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Findings & Conclusions 1

Findings & Conclusions

President’s Cornerby: Brenda Cothary

WSPA held its annual Fall CLE on October 28 in Seattle. It was a huge success thanks to the efforts of many WSPA volunteers. The event was well attended, the speakers were well received, and vendors provided huge support (and some great door prize items). I hope you were able to attend and take advantage of one of the two CLE tracks (litigation and professional development). The upcoming new year means new events for WSPA. We are preparing for the Student Career Night and Dinner on January 27, and in the early stages of planning our Spring CLE and Awards Luncheon in April.

For a non-profit organization like WSPA, it takes dozens of people to make an event successful. It is not one volunteer who coordinates locations, food, speakers, vendors, etc. There are many, many people involved, before, during and after the event. It is the efforts of all these people that make WSPA’s

events successful and sought after by legal professionals throughout the state. We are always looking for creative and energetic individuals who are willing to give their time to support WSPA.

Currently, we are looking for a Chair for the Spring CLE and Awards Luncheon. The Chair works with a committee to coordinate vendors, speakers, seminar topics, publicity/advertising, lunch choices, day of event scheduling, post event surveys, and other items as needed. An individual who has planned events in the past will have a grasp of the range of duties that are necessary when overseeing

the committee. We hope to find a chair with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and good interpersonal communication skills. The WSPA Board and Directors are supportive and provide assistance whenever possible. If you are interested in the Spring CLE Chair position, please email president@wspaonline.org for more information.

We are looking for additional committee members to assist with the Student Career Night and Spring CLE. As I stated previously, it takes many volunteers to make a successful event. If you are available to email vendors or members, help with registration, coordinate room schedules, or any range of activities before, during, or after the event, we would love to have your help. Please email me at president@wspaonline.org and I will be happy to get you connected.

Our large statewide events are not the only way WSPA provides networking and educational opportunities for its members. Our Chapter Directors work hard to plan regular meetings for the members in the immediate area. The chapter events generally occur at least quarterly and are in smaller venues and group settings, providing better opportunities to socialize and network.

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Our Mission: To enthusiastically support and promote the paralegal profession in the State of Washington.

President’s CornerPage 1Management ReportsPage 3

Military Page

Page 7

Pro Bono PagePage 8

Paralegal Week ReportPage 9

What is a Registered ParalegalPage 10

HJP VolunteersPage 13

Board MinutesPage 14

Membership ApplicationsPages 16-18

A Bi-Monthly Newsletter Volume 26 Issue 6 Nov./Dec. 2011

events successful and sought after by legal h h h

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2011 WSPA President Brenda Cothary

Definition of a Paralegal – as defined by NFPA and WSPA

A Paralegal is a person, qualified through education, training or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory or court authority to perform this work. Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts

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2 Findings & Conclusions

Administrator

Administration Services, Inc.PO Box 58530Seattle, WA 98138-1530206.623.8632administrator@wspaonline.org

Officers

PresidentBrenda Cotharypresident@wspaonline.org

Vice-PresididentMembership Sue Beichley

vp-membership@wspaonline.org

Vice-President Professional Development

Brian Haberlyvp-profession@wspaonline.org

SecretarySarah Eisenhauersecretary@wspaonline.org

Treasurer Julie Fujitatreasurer@wspaonline.org

Immediate Past PresidentBrian Haberly RP

Management Directory

NFPA Representatives

NFPA Primary RepresentativeSue Beichleynfpa-one@wspaonline.org

Secondary RepresentativeJeanenne Rutherfordnfpa-two@wspaonline.org

PACE AmbassadorHelen Halloran, CRPpace-chair@wspaonline.org

Directors

East King Co. DirectorMary Knightekco-director@wspaonline.org

Northwest Director Jennifier Provalenkonw-director@wspaonline.org

Seattle DirectorJosh Normandseattle-director@wspaonline.org

Snohomish Co. Chapter Director Sue Holstromsnohomish-director@wspaonline.org

Spokane Chapter Director Elena Manleyspokane-director@wspaonline.org

South King CountyOpenskco-director@wspaonline.org

South Puget SoundMisty Carmensps-director@wspaonline.org

Director At-Large, WestOpenal-west-director@wspaonline.org

Committee Chairs Certification CoordinatorHelen Halloran, CRPpace-ambassador@wspaonline.org

CLE Approval Committee ChairStephanie Dermontcle-chair@wspaonline.org

Job Bank Committee ChairJennifer Dannerjob-bank-chair@wspaonline.org

Director Marketing & Vendor RelationsDonna Zieglermarketing-chair@wspaonline.org

Pro Bono CoordinatorJeanenne Rutherfordprobono-chair@wspaonline.org

Newsletter Coordinator/EditorJay Jenkinseditor@wspaonline.org

Military Paralegal Outreach Coordinator Jeanenne Rutherfordmilitary-paralegal-support@wspaonline.org

Webmasterwebmaster@wspaonline.org

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Findings & Conclusions 3

President’s Corner (Continued from Page One)

As a former chapter director, I’m sure I can speak for all of our current directors when I say there is always room for another pair of hands to help. Chapter directors select speakers, find locations, coordinate dates and times, set up meetings, serve as host/hostess, clean up after meetings, and a full range of activities in between. Getting involved at the chapter level is a great way to get to know people in your area and help out on a smaller scale. If you are interested in volunteering at the chapter level, please contact your local chapter. To find the chapter closest to you, visit www.wspaonline.org.

Chapter Directors are generally elected positions, but we currently have an opening for a South King County Chapter Director, which could be filled by Board vote. If you live or work in South King County and are interested in coordinating meetings for the region, please contact me. The Chapter Director is required to submit bi-monthly articles for the newsletter, attend Board meetings (held at least quarterly), and plan meetings for the chapter. WSPA Officers and Directors provide support and assistance. It is a great opportunity to get to know and work with legal professionals in the area.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and happy new year!

2011 Fall CLE a Success!by Brian Haberly, WSPA President

On October 28, 2011, we were able to demonstrate WSPA’s long-standing commitment to Professional Development by staging another successful Continuing Legal Education program at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Highlights of this year’s Fall CLE program included 8 separate 90-minute long breakout sessions, in two concurrently running educational tracks of four sessions each, grouped under Litigation and Professional Development categories.

We drew just under 100 people total, including registrants, 8 exhibitors and our wonderful

speakers. The morning started out with coffee and pastries at 8 am with breakout sessions kicking off at 8:30 am. Fall CLE Sponsor Prolumina graciously contributed to the success of the event by providing LCD projectors for both of our meeting rooms, saving us significant AV rental fees.

Special thanks go out to each of our speakers. The topics and presenters at the Fall CLE were:

Personal Branding – Peg Marckworth; Technical Tips for Word Users – Judi Maier; Basic Excel Pivot Tables and Charts for the Legal Setting – Kate Waterous; The Brave New Business Writer: Establishing Leadership & Career Success Through Corporate Storytelling – Carla Haney; Best Practices for Paralegals in Jury Research and Trial Technology – Noah Wick; E-Discovery 102: How to efficiently preserve, review and produce electronically stored information – Cathy Lopez; Introduction to "America Invents Act 2011" - Matthew Rabdau; and CaseMap and TextMap: Integrated Discovery Processes, Case Management, Research and Trial - Lisa Guterson Braverman.

Each 90 minute long session was worth 1.5 hours of WSPA CLE Credits, and attendees received completion certificates for each class they attended (6.0 hours of CLE if present for the entire day). Many of the speakers contributed slides of their presentations which have now been posted on the WSPA website (www.wspaonline.org) under the Resources Tab.

A well attended exhibitor’s area featured the following eight exhibitors: Advanced Health Care; GGO/Digital WarRoom; Naegeli Reporting Corporation; Premier Realtime; Seattle Insurance and Legal Investigations; T-Scan Corporation; UniSearch; and Washington Translation Bureau. WSPA would like to thank each of our wonderful exhibitors, whose helpful information and financial support helps us stretch our dollars and keep our events priced very competitively compared to those of for-profit legal seminars. Attendees visited each of the exhibitor’s tables to have them initial and complete a “Vendor Bingo” card which qualified registrants to be eligible for afternoon prize drawings.

Washington State’s Governor Gregoire proclaimed October 24-28, 2011 as Washington State Paralegal

Week and her Proclamation was referenced and saluted as one of the highlights of the program.

We would like to salute the many contributions of the Fall CLE Committee - - Sarah Eisenhauer, Joshua Normand, Jeanenne Rutherford, and Donna Ziegler - - each of whom played important roles integral to our success. Sarah oversaw creation of event signage, name tags, day of event restaurant choices, assisted in important potential exhibitor follow up calls and worked most of the day on the Registration Table. Joshua once again served as lead in contacting several area paralegal programs to promote the event via 2 complimentary student scholarships per school and made several follow up calls and emails. Jeanenne oversaw speaker confirmation letters, preparation and revision of CLE credit certificates, coordinated Speaker materials and worked much of the day at the registration table. Donna made initial and follow-up contacts to an extensive potential exhibitor/vendor list to help secure paid vendors ($200 per table). Brian acted as CLE Chair and contacted and secured potential speakers, created separate Acteva registration methods for attendees and for exhibitors, prepared items for the website and newsletter, posted items on social networking sites, created the Vendor Bingo card, and handled planning details with the Convention Center. Brenda Cothary took care of our speaker Starbucks gift cards and also helped with registration table duties and led the afternoon door prize drawings. A handful of WSPA members assisted with some on-site day of event tasks too.

Results from a post-event attendee survey are still being tabulated, but many favorable comments were heard during the event. Professional Development topics were more popular than anticipated and additional seating had to be brought into that room to accommodate all the interested attendees. It is likely that dedicated professional development topics will continue to be featured in either a half day or full day track at future seminars.

CLE Credits/ 2012 Recognition

The WSPA Board recently determined to place a new emphasis on using CLE credits as a recognition

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Brian Haberly, VP Professional Development

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4 Findings & Conclusions

Findings and Conclusions is the official publication of the Washington State Paralegal Association and is published six times per year.

(continued from Page Three)

tool and to highlight members’ accumulation of CLE credits at our Spring CLE and annual members and paralegal awards meeting. More information about the new CLE guidelines will be forthcoming as part of the 2012 membership renewal forms you will receive in the coming weeks.

2012 Paralegal Career Night and Student Dinner; Spring 2012 CLE Dates Set

Looking forward, we have already secured meeting facilities at the Red Lion Hotel on 5th Avenue in Seattle for both the January 27, 2012 Paralegal Career Night and Student Dinner, as well as for the April 27, 2012 Spring CLE, Members Meeting and annual Paralegal Awards program. Watch for additional details in the coming weeks.

Co-sponsorship of Stress Busters program at Microsoft

In other Professional Development news, WSPA recently partnered with Donna Corey at Microsoft to cosponsor a “Stress Busters” noon-time presentation and luncheon at the Microsoft facilities in Redmond on October 13th, at no charge for attendees. This session was designed to help business professionals recognize stress, manage stress, and devise a plan to reduce stress. We hope that other businesses might similarly be interested in co-sponsoring an event with WSPA on their own premises. WSPA will be happy to help publicize the program to our members and can help locate speakers if you need a speaker.

Formation of Edmonds Law Association

More recently, WSPA has been working with Cynthia Donaldson, a paralegal student at Edmonds Community College, sharing ideas about organizing a student paralegal association and passing along names of potential speakers and topics. Cynthia has acted as Founder of a newly formed Edmonds “Law Association” and obtained both a faculty and community sponsor and filed the necessary organizational papers with the school to form the club. WSPA salutes Cynthia for her

initiative in getting the Edmonds Law Association up and running!

If you have ideas you would like WSPA to consider to enhance your own Professional Development, please feel free to contact me via email at vp-profession@wspaonline.org. Be sure to sign up for our three Social Networking sites – Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, to stay on top of the latest WSPA news!

NW Chapter Reportby Jennifier Provalenko

Previous CLEs:

Ethical Questions & Dilemmas for the Practical Paralegal

Guest Speaker- Brian Stiles, Attorney at Law, Pro Temp Judge

October 12, 2011

Ethics- Hot Topic! We had a full house, both Whatcom and Skagit paralegal students joined us at Max Dales, along with a few local attorneys and paralegals. Over 45 people attend our paralegal social and Ethics CLE. Guest Speak Brian Stiles, Attorney at Law, and District Court Judge, delivered an outstanding PowerPoint presentation. We went through the ABA Model Rules for the utilization of paralegal services; the five C’s,- Communication, Conflict of Interest, Client-Attorney Relationship, Confidentiality, Competence, and Commitment; along with going over the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) and a few examples of instances where ethics could be questionable. Mr. Stiles provided a very informative Ethics CLE and kept us engaged throughout his entire presentation. We were please to have Mr. Stiles as a guest speaker and his hot topic “Ethics” was a hit!

Inside Tour of the Superior Court and Clerk's Office

Guest Speaker- N.F. Jackson, Superior Court Administrator & County Clerk

On October 5, 2011 the NW Chapter organized a Brown Bag CLE at the Whatcom County Courthouse. Guest speaker N.F. Jackson, Court Administer and County Clerk, provided a brief presentation explaining the roles and responsibilities of Court Administration and the Clerk’s Office, including the differences between the two departments. In addition, Mr. Jackson covered a list of questions that were complied by local paralegals regarding common questions, court procedure and local court rules through a well organized PowerPoint presentation. Mr. Jackson showed us how to navigate through the Court’s website to view calendars, local court rules, bar notices, how to look up case information and access documents, and much more. Moreover, we learned Whatcom is one of five counties in Washington that does not have an elected Clerk and one of the first counties to employ a Courthouse Family Law Facilitator. Whatcom is also one of the first counties to become paperless, thus, discontinuing the use of paper files.

Mr. Jackson ended our CLE with a brief tour of the Courthouse and Clerk’s Office. Our group of 27 paralegals and students explored the Clerk’s Office, including the lobby computers, scanning and file room. We also had the grand opportunity to meet some of the clerks working in action. Overall, this CLE was a success and we were happy to be a part of such a wonderful learning experience.

Up-coming CLE

SAVE THE DATE- WSPA Resume & Cover Letter Clinic- How to Market Yourself through Personal Branding. Thursday, November 30, 2011, from 5-7:30 pm at Whatcom WorkSource in Bellingham.

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Sue Beichley, VP-Membership & PrimaryJennifier Provalenko, RP , NW Chapter

4200 23rd Avenue WestSeattle, WA 98199ph: 206.957.6495fx: 206.829.2190info@tscan.biz

T-Scan Corporation

Record Retrieval Document Production Imaging

Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, San Antonio and St. LouisContact T-Scan: info@tscan.biz or 800.285.1507 www.tscan.biz

Make It Simple...

F I N D I N G S & C O N C L U S I O N S

6 Findings & Conclusions

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Are you looking for a new job as a Paralegal or Legal Assistant? Would you like to improve your chances of landing the perfect job? Do you want your Resume and Cover Letter to stand out from the crowd? Then here is your chance to perfect your resume and clean-up your cover letter, so don’t miss out! Our clinic will provide you with the tools and resources you need to succeed in today’s job market. We will help you increase your chance of getting hired at any law firm guaranteed! You will meet Vicki Osborn, Senior Paralegal at Dorsey & Whitney, one of the top law firms in Seattle, who will teach you how to market yourself, the hands-on challenges when job hunting, and what law firms are looking for in the hiring process. In addition, Peg Marckworth, Owner of Marckworth Associates and Professional Marketing Adviser, will introduce the concept of personal branding and how to improve your resume and cover letter by integrating your personal brand. “When you’re branded correctly competition is irrelevant.”

Make sure to bring your resume and cover letter to be reviewed by the top paralegals in the profession, who will provide in-depth feedback and recommendations. Here is your opportunity to make a BIG difference and increase your odds of landing the perfect job! Sign-up today by RSVP to Jeniffier Provalenko at nw-director@wspaonline.org.

NFPA Primary Reportby Sue Beichley

I had the privilege of representing WSPA at the 2011 NFPA Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 13, 2011 through October 16, 2011. The Minnesota Paralegal Association hosted the event. “Fall into Colors” was the theme for this year’s Convention held at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America.

There were 45 associations credentialed. There were 25 first timers at the convention. NFPA had two visitors from CAPA and AAFPE. Bids were accepted for the 2015 Annual Convention and the Hawaii Paralegal Association was selected to host the 2015 Annual Convention. The following are the locations for the next four Annual Conventions:

2012 Convention - Anchorage AK

2013 Convention - Hartford, CT

2014 Convention - Dallas, TX

2015 Convention - Honolulu, Hawaii

Agenda topic #10 bylaw amendment on committee members ~ be revised as follows: The Board of Directors may establish coordinator positions as may be required to perform various tasks and operations of NFPA. Each coordinator position shall be assigned to a voting member, in good standing, of a voting association or an NFPA individual sustaining member, with the exception of vendors. A coordinator may form a committee if it is deemed necessary. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint and remove coordinators, with the exception of the ABA Approval Commission Representative and the Education Coordinator, who are elected by the delegate assembly.

Amend NFPA Bylaws Section 14.3, changing the requirement for an audit by one or more independent auditors from every two years to every three years, with a financial review of the records all other years.

Agenda topic #13 convention charity ~“The Host Association may recommend a local charity for which donations will be accepted. If the Host Association does not wish to recommend a charity, the NFPA Board may designate a charity.”

Elections were held following the candidate statements and the delegates elected Theresa Prater, RP, Vice President and Director of Profession Development; Jessica Swedenhjelm, RP, Pa. C.P., Vice President and Director of Membership; Melissa Leslie Vice President and Director of Marketing; Karen Santagata, RP, Treasurer and Director of Finance.

Following the policy meeting elections were held for the Region Directors. The 2011-2012 Region Directors are: Theda Yandell, RP, Region I; Cindy Welch, RP, Region II, Cherylan Shearer, Region III; Valerie Dolan, RP, Pa. C.P., Region IV; Lizbeth Bialis, Region V.

The policy meeting concluded on Sunday with the passing of the Federation’s budget for 2012 and the installation of the 2011-2012 Officers and Board of Directors.

Minnesota passed the torch to the Alaska Association of Paralegals in preparation for the 2012 Convention “Venture North to Alaska - The Last Frontier.” The delegates were introduced to Seymour the Moose who entertained the delegates. The delegates watched a video presentation on Anchorage that displayed the many sites to see when attending the 2012 Convention in Anchorage, Alaska. Looking forward to seeing everyone next year when we venture north to Alaska, the last frontier for the 2012 convention.

NFPA has 8,545 members. NFPA is working on a dental benefit to provide to members. Be on the lookout for this new benefit. NFPA is working on an alliance with the National Notary Association. They are in the process of partnering up with American Legal Media (CLE Provider) PACE is now on its 6th Edition. The rollout for the online registration for the PCC Exam was October 31, 2011. Registrants will have to apply online through the NFPA website. The PCC Exam will be available at Prometric Testing Centers starting Monday, November 14th. Approved candidates may schedule an exam date and time best for their schedule any time after November 14th that the center has an available seat. The exam must be taken within 90 days of the date of the Approval to Test email. NFPA will be launching the “Get a Member” membership campaign and will be unveiling a new website.

Friday was the Region Meetings and “Casual Up for Breast Cancer.” Over $1,000 was raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Agenda topics for this year’s Convention were discussed at the region meetings. For the first time, Region I and Region V met on Friday afternoon to discuss membership and non-dues income. This was very helpful for each Region to talk amongst each other as they are from the opposite coasts. This may be something that the Regions will look to do in the future.

The Board placed the following Agenda Items on the Consent Calendar as denied:

Convention charity (13) PACE Accounting (9)PCCE Accounting (10) Trademark guidelines (6)CLE amendments (2)

The delegates had an opportunity on Saturday morning at the Policy Meeting to have any of the Agenda Topics placed on the Consent Calendar removed and brought to the policy floor for discussion and vote.

Seven agenda topics were brought to the policy floor for discussion, vote and either approved or denied. The delegates removed Agenda Topic 13 from the Consent Calendar for consideration by the delegates.

The following Agenda topics were approved by the delegates and will be placed into policy or the Federation’s bylaws amended:

Agenda topic #1 policy change on ABA elections approved. ~ Change Nomination Procedure of ABA Approval Commission Representative as set out in 92-M5(B)(2) to be consistent with Section 12.1 of the Bylaws and ABA practice

7 Findings & Conclusions

HELP WSPA SUPPORT MILITARY PARALEGALS AROUND THE WORLD

Calling all WSPA members! We have set a goal for 2011 to send 6 Military paralegal care packages to make life easier for those who have chosen to serve our country.

We have been assigned a paralegal who is stationed at Guantanamo.

These soldiers work almost non-stop and can not just run to the store for a treat or something to read. Along with food, hygiene and entertainment items, we include postcards from the Seattle area and current magazines for men and women.

Please help us with our goal by bringing your donations to the WSPA chapter meetings. You can also include a card thanking them for their service and telling them a little about ourselves and where we live. Items will be collected, boxed and mailed to designated military base or ships every other month.

If you would like to participate but are unable to bring an item to the meetings, contact me at the email below and we will arrange for pick up. You could also send a check to:

WSPAPO Box 58530

Seattle, WA 98138-1530Please make the check out to WSPA and indicate that the funds are for the military outreach program. This will help purchase phone cards or other items that we would like to include.WSPA is a founding member of the NFPA Military Paralegal Outreach program, which began in February 2006. We appreciate the members of WSPA for the strong support of this program!Any questions regarding this continuing project may be directed to Jeanenne Rutherford, jrutherford@perkinscoie.com

Suggest ed It em s:

Hygiene: Food:Antibiotic Ointment Single Serving Pasta LicoriceChapstick/lip balm/Carmex Ready to Heat Soups Sunflower SeedsSunscreen (Bull Frog is good) Lunchables Aqua DropsBug Repellent (with deet) Ramon Noodles GumFace cleaner Powdered Power-Aide/Gator-Aide/ Peanuts in a shellEye drops/Saline Koolaid/Tang Rice Krispy TreatsLiquid hand sanitizer/Baby wipes Granola Bars/Cereal Bars Snack CakesFoot/body powder (Gold Bond) Fruit Roll-ups Misc:Deodorant Raisins CondimentsShampoo/Conditioner Beef Jerky (no pork) Lemonade/Ice Tea MixTooth Brush/Toothpaste Applesauce Cough DropsNose spray/nose drops Fruit/Pudding Cups Stationery/envelopesHand/Body Lotion Cereal (individual Servings) Stamps/PensBand-aids, Mole Skin Chex Mix Dice/Travel GamesSoap Tuna Kits Individual Instant CoffeeMouth Wash Snacks: Books/MagazinesNail Clippers Hard Candy (no chocolate-it melts) Tylenol/IbuprofenDental Floss Snack Mix Allergy MedicineTums/Rolaids Chips/Cookies/Crackers/Microwave Ziploc BagsTylenol/Aspirin Popcorn/Pretzels Instant CamerasQ-Tips Pop Tarts RainX

TIPS FROM A SOLDIER'S MOM: • Send sauce packets (like Arby's sauce). I am told this can make any MIC's taste good.• Send cards and email/snail mail so soldiers can say thank you.• Holiday cards, photos and stories of the everyday things at home are priceless. • Some of the favorite letters are about walking the dog, the kids holiday show and local sports, even if it is not their family it helps you

know that life goes on.

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8 Findings & Conclusions

Pro Bono Pageby Jeanenne Rutherford, Pro Bono Coordinator, Military Outreach Coordinator

Happy Holidays WSPA members!

YWCA Adopt-a-Family program

Get involved with the YWCA Adopt-a-Family program and feel the holiday spirit. This is a program that focuses on the children. For each child, please buy two new gifts or gift cards (suggested range of $25 - $35 per gift). Because homeless and low-income families often have used clothes and toys, we ask for only new items for the holidays.

For the family, please buy a grocery gift card (suggested range of $15 per family member). Popular stores include Safeway, Target and Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer cards can also be used at QFC. You can wrap them or leave them unwrapped and deliver to one of the area's YMCA's

East King County16601 NE 80th St., Redmond, 98052Thursday, 12/15 & Friday, 12/16 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Brenda McCallon, 425.556.1354 or mccallon@ywcaworks.org

Seattle-Central Area: 3201 E. Republican, Seattle, 98122Wednesday, 12/14 - Friday, 12/16 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.Nichelle Hilton, 206.412.1605 or nhilton@ywcaworks.org

Seattle-Downtown: 1118 5th Avenue, Seattle, 98101 Thursday, 12/15 & Friday, 12/16, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, 12/17 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.Liz Mills, at 206.461.4450 or lmills@ywcaworks.org

Snohomish County-Everett: 3301 Broadway, Everett, 98201Thursday, 12/15 & Friday, 12/16 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.Luanne Kunz, 425.258.2766, ext. 150 or lkunz@ywcaworks.org.

Snohomish County-Lynnwood: 6027 208th St. SW, Lynnwood, 98036Thursday, 12/15 & Friday, 12/16 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.Luanne Kunz, 425.258.2766, ext. 150 or lkunz@ywcaworks.org.

South King County: 1010 S. 2nd St., Renton, 98057Thursday, 12/15 & Friday, 12/16 9:30 am - 5 pm, Saturday, 12/17 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.Liz Mills at 206.461.4450 or lmills@ywcaworks.org

https://www.ywcaworks.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=700

Housing Justice Project Annual CLE

HJP will host its annual training for volunteers on Friday, January 20, 2012. This training is required for all new HJP volunteers and encouraged for veteran volunteers.

For more information about HJP, please contact:Harry F. HigginsProgram Coordinator - HJP/KentKing County Bar Association Housing Justice ProjectMaleng Regional Justice Center, Room 1281401 Fourth Avenue NorthKent, WA 98032Phone: 206-205-8060 / Fax: 206-205-8059

Congratulations to Brenda Canada

On October 18, 2011, the King County Bar Association held its Annual Recognition Event in downtown Seattle. The event was attended by several hundred lawyers, judges, law professors, and other professionals active in the Bar Association and the King County Bar Foundation which sponsors and funds legal aid, law school scholarships to deserving students of need, and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. The purpose of this annual event is to recognize worthy contributors whose service has distinguished them above and beyond their peers.

Brenda Canada was one of the six KCBA Pro Bono Services volunteers recognized as a "Volunteer of the Year" and was honored for her distinguished pro bono service as the clinic assistant in the Neighborhood Legal Clinics operated by the Association. NLC Program Manager Riana Nolet says “Brenda is an amazing volunteer. When Brenda sees an area in the program that could be improved, she does more than just point it out, she takes action and gets things done. She makes everyone's job easier by taking on extra projects, coming up with ideas and taking initiative to put those ideas into action." Brenda serves on the Neighborhood Legal Clinic Committee and is the resource coordinator of her clinic in addition to her regular volunteer shifts.

Brenda worked in the insurance industry for twelve years and then decided to attend college and earn a paralegal degree from Edmonds Community College. While there, Brenda volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem with the King County Superior Court CASA (Court Appointed Special Guardian) Program. After college, she began working at the [Public Defender Office] Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons as a legal secretary and then as a paralegal until

she departed in March 2000 for Perkins Coie LLP where she currently works as a legal secretary. Brenda volunteered at various organizations but when she found the request for volunteers at the Federal Way Legal Clinic (through a notice posted at Perkins Coie) she knew this would be the volunteer opportunity she had been looking for.

2011 Pro Bono Conference Recap

October 14, 2011 was the first time the NFPA Pro Bono Conference was held during the annual convention. There was attendance from 35 paralegal groups around the country. The NFPA Pro Bono Committee is planning to offer live webinars on pro bono related topics in 2012.

Movie That Inspires Pro Bono Involvement: Which Way Home

The film follows unaccompanied child migrants traveling by freight train through Mexico, including Jose, a nine-year-old El Salvadoran, who has been abandoned by smugglers and ends up alone in a Mexican detention center, and 14-year-old Kevin, a streetwise Honduran who hopes he will find work in New York City in order to send money back to his mother.

*UNICEF Prize*Special Jury Prize for Human Rights Award, Traverse City Film Festival* Best Documentary nominee, 25th Film Independent Spirit Award* 2010 Oscar nominee, Best Documentary (Feature)

You can see the trailer at http://whichwayhome.net/ or at HBO http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/which-way-home/index.html

Available rent through Netflix.

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Findings & Conclusions 9

PARALEGAL WEEK OCTOBER 2011

by Jennifier Provalenko, RP

Every year the Northwest Chapter of the Washington State Paralegal Association makes an effort to support the local charities and non-profit organizations by giving back to our community. This year we had the grand opportunity to prepare food and feed the homeless at our local homeless shelters, both in Skagit and Whatcom Counties.

October 26, 2011Friendship House, Skagit County

WSPA volunteers served over 180 tacos to men, women and children. The tacos were a hit! The people were delighted to have us and so thankful for their meals. What a rewarding experience, we all agreed to do it again, Go team Skagit! On behalf of WSPA, we would like to recognize our volunteers and say thank you.

WSPA Volunteers: Melody Love, Justine Goodwin, Rosie Gates-Malone, Beth Cornett, Karmen St. Germain, and team leader Jeniffier Provalenko.

The groceries for Taco Night were donated by the Northwest Chapter.

October 27, 2011Lighthouse Mission, Whatcom CountyWSPA volunteers had the pleasure to serve the local men and women shelters and the occupants of the Lighthouse Mission. We served over 100 burritos, prepped food and helped out with the clean-up. Everyone made us feel special and they were all so thankful for our help. We had a blast and wore our hairnets in style. Go team Whatcom! On behalf of WSPA, we would like to recognize our volunteers and say thank you. Overall the WSPA Northwest Chapter served over 150 meals at our local shelters and we accomplished our goal by giving back to our community. Our Chapter was proud to take part in making a difference day and we plan to do it again next year! Thank you to everyone who volunteered your contribution makes all the difference to the people we help and those in our community.

WSPA Volunteers: Rodrigo Garcia Berguecio, Carolyn Smith, Patty Christensen, Nancy Carter, Cari Lopes, and team leader Jeniffier Provalenko.

F I N D I N G S & C O N C L U S I O N S

10 Findings & Conclusions

What is a Registered Paralegalby Jennifier Provalenko, RP

A registered paralegal is one who carries the RP ® designation after their name. The RP ® is a nationally recognized trademark among paralegals and only a handful of them have the honor to use the designation. There are only 24 Registered Paralegals in the State of Washington. These paralegals have successfully completed and passed the Paralegal Advance Competency Exam (PACE). Passing the PACE is a huge professional accomplishment, and to a paralegal, the equivalent of an attorney taking the bar exam.

What is the purpose of RP credentialing and PACE?

The purpose of RP credentialing ensures paralegals will be seen as essential partners in the delivery of high quality legal services and reinforces the message that paralegals will be held to an elevated standard of excellence though education and training. NFPA, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, created PACE as a foundation tool to measure job competency of experienced paralegals.

In today’s job market, the most respected professions are gauged by the caliber of education and training required to practice competently. For years, legal assistants and paralegals have strived to become accepted as professionals in their field of work. However, paralegals unlike other professions are not required to be licensed, certified or registered with any state agency or professional association. Thus, NFPA has acknowledged the vital roles of paralegals within the legal service industry and in preparation toward state licensure, developed PACE in an attempt to set standards and recommendations created by paralegals and other legal professionals, including lawyers, judges, and legal educators.

If you are a paralegal and want to advance your career to become apart of an elite group driven toward promoting the paralegal profession and dedicated to a higher standard of education, then taking the PACE is your next step to achieving excellence. Passing the exam instills pride and accomplishment, enhances employment opportunities, and places you among the most qualified paralegals in the profession. Moreover, it secures our future endeavor toward the state licensures of paralegals.

Who may apply to sit for PACE and what should I know about the exam?

The PACE is for experienced paralegals. In order to sit for the PACE you must meet the educational requirements, have a certificate in paralegal studies, some work experience, and/or a

combination of education and experience, see below for details:

An associates degree in paralegal studies obtained from an institutionally accredited and/or an ABA approved paralegal program and 6 years of substantive paralegal experience; OR, Bachelor’s degree in any course of study obtained from an institutionally accredited school and three years of substantive paralegal experience; OR, Bachelor’s degree and completion of a paralegal program within an institutionally accredited school (which may be embodied in the bachelor’s degree) and a minimum of two years substantive paralegal experience; OR Four years of substantive paralegal experience on or before December 31, 2000.

If you meet the qualifications, then you must be approved through a rigorous application process, which entails submitting your application, school transcripts and three letters of recommendation. Once you have been approved, you have 90 days to schedule and take the exam. The Exam has five Domains which include the following:

Domain I – Administration of Client Legal Matters: conflict checks; develop, organize and maintain client files; develop and maintain calendar/tickler systems; develop and maintain databases; coordinate client services.

Domain II – Development of Client Legal Matters: client interviews; analyze information; collaborate with counsel; prepare, file and serve legal documents and exhibits; prepare clients and witnesses for legal proceedings.

Domain III – Factual/Legal Research: Obtain factual and legal information; investigate and compile facts; inspect, evaluate and analyze evidence; ascertain and analyze legal authority.

Domain IV – Factual/legal writing: communicate with client/counsel; draft legal analytical documents.

Domain V – Office Administration: Personnel management; acquire technology; coordinate and utilize vendor services; create and maintain library and legal resources; develop and maintain billing system.

There are a total of 200 multiple choice questions and you are given four hours to complete the exam. The questions require an advanced competency level of federal law and analytical thought. The candidate must be knowledgeable in the basics of many areas of law, terminology, technology and ethics to identify the correct answer. After you taken the exam you will immediately receive your unofficial score and know whether you have passed.

To find out more about becoming a Registered Paralegal and taking the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam go to www.paralegals.org. To

join a PACE study group contact our local PACE ambassador at pace-chair@wspaonline.org.

Congratulations to Sue Beichley.Sue has been selected for appointment to the Practice of Law Board.

Her name has been submitted tothe Supreme Court and is awaiting approval.

Way to go Sue!

All other WSPA officers and members are encouraged to think outside the box, step out of your comfort zone and pursue your dreams!

Intellectual Ventures Celebrates 2011 Washington State Paralegal WeekThe 2011 Washington State Paralegal Week was celebrated for days at Intellectual Ventures (“IV”) in Bellevue. With almost 60 paralegals world-wide, IV took the honor of this week seriously with multiple events and bestowals on these hard-working individuals.

The cornerstone event was a luncheon highlighted with an address by Adriane Brown, President of Intellectual Ventures. Her talk praised the paralegals for showing cross-functional teamwork throughout the organization. Additional events included: catered breakfast with honoring kudos from attorneys, massages, gift cards, plus a reception with wine from a vineyard of one the IV paralegals. IV Paralegals based in the Far East were also treated to lunch and honored.

Plans for the 2012 Paralegal Week at Intellectual Ventures are already in motion with the intention of setting up a CLE workshop.

Photo:

Susan Strouse, Paralegal Manager and Paige Johnson, Sr. Paralegal at a reception, part of the 2011 Paralegal Week activities at Intellectual Ventures.

Findings and Conclusions is the official publication of the Washington State Paralegal Association and is published six times per year. Letters to the Editor, articles, advertisements or correspondence should be submitted to:

WSPA Newsletter EditorP.O. Box 58530Seattle, WA 98138Email: editor@wspaonline.orgWSPA Email: Info@wspaonline.org

All submissions are due the 20th of each odd numbered month for publication the following month. Articles may be submitted on disk in Word format or via Email.

ADVERTISING RATES:Dimensions Month to Month Pre-Paid One Year

(6 Issues)1/8 page $ 50.00 20% discount 1/4 page $100.00 20% discount1/2 page $150.00 20% discountFull page $200.00 25% discountContact editor@wspaonline.org for additional advertising information.

The Editor reserves the right to edit material for clarity, space or advertising.The articles published herein express the opinions of their authors and, unless expressly stated, do not necessarily reflect those of WSPA.Unless otherwise indicated, the authors of the submissions contained in Findings & Conclusions are paralegals. All reports, profiles, summaries, checklists, articles, or other submissions are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon for that purpose. All opinions expressed in any submission are the authors’ sole opinion and should not be taken as the opinion or position of the Washington State Paralegal Association.

Original items printed here are the property of WSPA. We ask that National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) member associations who reprint articles from Findings and Conclusions, credit the article and provide WSPA with a copy as reprinted. Others may not reproduce original material for any purpose without prior, written consent of the WSPA Newsletter Editor.

Publication of any advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product/services offered. WSPA reserves the right to reject advertisement due to content or space considerations.

Unless otherwise indicated, the authors of the submissions contained in Findings & Conclusions are paralegals. All reports, profiles, summaries, checklists, articles, or other submissions are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon for that purpose. All opinions expressed in any submission are the authors’ sole opinion and should not be taken as the opinion or position of the Washington State Paralegal Association

WSPA's Mission:

To enthusiastically support and promote the paralegal profession in the State of Washington.

We are dedicated to the enhancement of the paralegal profession.

We strive for personal and professional development.

We will encourage increased utilization of paralegals to broaden employment opportunities statewide.

We advocate high quality paralegal educational programs in preparation for entry into the profession.

We hold our members to high standards by requiring 10 Continuing Legal Education credits per year to retain full voting status or to hold an office in the Association.

We will monitor proposed state and federal legislation affecting paralegals and will participate in the legislative and regulatory process to represent our Members' views.

PresentsAnnual Student Career Night & Dinner!

Friday January 27, 20125:00 to 9:00 PMRed Lion Hotel

1415 Fifth Ave., Seattle WA 98101

ScheduleResume Workshop 5:00-5:45Dinner 6:00-6:30Presentations 6:30-9:00

Dinner SelectionsOven Roasted Pork LoinParmesan Chicken or Roasted Vegetable Ravioli

Cost$45 for WSPA Members$50 for Non-Members

$80 Special Offer!Combined WSPA 2012 Student Membership and Dinner Package at a special low rate

An $85 Value

Presentations for yourProfessional DevelopmentThe WSPA Annual Student Career Night & Dinner is an event designed to help jump start your career! Join us January 27th for a great evening of enrichment and information that will help you prepare for entrance into the paralegal profession. Learn about opportunities and job attributes from currently practicing paralegals working in a variety of legal specialty areas including government, litigation, corporate, and more!

In addition, you will learn hiring practices and paralegal responsibilities from a law firm HR Administrator. We will also have a representative from a legal placement agency to discuss interview skills and the current job market. Enjoy a delicious meal with your fellow paralegal students and learn keen insights from some of the best in the profession!

Resume Review WorkshopBACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Bring your resume with you for a brief review by our experts! Discover practical tips and helpful information for creating compelling resumes during the resume review workshop. Our presenters will give students individualized feedback on their resumes in a 45 minute workshop that precedes the dinner. Don’t forget to bring a copy of your resume to take advantage of this unique opportunity!

(Resume review workshop is limited to the time specified and includes only one review per attendee. Not all attendees are guaranteed a resume review.)

F I N D I N G S & C O N C L U S I O N S

Findings & Conclusions 13

HJP Volunteers Serve Low-Income Tenants Facing Evictionby Gwen P. Remmen, Program Operations and Logistics Analyst, Housing Justice Project, King County Bar Association

I have been a member of the Washington State Paralegal Association since graduating from the Paralegal Plus program at Highline Community College in 2009. I credit WSPA’s continuing legal education resources and dedicated staff for helping me to prepare for my position as a paralegal with the King County Bar Association’s Housing Justice Project.

The King County Bar Association (KCBA) Pro Bono Services programs help to connect low-income people with attorneys who will handle their cases for free. KCBA's Pro Bono Services promote social justice by establishing and managing volunteer-based, client-focused legal services programs, and provide services on an equal and non-discriminatory basis to low-income residents of King County who would not otherwise receive legal assistance. Pro Bono Services programs include: the Family Law Mentor Program, Housing Justice Project, Kinship Care Solutions, Neighborhood Legal Clinics, Self Help Plus Program and Volunteer Legal Services.

The Housing Justice Project (HJP) is a homelessness prevention program providing accessible, volunteer-based legal services to qualified low-income residential tenants facing eviction in King County. HJP is administered with sponsorship from Northwest Justice Project, Legal Action Center, Columbia Legal Services, The Tenants Union, Solid Ground, and private attorneys.

HJP operates three pro bono legal clinics. Clinics are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at both the King County courthouse in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. An afternoon clinic is also available on Mondays (Seattle only) from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. As the HJP Program Operations and Logistics Analyst, I oversee clinic operations at

the Seattle Housing Justice Project located in the King County courthouse and provide administrative support for the HJP managing attorney and the HJP/Kent supervising attorney.

The Housing Justice Project serves only residential tenants and provides free legal assistance including:

• Legal advice and counsel

• Help answering eviction paperwork

• Negotiations with landlords for tenants facing eviction

• Representation of tenants at eviction (show cause) hearings

• Referral and resource information

HJP does not help landlords, commercial/business tenants, or those living outside King County. We do not provide on-going representation or assist with cases other than evictions.

The King County Bar Association’s Housing Justice Project is part of a larger movement of HJPs across the country. HJP Seattle has been used as a model for Housing Justice Programs in many other states. The Snohomish County HJP is located in Everett and the Pierce County HJP is located in Tacoma. Additional HJP clinics are located across Washington State.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of HJP. Legal assistants include: paralegals, law students, undergraduate students considering law school and MPA students. They volunteer one or more days per month for at least six months and are responsible for opening and closing the clinic, interviewing clients and completing administrative tasks. Volunteering as a legal assistant provides a forum for networking with other legal professionals, building client interaction skills and gaining confidence in working within the court system. Many HJP legal assistants stay longer than their original six-month commitment.

Attorneys volunteer one or more days per month for at least one year. Volunteer attorneys gain practical litigation skills, strengthen negotiation skills and obtain actual courtroom experience.

HJP volunteer attorneys come from many different practice areas and generally stay on as HJP volunteers long after their original one-year commitment.

All volunteers receive ongoing training and support including initial “shadow” sessions. During this period, volunteers work directly with HJP staff and/or experienced volunteers until they are comfortable working individually with clients. The Housing Justice Project provides continual mentoring and support for volunteers. Free monthly Brown Bag CLEs and an HJP Annual CLE are also available. Supplemental training opportunities coordinated by other Pro Bono Services programs are open to HJP volunteers space permitting.

In Washington State, 87% of low-income households experience a civil legal problem every year. Approximately 88% of those households face their legal problem without an attorney. At HJP, we have seen client visits increase annually by 6% to15% since 2008. The last two years brought numerous cases involving tenants caught in foreclosure and growing numbers of public housing cases. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, we are able to assist an ever-increasing number of low-income tenants facing eviction.

Consider becoming an HJP volunteer and bring a friend!

Contact me at:

Gwen Remmen

206.624.2117 (HJP clinic)

206.267.7028 (KCBA office)

GwenR@KCBA.org

Apply online at:

www.kcba.org/pbs/volunteer_app.aspx

Follow us at: www.ProBonoDicta.org

F I N D I N G S & C O N C L U S I O N S

14 Findings & Conclusions

TELEPHONIC MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSof the Washington State Paralegal Association

September 21, 2011The Board of Directors of the Washington State Paralegal Association (“WSPA”) met via a telephone conference on September 21, 2011. Proper

notice was sent via e-mail to all Board and Association members.

In attendance were the following:

Officers Present: Directors Present:Brenda Cothery President Mary Knight East King County ChapterSue Beichley VP Membership Joshua Normand Seattle ChapterBrian Haberly VP Professional Development Sue Ann Holstrom Snohomish County ChapterSarah Eisenhauer Secretary

Guests:Jeanenne Rutherford Pro Bono Chair

WELCOME

Introductions of Officers and Directors present. Brenda Cothary, President, welcomed and thanked all present and called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m.

QUORUM REQUIREMENT:

When the meeting notice was sent out, there were 6 Directors and 5 Officers serving in office, with 51% or at least 6 such positions needed to be present for a quorum and to conduct business under our Bylaws. We began the meeting with 7 voting persons present, or present via proxy, and accordingly, there was a quorum.

MEETING MINUTES APPROVAL:Meeting minutes for the May and August were presented and discussed. After some discussion, it was moved and seconded that we approve the minutes.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:Sue Beichley presented the research on the categories and dues of other similar Associations. After some discussion, it was decided that there should be another Membership category. It was moved and seconded that we make the following changes to the categories that were approved in August.

• Regular Member – a Member working as a Paralegal• Associate Member – a Member who is employed outside of Washington, retired from or not currently practicing as a paralegal• Student – a Member who is currently enrolled in a Paralegal Program but who is not working as a Paralegal• Sustaining – any person, partnership, organization or other entity interested in supporting the purposes of the Association.

The motion was unanimously passed.

MEMBERSHIP DUES:Once the final categories were approved, we moved into discussing the dues that will be charged for these categories. After much discussion, it was moved and seconded that the following dues be charged for the next full membership year. The motion was unanimously passed.

• Regular Member: $85.00• Associate Member: $60.00• Student Member: $40.00• Sustaining Member: $200.00

After further discussion, it was proposed that there will not be a mid-year drop in the Membership dues. It was moved, seconded and unanimously passed.

MEETING ADJOURNEDThe meeting was adjourned at 12:43 p.m.

BOARD APPROVED MINUTES ON NOVEMBER 6, 2011.

Washington State Paralegal Association

Membership Application

PO Box 58530, Seattle WA 98138 Membership Year 1/1/2012 to 12/31/2012

WSPA Membership Application- Membership Application form page 1

Important: This form should be used only to apply for new membership. If you are a current WSPA member, please use the Membership Renewal form. You may also Renew and pay by credit card securely online at http://www.acteva.com/Go/WSPA.

Applicant Name:

Preferred Mailing Address:

Daytime Phone: __________________________

Evening Phone: ___________________________

Fax Number: ___________________________

E-Mail Address(es): Employer Name & Address:

Send Mail to: Home Work

WSPA Membership (See below for definitions and requirements.)

Check one and submit the appropriate membership fee with your application. Make checks payable to WSPA.WSPA is a Washington not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization, Tax ID # 51-0140447:

Regular Member - $85.00 Employer Paid? Yes No

Associate Member - $60.00 Student Member - $40.00

Sustaining Member - $200.00

Who referred you to WSPA? (Please be specific so that we can thank them!): ______________________________

Special Qualifications: PACE® Registered Paralegal CORE™ Registered Paralegal LPO Other Please Describe:___________________________________________________

Chapter Affiliation(s): East King County Northwest Seattle Snohomish County South King County Spokane South Puget Sound Central Washington Other: _______________________

Check all areas in which you are willing to help: Chapter Activities Events (CLE's, Convention) Membership Newsletter Job Bank Admin. Other:_______________________________________________________________________

**Please visit our website at www.wspaonline.org to sign up for specific list servs. Please note that by participating in these list servs, you will receive regular e-mail updates and have the opportunity to participate in e-mail discussion of issues relevant to the list serv.**

WSPA Membership Application- Membership Application form page 2

Education: (check all completed)

Employment:

(Check all applicable)

(check all areas in which you regularly practice)

Definitions

Privacy Policy

Item WSPA Members Vendors

Signature:

Washington State Paralegal Association 2012 Membership Renewal FormPO Box 58530, Seattle WA 98138-1530 For the Membership Period of 1/1/2012 to 12/31/2012

To file this Renewal Form with your check payment (payable to WSPA), Mail it to WSPA, P O Box 58530, Seattle, WA 98138-1530; Questions? Please email for assistance to: info@wspaonline.org

Important: This form should be used only to renew a current or previous WSPA membership. If you are applying for a new WPSA membership, please Join Online at www.wspaonline.org. You may also Renew and pay by credit card securely online at http://www.acteva.com/GO/WSPA (Renewing Member option)

Member’s Name: WSPA Membership Number (if known): Preferred Mailing Address: Company Name (if applicable):

Check here if this is an updated Mailing Address

Daytime Phone: Evening Phone:

E-Mail Address (primary):

E-Mail Address (secondary):

WSPA Membership (See below for definitions and requirements.) Check one and submit the appropriate membership fee with your application. Make checks payable to WSPA. WSPA is a Washington not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization, Tax ID # 51-0140447:

Regular Member - $85.00 Employer Paid? Yes No

Associate Member - $60.00

Student Member - $40.00

Sustaining Member - $200.00

Definitions & Requirements Paralegal (NFPA Definition): A paralegal is a person qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer. This person may be retained or employed by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency, or other entity or may be authorized by administrative, statutory, or court authority to perform this work. Substantive shall mean work requiring recognition, evaluation, organization, analysis, and communication of relevant facts and legal concepts.

Membership Types – Regular Membership - $85: Any individual currently employed as a paralegal (see definition above). Regular members are eligible to vote and hold office. Student Membership - $40: Any student currently enrolled in a paralegal program and not eligible for regular or associate membership status. Student membership is limited to 3 years. Student members are eligible to vote and hold office. Associate Membership - $60: Any paralegal living or working outside Washington, not currently practicing, or retired. Associate members are eligible to vote and hold office. Sustaining Membership - $200: A person, organization or other entity interested in supporting the objectives of WSPA. Sustaining members may not vote or hold office.. CLE Credits: WSPA recognizes CLE credits are an important part of developing and maintaining one’s skills and abilities. As such, all WSPA members are strongly encouraged to obtain 10 CLE credits annually. Individuals who earn 10 CLE credits in a membership year will be recognized in the WSPA newsletter Findings and Conclusions, and will be eligible for a 10% discount off the registration fee for one WSPA CLE of his/her choice during the following calendar year. CLE credits may be reported on the attached form.