sept-oct 2010 wspa newsletter

S E P T / O C T 2 0 1 0

Findings & Conclusions 1

Findings & Conclusions

President’s Cornerby Brian Haberly, WSPA President

Here in the Northwest the arrival of Fall is a bit of a paradox, as it is both welcomed and disdained by many of us. The shortened days and darker mornings can make getting out of bed at “O-dark thirty” a bit tougher, while natures miracle of the turning of maple leaves and the crisp night air harken back memories of Friday night football games, Halloween parties, warm apple cider, and fond family memories. For some readers of this column, Fall also means a return to school for you or your family members.

It has been said that one way not to age is to continue to learn all through life. As legal professionals, it is incumbent on all of us to keep our skills sharp, and our knowledge growing. This will permit us to grow professionally and personally as paralegals, and as leaders.

One great way to do just that is to participate in the information packed 2010 Fall CLE program WSPA has scheduled for Friday, October 29th at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. We have two concurrently running tracks of four separate break-out sessions in each track. We have wonderful speakers and exhibitors lined up for this Continuing Legal Education program, and have priced it so that WSPA Members can obtain a full 6 hours of WSPA CLE credits for the very reasonable price of only $150 ($75 for a half day.) Full information and registration information is found on the WSPA website at www.wspaonline.org/2010FallCLE.

Celebrate Paralegal Week 2010 Oct . 25-Oct. 29, 2010!

WSPA would like to thank Governor Christine Gregoire for her Proclamation saluting both WSPA and the contribution of Washington State's paralegals in the delivery of legal services to citizens of the State of Washington. Encourage your office to take time to recognize paralegals and see the Governor’s Proclamation at the Fall CLE on October 29th!

Congratulations to new WSPA Job Bank Chair and Pro Bono Chair

Please join me in congratulating two new recently appointed WSPA Committee Chairs! Jennifer Danner was recently named our new Job Bank Chair, and Gretchen Haydel has been named our Pro Bono Chair. You can reach Jennifer at [email protected] and Gretchen at [email protected]. There are lots of other needs for volunteers within WSPA at both the Chapter and State level where you can sharpen your skills, meet new paralegals and attorneys, and get plugged into the local legal community. If you would like to volunteer, we can find a role that will fit with your schedule and interests! Please contact me at [email protected] to learn more!

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

President’s CornerHere in the Northwest the arrival of Fall is a bit of a paradox, as it is both welcomed and disdained by many of us.

Professional DevelopmentThe Fall CLE is coming up quick. We have a great list of speakers with an amazing litigation track. If you are ready to be a complex trial litigation paralegal, this will be the best

seminar for you. Page 4

Pro BonoThe Family law CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program in King County provides an excellent opportunity for paralegals to advocate for children in contested family law cases.Page 10

Member BenefitsIn a bad economy individuals need to try everything they can to land a job. One often overlooked resource is the professional association.

Page 11

GrassrootsWhat does it mean to be a grassroots organization? According to Encarta, it is the “ordinary people in a community or the ordinary members of an organization, as opposed to the leadership,”

Page 13

A Bi-Monthly Newsletter Volume 25 Issue 5 SEPT/OCT 2010

Washington State Paralegal Association President, Brian

Haberly

[email protected]

http://www.wspaonline.org/2010FallCLE




mailto:[email protected]












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

2 Findings & Conclusions

Administrator

Administration Services, Inc.PO Box 58530Seattle, WA [email protected]

Officers

PresidentBrian Haberly [email protected]

Vice-PresidentMembership & AdministrationSue Beichley

[email protected]

Vice-President Professional Development

Donna [email protected]

SecretarySarah [email protected]

Treasurer Kimiko [email protected]

Immediate Past PresidentTheda Yandell RP

Management Directory

NFPA Representatives

NFPA Primary RepresentativeSue [email protected]

Secondary RepresentativeJeanenne [email protected]

PACE AmbassadorLaura [email protected]

Directors

East King Co. DirectorJosh [email protected]

Northwest Director Michelle [email protected]

Seattle DirectorJeanenne [email protected]

Snohomish Co. Chapter Director Sarah [email protected]

South King CountyDouglas [email protected]

Director At-Large, WestBrenda [email protected]

Committee Chairs

CLE Approval Committee ChairStephanie [email protected]

Job Bank Committee ChairJennifer [email protected]

Pro Bono CoordinatorGretchen [email protected]

Newsletter Coordinator/EditorJay [email protected]

Legalman Coordinator Jeanenne [email protected]

[email protected]











































NW Chapter Reportby Michele Snow-Waltz

On September 22, 2010, the Northwest Chapter held our September chapter meeting and fall social. We met at Cascade Pizza Inn in Bellingham, which made for a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Eleven people attended the meeting, half of whom are members of WSPA.

The meeting was a planning session for the remainder of 2010 and winter/spring 2011.

We discussed topics and speakers for upcoming CLEs. Our monthly CLEs are presented for the benefit of our members, who are encouraged to suggest topics throughout the year.

We also discussed our community fund raising events. It was decided that the Chapter will collect office supplies this fall for Whatcom Humane Society and Skagit Animal Shelter. We will tie this event to Paralegal Week which is October 25 – 29 2010. Our spring supply drive will benefit Law Advocates and Volunteer Lawyer Program. Our committee is putting together the flyers which should start appearing in the community soon.

Several of our members expressed interest in setting up a study group for the PACE. We also discussed the upcoming WSPA Fall CLE. (Those who are interested in car pooling to Seattle should contact the Director.)

Our next Chapter meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2010, in Mount Vernon. Our speaker will be Darlene Klister, RP, and 2010 WSPA Lifetime Achievement Award winner. The time and place will be announced soon.

East King County Report

by Josh Normand

The East King County Chapter of WSPA held a very informative meeting in August on Thursday, August 26th, at the Bellevue Regional Library with over ten attendees to hear Brian Haberly speak about Tips for Job Hunting and Social Networking. Will Chargualaf of Law Dawgs was scheduled to join us, but a last minute office emergency prevented him from joining us at our meeting.

Pizza, soda, chips and other snacks were enjoyed by all who attended the meeting. Brian’s talk focused on tips for the cover letter as well as the interview process. The audience was very appreciative of Brian’s talk and insights that he has gained over his career from Los Angeles to Seattle. One of the more striking aspects of this meeting was the number of students or p e o p l e making a career t r a n s i t i o n w h o

attended the meeting. As

the Interim Director of the East King County Chapter,

it pleased me to see many different kinds of people in the paralegal field, even a

news reporter or two.

We hope to have another event in the fall leading up to the Fall CLE on October 29th at the Washington State Convention Center. Enjoy the attached photos taken by Kimiko Kasazaki-Riley, WSPA Treasurer, and hope to see you at future East King County Chapter meetings and events.

[email protected]

If you have an idea for a topic for the upcoming meeting, please contact me at [email protected].

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: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

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% discount

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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

Michele Snow-Waltz, NW Chapter Director Josh Normand, East King County Director















COMPLEX LITIGATION PARALEGALARE YOU A ROCK STAR?by Donna Ziegler, VP Professional Development

The Fall CLE is coming up quick. We have a great list of speakers with an amazing litigation track.

The Fall CLE is coming up quick. We have a great list of speakers with an amazing litigation track. If you are ready to be a complex trial litigation paralegal, this will be the best seminar for you. Complex litigation is a career you might be interested in. If so, make sure you have a heart of gold and a backbone of steel. Make sure you do not enjoy sleeping, weekends or free time. Complex litigation really has no fixed definition. Complex litigation is a great issue our court system faces on a daily basis. Plaintiffs and Defendants arguing and fighting over who is negligent, who is at fault and whose conduct caused such severe injury or damage. Plaintiffs’ attorneys are consistently arguing the burden of proof and preponderance of evidence, and Defense attorneys are consistently defending their clients. To some, complex

litigation is exciting and passionate, to some, it is unduly burdensome and contributes to the negative image many people have about our legal system. But without it, our society would just push forward in any manner that pleased them.

What makes litigation complex and why is it different than other types of law? What makes a case complex is a collection of different variables. The number and types of parties involved in a case determines its complexity. Complex cases tend to have parties who usually seem to be very sophisticated with an inordinate amount of documents, or very unsophisticated with little or no documents. The number of claims will also determine the complexity of the case. Are there massive counterclaims, cross-claims,

massive impleader (third p a r t y ) o r m a s s i v e interpleader? Are there massive joinders (of parties or c l a i m s ) , m a s s i v e consolidation, changes of venue, transfer or removal or is the case a Class Action?

There are defenses and privileges to take into consideration. Is there collateral estoppel? What is this? In lay terms it is issue preclusion. Common law estoppel prevents a person from relitigating an issue – “once a court has decided an issue of fact or law necessary to its judgment, that decision … precludes relitigation of the same issue in a suit on a different cause of action involving a party to the first case.” This means, parties may be estopped from litigating determinations on issues made in prior actions. I know, confusing Hunh?!! Complex perhaps? There is

also the joint defense privilege, common interest privilege, deliberative process privilege, proprietary information privileges, attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine, just to name a few. In complex litigation the attorney must take into consideration the number and types of jurisdictions – is this a Federal or State issue? The issues of law and conflict must also be addressed – which conflicts of law rules govern? Which procedural law governs? And which substantive law governs? Complex litigation also involves huge expenditures, vast resources and a large amount of controversy.

Well, then why would you want to get involved in such an incredibly intense and highly demanding field such as complex litigation? I will tell you the reason I did. THE

CHALLENGE! The paralegal’s role in complex litigation expands and diversifies from the regular role of secretary or legal assistant. A complex litigation paralegal has an incredibly responsible role and is an enormous asset to the attorneys, the law firm, the clients and the legal team. It is imperative for a litigation paralegal to be on the ball, mentally alert, analytical, excessively organized, efficient, yet able to be a team player and keep everyone happy. He/she must know the laws and must be able to perform attorney-quality work on a paralegal salary.

Case Management and Organization: This is a very important quality a complex litigation paralegal must have. The paralegal in a large case must be a Rock Star. He or she must have the ability to multi-task and switch gears at

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



An experienced litigation paralegal will be able to conduct informal discovery, gather essential facts underlying important claims and defenses, and be able to analyze the issues effortlessly.

a moment’s notice, while keeping thousands of documents completely organized and keeping everyone on track. A top quality litigation paralegal must know the case inside and out, off the top of her head, or at least have at her fingertips the correct answers to each and every inquiry. When a catastrophically injured client hires the firm and twenty boxes of unorganized documents are dropped at your desk, it is up to the paralegal to take the pile of what to most looks like garbage, and turn it into a masterpiece. The paralegal is responsible for coordinating and filing key exhibits,

ensuring comprehensive document tracking and numbering, keeping on top of quality assurance and troubleshooting, preparing witness interviews, tracking down experts, ensuring expert opinion witnesses receive necessary documents, investigating and identifying defendants, preparing notebooks, scheduling, and m a i n t a i n i n g o p e n communication with judicial clerks, clients, witnesses, and other attorneys. It is the p a r a l e g a l ’ s f o re m o s t obligation to have at her fingertips each and every piece of information needed by her attorney at the moment he asks for it.

Pre-Suit Analysis: As a complex litigation paralegal, your attorney will give you the respect you deserve by asking your opinion when a case walks in the door. An experienced litigation paralegal will be able to conduct informal discovery, gather essential facts underlying important claims and defenses, and be able to analyze the issues effortlessly. Your attorney may ask you questions regarding the value of a case and whether or not you think the case is warranted. A complex litigation paralegal must be able to quickly anticipate possible twists and turns and be able to see the

big picture. Many complex litigation cases are not determined right away. Oftentimes the attorney and paralegals must perform preliminary investigations, interview witnesses, request and analyze public disclosure documents from various entities, conduct site inspections and evaluate voluminous documentation prior to even determining if the case is warranted.

Knowing Case Law: Knowledge of court rules, statutes and case law is very important for a complex litigation paralegal. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Washington State

Court Rules and the Revised Code of Washington (RCWs) are all rules every complex litigation paralegal in the State of Washington must know like the back of his/her hand. It is not necessary to memorize the rules; however, it is imperative that you know exactly where to look when asked to research a specific issue. It should take you no more than two or three minutes to give you boss an answer when he asks you a question about a specific issue. If the issue is a complex issue that requires detailed research, it is important that the litigation paralegal know where and how to find the case law.



Deadlines and Timelines: This then brings us to the most crucial element of a highly effective litigation paralegal – knowing and meeting your deadlines!

The Washington State Civil Rules and Local Rules for the counties you most practice in, such as Pierce and King, re g a rd i n g d i s c o v e r y, d e p o s i t i o n s , s e r v i c e requirements, subpoenas and summary judgment motions should be memorized. Knowing the number of days and time requirements for service of process, statutes of limitations, filing of dispositive motions, as well as discovery motions and responses should be no different than knowing your own phone number or birthday.

Deadlines and Timelines: This then brings us to the most crucial element of a highly effective litigation

paralegal – knowing and meeting your deadlines! The most important piece of advice I ever received was DO NOT MISS A DEADLINE! If you cannot get your response in on time, if you cannot answer interrogatories on time, if your attorney cannot attend a status conference due to a scheduling conflict, ask for an extension. Almost every deadline can be extended during the course of litigation. Again, another critical piece of advice I received – DO NOT MISS A STATUTE DATE ! A statute of limitations date CANNOT be extended. If you miss the statute date, well, kiss your butt goodbye.

What is a statute date? The Statute of Limitations (a/k/a SOL) is the maximum time after an event that legal proceedings based on the event can be initiated. For example, in the State of Washington, you have 3 years after the date of a car accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. If you are in a car accident on January 1, 2010, and you are injured by the negligence of another individual, and you are unable to resolve your claim short of litigation, you have until January 1, 2013 to file a lawsuit. If the accident involves an injured minor, then the Statute of Limitations for the minor’s case is 3 years after the minor turns 18. Once

the time allowed for a case by a Statute of Limitations runs out, if a party raises it as a defense and that defense is accepted, any further litigation is foreclosed.

Another incredibly pressing issue on timeliness is service requirements. As a litigation paralegal I urge you to read, memorize, read again, memorize again, write down, sing, rehearse, whatever you must do to remember CR 4 of the Washington State court rules and RCW 4.28.080-.090 – the Service of Process statutes. Service of a lawsuit on a defendant, I believe, is the most crucial element of litigation. If a Defendant is not properly and timely served, the case will be

null and void. If you wish to end your career, give your boss an early heart attack, cause your firm’s malpractice insurance premiums to increase, and piss off a lot of people – miss a statute date or conduct improper service. And don’t forget – if you file your lawsuit on the exact day of the Statute of Limitations – you only have 90 days to personally serve the Defendant. So make sure, WAY ahead of time, that you know where your Defendant resides. You better make sure your deadlines are calendared not only once or twice, but three, four, ten, twenty times. Again, you ask, why do they call it “complex litigation?”



The paralegal’s role in trial is to anticipate – anticipate the worst – anticipate the best – anticipate anything and everything that might go wrong – and then make sure it doesn’t.

Duties at Trial: A litigation paralegal’s role at trial is very important. You are in charge. You are responsible for making sure everything is in order. Prior to the trial date it is very important that all motions are finalized, and all potential settlement options are exhausted. A plan for trial, including facilitating the admission of evidence should be formulated. Witness lists must be prepared, designation of deposition excerpts must be read, proposed exhibits must be ready, ER 904s must be submitted, questions for voir dire, jury instructions, legal research and unresolved issues must all be concluded prior to trial.

Prior to a complex trial it is important to know your role as paralegal. Communicate with your attorneys and know exactly what they need. DO NOT be afraid to ask questions. Know your courtroom, know the courthouse, become best friends with the bailiff and the court reporter. Know where the restrooms are, where the nearest water fountain is located, and most importantly where the copy machine and library are. . Know where pay phones are in case your cell does not work. Always have a purse full of quarters. Know where the clerk’s office is, know where the vending machines are, and just know,

if someone at trial needs something, know where to get it and get it to him or her as quickly as possible.

I do not want to scare you or make you think that being a complex litigation paralegal is worse than having two root canals in one week. For some, it may be. For others such as myself, it is a daily rush of challenging, complex, exciting, confusing, explosive moments of adrenaline and crucial decisions that can potentially make millions or cause severe detriment. A successful complex litigation paralegal means you are at the top of your game, you are a Rock Star. You exceed the

normal expectations of a regular individual by managing, organizing, administering, and running multi-million dollar lawsuits as though you are taking a walk in the park.

A Rock Star litigation paralegal walks into trial with a smile on her face, her suit pressed and shining, her hair and nails groomed to perfection, and her brain bursting with numbers, names, testimony, documents, deadlines, rules, procedures, evidence, experts, witnesses and challenges – yet, she looks as though she just got back from the spa. She is calm, cool and collected. She

is patient and has a sense of humor. A complex litigation paralegal’s role is to do everything without a glitch. The paralegal’s role in trial is to anticipate – anticipate the worst – anticipate the best – anticipate anything and everything that might go wrong – and then make sure it doesn’t.

A litigation paralegal during trial must not only know the names, phone numbers, testimony and schedules of all witnesses, parties, judges, attorneys, family, animals and friends – she must also know what her attorney likes to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and whether or not



My best piece of advice to you – ALWAYS know your boss’s favorite – and more importantly his least favorite foods.

he likes pickles on his sandwiches. Sounds funny, eh? How about I give you a piece of advice – You There – reading this article thinking “YES, I want to be a Rock Star complex trial paralegal because it sounds so exciting.” My best piece of advice to you – ALWAYS know your boss’s favorite – and more importantly his least favorite foods. Because even though he may be one of the best trial attorneys in town – and he has been arguing , questioning, and kicking butt at trial – make sure if he hates pickles, that he does not get pickles on his sandwich!

It’s Simple.

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by Gretchen Haydel

The Family law CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program in King County provides an excellent opportunity for paralegals to advocate for children in contested family law cases. A CASA advocate receives training and volunteers their time to investigate and report on the best interest of a child involved in contested custody cases as well as appearing at settlement hearings or trial on behalf of the child. The advocate serves as the child’s voice when their parents are involved in contested paternity, divorce, and third party custody cases. Such cases often involve elements of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental illness. Since there is no constitutional right to an attorney for a parent or a child in family law cases, many people decide to represent themselves in these matters. Under such circumstances, if a child is unrepresented, it is very likely that a judge may not be given complete and thorough information to determine what is in a child’s best interest.

However, the judge is still required to make a decision with the information provided.

Many of the children supported by this program are too young to speak for themselves with more than 50% of the children under the age of 6. It is easy to understand that without a voice, and considering the emotional element of these types of proceedings, a child’s needs may not be articulated. The Family Law CASA program strives to provide children with a safe and nurturing environment throughout the

custody dispute in an effort to mitigate potential trauma and any future damage that could arise to impact a child’s sense of well-being, value, and stability.

Family Law CASA began taking cases in the summer of 2003. Since its inception, the organization has served more than 700 children and is assigned to approximately 100 cases per year. Currently, there are 180 trained community advocates for the program.

To be a CASA volunteer, you must be passionate about helping children, have sufficient time to work through the cases, transportation for making family home visits and attend proceedings, and be able to write up the results of your investigation. Cases average anywhere from approximately 6-12 months and often involve more than one child per case. A volunteer may spend up to 40-60 hours on a case, but the length of the case varies from case to case.

(continued next page)

Be The VoiceIt is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pro Bono Chair, Gretchen Haydel

[email protected]





(continued from previous page)

In a typical case, once an advocate has been assigned to investigate and report on the best interest of the child, the advocate will meet with a staff supervisor to learn about the case, review relevant papers that have been filed with the court, and sets up a plan to proceed with the investigation which usually includes interviewing the parties, speaking with other family members, friends, and providers. The procedure may require more investigation, reporting, and appearances at a settlement conference or at trial.

The screening and training process for this program is thorough given the advocate will be speaking on behalf of our most valuable resources for the future, our children. If you are accepted into the program, you must undergo a four day, 21-hour, State-mandated training which is normally offered about two to three times a year. The training curriculum includes information on interviewing techniques, background on family law, substance abuse, child development, and domestic violence, as well as other critical issues. The next training for new advocates is scheduled for October 14-15 and October 21-22. To become eligible for acceptance into the program, you must submit an application, which can be located on their website at: http://www.familylawcasa.org/doc/volunteer_application.html or by requesting that an application be sent to you in the mail by contacting Caroline Davis, Executive Director, at (206) 748-9700, Ext. 224 or by emailing her at [email protected]. You will also be required to submit an essay with your application, undergo a criminal background check and interview with CASA staff. Once accepted to the program, CASA volunteers are required to attend 10 hours of training per year related to their work.

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.

BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

by Brenda Cothary, Director, At-Large, West

In a bad economy individuals need to try everything they can to land a job. One often overlooked resource is the professional association. These organizations exist to support, educate and provide resources for professionals in a particular industry or profession. Professional organizations come in all shapes and sizes and with varying member bases; some are old, some are young, some are new to the profession; some are seasoned veterans; some meet frequently; others only meet occasionally. Why do people join professional organizations? According to Toastmasters, the top reasons for joining a professional organization are:

Personal and Professional Development

Networking Opportunities

Professional Certification

Service and Support

Opportunities to Develop Leadership Skills

Disscounts on Products and Services

Regular Organization Conferences

Member Publications

Whatever the association or your reason for joining, membership offers incredible personal and professional benefits.

Membership in a professional organization can boost your resume. It is a seal of approval in many fields. It shows you understand the importance of professional networking and you’re an invested in the career field you would like to or have already joined. Membership also allows you to move from looking like a student on your resume to looking like an established professional. If you are searching for a job, it is helpful to strengthen your resume by listing your professional association memberships to show potential employers your awareness of the education and information they provide.

Profess ional assoc ia t ion memberships make networking easier. It

can be intimidating to reach out to strangers and ask for help with job searches. As a member of a professional association, that difficulty is eased through events where networking is actively encouraged. Many associations also offer formal mentoring programs, LinkedIn groups, Facebook pages, listservs and job boards to facilitate networking. In addition, if you would like more information about an area within the field, it is a benefit to be able to use the association name as a way to contact someone in the field for more information as a fellow member of the association

Association membership helps you increase your knowledge about the profession. Associations provide access to exclusive industry publications, firm information, news about legislative issues affecting the field and salary studies to help you discover the compensation and benefits you might receive from certain positions or firms. It is best to subscribe to all of its online and offline publications, pages, and services to be fully informed of all happenings within the profession.

Membership can also help you to find a job in your local area or if you need to relocate. You are exposed to people outside your normal circle of friends, which opens up new opportunities to exchange information. It makes it easy to develop networks for new arenas within the field or where you would like to move.

Association membership allows individuals to make valuable professional connections while developing leadership skills. Whether it be a community group, religious association or professional organization, you can gain a wealth of knowledge and experience from belonging and/or volunteering with a group. Your career will benefit from your membership.

http://www.familylawcasa.org/doc/volunteer_application.html







HELP WSPA SUPPORT MILITARY PARALEGALS AROUND THE WORLD

The Washington State Paralegal Association is a founding member of the NFPA Military Paralegal Outreach program. This program seeks to unite paralegals serving overseas in the US Armed Forces with local paralegal associations by sending periodic “Care Packages” of non-perishable food, snack, hygiene and other miscellaneous items (books, games, stationery, etc.) to bring them a little bit of home while away from their loved ones.

WSPA was one of the original 8 paralegal associations across the country that participated in the very first group mailing to active duty Military Paralegals serving overseas back in February 2006. In the first year of this program, NFPA member associations supported 29 Navy Legalmen and Military Paralegals. WSPA is proud to have supported six military paralegals since this program was first begun. Jeanenne Rutherford is now accepting donations (cash and food items) in the Seattle area. You can reach her at [email protected].

Suggested Items:

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.

Legalman Notesby Jeanenne Rutherford

Recently, NFPA has adopted a different approach to sponsoring the Legalman project. NFPA is now asking associations to commit to a certain number of care packages per year, and assigning an overseas JAG office instead of individual Legalman. There are two reasons why NFPA has made this shift: #1 to increase support to our Legalman overseas in a timely manner; #2 simply that the Legalman were serving their tour and rotating out and we are notified that the individual had returned home, unless they corresponded with us. We are now being

assigned a JAG office so any Legalman assigned to the office can benefit from our comfort package.

In May, two packets were shipped to Navy Legalman or Military Paralegals (one to Bagram, Afghanistan, the other to the US Embassy in Bagdad, Iraq) currently serving overseas. Unfortunately, we have not heard back from them yet. The information will be posted as soon as we do!

Our Armed Forces paralegals are going to need our support more than ever. The US Commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has banned American and NATO troops from eating fast food. Yes there are (or

were) some fast food outlets (Burger King and Pizza Hut for example) that have business's on or near the bases. Did I mention that General Stanley runs 13k every morning and only eats one meal a day? They are also going to see a reduction in first-run movies. [See article at h t t p : / / w w w. a b c . n e t . a u / n e w s / s t o r i e s /2010/03/31/2861692.htm?section=Justin]

To learn more about Legalman (and see commentary from Steven DiStephano, NFPA's Armed Forces Coordinator) go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWRBoeNbCtw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYfcSmCYFPg



http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/31/2861692.htm?section=Justin%5D




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWRBoeNbCtw




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYfcSmCYFPg






NFPA: A Grassroots Organization … what does this mean?Helen M. Federline, Chair, Region Directorss

What does it mean to be a grassroots organization? According to Encarta, it is the “ordinary people in a community or the ordinary members of an organization, as opposed to the leadership,” it is also “the origin, basis, fundamental aim, or basic meaning of something.” So, it means you, the member, are the basis of NFPA, and you, the members, make policy. The NFPA Board of Directors is charged with carrying out those policies, and with the day-to-day running of the organization; the Board of Directors does not make policy. Our annual convention, with the policy meeting, is fast approaching. This is when your voice is most important.

In order for your NFPA delegates to know how they are to vote on bylaw changes, policy and procedural matters that are submitted for the annual convention, they rely on the members’ input. Many associations have National Affairs Committees; those who do not (and usually those who do, as well) publish the submitted topics in their newsletter, or send an email blast out to all the association’s members, asking for their opinions, concerns, comments, and suggestions. It is in your best interest to be involved in this process, even if you aren’t interested in being involved on a national level otherwise. It is through your input that the delegates craft, amend, revise, discuss, and pass or reject the topics that are before them, and guide NFPA in the future.

Do you want to see NFPA take a stance on an issue? Tell your primary or secondary. Do you want NFPA to oppose a regulatory scheme that is being proposed? Let your primary or secondary know. It is through your voices that your association determines its position, and casts its vote. If you have an idea for improving procedures, or would like to see a new policy created, your delegates or your Region Director can help. They can assist you with drafting them in the proper format. It’s too late to submit anything for the

upcoming convention without getting a 9/10 affirmative vote of the delegates in order to bring the topic to the floor, but don’t let that stop you!

Agenda topics are created and driven by the members of NFPA – each of you is a member and you can have your ideas presented to a national audience through an agenda topic or discussion topic. How do agenda topics get to the floor of the convention? All U. S. members of NFPA have an opportunity to submit topics either for vote or

discussion to the entire delegate body. The ideas for agenda topics come from the associations’ members themselves. What’s your burning desire for the profession?


Save The Date...

Your WSPA 2010 Fall CLE

When: Friday, October 29th, 2010 Where: Washington State Trade and Convention Center. What: Two concurrently running tracks: Track A:Litigation Track B: Professional Development/General Practice

Tickets on sale early September.

If you are interested in being a speaker, please contact our Fall CLE Coordinator and VP of Professional Development, Donna Ziegler at [email protected]





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.

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.