The current Task Force on Long Range Planning was created out of discussions held at a Legal Assistants Division of the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors' retreat in the Fall of 1995. At that time, board members were cognizant of the fact that, since its inception in 1981, the Division had accomplished much and was a mature and active state-wide association which was serving the needs, not only of its members, but of all legal assistants across Texas. Additionally, the Division had assisted other legal assistants around the country in developing Bar legal assistant divisions, and had therefore grown to be a leader among its peers.
The Division had just seen the dream of specialty certification finally realized, after years of work by dedicated legal assistants and attorneys. The Division, through its work and funding, had truly been a driving force in making specialty certification a reality. It was also providing advanced seminars for members and non-members, had instituted new by-law amendments to streamline its operations and organizational structure, and was about to launch its official publication, the Texas Paralegal Journal, in a new, slick magazine format.
When the current and former Board members met at the 1995 retreat, they discussed these accomplishments, but began to turn their eyes toward the future. Where should the Division be headed, in light of where it had already been? The Board was most concerned that the momentum the Division had gained not be lost, that it remain a leader in the profession as well as among its peers. They also realized that a specific vision would be necessary to set a course for action.
I was appointed by the Board to head up a new Long Range Planning Task Force at the January 1996 Board meeting. The Task Force was charged with identifying and investigating issues important to legal assistants in Texas, as well as to the profession as a whole. Ultimately, the Task Force was to make recommendations to the Board for future action.
A small group of active legal assistants from around the state, from urban and rural communities, large and small law firms, was appointed by the Division. The goal was to have a task force comprised of individuals who were not only from different legal and social communities, but who also had differing views and attitudes, in order to encourage debate and an open exchange of ideas and information.
The first year was spent in attempts to define and prioritize those issues that were most likely to be of interest/concern to legal assistants. Research was conducted into the issues of professional regulation, continuing legal education (CLE), the Division's relationship with the State Bar of Texas and the SBOT Standing Committee on Legal Assistants, as well as topics "closer to home," such as redistricting and the relationship between the Division and local legal assistant associations.
With these issues in mind, the Task Force members decided to distribute a questionnaire, in an attempt to obtain opinions from as many legal assistants as possible regarding the issues of professionalism. The results of the questionnaire are included in a separate article in this edition of the Texas Paralegal Journal.
While the research conducted by the Task Force has led us to believe that legal assistants are vitally interested in several of the issues identified by the Task Force, it is the belief of the Task Force members that further research and education are necessary before any specific recommendations can be made to the Board for action with regard to the issues. However, the Task Force has been strongly encouraged by the interest it has observed among Texas legal assistants, and its members feel that they have been able to accomplish a good deal during the year and a half that they have been working on this project.
After review and discussion of the January 1997 Task Force report, the Board decided that a preliminary digest should be prepared in the sincere hope that the information contained therein would aid the Board in its deliberations. The Board realized that there was a voluminous amount of information which had been gathered by the Task Force and that it was no small task to attempt to understand all of the issues. The Board received the digest in April, 1997.
In June, 1997 the Board charged the Long Range Planning Task Force with educating the members of the Legal Assistants Division on the issues contained in the Digest by preparing articles for inclusion in its Fall issue of the Texas Paralegal Journal. Hence, the outcome is before you.
This is only the beginning. More education, most likely in the form of public hearings to be held across the state, has been suggested. In this way, we may accomplish the dual task of educating other legal assistants as well as ourselves. In looking back we are reminded that legal assistants cannot move forward unless we focus on the same vision.
The Board of the Legal Assistants Division has made no recommendation for any formal action. I am sure that the Task Force and the Board will work together to listen and learn from each of you concerning the direction in which to take our profession and we thank all of you for your support.
The theme for this issue-Forging Ahead-is appropriate on several levels. "Forge" can be a noun, which means "a furnace or hearth where metals are heated or wrought," it can be a verb, meaning "to give form or shape to; contrive, devise," or it can mean "to advance gradually but firmly." Since becoming a paralegal in 1976, I have seen our profession "forged" over time, with the cooperation of attorneys and the dedication of legal assistants, while it has advanced steadily to the point where it is one of the fastest growing job fields in the country. We are on the eve of a new century. What an auspicious time for us to begin planning for our future!
Debra Crosby has been a paralegal since 1976. She is a charter member of the Division and has served in a variety of positions over the years. She served as a member of the Board of Directors from 19911995 and was Chair of the Division from 19931995. She has served as chair of the Long Range Planning Task Force since 1995 and is also a member of the State Bar's Standing Committee on Legal Assistants and the TBLSAdvisory Commission for the Legal Assistants Certification Program.