President
Jim is an independent litigation paralegal in Houston specializing in the area of personal injury and commercial litigation. Jim also serves as a litigation support consultant to law firms in Houston. Jim received his B.S. degree from the University of Houston and his paralegal certificate from Southwestern Paralegal Institute. He is a former director from District 1 and is currently serving on the Division Board as President.
Jim is also a member of the Houston Legal Assistants Association and has served that organization as Second Vice President for Programs. Jim is a frequent speaker on continuing education topics for non-lawyers. Jim is recently engaged to be married in October of this year.
Lisa Sprinkle
CLAS, President-Elect is a free-lance paralegal who began her own business in El Paso in August 1990, specializing in civil trial work. She has a bachelorís degree in Psychology (1977) as well as a certificate of completion in Legal Assistant Studies (1983) from El Paso Community College. Lisa obtained her CLA in 1985; earned the NALA Litigation specialty designation in 1987; and became certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law in 1994. In addition to the LAD, Lisa is a member of the ABA, the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., the El Paso County Bar Association and the El Paso Association of Legal Assistants. Lisa has served as President, V.P. of Publications and Public Relations and NALA Liaison for her local association; as Region IV Director for NALA (1987-1991) and as Affiliated Associations Director from 1992 to 1994. She has served on various Division committees, was the District 16 director from 1994-98 and Parliamentarian in 1995-97. In addition to serving as a part-time instructor in the legal assistant program at El Paso Community College for the past thirteen years, she also serves on the Advisory Board for the community college legal assistant program.
Lisa is married to her high school sweetheart and has one child, Kara. Lisa loves books, movies, crafts, decorating, and spending time with her family.
Melissa D. Sherman
CLA, Secretary
Melissa, a Fort Worth native, is married with three daughters. She graduated Cum Laude from Texas Womenís University with a Bachelor of Science in Government emphasizing Legal Assistance and a Minor in Business Administration. She obtained her Certified Legal Assistant designation from the National Association of Legal Assistantís in 1992 and became certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law in 1995.
Melissa began working in the legal field in 1985 while attending college. She has been with her current firm, Amis, Bell & Moore, an in-house legal office for Farmers Insurance Group of Companies since April, 1993.
Melissa has been actively involved with the division since 1993. She became a the director for District 3 in January, 1996 and assumed the position of Division Secretary in September, 1996. She currently serves on the Board of the Fort Worth Paralegal Association, volunteers in her church and various childrenís activities within her community and is a continuing education speakers for Professional Education Systems, Inc., in the area of litigation.
Barbara Jacoby Howell
Treasurer
Barbara graduated cum laude from Sam Houston State University in 1976 and from Southwestern Paralegal Institute in 1985. In 1985, Barbara was hired by the law firm of Sheinfeld, Maley & Kay, P.C. as a bankruptcy paralegal. A thirteen year veteran, she has worked on some of the largest bankruptcy cases in the United States. Not only is Barbara active with the LAD, she is a past president and treasurer of HLAA and is currently serving as HLAAís parliamentarian. Barbara participates in the SSI Advo-Kids program and, in her spare time, enjoys playing with her pets and body building.
S. Kristine Farmer
Parliamentarian
Kristine is a litigation paralegal with the Law Offices of Tommy R. Rodgers, P.C. in Dallas, Texas. Since 1990, she has worked in the area of civil litigation, specializing in labor/employment law, complex business litigation and family law. Kristine received her B.B.A. in labor/management from the University of North Texas in 1992 and became board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1997.
An active member of the Division since 1995, she has been the Director for District 2 since May 1997. Kristine previously chaired the Divisionís Professional Development Committee and was the recipient of the Outstanding Committee Chair of the Year in 1997. As a member of the Board of Directors for the Dallas Area Paralegal Association she serves as the NFPA Primary Representative and previously served as the Education Vice-President. She is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the National Association of Legal Assistants.