President's Message
Ellen Lockwood , CLAS, RP
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE OUR PROFESSION?
One of the goals of last year’s State Bar President, Kelly Frels, was to work to improve the image of attorneys. This year’s State Bar President, Eduardo Rodriguez, is continuing to work with the State Bar and other attorney organizations around the country to improve the image of attorneys and judges, and to work to combat judge and lawyer bashing. The image of paralegals with the public is also important. To people who have not had any personal experience with the legal community, you may represent their only impression, other than what they see on television and in the movies.
Most paralegals in Texas want to raise standards for paralegals and limit who can use the term “paralegal.” To be deserving of such status we should strive to conduct ourselves as professionally as possible, both on the job and in our community.
As members of the community, it is important to give back to the profession as well as the community at large. Pro bono work allows us to work with the legal community as well as members of the community who need free legal services. If the attorney with whom you work doesn’t perform pro bono work, contact your District Director. He or she can direct you to pro bono projects in your area.
Other volunteer opportunities are available in every community to fit every interest. You could volunteer at a soup kitchen or library, donate blood, work with your church, mosque, or synagogue, work with plants or animals, tutor, volunteer with the elderly, the list is endless. Any volunteer work you do, even if it is only a few times a year, makes your community a better place to live.
Giving back to our profession can be as simple as keeping informed of developments in the profession, staying educated by attending CLE, and volunteering with professional associations. A great way to give back is to assist other paralegals, especially those new to the profession. Each of us was new once and the best way we can repay those who helped teach us is to pass on our knowledge.
Of course, ethics are an important part of professionalism. As a friend of mine is fond of saying, it’s not a question of how ethical you are. You are either ethical or you aren’t. This year’s focus is ethics and we hope to provide more opportunities for ethics CLE as well as resources for ethics information.
As a paralegal, you represent all other paralegals. Your actions determine what others in your town and legal community think of paralegals. Be sure your actions raise the standard for our profession and the legal community in general.
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