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Lesson 2.
There’s a place for everyone in a volunteer organization. You may have
a talent for art or graphic design. Our public relations committee could
use you to assist us in designing brochures. You may have talent in
writing and delivering speeches and could be an asset to the Division by
promoting membership at local law day events or at local schools. You
may prefer to stay behind the scenes writing articles for the TPJ.
Everyone can contribute something in some small way to help strengthen
the Division.
Lesson 3. Different parts
of the state need different services provided by the Division.
In some areas of the state continuing
education is abundant through the State Bar and strong local
associations. Other areas of the state do not have the benefit of
regular continuing education. The Division held LAU this past year in an
attempt to offer continuing education at a price that individuals from
all areas of the state could afford. If Division members of an area,
even without a local paralegal association, will band together, the
Division will assist them in planning continuing education events.
Some areas of the state have large
membership in the Division. In other areas we have very few members.
This may be due to firm support, or the lack thereof, individual
competition for jobs, or plain apathy. If you are a member of the
Division, it is your responsibility to encourage others to join, to
increase our voice in the direction of our profession. It is your
responsibility to communicate with your Director your ideas,
suggestions, and concerns. The Board of Directors of the Division can
only meet the needs of an area when it is informed about those needs.
Lesson 4. Sometimes the
wheels of progress seem to move very slowly. When the Board of Directors
looks at a new idea, project or directive for the membership of the
Division, it sometimes feels as if it takes forever to bring that
project to fruition. Things worth doing are worth doing well. That is
why the Division has been looking as regulation, licensing, etc. for a
long time now. We have gathered information, done surveys, held forums,
done more surveys all in an attempt to determine the best direction for
this profession in Texas. To some of you it may seem as if the Division
is dragging its heels but without careful investigation and preparation
more harm than good could come to our profession. The only way to speed
up this particular "progress" is for more input from the
membership. Write your director if you have an opinion about regulation
of our profession. Share your viewpoint with your attorneys, with local
bar associations, poll your local association members and share this
information with the Division.
Lesson 5. My
time spent working with the Division has improved all aspects of my
professional life. I am a freelance legal assistant and my work with the
Division has given me exposure and the opportunity to serve attorney
clients around the state. I am more passionate about my profession and
more positive in the impression I give others about my profession. I
have become a better teacher and mentor. I have learned better ways to
do my job from other legal assistants I have met. I have gained self
confidence. I have gained much more than my basic membership fee covers.
The bottom line of all these lessons is
that you get what you put in to something. Through involvement in the
Division I have acquired knowledge, competence, some lifelong friends,
and much wisdom. Now it’s your turn to learn some lessons and to gain
much more than you ever imagined. Become a voice in the Division,
participate locally and statewide in your profession. We look forward to
hearing from you soon.
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