reporter · 2017. 5. 26. · member & newsletter committee chair spring turns to summer with a gust...

LAPA Spring Mixer Review:LAPA Spring Mixer Flings Attendees Into Networking Nirvana

President’s Message:Eclectic LAPA Events and You!

Book Review: The Supreme Court by Lawrence Baum

Letter From the Newsletter Chair: Make It So

CAPA Corner:In the Heart of California!

Tips of the Trade:Be Efficient & Effective

Los Angeles Superior Court News:L.A.’s Incrmental Adoption of eFiling

LAPA 2017 Paralegal Day Celebration Preview:Keynote Speaker Spotlights

LAPA Spring Career Conference Preview:Terry L. Wright, ACP - A Featured Panelist

Professional Certification Panelists Announced

Travel Log:Our Gold Turns to Green

Peanut Gallery:Joseph Spada: A Controversial Leader Tells All

Student’s Perspective:Immigration MCLE: President Trump’s Executive Orders: Immigration Analysis & Practice Pointers

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reporterwww.lapa.orgMAY 2017 VOLUME 45 / ISSUE 05

I N R E V I E W . . .

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

L A P A S P R I N G M I X E R R E V I E W

Also In This Issue:Calendar of Events 3City of L.A. Paralegal Day Proclamation 8Paralegal Day Mixer Flyer 9NALA Conference & Expo Ad 10/21 LAPA Career Center Info. 16/25Working Advantage LAPA Member Benefit 24LAPA Member Benefit Health Insurance 25LAPA Members Only Benefit Ad 26Bet Tzedek Volunteers Flyers 27/28CP Review Course Flyer 29LAPA Spring Career Conference Flyer 30LAPA Employment Law Section Seminar 31 CAPA Paralegal of the Year Guidelines 32 CAPA June Conference Flyer 33 LAPA Employment Law Section Seminar 34LAPA Litigation Section Seminar 35New & Renewing Members 36Board of Directors Listings 37Sections, Committees & Other LAPA Info. 37LAPA Member Benefit Dental Insurance 37

Eclectic LAPA Events and You!by Bobby T. Rimas – LAPA President

LAPA’s 21st Annual Spring Career Conference scheduled for Saturday, May 20th at UCLA Extension’s Woodland Hills campus is just one of many LAPA events you need to mark your calendar for! There will be three great panels that will

be offering attendees extremely valuable information regarding current trends in the paralegal profession, professional certification, and more! Specifically, the Recruiting Professionals Panel will provide insight on how agencies work as part of a team with HR/Paralegal Managers to match highly qualified candidates with the right position in the right firm. The Professional Certification Panel will discuss the impact that professional certification can make in your career.

LAPA Spring Mixer Flings Attendees Into Networking Nirvanaby Herbert Ortiz– LAPA Student Member

On Friday, April 7th, LAPA held its Spring Mixer at the Bunker Hill Bar & Grill in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles to great success. I attribute the success of the mixer to the following trifecta: atmosphere, anticipation, and of course, appetizers!

The Bunker Hill was, to my surprise, a rather cozy bar, nestled in between and contrasted by the Hilton Checkers Hotel and Mark Taper Auditorium to the

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www.lapa.orgwww.nala.org

VOLUME 45 / ISSUE 05 / MAY 2017 LAPA 2

LAPA’S OFFICE HOURSDirect your inquiries to LAPA’s Administrative Manager, Tracey Booth, at 866.626.LAPA: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

L A P A R E P O R T E R

The Reporter is published monthly by the Los Angeles Paralegal As-sociation. The news and views presented express the authors’ views and not necessarily those of LAPA. Publication of any article or adver-tisement does not imply endorsement of the opinions, products or services offered. LAPA assumes no responsibility for verifying facts of-fered by contributing authors or in reprinted articles. Readers should consider information contained in these articles as guidelines to be independently confirmed as to timeliness. ©2017 Los Angeles Paralegal Association. All rights reserved.

THE ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL DEADLINE IS THE 5TH OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. Articles and news items should be directed to LAPA at [email protected]. Inquiries about making a submission should be directed to LAPA at [email protected], or call Tracey Booth at (866) 626-LAPA. Inquiries about advertising placement, applications, membership materials and address changes should be directed to Tracey Booth, LAPA Administrative Manager, at (866) 626-LAPA. Articles will be published as space permits. The Newsletter Committee reserves approval and edit rights on any article submitted. The Los Angeles Paralegal Association is a non-profit, mutual benefit corporation and is tax exempt within the meaning of section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. Membership dues and donations to LAPA are not tax deductible as charitable gifts, but may be deductible as related business expenses. LAPA suggests that you consult your tax advisor in this regard.

JOIN LAPA ON... & WWW.LAPA.ORG

by Christine Langteau

The Supreme Court by Lawrence Baum With judge Neil Gorsuch settling into his new role at the Supreme Court there are now 9 justices to hear and decide cases waiting in this current term and then into the future. The

Supreme Court is an essential aspect of the United States court system and of American society, life, and the political realm. The decisions it makes actually do affect our lives in many ways and yet is a complicated institution which often seems shrouded in mystery. Lawrence Baum’s The Supreme Court

B O O K R E V I E W

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offers an opportunity to examine this court, remove some of the ambiguity and vagueness surrounding its operations, and discover “its attributes as an institution and its work as a policymaker.”

Chapter 1 “The Court” explains how the Supreme Court fits into the judicial system, its jurisdiction, (original and appellate) and role as a policy maker. Not until 1935 did the current building contain the court. A major renovation was completed in 2011 to accommodate the expanding number of staff. Nine justices became the norm in 1869, although President Roosevelt tried to change that number upwards of 6 additional justices during his term in office. Mainly the justices participate in the collective decisions of the court to determine which cases to hear, decide, write, and contribute opinions to. Over 450 additional personnel assist this work with the law clerks, mostly from prestigious law schools such as Harvard and Yale, having the most influence on the justices. The Supreme Court fascinates people but for the most part “the Court as an institution and individual justices traditionally kept out of public eye.” A regular annual schedule is maintained with certain weekly times for oral argument and then the announcing of opinions. Usually an hour is allowed for oral argument and two cases are heard on those days. This chapter concludes with a brief history of the court from 1790 to the present.

Baum writes in chapter 2, “The Justices,” that “the Court’s policies are a product of who the justices are, and even a single justice can make considerable difference,” so who is nominated and eventually confirmed is very important. The formal rules of nomination and confirmation are fairly straightforward, but the actual process of selection is complicated. Three groups offer candidates – the legal community, interest groups, and independent candidates who seek out a nomination. William Howard Taft, an example of the latter category, became Chief Justice after pursuing the position for years. The criteria for selecting the nominees are objectiveness, policy preferences, regards to political and personal associates, and building political support. The Judicial Committee of the Senate gathers extensive information on the nominee, and although the president assumes the justice will be confirmed, it is actually far from certain. Baum


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Make It Soby Mark Ramsey – LAPA Board Member & Newsletter Committee Chair

Spring turns to summer with a gust of warm wind here in Southern California, and the L.A. Paralegal Association is poised to

make it a memorable season for all. From our regular networking mixers to our ABA-approved Continuing Legal Education seminars, there is always something for everyone.

The Spring Mixer, graciously sponsored this year by HG Litigation Services and Express Network, was held on April 7 at the Bunker Hill Bar and Grill. If you couldn’t make it to Bunker Hill, the next networking event will be on June 7 at the beautiful L.A. Athletic Club. LAPA will be celebrating Paralegal Day, recognized by Mayor Garcetti and the city of Los Angeles, and you have every reason to be the guest of honor. Come for the food, the company, the speakers, but whatever your reasons, come out!

On April 19 at Abraham Lincoln University, attorney Nikki Jacobson provided an excellent MCLE seminar discussing the impact of the recent executive orders concerning immigration. The next continuing education session will take place on June 1, and will be a review of the developments so far this year in the field of employment law. It will be held at the L.A. Law Library, and will be a great event for anyone looking to broaden or update their knowledge of employment law.

The Spring Career Conference is approaching fast, so don’t forget to register in advance to take advantage of the great array of professionals and legal services that will be there. Set for May 20 at UCLA’s brand new Woodland Hills extension facility, there will be paralegal panels, keynote speakers, and of course plenty of time to meet with other legal professionals.

Finally, this month I’d like to extend a personal invitation to you. The variety of events on our calendar seems only matched in diversity by the cavalcade of personalities that populate each LAPA event, and I thoroughly enjoy conversing with all of our members because of it. There has recently been an uptick

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S L E T T E R F R O M T H E N E W S L E T T E R C H A I R

Are you looking for a job? If so, please be sure to view LAPA’s Career Center webpage and consider submitting your resume!http://p.ca.la.associationcareernetwork.com/Common/HomePage.aspx

M AY4 - LAPA CLA/CP Review Course – National University (near LAX);

see page 29 for contact and other information.

10 - LAPA Board Meeting – Litchfield Cavo LLP, Pasadena; Contact Bobby Rimas at [email protected].

11 - LAPA CLA/CP Review Course – National University (near LAX); see page 29 for contact and other information.

14 - Mother’s Day 17 - LAPA Executive Committee Meeting – Contact Bobby

Rimas at [email protected].

20 - LAPA’s 21st Annual Spring Career Conference – UCLA Extension, Woodland Hills; Spring Forward With Your Career; Contact LAPA at [email protected]; See ad on page 30.

29 - Memorial Day - Holiday

J U N E1 - LAPA Employment Law Section MCLE Seminar – LA Law

Library; Topic: California Discrimination Updates Mid-Year 2017 - Do’s and Don’ts; Contact LAPA at [email protected]; See ad on page 31.

7 - LAPA Paralegal Day Mixer – Los Angeles Athletic Club, DTLA; 6:00 - 8:30p.m.; Register at www.lapa.org; See ad on page 9.

14 - LAPA Board Meeting – TBD; Contact Bobby Rimas at [email protected].

18 - Father’s Day 21 - LAPA Executive Committee Meeting – Contact Bobby

Rimas at [email protected].

24 - CAPA’s June Conference – Visalia, CA; In The Heart of California; See ad on page 33.

29 - LAPA Employment Law Section MCLE Seminar – Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Encino; Topic: What the Trial Lawyer Needs; Contact LAPA at [email protected]; See ad on page 34.

J U LY4 - Independence Day – Holiday 5 - LAPA Board Meeting – TBD; Contact Bobby Rimas at

[email protected].

11 - LAPA Litigation Section MCLE Seminar – LA Law Library; Topic: Responding to Complaints, Answers, Demurrers, and More; Contact LAPA at [email protected]; See ad on page 35.

12 - LAPA Executive Committee Meeting – Contact Bobby Rimas at [email protected].

19-21 - NALA’s 42nd Annual Convention – Orlando, FL; See ads on pages 14 & 24.



In the Heart of California!California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) is ramping up for its June Conference. This year’s theme is “In the Heart of California” and as its theme suggests will be held in central California at the Wyndham Hotel in the beautiful city of Visalia. The annual conference will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2017, and all LAPA members are encouraged to attend. All twelve member affiliates will be present at the June Conference with the overall dedication of advancing the paralegal profession. Member affiliates include associations from as far north as the state’s capital of Sacramento and as far south as San Diego.

The June Conference allows attendees the opportunity of earning six state bar approved MCLE units. Some of the exciting areas of topic to choose from include family law, litigation, labor and employment law, land and resources law, and ethics. The family law seminars will consist of the following: Financial Documents Regarding Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), Ethics in Family Law Court, Family Services, and Reasonable Expectation in Values. The litigation seminar will consist of Legal Writing, Discovery, Ethics in e-Discovery, and Post Judgment Motions. The labor and employment law seminars will consist of the following: Ethical Obligations in Labor Cases, Employment Law, Effective Disciple and Documentation, and Elimination of Bias. The land and resources law seminars will consist of the following: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Water Law, American Disabilities Act (ADA), and Premises Liability (includes sidewalks).

CAPA’s June Conference offers unique, as well as popular seminars in areas of topic that are very relevant and important in California. As each state encounters more or less different issues, so do the the counties within a state. As the third largest state in California, it is no surprise that legal matters that Fresno county encounters will be different than those of San Francisco, or Kern County. CAPA’s seminars provide LAPA members unique opportunities to earn MCLE credits in areas that may not be as common in Los Angeles County. In addition, in response to demand, CAPA is also offering seminars in popular areas such as litigation as well as labor and employment law. Seminars, such as Ethics in e-Discovery and Ethical

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New CP Exam Coming 2018The NALA Certifying Board provides oversight for the development and ongoing maintenance of the Certified Paralegal examination. The Certifying Board approved the new structure for the CP examination effective January 2018 due to results of the recent job analysis, improvements in technology, and recent refinements by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The new exam structure allows for a new format and content, quicker exam results, and more testing windows!

For more information, please visit www.nala.org

T I P S O F T H E T R A D E

Advice from experienced paralegals on the best legal practices and tools to grow in the industry.

Be Efficient & Effective by Terry L. Wright, ACP – LAPA V.P. Membership & Policy

The difference between a good paralegal and an efficient and effective paralegal is one who performs responsively, timely meets deadlines, and always strives to become a better paralegal. Responsiveness will lead to satisfied clients, thus appealing to your supervising attorney; meeting deadlines will prove that you are responsible and professional; and, striving to do better indicates that you are energetic and enthusiastic with regard to your role as a paralegal. These qualities will all contribute to advancing and succeeding in your career.

Your clients, as well as your supervising attorneys, will appreciate your responsiveness to their requests. Take time to act promptly, positive and professional, and be empathetic in meeting client needs and expectations. Responsiveness is key to client interaction, as all clients whether law firm or corporate clients, desire their needs be met sooner than later. In communicating with your superiors,

responsiveness indicates a sign of interest in your position and in the company that employs you.

With respect to project management and meeting deadlines, remember to use your tools such as planners, electronic calendaring programs, task reminders, and simply prioritizing your daily workload. Experiment with differing calendaring methods and utilize the method that works best for you and your office environment to get the job done as efficient as possible.

Take charge of your career and never settle for less! Set professional goals and always look to what you can do better or the next step in assisting your superiors and/or co-workers. Take the initiative, act with confidence, and ask for new assignments and tasks. An effective paralegal is one who stays on top of his or her education by attending seminars as often as possible, watches for industry trends to perform better, and accepts change. LAPA continues to promote continuing education and advancing the paralegal profession through multiple monthly MCLE seminars. Please see: https://www.lapa.org/events for upcoming events and seminars.

In sum, set a goal to be efficient and effective, as it will lead to success! G

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L.A.’s Incremental Adoption of eFiling by Herbert Ortiz– LAPA Student Member

Probate litigators in Los Angeles County, rejoice! Starting next month, you may begin filing documents to the courts electronically! After what seems like a long time coming, Los Angeles Superior Court is slowly—but certainly—converting its filing system to reflect the sweeping trend of electronic documentation. Those who work in other case areas will have to wait for the courts to fully embrace this much-needed technological overhaul, which may take around a year and half to congeal.

Nevertheless, this upcoming development will be a welcome change for law firms that want to reap

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the multitudinous benefits of submitting legal documents via the Internet. Six solid reasons to switch to eFiling come to mind. Let us review them:

1. eFiling is an immense time saver. Due to the increased transparency of what is actually being done in law offices, eFiling ensures that our billable hours reflect the most substantial legal tasks. No longer will transportation costs and time-consuming commutes to the local courthouse deter us from focusing on more important legal matters. As a result of eFiling, then, law firms and other legal departments will enjoy more time to increase efficiency and prioritize tasks.

2. eFiling will change accessibility of legal documents in the L.A. Superior Court system forever. As histrionic as that sounds, it’s simply true. Attorneys and paralegals will be able to access and view documents virtually anywhere where Wi-Fi is supported (isn’t that a staple nowadays?) This ubiquitous feature may end up facilitating the legal process and give us peace of mind.


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Keynote Speaker Spotlightsby Jonathan Dang – LAPA Board Member

The City of Los Angeles and Mayor Eric Garcetti has officially

proclaimed June 7th, 2017, as “Paralegal Day” in the City of L.A. On this day, The Los Angeles Paralegal Association will host a celebration at the Los Angeles Athletic Club located in the heart of Downtown. This joyous occasion will bring paralegals together from all areas of law and practices. These year’s keynote speakers will include 2 California Superior Court Judges.

The Honorable Judge Holly Fujie is currently a presiding judge at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Judge Fujie was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011 and re-elected for a second term in 2014.

L A P A 2 017 P A R A L E G A L D AY C E L E B R AT I O N P R E V I E W

From 2008 – 2009, Judge Fujie also served as the President of State Bar of California. Judge Fujie was the third woman and first Asian American to serve as President. She also previously held an associate position at Rogers & Wells, Morgan Lewis & Backius, and Adams Duque & Hazeltine. Judge Fujie was also an adviser to the Obama White House regarding federal judicial nominations.

The Honorable Judge Dorothy C. Kim is currently a misdemeanor judge at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2013, she replaced Linda K. Lefkowitz. Prior to her appointment, Judge Kim served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Her other legal experience includes Litigation Associate at Irell & Manella. Her first job following college was as a Paralegal at the Law firm of Snlow & Pauley in New York.

LAPA looks forward to these great keynote speakers! To sign up for the June 7, 2017 LAPA Paralegal Day Mixer, please register at www.LAPA.org. G

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southwest, the WeWork Gas Tower and Simone Hotel to the east, the Biltmore Tower due south, and the OUE Skyspace L.A. observation deck to its north—all majestic landmarks in their own respect. The patio space was roomy enough for a couple of dozen people to move around, but its intimate quarters significantly contributed to the nigh-casual atmosphere of the event without aborting its professional objective, and in that regard, the Spring Mixer certainly did not disappoint.

I was stoked to attend this event; this would be my first time officially volunteering at a LAPA event. To that end, I came about an hour early. Brimming with anticipation, I gingerly greeted a couple LAPA Board Members who happened to be there seated at the bar. The sight of them eased my anxiety. Sure enough, I assisted with registering invitees and handing them their name tags. This activity proved quite useful, as it afforded me with the opportunity to speak with every single guest and invitee, socializing briefly with them and committing their names to my working memory prior to plunging into the ritual of networking. By the end of the night, I felt confident and capable

to approach anyone. It was as if networking was me.

I anticipated a great outcome for myself. As a matter of fact, I got to meet with fellow student members who aspired to work in similar areas of law, and still more who had already seized the chance to excel in the field by taking NALA’s Certified Paralegal Exam review courses. Speaking with these like-minded individuals galvanized my desire to successfully graduate from the paralegal studies program as well as to reach greater heights and pursue advancement without trepidation. It was a delight to meet established paralegals as well, their keen insights broadening my view on the profession and providing me with much-appreciated guidance toward calibrating my career goals.

An ancillary task was bestowed upon me: make lasting memories by taking photographs of the attendees. Yet again, this served as an icebreaker of sorts, and I saw it as a means to connect with people who, just like me, want to help people traverse the path of justice on its own legal terms.

A popular proverb in my home country goes, “El amor entra por la cocina.” That translates to “the way to


L A P A S P R I N G M I X E R R E V I E W - continued from page 1


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a man’s heart is through his stomach,” and, boy, did this networking event pierce through my heart. The Bunker Hill’s sweet potato fries and sweet and savory buffalo wings were as decadent as the exquisite scenery. Needless to say, the trifecta was complete. The tranquil and friendly ambiance, the anticipation to meet others and share tips and stories, and the nourishment made for a fantastic networking “mix.”

A special THANK YOU goes out to the sponsors for this event, HG Litigation and Express Network. The great presence and contributions of these jovial and friendly sponsors really contributed to the engagement of all attendees.

But I nearly forgot the most crucial “a” element in this mixer, and that’s all of us, the attendees. That’s what truly made this a success. That’s the element that defines “mixer,” a blending of various people reaching a common goal: to build each other up. It is

the Fourth Noble Truth—a Networking Nirvana.Herbert Ortiz currently serves as the President of the Pasadena City College Paralegal Association, attending and participating in club activities for three semesters. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from UC Berkeley as well as a teaching credential from Cal State L.A., and is forging a path to a satisfying career as a paralegal, with a particular interest in working in immigration law cases; he has decided to pursue his vocation as a paralegal thanks to the ABA-accredited Legal Studies Program at Pasadena City College. G

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LAPA Spring Conference Alternative Career Panelist: Yvonne Kubicek

LAPA is excited to announce that one of the Spring Career Conference’s “Alternative Career” panelists will be LAPA’s current Executive Vice President, Yvonne Kubicek. Yvonne’s career has spanned across various types of law offices and legal practices in her 20 plus years working as a paralegal. This adventure began with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office as a senior legal assistant with the Major Crimes Division where she assisted Deputy District Attorneys with high profile and high publicity cases including those involving O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake and Rodney King. These cases allowed her to work with several law enforcement agencies including the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Division, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the F.B.I. During her 13 years with the D.A.’s Office, she assisted on over 75 trials and received recognition for her work from the F.B.I, former District Attorney Steve Cooley and from victim advocacy group “Justice for Homicide Victims.”

After leaving the D.A.’s Office, Yvonne joined Kirkland & Ellis LLP as a litigation paralegal, working on white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation matters. From there, she went on to work for Howrey LLP as a senior litigation paralegal, and was eventually promoted to paralegal supervisor where she supervised the paralegal department for Howrey’s Los Angeles and Irvine offices. In addition to supervising case managers and paralegals, she continued to handle cases, ranging from complex litigation to patent infringement matters. Yvonne next worked for Ogletree Deakins Law Firm as a senior paralegal where she oversaw a number of single plaintiff and class action labor and employment matters.

Professional Certification Panelists Announced The 2017 LAPA Spring Career Conference will have several panels, one of which includes the “Professional Certification Panel” who will explain the impact that professional certification can make in your career. LAPA is pleased to announce the 2017 LAPA Spring Career Conference’s Professional Certification panelists:

Ivan Zogovic, ACP, CLSP, CeDP

Ivan has been LAPA CLA/CP Exam Review Course instructor since November 2013, and brings along a distinctive mix of multifunctional, domestic and international, business and legal experiences. He earned his Certificate in Paralegal Studies at UCLA Extension, and his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Belgrade, Serbia. As a strong believer in continuing personal and professional development, he

Yvonne currently works for The Walt Disney Company in the Corporate Legal Litigation Department. She is the paralegal manager and supervises paralegals and clerks in both the Burbank, California and New York offices. In addition to her supervisory duties, Ms. Kubicek assists in-house attorneys with litigation matters and projects, and handles audit reporting matters for the company. She is a founding member of the Paralegal Development Committee and works with other paralegals throughout Disney in providing continuing legal education and professional development opportunities.

Yvonne has a paralegal certificate from the UCLA Extension, Assistant Training Program and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. In addition to her involvement with LAPA, she sits on the Advisory Committee for University of La Verne’s Department of Legal Studies and is active with Women in e-Discovery (Los Angeles Chapter). Finally, Yvonne is an instructor for UCLA Extension’s Paralegal Training Program, and teaches a variety of course modules including “The Paralegal Profession,” “Criminal Law,” and “Legal Technology.” G

L A P A 2 017 S P R I N G C A R E E R C O N F E R E N C E P R E V I E W



However, leave we must. Our original itinerary had envisioned driving south one more time on good old Highway 49, but we boldly and shamelessly decided to strike out west on Highway 50 all the way to Sacramento and then south on California’s other historic Highway 99, road maps firmly in hand, almost as far as Modesto, where we turned onto Highway 120 and headed back in an easterly direction towards the northern entrance to Yosemite National Park. I don’t think either of us had ever approached the Park from that direction before. The more direct route to Yosemite Valley is Highway 140 east from Merced through the Arch Rock Entrance, and the other commonly used access is to go north from Fresno on Highway 41, also known as Wawona Road, via the South Entrance to the Park. Of course during the summer, when the road is open, one can also go west through the mountains from Lee Vining, entering the Park at the Tioga Pass Entrance on the eastern portion of Highway 120, which is another stunning drive. In the end, as Paul and I noted, all roads do seem to lead to Yosemite!

The route we chose on this trip took us up to the Rim of the World overlook. Somehow, I had completely forgotten that this was the area of the Park where the Rim Fire had taken out nearly 80,000 acres in August 2013 on its way to becoming the largest wildfire on record in the Sierra Nevada range, consuming a total of 257,314 acres before it was declared officially out at the start of November 2014, more than a year later. (Due to the continuing drought, there was apparently some downed timber in the heart of the fire area

T R A V E L L O G

For your reading pleasure, a regularly recurring column on the fun of travel.

Our Gold Turns to Greenby Elisabeth Patmore Sillars

The last day of March 2016 marked the last time Paul and I would drive historic Highway 49 on our first trip through California’s Gold Country, and we marveled for the umpteenth time at how green and beautiful the hills around us were that Spring, following an El Niño winter during which Northern California got all the rain we had been told we could expect to get in SoCal. Having spent the morning on Main Street in Placerville, we were buoyed by getting back out into the countryside, and headed south for Plymouth, where we once again turned east into the Shenandoah Valley. Our first stop was the beautiful Renwood Winery, where we whiled away an hour or so tasting olive oils and a flight of five of their delicious Zinfandels. On the way back to Plymouth, where we were booked for an exceptionally early (5:15PM!) dinner at Taste, we stopped at three additional winery tasting rooms, of which our favorite was definitely Turley. The winery has another tasting room, in Paso Robles, which we had visited right after Mr. Turley purchased it, and I believe that was the first vineyard property he had acquired. At that time, we had tasted a Zinfandel from the Sierras that we were really impressed with, but it was just too expensive for our budget then, so we had been looking forward to trying more of the Turley Sierra Zins for quite some time. In fact, we were delighted to find out that they are still offering the “Dogtown” Zinfandel at the Shenandoah Valley tasting room, and to discover that it now fits our budget much better!

Dinner at Taste was as good as advertised, despite the early hour, which honestly worked out well, letting us get back to the Eden Vale Inn at a decent time for a good night’s rest. Next morning, we had our last marvelous breakfast there, and enough time to take a few final photos around the Inn and property. The main building had been built in 1919 as a barn and converted by the owners over the years, first using it as their home and later on, turning it into its present configuration as a wonderful Inn, so it has lots of quirky, interesting spaces and oodles of personality, at the same time offering first-class service and beautifully appointed rooms.



A monthly column where sponsors and/or vendors share helpful hints

Joseph Spada: A Controversial Leader Tells All by Chere B. Estrin – CEO of Estrin Legal Staffing

Meet a leader: Joseph Spada, Director of Paralegal Certificate Studies, Boston University. Joe plays a significant role in leading and teaching paralegals entering the field. Over the years, hundreds of paralegals point to Joe as a strong contributor to the direction, attitude and success they had as they moved forward in this exciting field. Here’s why:

Joe, tell us about your background. Let’s start with your education, always good for an educator, and when you joined Boston University.

I have a B.A. degree in English from Boston College and a J.D. from Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America. I first started at Boston University as a Lecturer of Law, in 1995. I started teaching Legal Research and then added Legal Writing the second year.

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What are some of the changes to the field in the last five years?

Probably the biggest change is the emergence of online paralegal education whether it is for a certificate or continuing legal education, online options are exploding. In the ten years since BU first offered an online option, I have seen a great progression in the capabilities of the software for online education. Programs are interactive and can be both synchronous and asynchronous.

The use of paralegals has greatly increased since the economic collapse of 2008. I know that’s a little more than 5 years but I find that to be a real time marker in the paralegal profession. Clients started really examining a law firms’ billing and no longer paid the high billables of attorneys without question. Clients were much less likely to question the lower billings of paralegals especially in areas where paralegals thrive. Paralegals are now doing the work once done by associates. Their work is just as reliable and their billables are more reasonable which clients appreciate.


www.nala.org


Immigration MCLE: President Trump’s Executive Orders: Immigration

Analysis & Practice Pointersby Francesca Gamboa – LAPA Student MemberThere was not one empty seat on the evening of Wednesday, April 19, 2017, as the LAPA Immigration Law Section hosted an MCLE seminar titled President Trump’s Executive Orders: Immigration Analysis & Practice Pointers presented by Attorney Nikki Jacobson of Rose Klein & Marias LLP at Abraham Lincoln University in the Koreatown district of Los Angeles. Attendees filled the room to capacity, networked over a light but satisfying dinner of various sandwiches, salads and pasta, and listened intently as LAPA President, Bobby Rimas, introduced presenter, Nikki Jacobson.

Before a summary of Ms. Jacobson’s straight-forward, articulate, and well-prepared presentation, I’m citing a recent article that briefly sets the stage and brings to light the true scale of the Trump administration’s aggressive and wide range of deportations and immigration control practices.

After Trump was elected in November 2016, an

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unease settled into immigrant communities around California and the United States as those who entered the country illegally awaited word on the U.S. President’s promise of a deportation crackdown.

APRIL 17, 2017, BY CNN WIRE Immigrations and Customs Enforcement removal authorities made 21,362 arrests from January 20th to March 13th of this year, including 5,441 non-criminal arrests, according to statistics provided to CNN and first requested by The Washington Post.

The increase in arrests — including more than double the number of non-criminal individuals — stands as further evidence of the Trump administration’s priority of enforcing immigration laws more aggressively than the previous administration, and indication that the current administration gives immigration officials greater authority to go after a wide range of undocumented immigrants.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in late 2014 published a new set of priorities for going after undocumented immigrants for deportation — which placed greater emphasis on those convicted of serious crimes. One of Trump’s first actions as President was to replace those priorities with a new set that would include virtually every undocumented immigrant in the U.S. The message from DHS since then has been that no one in the U.S. illegally will be exempt from deportation.

Attorney Jacobson began by stating that never in continued on page 23


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www.omnihotels.com/losangeleswww.lapa.org


Last but not least, the Alternative Careers Panel will provide tips on optimizing your skills so that you can envision yourself stepping outside the box of traditional Paralegal roles onto alternative career paths.

The June 1st LAPA Employment Law MCLE Seminar that will take place at the LA Law Library in Downtown Los Angeles is an excellent way to get up-to-date with California discrimination lawsuits. Presented by Attorney Joshua Schein of the Beverly Hills law firm Rosen Saba, the seminar will make attendees realize that California is one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to protecting the rights of employees and employers alike. With discrimination lawsuits and the ever-evolving discussion of who qualifies for protection in the workplace are on the rise, California continues to reshape its laws to keep up with its citizens’ needs. This seminar will review significant updates and proposed revisions to California’s discrimination and employee protection laws, and offer guidance on how employers and employees should conduct themselves accordingly.

What makes LAPA MCLE seminars so special? You might stumble upon some key advice, new legislative information, or suggested legal team practices that will assist you with your new position, promotion, and/or continued professional development, and ultimately, your employer.

In celebration of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Paralegal Day, The June 7th LAPA Paralegal Day Mixer will offer attendees many opportunities to network with Paralegals, legal service providers, attorneys, and recruiting professionals, all of whom work in different legal specialties. Keynote speakers will include the Honorable Judge Holly Fujie, who presides at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Judge Fujie is a former President of the State Bar of California and past adviser to the Obama White House for federal judicial appointments; the Honorable Judge Dorothy Kim, who presides over a misdemeanor criminal

court, will be another keynote speaker. Prior to that, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney, including as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the United States Attorney’s Office. Her first job following college was as a Paralegal at the law firm of Snitow & Pauley in New York.

Networking is not just about knowing those who have the ability to hire you (or get you hired); it’s also about finding those individuals that know the “tricks of the trade.” Networking through LAPA can expose you to new ideas and perspectives and make you aware of upcoming legal trends, legislation, or important cases that can be to your benefit. By learning through other’s acumen, you can be spared some stress and possibly get up to speed while acclimating or advancing in a new specialty.

Remember that networking is one of LAPA’s many great benefits. Whether connecting with other paralegals and professionals at an MCLE seminar where you can ask questions about a legal specialty that is new to you, joining a LAPA committee or section where you can expand your network, exchanging business cards at a LAPA mixer, or meeting a recruiter who happens to know about the career you always wanted, I encourage you to take advantage of networking through LAPA.

LAPA’s eclectic events are sure to offer something for everyone, in addition to ideas, information, and practice tips from a broad and diverse range of sources that LAPA has to offer. Mr. Bobby T. Rimas is a Paralegal within the Law Department at OneWest Bank, a division of CIT Bank, N.A., in Pasadena, California. He is currently the Los Angeles Paralegal Association President and previously served as the LAPA October Conference Chair, Board Advisor, and Pro Bono & Community Services Committee Chair. Mr. Rimas is also an Associate Professor at California State University, Los Angeles’ College of Professional & Global Education where he teaches Immigration Law. Additionally, Mr. Rimas is a Faculty Member at Fremont College’s Paralegal Studies Program where he teaches Family Law and California Property Law courses. Mr. Rimas serves as the Public Relations Director for the UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association and an Advisory Board Member for the University of La Verne’s Legal Studies Department. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his Paralegal Certificate from the UCLA Extension Attorney Asst. Training Program. G

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in members volunteering to serve on various LAPA committees, but there are still plenty that are waiting for someone to step up and lead them. I know firsthand how creative, capable, and committed our members are, and that’s why I am encouraging you

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to check the list of open positions at the back of the newsletter for anything that catches your eye. The only reason that LAPA is the premier paralegal association in California is because members like you make it so, so to quote a certain enterprising captain, “Make it so!” G


Obligations in Labor Cases provide a unique blend of ethics in with other areas of law.

As a CAPA affiliate, LAPA members can serve at the pleasure of the CAPA board and be part of its many committees, and are encouraged to learn more about this exciting state association. For more information, visit CAPA’s website at www.caparalegal.org. G

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mentions that some people are more likely to make it to the court than others because of the selection process. Attributes are important including career, class, and partisan political activity, but so is luck. Justices leave the court through death, a voluntary decision or from external pressure exhibited by Congress and the president. However, “the timing of a justice leaving the Court reflects primarily the justice’s own inclinations, health, and longevity.“

Two parts, Reaching the Court and Deciding What to Hear comprise Chapter 3 “The Cases.” Litigants, the attorneys, and interest groups help determine which cases get to the Court. Many attorneys writing briefs and arguing before the Court have come from the Solicitor General’s office in the Justice Department or private law firms, which has led to increased quality of the work presented to the Justices. “Interest groups can influence whether the Supreme Court accepts a case as well as the Court’s rulings in the cases it does accept.” Appearing most frequently as a party or amicus basis is the interest group of the federal government. Of the 7,000 petitions for review sent to the Court in 2013 only 74 cases were heard, allowing for the lower court ruling to remain. Accepting or rejecting cases is complicated and not always an isolated decision. Screening for cases to be heard considers certiorari and appeals, and then paid for and pauper’s cases mostly brought by prisoners. “In deciding whether to accept or deny petitions the justices look for cases whose attributes make them desirable to hear” mainly those that enhance the certainty and consistency of the law. It is also affected by the judges which constitute the bench at any given time. Given a number of factors the number of petitions actually accepted has declined recently, with only 1 out of every 24 paid petitions accepted during the 2013-2014 term.

Decision making, a several stage process, comprises chapter 4. For most cases, at least five justices subscribe to the opinion, thus providing an authoritative statement by the Court. Briefs provide legal issues and merits of the case which are supplements by oral argument, usually 1/2 hour for each side. Cases are discussed at conferences initiated by the chief justice. Writing the opinion is assigned to a justice who creates an initial draft often based on a clerk’s composition. Most cases have a majority but no unanimous support. “Opinions and dissents are usually written as arguments

for the conclusion they reach rather than presenting the considerations on both sides in an evenhanded way.” The decision making process ends when the justices have determined which opinions to join and writings are completed. Multiple factors influence the Courts’ decisions but every case requires interpretation of the law, mainly constitutional provisions or federal statutes. Plain meaning, intent of the framers and legislatures, and precedent are techniques used to interpret the law. Justices also make decisions based on their own values, policy positions structured by ideology, and how they see their role as justices. But several other factors also influence the decisions, including strong views held by the members of the Court, personal incentives to win the majority support for their positions, and the Chief Justice, public opinion, Congress and the president.

Policy outputs and the Court’s impact are discussed in chapters 5 and 6. Although the subject matters of cases which the court reviews are very different, there are only a few types of policy the Court addresses. For instance the 2013 term dealt mainly with disagreements of the meaning of federal statutes along with civil liberties and economic policies. Baum uses the term “activism” to mean significant changes in public policy. One of the uses of judicial activism is to declare federal statutes unconstitutional. “The justices have made considerable use of the power of judicial review. Yet the justices also have been quite selective in using their power to strike down laws.” Throughout history the Court’s policymaking has changed – earlier years focused on economic policies but currently the emphasis is individual liberties. Implementation of the Court’s decisions often has mixed effects but it definitely shapes political and social change. “The Supreme Court, then, is neither all powerful nor inconsequential. Rather, it is one of many institutions that shape American society in significant ways.” G


which continued to smolder throughout the winter of 2013.) Although “awesome” is a word annoyingly overused, it would in this instance be applicable to our view from the vista point of what the fire had left behind another year and a half after that, even though one could see positive signs everywhere of the forest renewing itself.

Continuing down Highway 120, we turned onto Highway 140 (also called El Portal Road) at the Arch Rock Entrance, and checked in at the Yosemite View Lodge, whose primary recommendation is that it literally sits along the banks of the Merced River, which I love, and I believe has the closest non-Park lodgings to Yosemite Village. We had plenty of time to drink it all in before changing for our evening’s early dinner at the grand old Ahwahnee Hotel, now depressingly called The Majestic Yosemite Hotel for the silliest of petty bureaucratic commercial (and probably legalistic) reasons, so I had made a point of calling in our reservation before the effective date of the name change…. I had also hoped that it would still be light enough that afternoon to spend a bit

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3. eFiling will speed up the notice, order and judgment receipt process drastically. eFiling is a two-way street. The courts will also correspond with the attorneys and legal support staff. This will be a boon because it will make mail correspondence obsolete, and possibly even make the litigation process considerable faster than it has ever been before.

4. eFiling saves money. No matter how you slice it, eFiling will cut costs as paper filing will be done away with. Both the courts and the law offices will then be able to redirect their case management in more effectual, affordable ways.

5. Delays will be dramatically reduced. It would be naïve to assume that eFiling will be a lightning-fast process from the get-go. In spite of that, it will most certainly be far more convenient and thus more workflow-friendly.

6. The eFiling process saves trees. In this day and age, environmental concerns cannot be overlooked. As the legal world continues to become more and more automated, the benefits not only favor the legal professionals, but also our ecosystem.

Addressing the liabilities of the eFiling world is critical if we are to improve the experience, but I will list them summarily:

1. We must now be more diligent than ever when it comes to software and hardware issues. It’s inevitable that technical issues will arise, but it is absolutely vital that we anticipate the potential problems (server communication errors, bandwidth, etc.) so that the eFiling experience will be a smooth, pleasant one. The L.A. Superior Court has reason to withhold from fully plunging into the eFiling realm: there may be a plethora of issues that will need to be worked on, and preemptive measures will need to be taken.

2. Document protection and formatting will be the norm. Law firms and courts will have to offset the costs of paper filing by investing in programs that encrypt and properly format the vast compendium of legal documents that will encompass the eFiling records. Without such support, eFiling will crumble.

3. Personalized service will erode to some extent as a result of the digitized nature of eFiling. Perhaps this may not be much of a hindrance to some,

of time at least looking around the Hotel property before being seated at 6:30PM, but night falls quickly in the Valley, and unfortunately we had to content ourselves with a fine meal, attentively served, which we thoroughly enjoyed before returning to our room next to the Merced, and falling asleep to the wonderful sound of the River rushing by.

One more full day of adventure lay ahead, and then we’d be heading for home. G



attained the additional designations as an Advanced Certified Paralegal (Trial Practice), Certified Litigation Support Professional, and Certified eDiscovery Professional. Ivan works as a Legal Analyst for the Office of the California Attorney General, and is a Past LAPA Board Director.

Jennifer Sturwold, CP

Jennifer graduated from National University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies. She received her paralegal certificate from University of West Los Angeles in 2006 and attained her paralegal certification from NALA in 2012. Jennifer is an active member of NALA and serving on the LAPA Board of Directors. Jennifer has 10 years of paralegal work experience. She recently accepted a new position at a law firm near LAX with expertise in litigating and resolving civil matters in both state and federal courts in the areas of Appellate, Business Litigation, Civil & Trial Litigation, Employment & Labor, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Professional Liability, Real Estate Litigation, Restaurant & Hospitality, Retail, Transactional & Business Services, and

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Transportation. Prior experience included assisting a medical malpractice defense law firm representing doctors, dentists, hospitals and medical groups in all aspects of civil litigation in Downtown LA. In addition, she works for an insurance defense law firm that focused on trials and appeals in the areas of insurance coverage and bad faith, governmental liability, healthcare, and professional negligence in West LA. During her spare time, Jennifer enjoys living by the beach, traveling and running half marathons.

Kimberly Bradley, ACP, CAS

Kimberly is an advanced certified paralegal with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), a public entity responsible for regulating the air quality in the South Coast Basin. As a paralegal with the SCAQMD, Kim utilizes her skills in areas such as administrative hearings, civil litigation, appellate matters and responding to public records act requests. Her previous experience includes working with firms representing financial institutions and municipalities, including cities, police departments and fire departments. Ms. Bradley holds a Bachelor of Arts

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but many individuals who habitually call the court clerks and the business offices may have misgivings about letting that go. There is a possibility that the personalized attention will remain, but it may take a different shape, and legal professionals will simply have to prepare for that initial frustration.

I personally feel that the disadvantages are massively outweighed by the advantages. That said, the wait is not necessarily over so soon. Here are some tentative dates for the commencement of eFiling according to legal area:

• ProbatewillbegintointegrateeFilingbeginningMay 1, but it may not fully be implemented until the following month. It will have to take off by June 5, 2017.

• Family law is next on the commencementcalendar. It is expect to be up and running by September 5 of this year, but we may get to eFile as early as August 7.

• Due to the sheer volume of this area of law,civil case will have to wait their turn on the eFiling

wagon. Limited civil cases will likely begin to eFile in early December, but it is expected that by January, 2018, the system will be in place. As for unlimited civil cases, they may have to wait considerably longer: by August 7, 2018, we may see glimpses of eFiling for such cases. In an event, the tentative date for its unfolding is September 3, 2018. Finally, for complex civil actions, we hope to see eFiling available by July 5, 2018.

Here’s to hoping eFiling in the Los Angeles Superior Court jurisdiction takes off with aplomb! For more information, please visit the following links (from which I derived the majority of the information written in this article): http://www.onelegal.com/blog/los-angeles-the-largest-court-system-in-the-world-to-begin-efiling/ and https://directlegal.com/pros-cons-e-filing-legal-documents/Herbert Ortiz, 31, currently serves as the President of the Pasadena City College Paralegal Association, attending and participating in club activities for three semesters. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from UC Berkeley as well as a teaching credential from Cal State L.A., and is forging a path to a satisfying career as a paralegal, with a particular interest in working in immigration law and medical law cases; he has decided to pursue his vocation as a paralegal thanks to the ABA-accredited Legal Studies Program at Pasadena City College. G




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Degree from California State University, Long Beach, an Associate in Arts Degree in Legal Studies from Saddleback College, and an e-discovery certificate from California State University, Fullerton Extension. She obtained her Certified Paralegal designation in 2004, her Advanced Certified Paralegal designation in Discovery in 2007, in land use in 2011, and in Contracts Administration/Management in 2016. Additionally, she received her California Advanced

Specialist designation in 2016. Kim is a member of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA) and a past Association Director. Currently, Kim is a Co-Chair of LAPA’s Nominations and Elections Committee. She is also a past member of the Orange County Paralegal Association and served on its Board of Directors from 2006-2008. Kim also spends time mentoring students at the University of La Verne and is an active member of the Junior League of Orange County. G

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What are the most significant changes experienced paralegals don’t seem to be paying attention to?

Everyone in the workforce, be it experienced paralegals or attorneys, doctors, accountants, firefighters or the police has to stay on top of emerging technologies. When I was in law school, we went to this place to do legal research called “a library.” Now, the majority of legal research is done online in Westlaw or Lexis or facts are searched for on Google. At Boston University, we have an entire module called Legal Technologies. We teach students about Cloud Computing, E-Discovery, CaseMap, Pacer, and Clio. Our tuition includes a WestlawNext password, so they have time to learn this expensive software while a student and not on a client’s billable clock. The experienced paralegal has to stay on top of it all. So emerging software is key. Tech-savvy paralegals will always have an advantage.

What’s hot? What’s not?

Hot = distance learning, technology, billable hours and paralegals.

Not Hot = libraries, and legal secretaries. Through the growth of computer technologies, laptops and smartphones and tablets - allows a lot of people to work from home and really lessens the traditional role of the legal secretary. There is no typing anymore. Attorneys and paralegals are typing their own briefs and email has replaced the need for a letter to be typed. And, legal secretaries cannot bill for their time.

What significance does an ABA approved school play on getting a job?

This entire ABA or non-ABA debate can become quite politicized. I do not believe it is an issue in

attorney’s offices and hiring circles. The first job you are going to get in any field, paralegal or otherwise, will always be the hardest. After that, where you went to school will matter less and conversely your work experience will matter more. Not so long ago, the only way a paralegal could be called a paralegal was through work experience. A certificate was not needed.

The employment pie is large enough to accommodate both types of certificate programs. I’m certainly not going to say there is anything wrong with the ABA module. The ABA model makes more sense if you are an undergrad and looking for a major. If you know you want to be a paralegal, that would be a fine choice as an undergraduate but for all those liberal arts majors - from math to history to computer science, nursing - all of those majors - I believe the ABA approach is too costly and time consuming and not warranted in the field.

Even in those situations where an employer might prefer an ABA certificate program, potential students still have to weigh not only the significantly higher cost of these programs, but also the loss of time out of the workforce - at least a year if you are going full time. That’s a year the student is not working, not earning any income. The non-ABA certificated candidate could pitch themselves as trained in paralegal studies and willing to work at less salary for a year under the guidance of an attorney with the possibility of a paralegal position in a year. They may start working at a slightly lower salary but they are working and not spending time/money in school and they are gaining experience. The intensive non-ABA paralegal certificate is a baited hook that draws in potential employers because it evidences


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training and interest. Potential students should be able to determine for themselves what is most appropriate for their respective time in their lives.

What significance, if any, does a CLA or CP play in getting a job?

I have hired two paralegals who have their CLA and/or CP. Both successfully completed the Boston University Paralegal Certificate program. Having those added monikers had no bearing on my hiring them. I have hired over 18 paralegals as Director and those are the only two that chose to study for that accreditation. Nothing wrong with the added accreditation. I just don’t see it ever playing in an employment decision. I know there are those that disagree. I asked my employees if it helped them. Both thought it helped in understanding and gaining further expertise in specific area of the law but not in getting a job.

One said not one employer she interviewed with even knew what the abbreviations were which is not to say they can’t gain traction but I certainly don’t see that now. There is the CORE certification by the NFPA for entry level paralegals. I hired a paralegal with a CORE certification. It was not a factor in hiring but I did ask if she thinks it is beneficial. She thinks it may have helped her get a bit of an edge at her last job when she received a promotion but she wasn’t sure. Of course, a bit of an edge is better than no edge at all.

Where is the field headed?

The familiar metaphor, “a big ship turning slowly” comes to mind. That being said, the high cost of law school, coupled with the declining employment prospects for attorneys, is in contrast to the lower cost of paralegal certificates and the higher prospects of paralegal employment which obviously bodes well for the paralegal field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegal employment growth is at 8% over the next five years. For lawyers, the employment growth rate is less. It reduces down to 6% employment growth. For legal secretaries, that employment growth rate goes down to 3%. (published date: December 17, 2015)

There is an interesting movement regarding a type of “advanced” paralegal, a position between a paralegal and an attorney called Limited License Legal Technicians. The motivation is the belief that

legal services may be made more accessible to those with lower economic resources. The rationale being, it will take less education costs and time to become a Limited License Legal Technician than it would be for an attorney, so in limited areas Legal Technicians can provide legal services at lesser costs. This is a state-by-state matter. Some states will vote for it, and some will not.

The state of Washington is the first state to offer trained and licensed Legal Technicians to assist people in family law matters. These legal technician positions are not in direct competition with the average paralegal.

Attorneys will still employ paralegals. The future may allow for some paralegals to seek more education and state or bar administered testing, to become limited licensed legal technicians and perhaps work independently in restricted legal areas. Will the majority of states follow this module? I don’t have a crystal ball. Many attorneys are not anxious to open the field up to allow even in limited circumstances to anyone other than an attorney who passed that state’s bar. Others feel that legal technicians may be a bridge between the lower economic class that has fewer resources as legal funding programs get slashed along with the availability of needed legal help.

This will be a very slow state-by-state process. I do not see it hurting or even influencing the mutually beneficial, symbiotic partnership between paralegals and attorneys.

What skills do paralegals need today?

Paralegals need the same skills as every other professional. We need to be self-motivated with attention to detail and demonstrate this in everything we do. You can tell a potential employer that you “are a very self-motivated worker with an excellent attention to detail.” Job seekers think that is a wonderful thing to say in a cover letter or interview. It is an empty, vacuous and conclusory statement. Employers don’t want unsupported conclusions at work nor in an interview. So, how can a paralegal “evidence” or “support” the statement that they are in fact self-motivated and detail oriented? Write a complete, fully informed, LinkedIn profile. If you tell me you are self-motivated and detail oriented and your LinkedIn profile is not 110%, then the evidence of that statement does not support your conclusion.



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her 19-year Immigration Law practice has she seen what has happened in the last 60 days. One thing is certain: everyone has certain basic rights, no matter who is President. Everyone living in the U.S. has certain basic rights under the U.S. Constitution—everyone, including people who are undocumented.

Ms. Jacobson then gave an overview of immigration enforcement, and the federal agencies which operate under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. These are: Customs & Border Patrol (CBP), U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other federal and local enforcement agencies. Other federal and local agents often coordinate with ICE, such as from Social Security, FBI, U.S. Marshals, local police, probation, and parole.

Next, Ms. Jacobson explained what to do if one is arrested, and/or is detained by ICE. A couple of the most important tips follows:

• REMAIN SILENT

• DO NOT answer questions about your birth place, immigration status, or how you entered the United States.

• If someone comes pounding on your client’s door with a warrant, one has the right to demand to see a warrant before letting ANYONE into your house. DO NOT open the door unless an ICE agent shows you a warrant signed by a judge with a specific and correct name and address on it. Ask them to slip it under the door.

• You have the right to refuse to sign anything before you speak to an attorney. Do not sign anything! That could eliminate your right to speak with an attorney, have a hearing in front of an Immigration Judge, and may result in being deported immediately without a hearing.

• Make a child care and family preparedness plan-an emergency kit, which includes emergency contacts, important documents, caregiver’s authorization affidavit, and designate a power of attorney to make financial, legal or child care decisions in your absence.

Ms. Jacobson also emphasized the importance of setting money aside with your emergency kit, a lot like an earthquake kit. This is crucial because if you

are detained and are not a U.S. Citizen, you have the right to an attorney, BUT the government will NOT pay for legal representation (unlike in criminal proceedings when provided with a public defender).

She also discussed the requirements of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and that after approval for DACA, you are eligible for travel and legal entry, a work/travel permit, and a green card in four months.

Ms. Jacobson’s expertise, knowledge of the current state of immigration laws, and court-related actions that can further change an immigration attorney or paralegals’ practices was both informative and enlightening. Ms. Jacobson, as well as many immigration attorneys and paralegals will continue to see an influx of these cases, as the future is unknown for many in the immigrant communities.

A story featured on 89.3 KPCC reported on March 21, 2017, that Los Angeles has almost 49,000 pending immigration cases as of last month, according to EOIR (Enforcement Office of Immigration Review) spokeswoman Kathryn Mattingly. Only New York has more cases. Nationwide, more than 550,000 cases are awaiting processing — a record number, she said.

This topic is multi-layered and complex; the fear of thousands extends to fear of showing up to court, as ICE agents make arrests at courthouses. On March 21, 2017, an L.A. Times article quoted LAPD police chief Beck saying that reports of sexual assault and domestic violence made by the city’s Latino residents have plummeted this year amid concerns that immigrants in the country illegally could risk deportation by interacting with police or testifying in court. “Imagine, a young woman, imagine your daughter, your sister, your mother … not reporting a sexual assault, because they are afraid that their family will be torn apart,” Beck said.

Nikki Jacobson is a Senior Attorney at Rose, Klein & Marias LLP. Ms. Jacobson has been a dedicated advocate for the injured workers and for immigrants from all over the world. For over 19 years, she has focused her practice of law exclusively on Immigration and Workers’ Compensation Law. She is a Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist by The State Bar of California. She is also an



active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, California State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section, California Applicant Attorney’s Association and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Ms. Jacobson is a distinguished Professor of Law at West Los Angeles College (WLAC) where she teaches various legal topics, including Workers’ Compensation & Immigration Law. She is a committed and passionate advocate for immigrants and their families. Francesca Gamboa is currently a student in the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies Program at Fremont College, and a member of the Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society. She is graduating in June 2017 with the Chancellor’s Award, and plans to specialize in Immigration and Family Law. G

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Join one of the nation’spremier paralegal associations:

The Los AngelesParalegal Association

Please visit www.lapa.orgfor detailed information aboutLAPA membership benefits.

www.nala.orgwww.lapa.orgwww.workingadvantage.com


www.lapa.orghttp://lapa.healthinsurance.com/hi/


Members Only Benefits Regional and Networking Sections LAPA has many opportunities for meeting and connecting with your paralegal colleagues and other legal industry professionals. Such opportunities include seminar and networking events based on geographical locations such as Downtown (Los Angeles), South Bay, West L.A., the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, and more. LAPA also provides educational seminars in various legal specialties, including, but not limited to, Litigation, Probate Law, Intellectual Property Law, Corporate Law, Immigration Law, and Ethics. Additionally, with the support of our legal industry partners, LAPA also hosts other networking and charitable events and mixers. Your participation in LAPA is encouraged, so be sure to reach out to a LAPA Section or Committee Chair, develop your leadership and networking skills, and make LAPA an even better association.

Vital Savings This benefit provides LAPA members a discount program for dental and vision services, long term care, as well as many pharmaceuticals. LAPA has been able to obtain special pricing of Vital Savings discount cards through Aetna. By using the discount cards and Aetna approved providers, LAPA members can save dramatically on the services provided by these professionals. For more information, please visit LAPA’s website, www.lapa.org. Working Advantage LAPA members may join a program that offers discounts up to 60% on tickets, travel, shopping, and more. LAPA helps you save money on items from clothing to theater tickets to flowers. This benefit is available by logging onto the LAPA website “Members Only” section. United Insurance Partners LAPA has teamed with UIP - United Insurance Partners - to bring LAPA members the opportunity to purchase health, dental, and/or vision insurance. When you access UIP through the link provided on the Benefits webpage, you will find an array of insurance products available for you to purchase with companies such as Blue Cross, Aetna, and many other top insurance companies. Please visit LAPA’s website, www.lapa.org, for more information. NALA Affiliation LAPA is an affiliated member of the National Association of Legal Assistants. NALA is the nation’s leading professional association for paralegals. As a member of an affiliated association, the initiation fee for individual membership in NALA is waived for LAPA members. NALA boasts some of its own benefits. Access its NALA Campus Live for online continuing legal education, self-study courses, and preparation for the CLA/CP Exam. Its annual educational convention in July allows you to expand your network beyond your state’s borders as you network with other paralegals from around the country, attend educational institutes and member related activities. Freelance/Contract Paralegal Listing LAPA provides a “Freelance Paralegals” section on its website to assist LAPA members who are freelance, contract, or independent paralegals, as defined by California Business and Professions Code Section 6450. For a nominal fee of $60, you can post your contact information on LAPA’s website for six months. You can sign up online through the Members Only section of the website. Membership Database Available only to LAPA members, the Membership Database is a valuable tool in locating other paralegals or legal professionals with whom you have worked or networked. The Membership Database also provides up-to-date contact information as well as members’ legal specialties and geographical areas. Credit Union LAPA members are eligible to join Southland Credit Union. Southland Credit Union, with over $435 million in assets, offers an online presence, a new full-service branch in downtown Los Angeles, an upgraded ATM network and five new proprietary ATMs. Southland Credit Union has expanded its product line by introducing a new high-yielding certificate of deposit, a Rewards Plus program and a market-leading high interest yielding checking account. Southland Credit Union prides itself on outstanding service to its members and has recently earned a 95 percent Member Service satisfaction rating. Lorman Education LAPA is dedicated to providing efficient and readily-available continuing education opportunities that meet the needs of our members and enhance their skills, knowledge, and competencies. LAPA has partnered with Lorman Education to provide continuing education in a variety of topic areas. LAPA members receive a 20% discount on all orders.

www.lapa.org


Bet Tzedek Needs YOUR Help!

Intake Services Volunteers Sought

Bet Tzedek’s Intake Services volunteers conduct pre-screening assessments in order to determine the appropriate course of action for individuals who call seeking legal assistance. Our volunteers are often the first contact our community has with our organization, and we rely on our volunteers to handle a high volume of calls from a diverse population of individuals with a broad range of needs. Gain Issue Spotting and Client Interview Experience

Under attorney supervision, volunteers develop foundational legal skills, including learning to spot legal issues; to conduct telephone interviews with potential clients dealing with challenging, stressful situations; determining what information provided by the caller is relevant; and to begin to develop judgment of potential cases in a wide array of legal areas. Volunteering with Intake Services also provides first-hand knowledge of the landscape of legal services available in Los Angeles County and exposure to and understanding of the issues faced by the communities we serve. Commitment: 40+ hours. During the school year, we ask that volunteers commit to working in the Intake Center for 8-10 hours/week for 8-10 weeks. During certain periods, such as winter break, we may be able to accommodate schedules that include a higher number of hours per week for fewer weeks. Work must be completed during normal business hours (M-F, 9am-5pm). To Apply: Email [email protected] or call (323) 549-5839 with any questions. Spanish language skills are highly preferred, but not required.


Pro Bono Clinic

Opportunities

Conservatorship Clinic – Los Angeles Law Library

When a severely developmentally disabled child turns 18, s/he retains all the legal rights of an adult even though s/he is

cognitively unable to exercise those rights. Many families are not aware they need a limited conservatorship when the

child turns 18 in order to make important decisions for their disabled child, including fundamental decisions such as

where the child will live or what medical treatment they will receive. Without a conservatorship, the decision-making

authority defaults to a government agency that does not necessarily have the best interests of the child in mind. Similar

issues arise when caring for an older adult struggling with an incapacity. A conservatorship may be necessary in order to

help make medical decisions on behalf of the elderly loved one. It can also be a critical step in the effort to protect the

senior from elder abuse.

The process of being appointed conservator of an individual can be a complicated and daunting one, however. Without

legal assistance, families can get lost in the process, are unsure how to resolve procedural complications, and are left no

closer to securing conservatorship over their child.

Bet Tzedek Legal Services helps families navigate the conservatorship court process through free self-help

conservatorship clinics. Through these clinics, community members have their documents prepared, filed, and served.

We also help individuals understand and prepare for the hearing process.

The process of assisting individuals through our conservatorship clinic begins at our downtown Monday clinics. At our

clinics held every Monday from 9:30 AM to 12 PM and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon at the Los Angeles Law

Library, volunteers have the opportunity to work with Bet Tzedek staff to:

Meet with a self-represented litigant.

Complete paperwork to screen litigants for income and subject matter eligibility.

Help litigants complete a questionnaire to secure some of the information necessary for their court paperwork.

Type of Volunteer Needed: Open to attorney and non-attorney volunteers. Perfect for transactional attorneys.

Training: 20 minute, online webinar with accompanying materials. Training can also be provided in person at the firm.

Once trained, volunteers are able to sign up to assist at a clinic via an online calendar.


2 0 1 7 S P R I N G C L A S S S C H E D U L E

W E E K 104/06 7-9 p.m. NALA Introduction/Ethics

W E E K 204/20 7-9 p.m. Communications

W E E K 304/27 7-9 p.m. Substantive Law

W E E K 405/04 7-9 p.m. Judgment and Analytical Ability I & II

W E E K 505/11 7-9 p.m. Legal Research

C L A S S E S S U B J E C T T O C H A N G EW I T H O U T N O T I C E

W H E R E :National UniversityLos Angeles Campus (near LAX)5245 Pacific Concourse DriveLos Angeles, CA 90045-6905Phone: 310.662.2000www.nu.edu

R E Q U I R E D T E X T :CP Review Manual 4th Ed.Virginia Koerselman Newman

A V A I L A B L E F R O M :www.nala.org www.amazon.comwww.cengage.com/community/paralegal

R E C O M M E N D E D T E X T :CP Study Guide and Mock Examination, 5th Ed.The Bluebook-A Uniform System of CitationThe Elements of Style, 4th Ed., Strunk and White

Q U E S T I O N S :Terry L. Wright, ACP at [email protected]

To register for individual classes, please contactLAPA administrator Tracey Booth at 866.626.LAPA

R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M

Name:

Street Address:

City/State/Zip:

Business Phone:

Home Phone:

E-mail:

LAPA Member: $90.00 Non-Member: $140.00 Check Visa Mastercard Am Ex

Credit Card #:

Expiration Date:

Card Holder Name:

Signature:

Register on-line at lapa.org, or return a completed RegistrationForm and payment, which can be made by check or moneyorder payable to “LAPA,” or by credit card. Mail to:

LAPA/NU, CP ReviewP.O. Box 71708Los Angeles, CA 90071I M P O R T A N T : You must also register for the CP exam through NALA.Applications may be obtained by contacting NALA at: 7666 E. 61st, Suite 315, Tulsa, OK 74133 (918.587.6828; fax 918.582.6772; www.nala.org).

C P R E V I E W C O U R S E – C O - S P O N S O R E D B Y L A P A & N A T I O N A L U N I V E R S I T Y

Study Course Designedto Prepare Paralegalsfor the 2017 CertifiedParalegal (CP) Exam

W H E N : Thursdays April 6, 20, 27, May 4, 11

C O S T : $90.00 Members $140.00 Non-Members $20.00 Per Individual Class (Members) $25.00 Per Individual Class (Non-Members)

http://nu.edu/http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=CLA%2FCP+Study+Guide+and+Mock+Examination%2C+5th+Ed.www.cengage.com/community/paralegalhttp://www.nala.org/publ.aspxhttp://www.nala.org/publ.aspxwww.lapa.org


SPRING FORWARDWITH YOURCAREER

LOS ANGELES PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION’SST ANNUAL SPRING CAREER CONFERENCE

SPRING FORWARDWITH YOURCAREER

DATE: Saturday, May 20, 2017 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.LOCATION: UCLA Extension Campus at Woodland Hills | 21650 Oxnard Street, #200, Woodland Hills, California 91367COST: $20 LAPA members & students before May 8th; $30 non-members & late registrantsREGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 8, 2017 - For more details, please email LAPA at [email protected]? Please contact LAPA President Bobby Rimas at [email protected] members & non-members may register online at www.lapa.org via the “Events” tab.

NAME: FIRM NAME:

TELEPHONE: FAX: E-MAIL:

LAPA MEMBER (circle one): Yes No AMOUNT ENCLOSED OR TO BE CHARGED:

CREDIT CARD (Visa, MC or AmEx): EXPIRATION DATE:

NAME ON CREDIT CARD: SIGNATURE:

Please make checks payable to “LAPA.” Mail registration & fees to: LAPA, P.O. Box 71708, Los Angeles, CA 90071.To attend this and all subsequent meetings at member rates, add your registration fee to the appropriate annual membership dues:Voting Member $90 Associate Member $90 Student Member $50 Benefactor Member $250LAPA is a tax-exempt organization under IRC section 501(c)(6)

Join us at the Spring Career Conference for tips from successful legal professionalswho will inspire you to mov