The National Paralegal Reporter - Spring 2025

President’s Message

The winter months can bring on a sense of the “winter blues,” prompting you to question whether you’re in your current situation because you truly love it, or simply because it’s familiar and comfortable.

It has been said: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

Stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for both personal and professional growth. By embracing curiosity, risk-taking, and innovation, NFPA members can strengthen the paralegal profession and drive it forward. When we challenge ourselves to grow, we not only advance our careers but also enhance the collective impact of NFPA.

Staying curious, experimenting, and stepping outside of your comfort zone are all essential for growth, creativity, and personal development. Here’s why they matter:

1. Learning and Discovery:

Curiosity is the foundation of learning. It drives you to ask questions, seek answers, and explore new ideas or concepts. When you’re curious, you’re open to discovering things you might not have encountered otherwise. Experimenting is a way of testing what you’ve learned or exploring

what you don’t know, which can lead to unexpected breakthroughs.

2. Innovation and Creativity: Experimentation often leads to creativity. Whether it’s in problemsolving or pursuing a passion, stepping out of your usual routines allows for new ideas to emerge. Risk-taking and thinking outside the box allow you to approach situations from different angles and find innovative solutions that others might miss.

3. Personal Growth and Fulfillment: Growth doesn’t happen in a static, safe place. It happens when you stretch yourself beyond what feels comfortable. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you’re not only evolving your skills but also gaining a deeper sense of self-

awareness and fulfillment from facing challenges and pushing your limits.

4. Overcoming Fear of Failure:

Risk-taking often comes with a fear of failure, but that fear can also be a teacher. When you push yourself to take risks, even if they don’t always lead to success, you learn resilience and gain valuable insights. Each failure becomes an opportunity for growth, helping you become more confident in navigating uncertainty.

5. Building Confidence and Adaptability:

When you try new things and step outside your comfort zone, you gain a sense of accomplishment, even if the result isn’t what you expected. This boosts your confidence and adaptability, showing you that you’re capable of handling challenges. As you build

those skills, the next risk feels a bit more manageable.

6. Expanding Perspectives:

Taking risks and staying curious often expose you to different people, environments, and experiences. This can broaden your worldview, helping you understand and appreciate diverse perspectives. This expanded view can make you more empathetic and open-minded.

In short, curiosity, experimentation, and risk-taking are keys to unlocking your full potential. They keep life exciting and help you learn more about the world and yourself. It’s not always easy, but the rewards far outweigh staying stuck in the same place.

Lori A. Wagner, RP, IPR NFPA President

Publisher: National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.

Managing Editor and Advertising Manager: Rachel Daeger, rdaeger@ raybourn.com

Postmaster: Delivered to current resident or occupant as addressed if possible.

Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the National Paralegal Reporter express the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the formal position of NFPA. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute NFPA endorsement.

National Paralegal Reporter, ISSN 1058-482X, is published quarterly for $60 per year by the NFPA, 400 South 4th Street, Suite 754E, Minneapolis, MN 55415; call 317-454-8312; or email info@paralegals.org. Readers are invited to submit article queries, material for consideration for publication, and replies to previously published articles to marketingdir@ paralegals.org. For information about article and advertising guidelines and deadlines, go to: www.paralegals.org/ i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3285 . All materials are subject to editorial revision.

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South Jersey Paralegal Association’s Scholarship Program

The South Jersey Paralegal Association (SJPA) is excited to offer a scholarship program designed to support aspiring paralegals in their educational journey. Eligible applicants much be enrolled or accepted as students in a paralegal education program or a college- level program with an emphasis on paralegal studies.

ABOUT SJPA

Founded in 1980 and incorporated in 1983, the South Jersey Paralegal Association (SJPA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the paralegal profession. As a member association of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), SJPA is composed of paralegals, paralegal students, educational institutions, and other entities that support the paralegal profession.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

SJPA’s goals and objectives include:

• Providing professional support to its members

• Expanding recognition of the paralegal profession

• Offering continuing legal education and educational resources

• Promoting the paralegal image

• Facilitating improvements in paralegal education

• Developing paralegal students for membership growth within SJPA

• Being actively involved in the development of paralegal regulation

• Improving the cost-effective delivery of legal services

• Remaining relevant within the paralegal professional community

MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICES

SJPA’s membership primarily consists of traditional paralegals employed or retained by law firms, corporations, governmental entities, and financial institutions. Members generally work or reside in Gloucester, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Atlantic, and Ocean Counties in New Jersey, with some members from Northern parts of the state as well.

SJPA provides its members with a range of valuable benefits and resources, including:

• Continuing legal education

• Job bank services

• Professional development opportunities

• Pro bono activities

• Bi-monthly dinner meetings and newsletters

• Representation on the New Jersey State Bar Association Paralegal Committee

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The SJPA Scholarship Program is designed to support the next generation of paralegals by providing financial assistance to students pursuing paralegal studies. This initiative reflects SJPA’s commitment to fostering excellence in the paralegal profession and ensuring that students have access to the resources they need to succeed. In addition to the monetary award, the recipient of the SJPA Scholarship Award will receive a one-year membership to SJPA and the opportunity to work toward the advanced paralegal credentials exclusive to SJPA members.

For more information about the scholarship program and how to apply, please visit the SJPA website or contact the association directly.

Deadline for applications is May 1.

Meet Your NFPA Board

PRESIDENT

LORI WAGNER, RP, IRP, FORT WAYNE, IN

Lori Wagner started her paralegal career in 1992 and is a member of the Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association (NIPA) where she held various positions including President as well as the NIPA Primary Representative to NFPA. She received the NIPA Outstanding Paralegal Award three different times. She is also a member of the Indiana State Bar Association where she received the Outstanding Affiliate Member Award in 2015. She has been registered with the Indiana State Bar Association as an Indiana Registered Paralegal since July 2015. Lori is no stranger to the NFPA board. She held several positions with NFPA prior to becoming President. She is passionate about NFPA and is committed to seeing it thrive. Lori is married and the proud mother of five wonderful children. She is also a doting grandmother to nine cherished grandchildren, with whom she loves spending every moment she can. In her free time, Lori enjoys watching her grandchildren play sports. She

also loves music, especially playing her beloved baby grand piano, both of which brings her much joy.

DIRECTOR OF POSITIONS AND ISSUES

BETH BIALIS, RP®, INDIANA

The Director of Positions and Issues will assist the President and the Director of Profession Development in leading NFPA and the paralegal profession by addressing positions and issues that will directly affect the association and the profession.

Beth Bialis, RP®, earned her paralegal certificate in 1990 from the National Academy for Paralegal Studies, an ABA approved program and obtained her Registered Paralegal credential in 2012.

Beth has been a member of the Western New York Paralegal Association, Inc. (“WNYPA”) since 1996 and is now a member of the Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association. Throughout the years Beth served the members of WNYPA in various roles on the Board of Directors and in 2010 was elected to the NFPA Board of Directors serving three years as Region V Director and

two years as Vice President and Director of Profession Development. Beth also served as President of the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations, Inc. for four years.

Beth has over twenty years of experience as a litigation paralegal and is currently employed as a Government Paralegal at Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham, LLP in Goshen, Indiana.

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP

JULIE ROSENAU, PENNSYLVANIA

Julie Rosenau has worked as a legal

assistant / paralegal for over three decades. She is currently employed by RHIMagnesita, a world leader in refractory services. She is a member of the Central PA Paralegal Association and has been involved in non-profit Board volunteer work for over two decades.

Julie won a full scholarship to a twoyear business school and started her higher education two days before she graduated from high school! At the end of the two-year associates degree program she was hired by an insurance

defense firm in downtown York, Pennsylvania. She worked in the suit unit of State Farm Mutual Insurance Company for six years and received her insurance designations from the Insurance Institute of America.

When State Farm was re-organizing (and not wanting to leave central PA), she went to work in a small law firm, where she focused her time primarily in bankruptcy and employment law. During that decade she spoke at a conference on the paralegal’s role in bankruptcy to an audience that included a U.S. Trustee! She and Attorney Austin worked on an employment discrimination case that went to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She also worked in the bankruptcy department of CGA Law Firm, in York, one of the premier firms in York, and the best bankruptcy department in central PA and beyond!

Julie has served on committees and the Board of Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) as Chair and current Secretary for well over a decade. She is the Recording Secretary of her large church Board and was the Secretary of the Christian School of York. Julie has been PA certified paralegal since her employment with RHI US Ltd. began in 2021.

Julie hopes to meet as many of you outstanding paralegals (and associations) as she can in the near future. If you are on the east coast, please contact Julie (especially with virtual meetings !) Since Julie and her family love to travel, contact Julie and she just may try to visit further associations too. Julie’s goal is to strengthen the relationship between the NFPA and our local associations. She looks forward to

supporting Lori and all other NFPA Directors.

DIRECTOR OF PARALEGAL CERTIFICATION

TINA

JOHNSON, RP®, MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Tina M. Johnson is a career paralegal but is also one who wears many hats in the Autumn fields of Minnesota, including a devoted daughter, loving wife, compassionate mother to her favorite human, her son, E, dedicated friend, and a fervent paralegal mentor with the evolution of “Expert Paralegal LLC.” Tina enjoys music, especially her favorite artist…British singer/ songwriter, Bobby Long, whose song “Dead and Done,” is the waterfall to her legacy. When Tina is not meticulously working as a Trust and Estate Paralegal, you will find her singing and dancing in her car or in her kitchen to the hip/ hop songs she adores from the 90’s and 2000’s, solving puzzles of all kinds, and writing and journaling. Tina also loves health and fitness. Her favorite Super Trainer is Shaun T.

Tina joined the esteemed Maslon LLP firm in 2024, after being recruited by the brilliant Attorney who established the Minnesota Wills For Heroes program, to continue her dedication to her clients, the remarkable attorneys at Maslon, and to the firm, which is located in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota, by doing what she loves, estate planning, probate, and tax.

SECRETARY &

DIRECTOR

OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

CHERYLAN SHEARER, GOSHEN, INDIANA

Cherylan Shearer, IRP, is a corporate paralegal at the law firm of Yoder Ainlay Ulmer & Buckingham, LLP in Goshen, Indiana. She has been with the firm for 28 years and received her paralegal certificate with honors in June 1999 from Indiana University at South Bend. She primarily works with the initial set up of organizations including for-profit, not-for-profit, and limited liability companies, mergers and acquisitions, and maintains corporate compliance for approximately 600 clients of the firm.

Ms. Shearer is also a member of the Affiliate Committee of the Indiana State Bar Association currently serving as Vice Chair. She has been a member of the Michiana Paralegal Association since 1999 and is a current member of the Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association.

While a member of the Michiana Paralegal Association, she served as Membership Chair, on its Board of Directors, as President, and as Primary Delegate. She has also served as the NFPA Region III Director from 2009 through 2012, served as NFPA’s Secretary and Director of Operations from 2015 to 2018, served on various committees, as Convention Coordinator, and as Governing Documents Coordinator. She has taught seminars to the paralegal students

taking the Business Organization class at the Indiana University at South Bend. In 2010, she was awarded the Michiana Paralegal of the Year.

TREASURER & DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

CATHERINE CURTIS, CP, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Catherine is a Trust and Estate

Paralegal with McLane Middleton, with over 25 years of experience in this area of practice. She is also an active member of the McLane Middleton Community Service Committee, which provides outreach to several agencies in southern New Hampshire.

Catherine obtained her Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from Hesser College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from Notre Dame College, both in New Hampshire. She was certified by the National Association of Legal Assistants as a Certified Paralegal in 2019.

Catherine has been involved with the Paralegal Association of New Hampshire (PANH) since 2004, and the National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA) since 2012.

In addition to her volunteer efforts on a professional level, she serves as a member of the On Tap for CASA Committee (since 2018), which is a bar stool challenge to raise funds to support the New Hampshire Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). This year, she will also be volunteering

at the CASA Cares gala, which also helps raise funds to support CASA of NH. Catherine has been a volunteer at Pizzastock (since 2024), which is a production of the Jason R. Flood Memorial, which raises awareness of suicide prevention and provides support to the local community.

When not working or volunteering, Catherine attempts to spend her time relaxing at home with her two cats, Wally and Rosco, or out enjoying time with family and friends. When all else fails, you can find her cleaning, cooking, baking (not necessarily in that order) or working on some sort of craft project (crochet or cross stitch).

DIRECTOR, REGION I

KRYSTAL HUNTER, ANCHORAGE, AK

The Region I Director is responsible for helping all NFPA associations which are located in Arizona, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

DIRECTOR, REGION II

CYNTHIA MOSS, LITTLE ELM, TX

Cindy Moss earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Southwest Texas State University in 1998. She received her

Paralegal Certificate through the University of North Texas Professional Development Institute in 2012. She moved to the Dallas area from Austin with her husband and cat in 2015. She joined the Dallas Area Paralegal Association in 2016 as a student member while attending El Centro College to earn her Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies in 2017. During her time with DAPA, she served as Pro Bono/Community Service Chairperson, Sustaining Member Liaison, Membership Vice President, and NFPA Primary and Secondary.

She is now a member of New Orleans Paralegal Association, and is currently employed as a paralegal at Silvera Deary Ray. While Cindy pursues a wide variety of interests, she is especially an avid reader and knitter.

The Region II Director is responsible for helping all NFPA associations which are located throughout the Mountain West and Midwest states of Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

DIRECTOR, REGION III

JESSICA KUBIAK, RP, OSBA CERTIFIED, PARMA, OH

Jessica L. Kubiak, R.P. OSBA Certified Paralegal is the current Region III Director. Jessica lives in Parma, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband and

son. Jessica has been an active member of her local association, Cleveland Association of Paralegals since 2009. She had also held several local Board positions. Jessica has been active with NFPA in holding different coordinator position including Convention Coordinator and participating on several committees, Jessica has been a paralegal for over 25 years. She began her career as a Family Law Paralegal, but 3 years ago made a switch to become an In-House Corporate Paralegal with a local hospital. Jessica holds an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Lakeland Community College and has a certification from the Ohio State Bar Association. Jessica also holds the R.P. designation after passing the PACE exam in 2018. In her spare time Jessica and her husband are active bowlers competing in tournaments and on several local leagues and playing with her granddaughter, Paige.

DIRECTOR, REGION IV

JESSICA DURKIN, PITTSBURGH, PA

Jessica Durkin is new to the NFPA board.

Her election in November 2024 kicked off a two-year term that she intends to spend growing the region she represents (Region IV), boosting NFPA’s visibility generally, and learning how to implement change at the national level to keep NFPA relevant to paralegal professionals.

Jessica lives in Pittsburgh and is the operations manager and legal support staff for civil legal aid firm Community Justice Project. At CJP, Jessica works

for three and a half attorneys — one of them is semi-retired — and enjoys most aspects of her job. Client intakes allow her to keep her ear to the ground about the fundamental needs of people who seek legal help but can’t afford it, and she likes knowing her law firm can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Often, legal decisions involving clients at her firm can mean saving someone from eviction or returning money to low-income people who have been taken advantage of by a landlord or employer.

Jessica, usually known as “Jess” around coworkers or whoever wants to call her that, has two girl cats she rescued from a lady in Scranton, PA, when she lived there 12 years ago. She met her boyfriend, Chuck, a labor union local president, shortly after moving to Pittsburgh. Jess discovered NFPA through her home association, the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association.

BOARD ADVISOR

JOSIE A. ESTES, NASHUA, NH

Josie is a member of the Trust and Estate

Department at McLane Middleton, PA in Manchester, New Hampshire. She assists attorneys and clients in a variety of matters with an emphasis in probate and trust administration.

Josie is currently serving as the NFPA’s Board Advisor (Oct 2024-Oct 2026) for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA). She has also served on NFPA’s Board of Directors

as President (2022-2024),President Elect (2021-2022), and Director of Region V (2015-2019). Josie has also served the NFPA through the years in various other volunteer roles including Continuing Legal Education Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Internal Marketing Coordinator and as a member of the Budget and Marketing the Paralegal Profession Committees.

Josie is a member of the Paralegal Association of New Hampshire (PANH). She has served on the PANH Board of Directors as their Vice President, Secretary, Director at Large, and as their Primary and Secondary Liaison to NFPA (2011-2015).

Josie earned her Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from Hesser College in 2011. Josie is a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public for the State of New Hampshire.

The Importance of Communication

By Catherine D. Curtis, CP, TDOF

It is said that communication is the key to success, especially being a member on a Board of Directors. Effective communication is vital for any organization to achieve success and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (“NFPA”) is no different. The NFPA Board members are tasked with preparing and providing monthly reports to all members of the NFPA. These reports need to be clear and to the point, providing detailed information to our members of any and all actions that have taken place since the last report including items that require attention and/or action. The intent of the board reports is to keep the members of an organization aligned and help the Board make effective decisions regarding the organization as a whole.

Proper dissemination of information can be completed by email, meetings or video calls. The information should be presented clearly and in a format that is easy to understand using bullet points or by providing accurate documentation. The timing of information is crucial. Time sensitive information should be sent immediately whereas regular updates should be consistent and on a regular

schedule. A schedule is important so that all members are aware of when they can expect communications from their designated director(s).

Prior to the NFPA’s standard monthly board meeting, board members are required to submit their individual board reports. These reports are gathered and combined into one large board packet which is then sent out with a notice of the meeting date. The notice, which is typically sent within a week prior to the meeting, includes the board meeting registration information for those that will be in attendance. All of the information in the packet should be reviewed prior to the meeting by all members and all members are encouraged to attend.

The review of this information ahead of time allows for proper points of discussion and questions pertaining to the content within the reports. For those

members that are unable to attend the meeting should expect a summary of the meeting from their local Delegate. Delegates should expect to receive their summary from their Region Directors.

Additionally, the NFPA provides a monthly email, “News You Can Use”, which also disseminates dates, events, and other pertinent information that all members may need to know.

It is vital that all information, when available, be properly disseminated by both national and local board members to all of the NFPA members to ensure full transparency of the organization, thus attributing to the success of the organization.

Paralegal Certification Leads the Path Into the Future

By Tina M. Johnson, RP®, MnCP, NFPA Director of Paralegal Certification

Paralegal certification has played a significant and noteworthy role in the paralegal profession over the past two decades. The future looks bright for all paralegals.

A paralegal who strives for paralegal certification is truly a star and one who knows the vital impact it plays on success in the profession. By raising awareness about paralegal certification programs, i.e., Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE®) and the Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE®), it is my goal to market, educate, and grow the interest, passion, and marketability of these exams. These programs are designed to assess and validate the skills and knowledge of paralegals, helping them stand out in our competitive legal field. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) has crafted and implemented these fundamental paralegal certification exams, based on scientific methods and paralegals with expertise, with the common goal of advancing the future of our profession.

Preparing for a certification exam may include devouring the study manual for each exam, joining a study group, or researching additional resources as outlined within each study manual.

For additional support, NFPA offers an educational review course for each exam, which have been active for the past two decades. In fact, NFPA partnered with API (Advanced Paralegal Institute) in 1999 to develop advanced review courses designed exclusively for NFPA and the two certification exams. API is, and always will be, the original provider for both PACE® and PCCE® test prep review courses. The review courses, offered monthly, have been invaluable to many paralegals throughout the years.

A paralegal who recently completed the API Review Course and passed the PACE® exam was interviewed about her experience below.

SAMANTHA PRIDGEN, RP®

As an experienced paralegal, what was your deciding factor in seeking paralegal certification to become a PACE® Registered Paralegal after taking the PACE® Review Course through API?

I became interested in the PACE® exam several years ago after obtaining my Certified Kentucky Paralegal status but never moved forward with it for fear of failure. This year, 2025, marks my twentieth year working in the legal field

and it felt like the right time to attempt the exam.

The journey to becoming a PACE® or PCCE® Registered Paralegal is one that is often considered years in advance and is a voluntary choice for many since there are no strict guidelines or justifications to become a paralegal.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REWARD IN BECOMING A PACE® REGISTERED PARALEGAL?

For me, earning the distinction was reward enough. Proving to myself that I am capable and knowledgeable has been very rewarding personally.

WHAT WAS YOUR STUDY PROCESS FOR THE EXAM?

I utilized every practice tool I could find from the study guide and review course to online practice exams. For myself, the most impactful were the tests from the API review course and the sample questions in each News You Can Use newsletter from NFPA. My problem

was slowing down to read the question and answers carefully so that I did not trip up on “except” questions and to make sure that I picked the “best” right answer. In addition, I believe four to six months of study time prior to sitting for the exam should be a minimum.

OUTLINE YOUR PATHWAY TO SITTING FOR THE EXAM. EXPLAIN YOUR EMOTIONS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER TAKING THE EXAM.

I found the exam very challenging. It was very helpful to have the option to mark questions I wanted to go back to as I moved through it.

The main emotion I felt before, during, and after was anxiety. Have I studied enough? What if I fail? When the exam began, I felt like I had forgotten everything I’d spent months studying. After taking the exam, the anxiety was worse because I felt like I had not tested well enough to pass. It was sweet relief to receive that email a few minutes later from the testing facility that my initial results were passing. I did not realize any

indication of my performance would be received the same day. However, the next week waiting for the official results still seemed to creep by – I was so afraid the initial results were wrong. Even though the initial anxiety subsided after receiving my initial results, it did not go away completely until I finally received the “Congratulations” email from NFPA.

HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE YOUR NEW ACHIEVEMENT?

I have celebrated with family and friends. I have not had a chance to celebrate with my employer or my local association yet.

HOW DO YOU SEE PARALEGAL CERTIFICATION LEADING THE PATH TO MORE REGULATION OF OUR PROFESSION?

I believe that certification will lead to more regulation of our profession.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF ABOUT THE PARALEGAL PROFESSION OR CAREER GOALS.

A funny tidbit about me is that way back when I was in middle school my dream career was to be a paralegal. Even though I strayed from that desire in high school and college, I started work at a small law firm almost 15 years later that led to me returning to college to obtain my Associates Degree in Legal Studies, my Certified Kentucky Paralegal status, and now my Registered Paralegal status with the NFPA. I would tell my younger self that she was on the right track all those years ago.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OTHERS TO SEEK PARALEGAL CERTIFICATION?

I think others should seek certification, especially if they are serious about making this a career. What better way to show your employer or potential employers how serious you are about yourself and your career.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina M. Johnson is a career paralegal but is also one who wears many hats in the Autumn fields of Minnesota, including a devoted daughter, loving wife, compassionate mother to her favorite human, her son, E, dedicated friend, and a fervent paralegal mentor with the evolution of “Expert Paralegal LLC.”

Becoming a certified paralegal offers numerous benefits, both professionally and personally, including these common examples:

1. Career Advancement:

Certification demonstrates expertise and commitment; giving candidates a competitive edge in the job market and increasing opportunities for promotions to supervisory roles.

2. Higher Earning Potential:

Certified paralegals can earn an average salary increase of $4,880 annually compared to non-certified peers.

3. Enhanced Credibility:

Certification validates legal knowledge and skills, boosting trust among employers, attorneys, and clients.

4. Improved Job Prospects:

Certification is increasingly valued by employers, making candidates more attractive in a competitive field.

5. Preparation for Law School:

Certification provides foundational legal knowledge, aiding those planning to pursue law school.

6. Client Satisfaction:

Certified paralegals are better equipped to handle client needs, improving client relationships and referrals.

7. Future Proofing:

As legal standards evolve, certification may become mandatory in some states, giving certified paralegals a head start.

These advantages make certification a valuable step for career growth and professional recognition. In a field where expertise and trust are paramount, certification underscores a paralegal’s qualifications and sets them apart as indispensable team members.

Certification demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and commitment to the paralegal profession, making you a more competitive candidate for employment and advancement. It provides validation of your expertise and allows you to stay current on legal developments, ensuring you deliver high-quality work. Everyone in the legal field should highly value a paralegal with certification credentials because that paralegal has proven their expertise in their career.

NFPA is shaping the future of the paralegal profession through the API Review Course and the certifications.

FAQ: Advanced Specialty Certificates

Renee Sova, Founder and CEO, Advanced Paralegal Institute

Coupling your basic paralegal certificate with a legal specialty provides you a tremendous advantage in today’s job market. Employers are looking for an immediate return on their investment once you begin working. They do not want to have to spend any money on training you. Earning an advanced specialty certificate allows you to stand out among your fellow paralegals. It also can update your resume if you haven’t been working for a while or if you are looking to change specialties.

NFPA has partnered with API (Advanced Paralegal Institute) to provide review courses for both of our exams, along with advanced specialty courses.

Below please find the following FAQ about our Advanced Specialty Certificates. Most advanced specialty certificates require four courses to obtain the certificate. You can take them together if your schedule permits or one at a time. If you are just looking to take one course/class that is ok too!

API currently offers five (5) advanced specialty certificates:

• Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

• Corporate Law,

• Elder Law

• Intellectual Property

• Foreclosure and Creditor/Debtor Law.

01 COULD YOU GIVE ME A DESCRIPTION OF A TYPICAL ONLINE CLASS?

The class is five weeks in length and equivalent to a graduate level class for paralegals. You will have discussion questions, e-lectures, assignments, and readings each week. Every week you will cover two units for a total of 10 units. We can send you the course syllabus for any class you are interested in taking. This is not a tutorial. You will have an instructor available at all times even though the class is taught online and in an asychronous format using our Moodle’s network which is accessible by the web.

02 IS IT SIMILAR TO FOLLOWING A TUTORIAL?

No, there is an instructor who guides the class and the discussion. The instructor is available for questions any time. You do not need to be on line at a specific time. Our classrooms are open 24/7.

03 HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK ONLINE ARE REQUIRED?

There is no set time required but plan to spend an average of 3-5 hours per week per class/course. That is an estimate. Not all of this time is spent on the computer. You will respond to discussions on line but you can print the e-lectures and assignments. You will have a textbook with assigned reading. The benefit of the distance learning course is that it is available to you around the clock and you can do it when it is most convenient for your schedule. You can access the courses directly from the web site from any computer. We provide a study guide which is a map to the course in addition to direction from your instructor.

04 WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOURS SPENT FOR INDIVIDUALS COMPLETING THIS 5 WEEK COURSE, INCLUDING STUDY TIME OFF LINE, IF APPLICABLE?

See previous question.

05 HOW ARE TESTS GIVEN AND GRADES AWARDED?

Most courses require a final exam. You will receive a grade on the final exam. You are also graded on your responses to the discussion questions each week and the assignments. This combination of tests, assignments, and discussion responses will result in your grade for the course. You will be issued a progress report that you can submit to your employer if you are part of an education reimbursement program. You only receive the Advanced Specialty Certificate if you take the entire group of classes in a particular specialty. Courses and Classes are words that are used interchangably. Advanced Certificates are awarded when you complete all the courses/classes required. See below for class groupings.

06 DOES IT NORMALLY TAKE A DAY FOR THE INSTRUCTOR TO ANSWER QUESTIONS?

No, but we tell students that is the absolute latest allowed for a reply. Our instructors are wonderful and try to make themselves as readily available as possible.

07 GIVEN THAT WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES, IS THERE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO LEARN IN THIS PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT?

Everyone is different. A distance learning course is intense and takes

discipline and requires the student to be very responsible. An employer typically will regard a distance learning student as one who shows initiative and does not require a lot of supervision. It is easy to go to a campus or building and sit for three hours a week, listen to a lecture, discuss the subject matter, and then return the next week. Studying on line take discipline, determination and independence, which is recognized by many employers.

08 WHERE MIGHT I FIND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR COURSE, OTHER THAN ON YOUR WEBSITE?

The NFPA has reviewed all of our course work and has granted CLE units for each class. We are the official provider of the PACE Review Course and the Paralegal Core Competency Review Course co-sponsored with NFPA.

09 WHAT IS THE TUITION FOR EACH COURSE/CLASS?

Each advanced or specialty course/class is $795.00. The PACE review course, the PCCE and Ethics course have different tuition rates. Please inquire if you are interested in any of these courses. If you are taking a three course series to earn your advanced specialty certificate, current tuition is $2,385.00. If you are taking a 4 course series, current tuition is $3,180.00. If you just want to take one class and pay as you go each time, that is permitted. There is no financing. Classes must be paid for up front.

10 IS THERE A BOOK FEE?

Yes, each course does require a book to be purchased by the student. We will provide you with the book ordering information and the approximate fee

for the textbook required for each course after you register. There are other sources for purchasing your text beyond the publisher. Many students order on line from Amazon.com and and other on line bookstores. The PACE Review course requires the purchase of the PACE Study Manual which can be purchased from the publisher or on Amazon.com. Inquire about the PCCE book directly with API at renee.sova@ aips.com

11 WHAT IS THE COURSE SCHEDULE?

Students can start with other students on the various start dates listed on our web site. We offer eleven start dates per calendar year. However, if you are in need of a specialty class at any time, we will arrange for you to start at your convenience in a directed study with the instructor.

12

HOW ARE THE COURSES GROUPED TO RECEIVE A SPECIALTY CERTIFICATE?

Currently, in order to receive an advanced specialty certificate, you must take three or four courses/classes to receive this Certificate depending on the program. Be sure to check with Renee Sova, the Director of Advanced Specialty Programs prior to signing up for your specialty certificate. You can take just one class at a time and you don’t have to take them all unless you plan to earn the advanced specialty certificate. There is no time limit on how long it can take you to complete a specialty certificate as long as the class is still available.

Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Advanced Litigation (C525)

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (C530)

• Advanced Tort Law (C535)

• (Prerequisites: Civil Litigation (A102) and Tort Law (A101))

Corporate Law

• Advanced Corporate Law (C555)

• Intellectual Property Law (C565)

• Contract Law (C556)

• (Prerequisite: Business Law (B202

Intellectual Property

• Intellectual Property Law (C565)

• Copyright Law (C566)

• Trademark Law (C567)

• Patent Law (C568)

Elder Law

• Estates and Trust Law (C570)

• Social Security, Medicare, and Government Pensions (C575)

• Elder Law (C580)

• Estate Planning (C576)

Foreclosure and Debtor/Creditor Law

• C-560 Bankruptcy Law

• A-105 Real Estate Law

• C562 Foreclosure Law

• C563 Debtor/Creditor Law

Real Estate Law

• Real Estate Law

• Contract Law

• Foreclosure law

Stand alone Courses

• Legal Writing

• Lexis Workshop

• PACE Review Course

• PCCE Review Course

13 WHAT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, A LITIGATION AND ADR SPECIALTY? IF I TAKE THE COURSES IN THIS SPECIALTY, WILL A SPECIALTY CERTIFICATE BE RECOGNIZED BY THE LEGAL COMMUNITY?

This is a credential that you will earn upon completion of the core courses that make up the specialty certificate. It would signify a credential to be placed on your resume that would be recognized by the legal community at large. You do receive a Certificate of Completion stating your specialty. Many students, while earning their specialty, include on their resume that they are a ”candidate for an Advanced Specialty Certificate in Litigation”. This can help your job search and in many instances, a future employer may pay for your tuition for future classes.

14 WILL THESE COURSES BE APPLICABLE TO THE CLA EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS?

We don’t have a formal agreement with NALA for the Advanced Specialty Courses, however many students have provided their syllabus to NALA and applied for CLE credits with no problem. As mentioned above, NFPA does automatically grant CLE credits because of our formal agreement. We are the official provider of the PACE and PCCE review courses for NFPA.

15 FOR AIPS GRADUATES, ARE THESE CLASSES SIMILAR TO THE REGULAR AIPS CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE?

Yes, the advanced and the specialty courses are taught on our Moodle Network. Most courses are five weeks in length and cover two units per week for a total of 10 units.

16 CAN I APPLY THE REQUIRED CORE COURSES THAT I TOOK DURING MY REGULAR AIPS PARALEGAL PROGRAM TO AN ADVANCED SPECIALTY CERTIFICATE, OR DO I NEED TO TAKE SOME OTHER LEVEL?

Most of the core AIPS courses will count towards the AIPS Advanced Specialty Certificates if it is a required course to earn that specialty certificate. For example, if you took the Alternative Dispute Resolution class with AIPS you do not need to repeat this class. It will count as part of your Advanced Specialty Certificate in Litigation.For more information or a course syllabus, please e-mail Renee Sova at renee.sova@ advancedparalegalinstitute.com

KEY WEB LINKS

https://www.paralegals.org/page/apiadvanced-specialty-courses

https://www.advancedparalegalinstitute. com/faq

Will AI Replace Paralegals and Legal Assistants?

Catherine Brock

AI is early in its lifecycle, but the technology is already a powerful resource for legal professionals. ChatGPT and related AI tools can write, edit, and research—three tasks that weigh heavily on the daily agendas for paralegals and legal assistants

AI is early in its lifecycle, but the technology is already a powerful resource for legal professionals. ChatGPT and related AI tools can write, edit, and research—three tasks that weigh heavily on the daily agendas for paralegals and legal assistants. If ChatGPT can handle those duties, law firm administrators will likely ask their support team members to take on higher-level responsibilities.

Let’s explore the merits of AI in the legal field and how they could affect the work paralegals and legal assistants do today. We’ll cover what AI can and can’t do, and share how paralegals and legal assistants can add value in an AIenabled world.

WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS?

Paralegals and legal assistants are key members of a lawyer’s support team. Their work frees up lawyers to focus on case strategy. Below are the specifics of each role.

PARALEGALS

Paralegals spend the bulk of their time on legal or case-related tasks, such as:

• Conducting legal research and discovery: Paralegals access databases and books to identify and document regulations and precedents that apply to a specific case.

• Performing client interviews and communication: Paralegals usually remain in close contact with clients, gathering information the lawyer needs or sharing case updates.

• Drafting legal documents: Paralegals draft documents as needed, from correspondence with witnesses to pleadings and briefs.

• Managing document databases: Paralegals may be responsible for maintaining a clear, functional system of organization for the firm’s templates, contracts, and other critical documents.

• Summarizing depositions: Paralegals will translate dense depositions into concise overviews that include key facts, plus any admissions or inconsistencies in the testimony.

• Supporting investigations: Paralegals may interview experts, gather evidence, and perform other research and investigative tasks as needed.

• Conducting witness interviews and testimony prep: Paralegals will often manage the witnesses leading up to the trial. They may work closely with witnesses to review the key points of the case and practice testimony.

• Managing case files: Paralegals manage the case file, ensuring that every relevant piece of information is properly named and filed.

LEGAL ASSISTANTS

Legal assistants also support caserelated tasks, but they are primarily dedicated to administrative work. Specific tasks can include:

• Providing client service: Legal assistants may be the first point of contact for prospective and existing clients. They may be responsible for answering questions about client accounts and billing via phone, email, or secure messaging.

• Organizing legal documents: Legal assistants support the paralegal in keeping documents organized and easily retrievable.

• Assisting with drafting and proofreading legal documents: Legal assistants may be tasked with proofing contracts, briefs, etc., or drafting portions of them.

• Prepping and filing legal documents: Legal assistants may prepare certain court paperwork under supervision. They can also file documents with the county clerk.

• Assisting with legal research and evidence collection: Legal assistants

often support paralegals in accessing legal databases for research and gathering relevant case details from witnesses and experts.

• Managing calendars: Legal assistants have full view of the legal team’s calendars across cases. They communicate deadlines and schedule commitments according to availability and case timelines.

• Managing client billing and accounting: Legal assistants often oversee the billing and payments process by preparing invoices and responding to billing-related questions.

HOW IS AI CURRENTLY IMPACTING LEGAL PROFESSIONS?

AI is changing daily workflows for paralegals, legal assistants, and lawyers. Increasingly, law firms are adopting AI to streamline time-intensive tasks, such as:

• Document review: AI applications can scan multiple documents to identify themes and commonalities.

• Contract analysis: AI can analyze contracts to highlight key points and

risk factors.

• Legal research: ChatGPT and lawyerspecific tools like Paralegal AI can streamline legal research by scanning massive amounts of online data to identify relevant cases and statutes.

• Document drafting: AI can create quick drafts of contracts, briefs, client correspondence, and more.

• Document editing: AI can review existing documents for typos, inconsistencies in verb tense, unclear wording, citation formatting, etc.

Those tasks clearly overlap with the responsibilities of paralegals and legal assistants, particularly in the areas of summarizing, researching, and drafting documents. However, direct comparisons of AI functionality to paralegal or legal assistant job specs don’t tell the full story.

That full story has an interesting twist. Although AI has robust capabilities, its outputs are not usable without human intervention. ChatGPT, the most recognized AI tool, is notoriously prone to sharing made-up or inaccurate information.

WILL AI REPLACE PARALEGALS AND LEGAL ASSISTANTS?

No, AI will not replace paralegals and legal assistants—at least not in the foreseeable future. The legal professionals who are using AI successfully are coupling quick AIproduced answers with human oversight and review. And, they’re using paralegals and legal assistants to deliver that oversight.

So while the proliferation of legal AI tools is among the major trends in the paralegal profession right now, the outcomes will be subtle. Paralegals and assistants can expect their jobs to evolve—not disappear—as AI adoption grows. It’s possible AI will make these support jobs more interesting and more necessary. Paralegals and legal assistants will likely have fewer rote tasks on their daily calendars, but increased responsibilities around reviewing and analyzing AI outputs.

To understand more clearly how that job shift might play out, let’s review what AI can and can’t do.

HOW LAW FIRMS CAN LEVERAGE AI

AI software for lawyers excels at language-related tasks. ChatGPT, for example, can read, write, edit, analyze, and summarize words faster than a human can. Likewise, Paralegal AI can comb through case information online and provide a summary of research in response to a prompt.

Law firms can leverage those language skills to create drafts that are handed off to the support team to finish. The draft might be a document, a list of suggested edits to a contract, a summary of

relevant case law, or a prediction on case outcome. The paralegal or assistant can use these drafts as resources that contribute to a final document, analysis, or case strategy recommendation.

Note that AI outputs can contribute in different ways, too. The obvious contribution is a drafted output that a paralegal edits and finalizes. But AI outputs won’t always be precursors to final documents. They can also function as conversation starters that prompt new ideas or team brainstorming sessions about the case.

TASKS AI CANNOT HANDLE FOR LAW FIRMS

AI cannot take over the client management and interaction responsibilities of the legal support team. The technology’s excellent language skills don’t translate well into people skills. A chatbot cannot engender trust or sense worry. AI cannot gauge when to reassure clients or delve deeper in witness interviews.

For that reason, interpersonal interactions with clients, witnesses, and team members are best handled by experienced legal professionals. Even tasking a chatbot to answer seemingly straightforward client questions can be problematic. AI tools have trained-in biases that can be inadvertently offensive or deliver poor user experiences.

AI also lacks any contextual knowledge and higher reasoning capacity, two essential skills for paralegals and legal assistants. Cases with varying degrees of complexity can be affected by nuances which are generally overlooked by AI tools. Examples include a client’s wishes or subtle semantics that define the intent of a statute.

Paralegals and legal assistants, on the other hand, are trained in complex critical thinking and analysis. It’s unlikely that AI will ever catch up to the legal professional’s skill in this area.

EXPERT

OPINIONS ON THE FUTURE OF THE PARALEGAL PROFESSION

Experts largely agree that AI can augment legal support roles, but not replace them. As well, many agree that AI and generative AI adoption may shift job responsibilities and change hiring criteria for law firms. It’s likely that AI-enabled law firms will seek out candidates who excel at people skills and understand the best practices of using AI.“

As AI reduces repetitive tasks, paralegal job responsibilities will shift, ultimately impacting hiring priorities and criteria for law firms. The paralegal role will evolve to emphasize analytical skills, and law firms may begin to prioritize technological fluency with AI tools over traditional legal skills when hiring paralegals. Firms will be able to maintain smaller, more nimble teams, which ultimately could limit routine hires as a matter of course. Instead, firm leaders may focus on filling paralegal roles that bridge the gap between traditional law firms and technologydriven law practices.” – Niki Black, Attorney, Author, and Legal Technology Expert“

AI is transforming the legal industry, including the duties currently tasked to paralegals. Embracing AI and training to use these tools to automate administrative, routine tasks will allow us to reduce the time we spend on manual data entry and analysis, client intake, and document management. AI will better equip us to support our

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attorneys. I would not be surprised if the role of the paralegal expands, as AI makes the entire team faster and more productive.” – Cheryl Ischy, 30+-year Paralegal

EMBRACING THE AI REVOLUTION

Paralegals and legal assistants can and should take steps to increase their workplace value in an AI-powered world. Increasingly, law firms will ask team members to use AI for efficiency’s sake.

Paralegals and legal assistants can and should take steps to increase their workplace value in an AI-powered world. Increasingly, law firms will ask team members to use AI for efficiency’s sake. Those who embrace and adapt to the technology will enjoy greater career opportunities vs. those who don’t. Below are five ways paralegals and legal assistants can prepare themselves for the future of AI and law.

Upskill AI and Legal Tech Skills

Paralegals and legal assistants who utilize ChatGPT at work must learn the nuances of effective prompt writing. They must also know how to evaluate the bot’s outputs carefully. That can involve finding a single typo in a 40-page document or recognizing mistaken logic that skews an entire analysis.

Beyond ChatGPT, there will be more AI-powered tools available for law firms in the coming months and years. Paralegals and legal assistants can position themselves as AI savvy by monitoring legal technology news to stay updated on the latest artificial intelligence innovations.

Understand the Ins and Outs of AI Limitations

Lawyers Steven Schwartz and Peter LoDuca learned the limitations of AI the hard way. The two presented a ChatGPT-produced legal brief to courts that cited fictitious cases. They claimed ignorance, saying they didn’t know the chatbot could fabricate information.

Deep knowledge of AI’s limitations is a requirement to using these tools effectively. Paralegals and legal assistants who have that knowledge will become more valuable professionally as AI adoption grows.

Strengthen Soft Skills

Legal issues are sensitive matters to the people involved. Whether the case involves a divorce or a workplace injury, a skilled legal professional can detect emotional triggers early on, then navigate around them in client interviews, conversations, and case strategy. AI cannot detect those sensitivities or effectively incorporate them into the case strategy.

For that reason, legal professionals who demonstrate nuanced interpersonal skills will stand out in the modern law firm. Those who spend time developing their competence in communication, solving problems, collaborating, thinking critically, and managing conflicts will likely see more opportunity going forward.

Strengthen Skills for Complex Tasks

Greater use of AI will add higher-level tasks to the daily responsibilities of paralegals and legal assistants. These support team members may do more analysis and get more heavily involved in brainstorming sessions and strategy

conversations. Those who welcome the change will thrive.

Stay Educated and Invest in Continuous Learning

team member include learning the capabilities and risks of AI, staying abreast of legal AI innovations, and advancing interpersonal and criticalthinking skills.

ABOUT THE AIUTHOR Catherine Brock is a Content

Be a step above the restJoin the Paralegal Division of the State Bar o_f Texas

PD provides many benefits for career growth:

•Networking with paralegals across the state

• Powerful CLE opportunities such as Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (TAPS)

• Professional Development

• Professional magazine with substantive articles and updates from across the nation

THINK ABOUT IT...... an organization designed just for YOU! ENHANCE YOUR CAREER by becoming a part of PD today. Go to www.txpd.org and see for yourself or contact the PD Coordinator via email at pd@txpd.org or call (806) 443-2209

AI and the Future of Legal Services: IAALS Convening Explores Unlocking Legal Regulation

Ericka Byram, Program Associate

In November 2024, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) held a twoday convening on Regulating AI in the Delivery of Consumer-Facing Legal Services, its fourth in a series of expert convenings designed to align industry leaders around strategies to unlock legal regulation. With the rapid development of generative AI, the legal space has been abuzz with questions about how lawyers should (or shouldn’t) use AI in their practice, how judges might use it in their courtrooms, and how it might outperform law students on the bar exam.

How AI might deliver unmediated legal services directly to the public, however, has received less fanfare. This year’s convening sought to explore whether these consumer-facing legal service platforms should be regulated and, if so, how.

The convening brought together 23 experts in the field, including legal tech entrepreneurs, judges, court administrators, state bar representatives, academics, regulators,

designers, and private practitioners. Several questions emerged from the group’s discussions, including:

• What is the purpose of legal regulation?

• How is the public using AI tools?

• What is the role of “big tech”?

• Is there a need for national standards?

• How can we measure the quality of legal services (both human- and AIpowered)?

• What are the implications for the unauthorized practice of law?

• How do we ease the tension between encouraging innovation and discouraging bad actors in the space?

There was no consensus on whether to regulate AI generally or in regard to any particular regulatory model; given that AI’s role in the delivery of legal services is both relatively nascent and rapidly evolving, the convening did not set out to create or exclusively recommend any specific regulatory model. Rather, several possible and often intersecting approaches emerged from the

discussions, ranging from more soft power and hands-off approaches—such as creating guidance for developers and users of tools, and a coordinated national effort advancing the idea that AI is not the practice of law—to efforts that would require regulatory changes—such as creating regulatory sandboxes or certifications for AI tools.

There was also much that the group agreed upon. Many echoed the need for more data about consumer outcomes— not only about consumer harm as it relates to AI or to legal services writ large, but about consumer benefits and satisfaction. There was also broad agreement that the status quo was unworkable, and that the current regulatory regime—specifically the unauthorized practice of law rules— has exacerbated the access-to-justice crisis we find ourselves in today.

All attendees agreed that there is much more to be done in this space. IAALS will release a post-convening report in Spring 2025 to share deeper insights and to serve as a springboard for more discussion and action nationwide. In

the meantime, Jess Bednarz, IAALS’ inhouse regulation expert, will be sharing insights from the convening at LSC’s annual Innovations in Technology conference in January.

Those interested in connecting with Jess about IAALS’ work on artificial intelligence and legal regulation are invited to reach out at jessica.bednarz@ du.edu.

Regulating AI in the Delivery of Consumer-Facing Legal Services is the fourth convening IAALS has hosted to discuss regulatory reform. Its inaugural convening, held in 2019, focused on creating an independent regulator for legal services, which inspired leaders in Utah to form the nation’s first legal regulatory sandbox. As other states began implementing or considering reform efforts, IAALS held a second convening in 2022 to allow leaders from these states to collaborate. In 2023, IAALS hosted its third convening, focusing on lessons learned from these various efforts and recommendations for the future.

Ericka Byram (Welsh) is a program associate at IAALS. In this role, she supports IAALS’ work across its programmatic areas, including civil justice reform, family justice reform, the judiciary, and legal education and the profession.

Byram joined IAALS in 2024 after a variety of roles in the public service sector. She began her legal career as Pepperdine Law’s Chandi Global Justice Fellow in Delhi, India, where she coauthored a report on restorative justice processes in cases of sexual violence. She then joined a small immigration firm in the Washington, D.C., metro area supporting families through various immigration processes, including asylum, Cancellation of Removal, and family-based petitions. After moving to Colorado, Byram expanded her

practice to include post-conviction criminal defense work as a contractor for indigent criminal defendants in Colorado and Alaska. She then transitioned to the Colorado Poverty Law Project (CPLP) as a staff attorney, where she defended tenants facing eviction and other housing legal issues and led CPLP’s community organizing efforts in Northern Colorado.

Byram received her JD, magna cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law. She has received additional training and certifications in alternative dispute resolution processes, including restorative justice and mediation. She served as the Board Secretary for the Colorado Coalition for Restorative Justice Practices from 2021-2023.

Reprinted with permission. First published online on December 16, 2024.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cyber Security 101 for Paralegals Ceaser

Espinoza, JD,

Our reliance on technology to improve our daily lives and our profession comes at a price. With all the information and data that we store and send virtually, we are more than ever susceptible to infiltrations and breaches. In this new millennium, we’ve experienced personal data breaches from several large companies including, Equifax, Facebook, Marriott, and Twitter.[i]

Unfortunately, the legal profession has not been immune. As hackers realize the vast amount of personal and corporate information housed by law firms, they have become a lucrative target for data theft or piracy.[ii] Adding to the dilemma is the legal profession’s slow-paced acceptance and adaptation to technology and cyber security. Most recently, high-profile law firms have reported data breaches or had their data held for ransom in 2020. [iii] This is only a fraction of what is to come.

COMPLIANCE

Regulations are nothing new to the legal profession. However, complying

with technology related regulations has not been the legal profession’s strong suit. Although legal professionals understand that data protections must be enacted as a course of business, they may not be fully aware of all the applicable federally mandated cyber security measures. Take for example the following federal regulations that apply to law firms:

• Health Insurance Portability and Availability (HIPAA) rule considers law firms “business associates” because they engage with personal health information (PHI) as part of personal injury claims

• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) incorporates law firms, albeit indirectly, as business partners to the extent that they maintain a client’s financial information

• Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) applies to law firms since they accept, store, and transmit cardholder data (CD), defined as personally identifiable information (PII) such as

primary account number (PAN) in conjunction with any of the following: cardholder name, expiration date, or service code

• Federal Reserve System considers law firms a service provider since they manage financial information for clients and connect to banks

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) also considers law firms as service providers for maintaining and distributing funds[iv]

Similarly, the American Bar Association (ABA), state bar associations, and national paralegal associations have established ethical guidelines regarding cyber security and technological proficiency. For example, ABA Formal Opinion 483[v] describes obligations in the event of a data breach or cyberattack. Whereas ABA Formal Opinion 477R[vi] and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) Informal Opinion 96-1[vii] both focus on securing confidential client e-communication. One thing that is

clear, is that Attorneys and Paralegals both have a duty and responsible to ensure client data is secure and protected. Are you thinking, what can I do? I don’t own the firm, I’m not IT, etc.

Now, just because we don’t control or implement most, if not any, of the cybersecurity polices at a law firm or in-house legal department, doesn’t mean we don’t play a significant role in securing client data. In fact, many of the breaches at the law firms mentioned above happened when front-line employees made mistakes that jeopardized the firm’s data. As to whether it was negligence, a mistake, or lack of training is not important to us now. What is important, is that we learn from those events and ensure that we are educated in the nuances of this challenging new world of e-security. Although we can’t control every aspect, we can learn some basics so that we can minimize human error.

SECURING PASSWORDS

Let’s start by saying, “Password1234” is not a good password. You may be thinking, “what does a good password look like?” How about,

XKr567%$2345@1. Is this password any better? Unfortunately, it really isn’t because hackers use the same algorithms as the ones used to generate these types of passwords.[viii] Eventually, the algorithm will figure it out.

We need to move away from passwords and embrace passphrases.[ix] Personalized passphrases are proven to be more difficulty to hack because they do not rely on logic.[x] Here’s how to create an effective passphrase. First, you want to think of a personalized phrase such as “I like to watch Soccer.” Second, manipulate it so that you replace letters with numbers and special characters such as “1like2watch$occer.”[xi] This new passphrase now contains letters, numbers, and special characters that is unique and easy to remember—win, win![xii]

EMAIL ENCRYPTION

One of the primary benefits of email is the ease in which we can share documents. It’s also highly vulnerable for that very same reason. Client retainers, questionnaires, and scanned personal documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, affidavits, etc.) are

primarily shared via email. Although you can’t control how you receive information, you can control how you share it. As an aspiring legal professional, I recommend that you start encrypting all documents that contain personal or sensitive information. And not just work documents, you should consider encryption when sharing your personal documents, too. Encryption provides an extra layer of protection in the event your email account or provider’s servers are compromised. Plus, encryption is not really that difficult.

Word documents have an encryption function called Protect Document, which is found in the Info section of Word (if using Office 365). It allows the user to password protect the document, limit edits, and other security measures. Just search “Protect Document” in your version of Word and it should take you to the right place. Unfortunately, if you’re a fan of Google Docs there is no preestablished security function for encryption. However, there are several extensions that you can add from the Google Play Store to enable encryption. On that note, if you have a Word doc that is encrypted, you can save it in your Google Drive, manipulate it in

Google Docs, and it will maintain the encryption. As for PDF’s, Adobe Reader does not provide the ability to encrypt a file without the Adobe Pro subscription. You’ll need to install a third-party software or app to secure PDF’s.

EMAIL PHISHING

Impulsive behavior is the most common culprit with regards to data breaches. Human error generally occurs when a party unintentionally given access to hackers through a trojan horse or malware via Email Phishing.[xiii] Email Phishing is the use of a fraudulent email from a familiar company or person to access a firm’s or individual’s system or secure data.

Meaning that an employee clicked on a link or opened an attachment, bypassing all the security measures above, and giving unfettered access to the firm and client data. However, there are some simple steps that we can follow to prevent most of these infiltrations.

First, trust your spam filter. It will catch most of the emails that have irregularities. Even if you see an email from someone you know in the spam filter, that account could have been compromised. If you’re unsure, contact the person through another mechanism and confirm. Second, be wary if the email asks you to click on a link to enter data or access additional information. Do not click on the link.

For example, if you receive an email from Netflix that said, “you need to update your account, please click here.” Even though there are Netflix images and logos in the email, and it looks legitimate, “click here” could be

sending you to an unsecure site. Instead of clicking on the link, I recommend that you open a browser and visit the company site to check your account. One final note, when checking emails, you need to ask yourself, “does this seem odd?” Even a slight hesitation of your part is enough for you to question the legitimacy of the email. Trust your instincts.

Technology has provided us many tools and enhancements that will forever change the legal profession. We need not fear change, instead we should embrace it and accept the numerous new obstacles we will encounter as we strive to secure legal data. To that end, the American Bar Association (ABA) has now established a Cybersecurity Legal Task Force to provide guidance and resources to help in this brave new digital world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ceaser Espinoza is a Professor of Legal Studies and the Director of El Centro College’s Center for Law Public Service Paralegal Program located in downtown Dallas, TX. He’s also the current Coordinator of the Criminal Justice program. He’s previously served as interim Executive Dean for the Health and Legal Studies Division.

Reprinted with permission from American Bar Association originally published November 22, 2024

RESOURCES

i. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/30/ five-of-the-biggest-data-breaches-ever. html

ii. https://www.law.com/2019/10/15/ more-than-100-law-firms-

have-reported-data-breachesand-the-picture-is-gettingworse/?slreturn=20200231190206

iii. https://www.abajournal.com/news/ article/hacking-group-publishes-fulldump-of-law-firms-data-anotherresponds-to-cybersecurity-incident

iv. https://zeguro.com/blog/law-firmcybersecurity-protecting-attorneyclient-privilege-in-a-digital-age

v. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/ cybersecurity/

vi. https://www.americanbar.org/ content/dam/aba/administrative/ professional_responsibility/aba_ formal_opinion_477.pdf

vii. https://www.paralegals.org/files/ Ethics_Opinion_96_01_cyberspace. pdf

viii. https://zeguro.com/blog/five-tips-forbetter-cyber-hygiene

ix. https://zeguro.com/blog/five-tips-forbetter-cyber-hygiene

x. https://zeguro.com/blog/five-tips-forbetter-cyber-hygiene

xi. https://zeguro.com/blog/five-tips-forbetter-cyber-hygiene

xii. https://zeguro.com/blog/five-tips-forbetter-cyber-hygiene

xiii. https://us.norton.com/ internetsecurity-online-scams-howto-protect-against-phishing-scams. html

Making the Split: A Path to Healing and Hope through Understanding

James Dykeman, Executive Director

When relationships shift and families face the uncertainty of separation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and unsure of what lies ahead. Traditional divorce processes often add to that weight—turning heartbreak into battle, conversations into confrontations, and families into factions. But what if there were another way? A way to move through this challenging time with grace, understanding, and a sense of purpose? That’s the gift of matrimonial conflict resolution and mediation.

Mediation offers a space where couples can breathe, reflect, and work through their differences with the help of a skilled and neutral guide. It’s not about assigning blame or “winning”; it’s about finding a way forward that honors everyone involved—spouses, children, even extended families. This approach invites people to connect on a deeper level, focusing on what truly matters: preserving relationships, safeguarding emotional well-being, and creating stability for the future.

Imagine sitting down, not across from an opponent, but beside someone who once shared your dreams, and

being given the tools to navigate your differences with respect. Mediation doesn’t erase the pain of separation, but it transforms how that pain is carried. Instead of feeling broken apart, families discover ways to realign and rebuild— on their terms, in their words, with solutions tailored to their unique lives.

PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST

The financial savings can be significant, but its emotional savings are priceless. Divorce litigation can drain bank accounts, but it also depletes trust, compassion, and hope. Conflict resolution practitioners offer a different path: one that keeps costs low while fostering open communication and mutual respect. For parents, this is especially powerful. The shared commitment to prioritizing a child’s well-being is often a bridge between differences. Practitioners create space to craft parenting plans that truly reflect what’s best for the child—not dictated by a judge, but shaped by the parents who know their family best. Children benefit immeasurably when they see their parents working together, even in separation, to protect their sense of safety and love.

Even couples without children find that mediation helps preserve something essential: dignity. Instead of leaving the process feeling stripped of agency or bitter, many leave with a sense of resolution, having been active participants in shaping their future. And for everyone involved, that feeling of mutual respect can make all the difference in starting the next chapter of their lives.

When families step into a courtroom, they relinquish control over their lives to a legal system that cannot possibly know their story in full. Mediation flips that script, empowering individuals to speak for themselves, listen to each other, and find solutions that truly fit. It’s not always easy, but it’s deeply human—and often, deeply healing.

Mediators help illuminate the path, guiding conversations toward understanding rather than division. By focusing on shared goals, like financial fairness or the well-being of children, conflict resolution transforms what could be a combative experience into one that feels constructive and even hopeful. It’s a process that reduces the likelihood of lasting scars—whether

emotional, relational, or financial— and instead nurtures possibilities for healing and growth.

A CALLING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

For many legal and therapeutic professionals, matrimonial conflict resolution and mediation aligns with the reasons they entered their chosen field in the first place. It’s about service. Connection. Making an impact when it’s needed most. Lawyers who once felt confined by the rigidity of the courtroom and therapists who long to be part of meaningful change often find a deep sense of purpose. It’s an opportunity to help people through one of life’s most difficult transitions in a way that honors their humanity.

Mediators bring compassion and insight to the table, drawing on both their professional training and their belief in the power of understanding. They witness moments of breakthrough: when a couple finds common ground in their love for their children, or when a conversation shifts from conflict to collaboration. These moments are why so many professionals choose this path—not just as an addition to their practice, but as a calling.

Mediation doesn’t just resolve disputes; it plants seeds for healthier families and communities. Children of mediated divorces grow up witnessing cooperation and respect, even in times of hardship. Parents find ways to communicate and co-parent effectively, setting an example of resilience and care. Families discover that even in separation, they are still connected in meaningful ways.

For the individuals who guide these conversations, the work is profoundly fulfilling. It’s not just about resolving legal matters—it’s about helping people rewrite their stories with courage and compassion. It’s about creating spaces where understanding can flourish, even amid pain. And it’s about offering hope for brighter days ahead.

This is not just an alternative; it’s a lifeline. It’s an opportunity to protect what matters most, to heal, and to move forward with intention and grace. For those who choose to practice it, it’s a chance to make a lasting impact in the lives of those they serve. And for families, it’s a pathway to a future filled with hope and possibility.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Dykeman is a multi-skilled, high-performing professional passionate about supporting small nonprofit organizations part-time and through volunteering. He emphasizes strategic communications, leadership development, community outreach, and partnership identification to scale organizations toward full-time capacity and increase impact.

The Center for Understanding in Conflnict (CUC) offers conflict resolution and mediation training based on the Understanding-Based Model. In the understanding-based approach, the conflict professional seeks to work directly with the parties to support them on their path to conflict resolution.

Reprinted with permission from blog post originally published January 16, 2025.

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