Et Al.
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As I sit down to write this first President’s Message, I cannot help but reflect upon the last twenty years that I have worked in this profession. As a charter member of LAD, I have watched the growth of the Division and have been honored to serve it in many capacities. I have met and worked with so many other LAD members who also volunteer their time to make this organization what it has become. The personal growth that it has given me to be a part of such a wonderful group of professionals can never be measured. I would like to challenge each and every single member of LAD to take a look around you at the other legal assistants you work with and if they are not a LAD member, talk to them about becoming a member. Just point them to the application on the website (www.lad.org) and tell them what LAD can do for them. With the changes taking place in this profession, it is time for more legal assistants to get into the loop that only LAD can offer. The Long Range Planning Task Force continues to work to gather the wide range of information necessary for us to take a look at the future of this profession. Please refer to the article later in this issue that will bring you up to date on the status of the Task Force. I cannot stress the importance of these issues that will ultimately impact all of us. If you have not spoken up on these issues, please do so. It is crucial that we continue to educate each other, but more importantly to educate the attorneys, and to get their input and ideas |
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This past year, while serving as President-Elect, has flown by, and with it came our first Legal Assistant’s University, as well as the new millennium. LAU was a phenomenal concept brought about by a group of terrific people who worked endlessly to make it happen. LAU 2000 is in the final stages of planning and is set for September 20-23 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Austin. This is a project LAD believes in because of the opportunity to once again be able to offer legal assistants a higher standard of legal education, and we hope to continue this on an annual basis. If you did not attend last year, please make plans to attend this year. It is a great networking time, with an opportunity to earn a large number of hours of CLE on a wide variety of topics. Also, LAD will be offering two scholarships to LAU this year. (Please see Scholarship Application and requirements for submission) A major project that we plan to undertake this coming year is to conduct a statewide salary survey—which to my knowledge has not been done exclusively for Texas legal assistants. We have access to information from surveys conducted by local associations or national groups, but we feel the time has come to take a look at what is happening in Texas. I encourage each of you to watch for this survey and to participate, as well as ask others to participate as well. Not to already put myself out of office, but when the LAD fiscal year of 2000–2001 closes next year, we will be celebrating our 20-year anniversary. It is hard to believe that can be said—seems like we just got started! So very much has been accomplished in the past twenty years. As the year progresses, we will reflect upon those accomplishments. I look forward to a great year and am honored to be allowed the opportunity to serve this great organization along with a wonderful Board of Directors and volunteer committee members. The cite for the Paralegal Pointer concerning "Communications of Sympathy" quoted in the Spring 2000 edition of the Journal was incorrect. It should have been: CPRC §18.061. Clarification: While in the hospital, your client (who was injured in a motor vehicle collision) received a visit from the other driver who stated that he "...was sorry..." would fall into the Communications of Sympathy. However, "I just didn’t see you in my lane of traffic," could be construed as an admission of liability. Please see CRPC §18.061 (c). I just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed the new format of the Texas Paralegal Journal! The articles of general interest have been very much appreciated. Keep up the good work! Rhonda McManus,
Paralegal, Congratulations on another great issue. Just finished reading Spring Issue. I am glad to see Inda Crawford get some recognition for her part of the plans for LAU. As her friend I know how hard she worked and how much effort she put into the luncheon. Just wanted to pass on that Inda lives in Amarillo, Texas not Austin. Keep up the good work. Kelly Cavin Thanks for the clarification (Paralegal Pointer: Communications of Sympathy). I did not know that provision had been enacted! See, we all learn something new every day. (That one alone is worth the price of LAD membership!) Linda Slayter, The Dallas group (DAPA) is in "awe" over the new format of TPJ. Much more interest in the magazine! Hope you are receiving great comments as well. Kim J. Cantu, CLA, |
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© 2000, Legal Assistants Division State Bar of Texas |
