summer 2004 vol. 10 no. 1                                                                                                                       Return to Contents
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editor’s Note

by Rhonda J. Brashears

It is already May, and I do not know where the months have gone. The work environment has been overwhelming, and with the end of school year events tugging at the other end, I am not sure which way to run. There was a time in our practice area when we had a break during the summer and another one around the end of the year with the holidays, but I was telling someone the other day that I think it has been three years since I remember such a lull. This issue reflects some of those changes in our field. The Paralegal profession is still considered one of the hottest in the United States, and the growth rates are staggering. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-2005 Edition, contained in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Bulletin 2540, employment is projected to increase 21 to 35 percent between 2002 and 2012. In addition to the continued and growing demand for paralegals, our Division is changing. For the first time ever, we were required to show proof of continuing legal education, a Board decision which came about after extensive communication with LAD members and research across the state regarding requirements for membership in many local associations.

This issue contains several items which relate directly to the changes in our work lives, such as information about the recent Labor Board rulings and the House votes on these rulings, tips on negotiating for the new job, and some information to help you find CLE that fits your budget. Also, take the time to review the recognition section which highlights paralegals who have been recognized across this great state of ours. I would like to maintain this section as a regular part of each and every TPJ. If you have any news of this nature, please provide me with information about the award, a short bio, and a picture if possible, and I will be happy to print it in the next issue.

As this fiscal year winds down and we prepare for a new one, I would like to thank the most recent additions to the Publications Committee, Jim Barber, Janabeth Evans and Carolyn Goff, for all of their assistance with these past two issues. Without their help, you would not have had anything to read. Shortly after the Annual Meeting in June the Publications Committee will meet and prepare a game plan for the next fiscal year. If you have any suggestions on ways we can make your magazine better, please let me know. Or, if you have a knack for writing articles or harassing people into doing things like writing articles, let me know, and you can join our team.

You can contact Rhonda J. Brashears by calling (806) 379-0325 or by e-mail at rjb@uwlaw.com

Texas Paralegal Journal © Copyright 2004 by the Legal Assistants Division, State Bar of Texas.

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