Et Al.

spring 2003 vol. 8 no. 4
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REPORTING CLE . . . LAD is Here to Help.

Because LAD will begin to ask each of us, its members, to earn six (6) hours of CLE for the renewal of our membership in 2004, CLE attendance and the collection of units should begin now. You need to begin thinking about advance planning of your CLE attendance. You have a little more than twelve (12) months to determine the CLE that interests you, that qualifies and that will meet your educational needs and the needs of your firm or corporation.

Simply attending local luncheon (1 hour) presentations here and there will provide you with an adequate amount of CLE for your membership renewal. If you don’t wait until the last minute, it won’t be necessary to attend day long seminars and have to travel out of state.

To help you with your CLE planning and tracking, you will find a sample tracking form at the end of the article entitled “The Beginning of a New Chapter in the Future of LAD.” You might read about a CLE event that interests you and that you would like to plan on attending—go ahead and list it on your tracking form and attach the registration information to the form. Seeing the CLE on the list will serve as a constant reminder to you that you need to obtain approval from your attorney or firm. Routinely seeing the CLE on the list will also help you to make the CLE become a reality, rather than a mere passing thought. Once you actually attend the CLE, you may check the “actual attendance” column. In essence, this tracking form helps you track the activities you would like to attend and the CLE that you actually do attend. Additionally, the tracking form is an excellent form to use, sign, and turn in for membership in the State Bar College, which also requires legal assistants to maintain CLE units for membership.

While we distinguish ourselves by being members of one of the few legal assistant divisions of a State Bar in the United States, LAD anticipates that mandatory CLE will be highly supported by our members’ attorneys and will demonstrate that our profession in this State has advanced to a new level of professionalism and recognition. The Division believes that attorneys, corporations and/or firms will be proud that you take your career and profession seriously and that you are passionate about enhancing your development as a legal assistant and a valuable member of your office and/or legal department.

Growth is the only evidence of life and our profession is alive and well because of the responsibility we have taken to lead ourselves and further the growth of LAD. It is time to turn the page and begin a new chapter for LAD.

Texas Paralegal Journal © Copyright 2003 by the Legal Assistants Division, State Bar of Texas.

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