member: Yes / No Name: _____________________________ Work No.: ___________________________ E-mail: ______________________________ Date: _______________________________
Employer/School: _____________________ Home No.: ___________________________ (optional)
Return Registration Form to: Maryann Shurley Bailey & Galyen Law Firm 4747 South Hulen Street, Suite 100 Fort Worth, Texas 76132 (817) 263-3000; [email protected]
Amount enclosed: $ _______________________
(Make checks payable to FWPA)
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Tel. 817-338-1700 -- Fax: 817-870-2265
Fort Worth Paralegal Association
2012 SCHOLARSHIPS
The FWPA rewards deserving paralegal students by offering 2012 scholarship funds. These funds are available to FWPA members who are enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours in a legal assistant or paralegal program. For a copy of the Application for Scholarship, visit the link below and follow the instructions.
http://fwpa.org/scholarship.asp
Please contact me directly if you have any questions. Donna C. Patterson, Scholarship Chair
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Make plans now to join us at TAPS 2012 – A Direct Flight to 1st Class CLE on October
3-5, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Addison (North Dallas).
TAPS (Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar) is the largest CLE event marketed directly to
Texas paralegals. There will be approximately 60 speakers presenting advanced CLE in a
variety of specialties. Attendees can obtain up to 14 hours of CLE in a matter of days.
TAPS includes networking events for its attendees in the form of CLE sessions, breaks,
socials, and luncheons. TAPS also features an Exhibit Hall on Thursday with
approximately 40 vendors exhibiting legal services targeted specifically to paralegals and
attorneys.
New this year: the 3 day registration fee will include the cost of two breakfasts, a boxed
lunch on Thursday, the Friday luncheon, the Wednesday and Thursday socials, and a
TAPS t-shirt. What a deal!!
Complete details and registration information will be available on the Division website at
www.txpd.org in June.
The Paralegal Division will award two (2) educational scholarships for the three-day
registration fee to attend the TAPS 2012 seminar to Division members. The deadline to
submit the scholarship application is July 25, 2012. The scholarship application is
attached and is also available on the Division website at www.txpd.org.
Please share the information with your co-workers and paralegal friends.
Hope to see you at TAPS!
Gloria Porter, Marketing Chair
2012 TAPS Planning Committee
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PARALEGAL DIVISION ANNOUNCES
TAPS 2012 SCHOLARSHIP
For the upcoming 2012 Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (TAPS), a three-day CLE seminar, the PARALEGAL
DIVISION of the State Bar of Texas will award up to two (2) educational scholarships for the three-day registration to
attend the TAPS 2012 seminar. Below please find the guidelines and application for applying for this scholarship.
1. The Recipient must be a member (or apply for membership) of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas.
2. To apply for a TAPS scholarship, the applicant is required to give a written essay on the following: How has
Membership in the Paralegal Division helped you in recognizing the importance of CLE? The essay must be two (2)
pages in length and double-spaced.
3. To apply for a TAPS scholarship, the applicant is required to provide two (2) personal references, which describe the
applicant’s involvement in the paralegal profession.
4. Financial need shall be a contributing factor, but not a requirement. However, if two or more applicants are tied in
meeting the criteria for the scholarship, financial need shall be the determining factor.
5. Recipient(s) are required to volunteer a minimum of three hours on-site during the event.
Other
1 No money will be sent directly to the recipient.
2. The scholarship for TAPS shall cover the cost of the three-day registration.
3. The scholarship selection committee for reviewing scholarship applications for TAPS shall be composed of the Chair of
the TAPS Planning Committee, one Planning Committee Sub-Committee Chair, and the Board Advisor to the TAPS
Planning Committee.
The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas will award scholarships for TAPS 2012 which will cover the cost of
registration in accordance with the TAPS scholarship guidelines.
TAPS 2012 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION IMPORTANT: ALL APPLICATIONS FOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR TAPS 2012 MUST BE RECEIVED BY
FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2012. DATE OF TAPS 2012: October 3 - 5, 2012, Addison (Dallas area), TX
Name _________________________________________________ PD Membership No .__________________________
Home Address ________________________________________________________________________________________
Home Telephone __________________________ E-mail Address _______________________________________________
Work Address ________________________________________________________________________________________
Work Telephone ________________________________ Fax Number ___________________________________________
Employer ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Are you a member of a local paralegal organization that offers a scholarship award? __________
Give a detailed description of your reason for seeking a scholarship to TAPS 2012: _________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Give a detailed description, if any, for your reasons for financial need: ___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Attach two (2) personal references and your written essay to this application. Applications should be mailed to:
Susan Wilen, Chair of the TAPS Planning Committee, Brin & Brin, P.C., 6223 IH 10 West, San Antonio, Texas 78201 or
email to: [email protected] Scholarship recipients will be notified by letter or email by August 10, 2012.
______________________________________ Attach any additional explanations.
Applicant’s Signature
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FWPA JOB BANK
FWPA's Job Bank is ONLY for the benefit of FWPA Members! FWPA's job bank is now available on our Website. Please go to www.fwpa.org to the member only access to view the job bank.
If you are seeking a position and want to be placed on the Applicants listing, e-mail
your resume to [email protected] (Faxed copies do not reproduce well.) Many employers request
on-file resumes to review. Let us know in a cover letter if you do not wish a particular firm or corporation to receive your resume. Discretion will be observed. Remember that resumes are retained only for three months following receipt. Applicants should e-mail [email protected] to receive new listings. Advertise your firm or corporation's open position with the FWPA Job Bank. (Remember to notify us when a listed position is filled or accepted. If no notice is received, the listing will be removed after three months.)
Seeking highly motivated individual to assist and support structured settlement consultant in pre-settlement and post-settlement responsibilities. Our firm provides financial services through insurance products to personal injury trial lawyers, guardians ad litem and their clients that have been injured, or have lost a loved one. The review of Settlement Agreements and Judgments will be a large part of the job. Individual must be able to multi task, have good communication skills and follow-up skills. Must be very computer literate and proficient in Word and WordPerfect. A legal background with 2+ years, experience is required. A college education and/or Spanish speaking is a plus. Employment is full-time, health insurance available, located in Fort Worth, base pay is $35,000. Please email resume to [email protected]. Please only send emails. POSTED 4-26-12
We have a job opening at our Fort Worth Location for
a bilingual English/Spanish at the Law office of
Margaret A. Donnelly, Immigration experience a plus.
Please contact Martina at (214) 490 0708 or
[email protected]. POSTED 4-30-12
Plaintiffs Personal Injury Law Firm (www.maafirm.com)
located on western edge of downtown Fort Worth has
an immediate opening for a full time legal
assistant/paralegal for a litigation docket. Prior
experience handling litigation files is required.
Responsible for litigation case load including
establishment and organization of client files;
maintaining calendar to include court and interoffice
deadlines; scheduling depositions; drafting pleadings
and discovery responses; obtaining and reviewing
medical records; contacting clients, opposing counsel
and courts; and supporting attorney at trial
proceedings. Attention to detail, organizational skills
and the ability to multitask and meet deadlines are
critical. Ability to work in a team environment a must.
To apply for this job, please forward a resume, salary
requirements and references to Mark Anderson at
[email protected]. We will not contact your current
employer. POSTED 5-1-12
Legal Assistant for Personal Injury Litigation Law Firm
in Hurst. Minimum (3) years experience in Plaintiff or
Insurance Defense litigation. Articulate, detail
oriented and professional individual. Email resume to:
[email protected] or fax 817-282-8073. POSTED
5-3-12
We are a law firm located in downtown Fort Worth. Currently, we are seeking a legal assistant/paralegal to join our firm. Requirements:
Two years of paralegal experience in family law
Exceptional organizational and administrative skills
Strong working knowledge of legal documents(experience with pro docs is preferable)
Tasks/Job Description:
Preparing legal documents
Answering phones, scheduling appointments, and receiving clients
Organizing files, handling mail and various duties
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To apply for this position please send a resume and
cover letter to [email protected]. POSTED 5-3-12
Small labor and employment boutique is seeking a
paralegal. Civil litigation experience is preferred.
Candidates must have a professional appearance and
demeanor, excellent written and oral communication
skills, and excellent computer skills. Proficiency in
LexisNexis, Word Perfect, Microsoft Word,
PowerPoint, Excel and CM/ECF strongly preferred.
Salary is commensurate with experience. Good benefits
package. A resume and cover letter should be sent to
[email protected]. No phone calls. POSTED
5-10-12
We are recruiting a corporate paralegal at our oil & gas
client located in Fort Worth, TX.
Key Responsibilities will include:
Prepares and maintains corporate records and notices as required by regulatory authorities.
Assists in preparing Board and Committee meeting materials, including meeting minutes.
Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
Assists in submitting filings and notices to the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange and complying with NYSE listing standards.
Works on the Company's compliance program.
Performs legal research on projects requested by Corporate Lawyer.
May lead and direct the work of others.
A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.
Required Traits and Abilities:
Scrupulously detail-oriented, with an assertive, but not intrusive, work style
Proactively tackles upcoming problems without awaiting instruction
5+ years experience supporting commercial contracts, litigation, and mergers and acquisitions
5+ years experience supporting corporate governance, including SEC filings, board and board committee communications, board agenda preparation, maintaining corporate minute books, managing subsidiary structure and history, drafting corporate resolutions, powers of attorney, secretary certificates and other instruments
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent skills with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Works independently with very little supervision
Please email resumes to [email protected].
POSTED 5-22-12
West Fort Worth law firm seeks competent, experienced candidate for administrative/managerial position. Timeslips and law office experience are mandatory – please do not
apply if you do not meet these requirements. Applicant must maintain a positive attitude and professional appearance. Must be proactive and possess the ability to multitask, prioritize and work in a team environment. Strong organizational, analytical, communication and social skills are required, as the position entails substantial interaction with courts, attorneys, clients and staff. Must be proficient in Timeslips, Microsoft Office and WordPerfect programs. Main duties include, but are not limited to:
Overseeing all aspects of client and overhead accounts
Billing
Data entry and record keeping
Organizing and maintaining accounting and administrative files
Composing and updating active spreadsheets
Preparing and submitting reports
Staff supervision and hiring
Working with third-party vendors on technical/structural issues
Drafting legal correspondence and documents Hours will be part-time on a trial basis this summer with the potential to move to full-time in the fall. There are no benefits associated with this position aside from compensation.
Please send resumes, cover letter and references to
[email protected]. POSTED 6-4-12
Established AV Rated Law Firm with its principal office
in Fort Worth has an opening for an experienced
paralegal in its Fort Worth office. This opening
requires previous law firm experience or a degree from
an accredited paralegal program. Please send resumes
to [email protected]. POSTED 6-5-12
Fort Worth Title Company is looking for someone to
help with document preparation and to assist an escrow
officer with prep work for real estate closings. The
salary will be dependent upon experience and ability.
Please send resumes to [email protected].
POSTED 6-15-12
Boutique Fort Worth office of Tulsa-based firm seeks an experienced transactional Legal Assistant/Paralegal to support three lawyers and handle administrative duties for growing office. The lawyers’ practice is primarily in the area of oil and gas law; some familiarity with a regulatory and litigation practice would be highly beneficial but is not required. The selected candidate will demonstrate the ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast paced environment; have extensive knowledge of legal document preparation and
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law office operations; be proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Word and Outlook; and possess excellent communication and organizational skills. Professionalism and dependability are essential. A minimum of 5 years legal experience is required. For immediate consideration, send your resume and a cover letter with salary expectations to [email protected]. POSTED 6-19-12
AV Rated law firm located in downtown Fort Worth seeks an experienced paralegal to assist with busy insurance
defense litigation practice. Strong organizational skills and the ability to work in a fast paced environment required. Personal injury litigation experience preferred. Please email resume in confidence to [email protected] POSTED 6-22-12
Dallas law firm looking for an experienced litigation paralegal to work on patent litigation cases. Please contact Linda Wolf at (214) 981-3342 for more information, or send resume directly to Gayla Magill at [email protected] POSTED 7-2-12
Secure data destruction for hard drives
Certificates of destruction available
Responsible E-Waste End-of-Life Recycling Computers & Peripherals • Printers, Copiers and cartridges
Power Suppliers and Chargers • Data Center Equipment Networking equipment and accessories Cell phones, PDAs, chargers and cords
Monitors CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) & Flat Screen Entertainment - TVs, VCRs, DVDs sound boards & equipment
Household items - Automotive • Wiring and cords
Corporate Recycling Programs Available
Contact Joan Uilani Meeks 972.786.1446 [email protected] * www.ewastegroup.net
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2012 FWPA Events Calendar
JULY
AUGUST
3 Board Meeting
7
Board Meeting
26 General Membership Meeting
9 Litigation Specialty Section CLE
“Creditors’ Claims in Both
Dependent & Independent
Topic To Be Determined
Administrations”
Speaker: M. Keith Branyon, Esq.
23
General Membership Meeting
Topic To Be Determined
Speaker: State Representative Phil King
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
4 Board Meeting
2
Board Meeting
11 Family Law Specialty Section CLE
10 Probate Specialty Section CLE
“Answering Discovery”
Speaker: Bob Leonard, Esq.
Topic To Be Determined
Speaker: David Bakutis
27 General Membership Meeting 12
Technology Specialty Section
“When the Jury Box Becomes Pandora’s
Box: Dangers of the Online Juror”
Speaker: John Browning
20
25
30th
Anniversary Celebration
General Membership Meeting
Continuing Legal Education
The best thing we can do for ourselves and our
profession!
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2012 FWPA Board of Directors
President Star Moore 1007 Bryant Street Benbrook, Texas 76126 (817) 475-6961 (817) 249-1156 Fax [email protected]
President-Elect-Education Chair / Ethics Chair Katrina Lea 3613 Hudgins Ranch Road Roanoke, Texas 76262 (214) 287-6480 [email protected]
First Vice President-Programs Chair Julie K. Sherman, TBLS Cantey & Hanger, LLP 600 W. 6th Street, Ste 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 878-6005 (817)877-2807 Fax [email protected]
Second Vice President-Membership Jessica Acosta Bob Leonard Law Group PLLC 101 Summit Ave., Suite 300 Fort Worth, Texasd 76102 (817) 336-8500 (817) 336-8511 Fax [email protected]
Treasurer Melody Mullen Griffith, Jay & Michel, LLP 2200 Forest Park Blvd Fort Worth, Texas 76110 (817) 926-2500 (817) 926- 2505 Fax [email protected]
Secretary Janice Piggott Bob Leonard Law Group PLLC 101 Summit Ave., Suite 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 336-8500 (817) 336-8511 Fax [email protected]
Parliamentarian / Community Service Chair Kelly Cobb BNSF Railway Company 2500 Lou Menk Drive, MOB-3 Fort Worth, Texas 76131-2828 (817) 352-2363 (817) 352-2398 Fax [email protected]
Placement Chair / Elections Chair Lisa Jones Dismuke, Waters & Sweet 2000 E. Lamar Blvd., Suite 500 Arlington, Texas 76006 (817) 277-2077 (817) 265-7264 Fax [email protected]
Paralegal of the Year Michele Rayburn, PLS, CP, TBLS Wallach & Andrews, P.C. 2501 Parkview Drive, Suite 303 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 338-1707 (817)338-1787 Fax [email protected]
Professional Development Co-Chair Joy Long 6433 Carousel Drive Watauga, Texas 76148 (817) 810-6032 [email protected]
Publications Chair Debbie House, CP, TBLS Beadles, Newman & Lawler, PC 3500 Hulen Street, Suite 200 Fort Worth, Texas 76107 (817) 731-6469 (817) 569-1069 Fax [email protected]
Public Relations Co-Chair / Advertising Co-Chair Joy Trammell Wilson, White & Doby LLP 900 Monroe Street, Suite 400 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 820-3112 (817) 820-3118 [email protected]
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Public Relations Co-Chair / Advertising Co-Chair Shanna Mello Law Office of Reed Wainwright 200 Palo Pinto Street, Suite 101 Weatherford, Texas 76086 (817) 550-6085 (817) 704-4520 [email protected]
Website Chair Terry McClung Hoodenpyle, Petter & Barrier, P.C. 521 E. Border St. Arlington, Texas 76010 (817) 277-5211 (817) 275-3657 Fax [email protected]
Scholarship Chair Donna C. Patterson Cantey Hanger LLP 600 W. 6th Street, Suite 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 878-6033 (817)877-2807 Fax [email protected]
Specialty Section Chair: Litigation Stacey McGinney Brackett & Ellis, LP 100 Main Street, #200 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 870-1732 [email protected]
Specialty Section Chair: Technology Crystal Berryhill Bob Leonard Law Group PLLC 101 Summit Ave., Suite 300 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 (817) 336-8500 (817) 336-8511 Fax [email protected]
Specialty Section Chair: Probate/Real Estate Susy Johnson The Woodmont Company 2100 West 7
th Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107 (817) 377-7720 Direct (817) 735-4738 Fax [email protected]
Specialty Section Chair: Family Mary Ann Shurley Bailey & Galyen 4747 S. Hulen St, Suite 100 Fort Worth, Texas 76132 (817) 263-3000 (817) 263-3010 Fax [email protected]
Programs Assistant Linda Eichhorn Burke, CP 7204 Lola Drive North Richland Hills, Texas 76180 (817) 577-3967 [email protected]
Programs Assistant Chris Clinch RadioShack MailStop CF4228 300 RadioShack Circle Fort Worth, Texas 76102-1964 (817) 415-2210 (817) 415-6596 Fax [email protected]
State Bar Liaison Chair Allen Mihecoby, CLAS, RP BNSF Railway Company 2500 Lou Menk Drive, AOB-3 Fort Worth, Texas 76131-2828 (817) 352-2371 Direct (817) 352-2398 Fax [email protected]
Revised July 1, 2012
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If you forget to pick up a CLE form or if we run out of forms at one of our luncheons or brown bag seminars, please email the Professional Development Co-Chair, Joy Long, at [email protected]. She will send the CLE form to you once it is confirmed that the CLE was paid for.
COWTOWN PARALEGAL REPORTER
Published by the Fort Worth Paralegal Association
Debbie House, CP, TBLS, Editor and Publisher
The Cowtown Paralegal Reporter is the official publication of the Fort Worth Paralegal Association. Articles, columns, and editorials appearing in the Cowtown Paralegal Reporter express the views of the authors and should not be construed as the opinions of the Fort Worth Paralegal Association, its officers, or its Committee Chairpersons. If you are interested in submitting articles or letters to the Publication Chair, the Cowtown Paralegal Reporter welcomes articles, preferably by email. Submissions are reviewed and printed at the discretion of the editor of the Cowtown Paralegal Reporter. The deadline for submissions is the 20th day of the month prior to the next issue date (i.e. February, April, June, August, October and December) Articles published herein do not necessarily represent the opinions of the FWPA. Calendar listings should not be considered an endorsement of any such program or
seminar and are subject to change
