Paralegal Division News

Have you been thinking about joining the Paralegal Division?  Well, through February 25, 2021 you can join for 1/2 price:  https://txpd.org/membership/new-member-application/

There is no better time to join!

Members joining between December 1 and February 25 (Pro-Rated Time Period) join the Division for half price and will be members through the end of the membership year, which is May 31.  Active and Associate members will be required to obtain the mandatory CLE hours for renewal, 6 hours of CLE, 1 of which must be legal ethics.  Two of the six hours can be satisfied with self-study or pro-bono, neither of which can replace the legal ethics requirement.  So, depending on when you join you will have between 3 and 6 months to complete your CLE requirements for renewal.

The 2020 Paralegal Compensation Survey is now available to all members of the Paralegal Division.  You can access this member only benefit by logging in and then going to the My Account then look under Membership Links.

The Paralegal Division (PD) of the State Bar of Texas is proud to sponsor an Exceptional Pro Bono Service Award.  Its purpose is to promote the awareness of pro bono activities such as those defined by the State Bar of Texas, and to encourage PD members to volunteer their time and specialty skills to pro bono projects within their community by recognizing a PD member who demonstrates exceptional dedication to pro bono service.  Paralegals are invited to foster the development of pro bono projects, to provide assistance to established pro bono programs, and work closely with attorneys to provide unmet legal services to people with low incomes. This annual award will go to an individual PD member, who performed the pro bono service(s) in the State of Texas, and has volunteered his or her time and special skills in providing uncompensated services in pro bono assistance to their community.  The recipient of the award will be announced at the Paralegal Division Annual Meeting Luncheon, his/her expenses to attend the Annual Meeting Luncheon will be incurred by the Division, and a profile of the individual will be published in the Fall issue of the Texas Paralegal Journal.

The nomination form can be found here:  2021 Exceptional_Pro_Bono_Award_Nomination_Form

All PD Members can find the revised TBLS Helpful Hints Guide under the My Account Section of the Website.  Just click and it will take you to the Guide, as well as a Job Description for each area of law.  Take a look now!!  If you have not yet sat for an exam, you should take a look at the Guide before you ever make application as there are hints through every step of the application process, as well as studying for the exam, and then actually taking the exam.  It is a must-have tool!  For questions, email tblshh@txpd.org

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization has rescheduled the 2020 exams to March 20, 2021 – remote testing only.  Applicants who are unable to take their exam via remote testing will be eligible to sit for exams in person in November.  TBLS is issuing details to all of the applicants eligible for the upcoming exams, so please contact them directly for further information.  TBLS hopes to start accepting applications for the 2021 exams in either May or June.  See the TBLS Website for further details:  www.tbls-bcp.org

Save the Date for the TAPS 2021 in San Antonio.  We are happy to announce that the TAPS Planning Committee is already hard at work to plan for TAPS 2021 in San Antonio.  The dates are September 22-24, 2021.  Be watching for details!

The Paralegal Division’s DIRECTOR ELECTION for District Directors in odd-numbered districts (Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 15) will take place March 25 through April 12, 2021.

• Beginning on January 25, 2021 each Elections Subcommittee Chair will prepare and forward, upon request, the following materials to potential candidates for director in their respective district at any time during the nominating period:

1. A copy of the List of Registered Voters in candidates’ respective district;
2. A sample nominating petition; and
3. A copy of Rule VI of the Standing Rules entitled “Guidelines for Campaigns for Candidates as Director.”

• Each potential candidate must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Eligibility Requirements. The candidate must satisfy the eligibility requirements of Article III, Section 3 and Article IX, Section 1 A and Section 4 of the Bylaws and Rule V B, Section 5c of the Standing Rules.
2. Declaration of Intent. The candidate must make a declaration of intent to run as a candidate for the office of director through an original nominating petition declaring such intent that is filed with the Elections Subcommittee Chair in the candidate’s district pursuant to Rule V B, Section 5 of the Standing Rules.
3. Nominating Petition. The original nominating petition must be signed by the appropriate number of registered voters and must be submitted to the Elections Subcommittee Chair in such district, on or before February 19, 2021.

If you are interested in running for District Director, or need further information regarding the election process, contact the Elections Committee Sub-Chair in your District, or the Elections Chair, Melanie Langford, ACP at Elections@txpd.org.

2020–2021 District Election Committee Sub-Chairs:

District 1 – Michelle Rowland michelle.h.rowland@exxonmobil.com

District 3 – Susan Davis – sedgpd@gmail.com

District 5 – Melanie Langford – elections@txpd.com

District 7– Charlotte Martin – bcharlirose@aol.com

District 11 – Susi Boss – president-elect@txpd.org

District 15 – Agueda Aguinaga – aguiepena@hotmail.com