Et Al.

The NFPA 1999 Paralegal Compensation and Benefits Report

This survey collected information from members of various paralegal associations across the country regarding demographics, education, compensation, benefits, satisfaction levels, employer types, and other topics of interest to the paralegal profession. The following table represents the average responses concerning important aspects of a paralegal’s job and characteristics of members of the paralegal profession.

Focus on TBLS Certification

In 1989, members of the Legal Assistants Division of the State Bar of Texas voted in a special referendum to set aside division funds for the development of a certification program. The Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas also created a special Task Force in 1991 to conduct studies researching the concept of voluntary specialty-certification. Within a year of inception of the Task Force, LAD, the SBOT Board of Directors, and TBLS approved the concept of the program, and agreed that TBLS would administer the program. The TBLS already had experience in the attorney certification program and had been issuing attorney certifications since 1975. The Texas Supreme Court issued an order on May 18, 1993 amending the Texas Plan for Recognition and Regulation of Specialization in the Law to include administration of the legal assistant specialty certification program.

The TBLS is a non-profit organization specifically created for advancing the standards of the legal profession and promoting the availability, accessibility and quality of the services of the legal profession to the public. As the only state-associated organization in the nation responsible for certifying both attorneys and legal assistants in specific fields of law, TBLS programs are in a category all by themselves. The TBLS currently has the largest number of certified attorneys in the nation, and is the first and only state-associated program to certify legal assistants.

The TBLS Legal Assistant Advisory and Exam Commissions are made up of attorneys and legal assistants, some of which are participants, and some of which are volunteers. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization is authorized by the Supreme Court of Texas to certify attorneys in 14 specific areas of law and legal assistants in 6 specific areas. Board certified attorneys and legal assistants have met specific requirements and passed an extensive day-long examination. This certification is voluntary, and if you’ve sat through the examination, you already know that it is a very rigorous and demanding certification process, even when you have more than a few years of experience.

In fact, the legal assistant standards for testing were patterned after similar comprehensive requirements of the attorney certification program, which explains why it is very rigorous! The national recognition and success of the attorney program have given the certified legal assistant program a prestigious advantage. It is probably also an advantage that most, if not all, attorneys in Texas are at least familiar with what the TBLS certification for attorneys is and the standards set by such certification and testing, as well as the success of that program. Although, the TBLS certification exams for legal assistants only began as recently as 1994, this program is rapidly earning more and more credibility. It is now regarded by many paralegals and attorneys as a very desirable and meaningful accomplishment in the legal field. The official TBLS designation is phrased similarly to the established attorney designation, "Board Certified Legal Assistant - (specialty field) - Texas Board of Legal Specialization," and it is one of the most recognizable and rewarding aspects of successful completion of the legal assistant certification program.

To date, TBLS has processed approximately 600 legal assistant applications and 10,0000 attorney applications. The application form is extensive and time-consuming to complete, but necessary. In order for your application to be approved to sit for the exam, you must at least meet the following general minimum qualifications:

• Five Years Legal Assistant Experience (including 3 years of actual Texas experience in the particular specialty field immediately preceding the application)
  
  
• Advanced Education, or NALA Certification, or Four Years Additional Experience
  
  
• Substantial Involvement in the Specialty Field(s)
  
  
• Peer Review (which includes written recommendations submitted from supervising attorneys and other non-attorney professionals)
  
  
• A minimum of 30 hours of Continuing Legal Education Attendance in the specialty field within the accumulation period (which begins 3 years preceding the certification application filing date and ends June 1st of the year in which the certificates are to be issued)

The Agreements and Authorizations section of the application includes an authorization for both you and your supervising attorney to complete, which also helps your supervising attorney to fully understand your professional commitment and the challenge you will be facing. Detailed explanations are requested as to your experience and job duties in each area of the application, and the application review process involves the staff, the Legal Assistant Commission and the TBLS. Applications and credentials are reviewed on an individual basis.

Despite the amount of experience, extensive CLE requirements, and extensive application procedures, the TBLS, in its short existence, has already certified 319 Texas legal assistants. Current exam areas are:

Civil Trial Law; Personal Injury Trial Law; Family Law; Criminal Law; Estate Planning/Probate; Real Estate

and the TBLS is constantly asking for input from Texas legal assistants as to the program and what new fields of law they may consider adding to the program in the future.

The exams are four hours in length and consist of both objective and essay questions. The essay questions are based upon hypothetical situations requiring original drafting and/or completion of various pleadings and discovery requests, identification of critical or substantive issues, and knowledge of procedural considerations. The exams are prepared and graded by the Legal Assistant Exam Commission, which membership consists of attorneys, educators, and TBLS certified legal assistants. A curve method (Norm Reference Testing) is used to calculate the pass/fail results. The pass/fail results for the years 1994-1998 show that approximately 63% pass, and approximately 37% fail.

There are no specific exam preparation materials or courses provided by TBLS; however, the Legal Assistant Division of the State Bar sponsors advanced courses in each of the TBLS specialty fields. Additionally, there are Advanced Courses offered by the State Bar of Texas which cover the specialty fields, which often also prove to be helpful.

The 2000 Exam is scheduled for October 9, 2000 in Austin. The new application forms will be available in February, and you can call 1-800-204-2222 or 512-463-1454 to request to be placed on the mailing list to automatically to receive an application once they are printed. They will also be accessible on the web-site in February, at www.tbls.org. The filing deadline for the applications is April 10, 2000.

Speakers Bureau

The Legal Assistants Division of the State Bar of Texas would like to establish a speakers bureau to be accessed by legal assistant groups seeking speakers on various topics. In order to establish a database of speakers across Texas, the Division would like you to provide the following information:

1. Have you ever spoken to a legal assistants’ group?  ___Yes  ___No

If yes, what was the topic of your speech?_______________________________

To whom was your speech directed____________________________________

2. Have you attended a seminar or meeting where the speaker impressed you? If so, please provide the name of the speaker, the address and telephone number of the speaker, the group to whom the speech was addressed, the topic of the speech, and the date the speech was given.
   ________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________
   ________________________________________________________________
   
   
3. Would you like to be listed as a speaker in the Division’s speakers bureau database?  ___Yes  ___No

If yes, please list your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and the topics you would like to speak on:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4. Would you be willing to speak for no fee?  ___Yes  ___No
   
   
5. Would you be willing to travel? ___Yes  ___No 
   
   
6. Would you require that any travel expenses be paid by the group requesting you?  ___Yes  ___No
   
   
7. Would you be willing to speak at functions held during the week, Monday through Friday?  ___Yes  ___No
   
   
8. Would you be wiling to speak at functions held on weekends? ___Yes  ___No
   Saturdays only___  Saturdays and/or Sundays___   Sundays only___
   
   
9. Are you a member of Toastmasters?  ___Yes  ___No
   
   
10. Do you teach in any paralegal program?  ___Yes  ___No

If yes, please list the name of the institution at which you teach, how long you have been teaching, and the subjects you teach.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time and cooperation. Please return this form to: Jodye Kasher, CLA, Fanning, Harper & Martinson, 8117 Preston Road, Suite 300W, Dallas, Texas 75225

Spring TAPA 2000 Convention

HOSTED BY: EL PASO ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS (EPALA)

DATES: MARCH 31, 2000 through APRIL 1,2000

TIME: 
SOCIAL FROM 7:00 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M. FRIDAY
TAPA MEETING FROM 8:00 TO 4:00 ON SATURDAY

PLACE: 
CAMINO REAL HOTEL
101 S. EL PASO STREET
EL PASO, TEXAS 79901
Reservations: (915) 534-3000

NOTE: TO GET A DISCOUNTED ROOM RATE YOU MUST CALL AND REGISTER BY NOON ON MARCH 1, 2000

OR COME EARLY AND SPEND FRIDAY AT OUR CLE SEMINAR

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL SHARON A. NEWSON, CLA AT

(915) 546-8314 OR EMAIL snew@scotthulse.com

SPRING TAPA 2000 CONVENTION REGISTRATION FORM

Please Mail form by March 15, 2000 to:
El Paso Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., P. O. Box 6, El Paso, Texas 79940

NAME OF ASSOCIATION:_________________________________________________

NAME OF REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDING:_________________________________

If you will be arriving at El Paso International Airport, please provide the following:

DATE OF ARRIVAL:______________________________

TIME OF ARRIVAL:______________________________

AIRLINES:______________________________________

DATE OF DEPARTURE:__________________________

TIME OF DEPARTURE:__________________________

AIRLINES:
All Association members are encourage to attend the TAPA Convention. Please list the name of each additional person attending from your association and enclose your check in the amount of $35.00 to cover the cost of each additional member from your association attending the Convention.

Name:________________________________________________________

Association:___________________________________________________

Name:________________________________________________________

Association:___________________________________________________

Name:________________________________________________________

Association:___________________________________________________

If you have any questions, please call Sharon A. Newson, CLA (915) 546-8314 or Email snew@scotthulse.com.

LAD 2000 Annual Meeting

The Legal Assistants Division will hold its annual meeting on Friday, June 23, 2000, at the State Bar of Texas convention in San Antonio. There will be several CLE seminars sponsored by the Legal Assistants Division, as well as numerous seminars offered by the SBOT. If you register by May 12, 2000,registration is only $10.00! Legal assistants whose LAD memberships are up to date are eligible for special benefits available only at the LAD booth.

Please note that tickets to the annual meeting and luncheon will not be available at the convention. Tickets are only available prior to the week of the convention.

Look for registration information for the annual meeting and CLE events in the May 2000 issue of the Texas Bar Journal.

Dear LAD Members: I am writing this letter to bid Texas farewell and to acknowledge the impact that LAD and its many "superstars" have had on me and the paralegal profession. As of the first of April, my husband, John, and I will be relocating to Vermont and will begin building our retirement home. This is "dream" that has been in the making for many years, and while we are very excited to see it come to fruition, it is not without nostalgia and a feeling of loss that I leave Texas. Nearly 20 years ago I moved to Dallas and began working in a law office where a visionary attorney decided to train me to be a paralegal. I learned of the local paralegal organization and attended a few meetings, feeling overwhelmed at the level of professionalism and hoping that some day I could walk in the shoes of such awesome folks. Later, I learned that the State Bar had formed a Division just for legal assistants and submitted my application for membership, never actually believing I would be accepted. At that time, the application was just a couple of paragraphs attested to by my employer! My active involvement with DAPA and LAD did not start until many years after I became a member of those organizations. My "inspiration" to become active actually was when I was asked to be a volunteer. Up until the time when someone asked me if I would help, I never considered myself qualified. Over the many years of active participation in these two associations, I feel that I have been afforded the luxury of being a part of the future direction of this profession. The opportunities have been plenty and the friendships have been invaluable. I have had many mentors, many of whom do not even know they have been a role model. I am grateful for all the benefits I have realized through my memberships in my state and local professional associations. I can only hope that each of your careers can be as fulfilling. I will continue to watch Texas for leadership in the future of the paralegal profession. I wish each of you the best of luck always.