By Javan Johnson, CLAS

It is incredible to realize that the Legal Assistants Division has now been in existence for 20 years. As part of this 20 year celebration, we have been attempting to locate our 1,013 charter members. This has proven to be a tough task. Of course, as would be expected, we have had many members retire, change professions, become lawyers, etc., and if they are not still LAD members, we have no way of tracking them. We have, however, been able to find some, and are still in the process of locating everyone. If you are a charter member and have not been contacted, please e-mail me at javan@texramp.net or at our LAD address at the front of the magazine, and we will be sure and get your information.

In this issue, there is an article regarding LAD’s history of growth over the years. However, we wanted to include another article to share the comments and memories we have gathered thus far. We continue to welcome your thoughts and comments, to be included in future issues this year, as we continue our 20 year celebration.

Let me challenge you!  After YOU read this issue of TPJ, if you are proud to be a LAD member, whether it be for 20 years, 10 years, 5 years, or 1 year—would you take your magazine and show it to another friend or acquaintance who is a legal assistant and is NOT a LAD member?  Ask them to read it and see if they might be interested in becoming a LAD member. I personally have always been proud to be a LAD member, and most especially a charter member, but I must confess, as I have become more and more involved, and as I have been in touch with so many that are sharing comments, I am more proud than ever of being a part of the most powerful legal assistants group in the United States. Everything they need to know to become a member is on our website www.lad.org. Now, on to the memories.

As a charter member myself, I actually cannot remember how I learned about LAD. So I was very interested in the fact that many heard about it through the legal assistant programs they were enrolled in at the time. Kathy Harkins was in school at Southwest Texas State University getting her lawyer’s assistant certificate and they mentioned LAD. She returned to west Texas after graduating and joined LAD in an effort to stay involved with the progress of the legal assistant profession. She says “There weren’t many of us in 1982—most attorneys didn’t even know what one was, let alone how to use one!”  Linda Paquette was attending University of Texas at Arlington and learned about LAD from a political science instructor who was involved in the formation of LAD.

Wayne Fisher of Houston was the President of the State Bar of Texas when the LAD charter membership certificates were issued, and those certificates hold his signature.

Carolyn Vedder had moved to Texas from Alabama in 1980 after completing her paralegal education through Huntingdon College and Jones Law Institute. Her employer, Rayburn Nall, suggested she apply for membership in LAD. She says “I was thrilled to learn that Texas was leading the nation in acceptance of paralegals as an adjunct to the legal profession.”  Mr. Nall was one of those that served on the Board of Directors of the State Bar when the decision was made to institute the Division. Carolyn says he has been her hero for his foresight in using a paralegal and encouraging her in the profession.

Charlotte Jones shares some words of wisdom, which we all need to remember in this fast-paced career of ours: “I’ve been a legal assistant for 35 years, and have loved nearly every minute of it. Of course, there have been times when I wished I was someone else and that I did something else for a living, but for the most part I’ve found the career rewarding and fulfilling. However, I hope that young people entering the profession today will not make the same mistake that I made for several years—that is, having my priorities just a little bit skewed. While I sincerely believe that we must work hard at whatever job/career/profession/calling and give our very best efforts to it, it is equally important to keep a balance. God and family are both more important. While I have had very few situations where I had to choose one of those facets of my life over my career, I have been known on occasion to make the wrong choice, mix up my priorities, then have to deal with the consequences of getting things back in proper order . . . a good mix always adds flavor to whatever’s cooking.”

Jane Rhodes states that she believes the biggest change over the years is computerization, in that we get a lot more done in the same amount of time than we could twenty years ago. She also remarks “One thing I have noticed is that while the term “legal assistant” is more recognized and respected than it was twenty years ago, it is also much more misused . . . it is a different breed of human indeed who can work for lawyers day in and day out and live to tell about it!”

Cheryl Kensing said that her earliest memories included attending every legal assistant seminar available because that was about the only means for obtaining the knowledge. The seminars were specific and practical. During lunches there were running arguments over whether to use “legal assistant” or “paralegal.” Cheryl says that “legal assistant” won out because “paralegal” is an adjective!  Interesting, huh?

Dixie Dixon has worked for Jimmy Brill for 22 years, who is a well known author and speaker for the legal profession. Dixie says he is the “consummate joiner” because he feels that is the way to make a positive difference in our profession. Because of his influence, Dixie felt the need to join an organization that was aimed specifically to her career. She states: “I have met some wonderful people during my association with our Division who have reaffirmed my own beliefs that what we do is not only helpful to our employers but more importantly to our clients. We can make a difference. I like the fact that I am constantly learning, not only from our members, bu the State Bar sponsored seminars and publications.”

Karen Arrington thanks those that are active in the administration of LAD for their time and effort. She shares “We were a long time getting there, and I am constantly grateful for the respect we finally gained from attorneys (they are finally getting there, too!).

Sharon Bradford was one of the first district directors from Amarillo. She said it was interesting in coming up with the first bylaws, guidelines, etc. The meetings in those days were very productive and “at times a bit emotional as we broke new ground. LAD has come a long, long way. At our first meetings, discussions relating to regulating members, licensure and testing were addressed... I am proud that LAD came up with certification tests for legal assistants in specialty areas.”

Nona Hoyer writes: “I am a charter member of LAD and extremely proud of it and my profession as well as the strides which have been made to recognize our work and ethics in our assisting our lawyer/bosses do their work. I have maintained for years that while the lawyer has the ‘sheepskin’ on the wall, I defy any one of them to practice full-time without his legal assistant.”

Honi Canon shares: “Thank you to all who have help build this organization into what it is today. We definitely stand for something now. I am proud to be a charter member and to have worked in this profession for all these years.”

Helen Case said that her proudest moment was attending the 1995 NALA Annual Meeting and being able to report on LAD’s certification program. “Others from around the nation were impressed that Texas was, once again, leading the way. We had a spirited debate on the merits of an in-state certification program.”

Betsy Dennis commented: “I’m a relatively new member. I receive a big boost by just being a part of LAD. I can keep posted on all that is happening. It’s great!”

I thank each person who has sent me comments and memories. As said earlier, we have others to share, and would love to hear from as many of you as possible for future issues.

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© 2002, Legal Assistants Division State Bar of Texas