by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Legal assistants and paralegals looking to improve their skills or network with other people in the field have options that continue to grow in Jacksonville.
The first meeting of the First Coast Chapter of the Paralegal Association of Florida was held Thursday at the Wyndham Hotel and the nearly 40 people attending listened to what the new organization was about.
“We want to offer more substantive education opportunities and have a stronger focus on mentorship,” said Helen Westbrook, of the First Coast Chapter.
The new chapter had about 50 charter members prior to Thursday’s meeting and continues to process member applications.
The Paralegal Association of Florida is a professional association of approximately 1,000 paralegals from around the state of Florida. It was incorporated in 1976 as Florida Legal Assistants Inc. “In 2000, the name was changed because the term ‘paralegal’ more accurately reflects the substantive nature of our members’ responsibilities in rendering legal services — while under the supervision of an attorney — and clearly distinguishes our profession from other law office support personnel,” according to the association.
Educational and social opportunities have been available to paralegals and legal assistants in Jacksonville through the Northeast Florida Paralegal Association since 1984. It was originally known as Jacksonville Legal Assistants Inc.
Its current membership is about 180 members and is involved in educational, social and charitable activities throughout Jacksonville.
“We hold continuing education luncheons once a month and members can maintain their continuing education requirements by attending each month,” said Dana Welcker, president of NEFPA, of Murphy & Anderson. “We are also developing a mentorship program.”
NEFPA is an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants, and hosted the national convention in 2010.
The definition of a paralegal/legal assistant, according to NALA, is a person having received specialized training through formal education or many years of experience working under the supervision and direction of an attorney performing non-clerical, substantive legal work in assisting an attorney.
Schools in Jacksonville also offer paralegal studies programs and Florida State College at Jacksonville, along with the course offering, will hold a competition for paralegal students this
week.
“It’s a paralegal skills competition that highlights research, writing, and communication skill,” said Nick Martino, professor of paralegal studies at Florida State College at Jacksonville. “The students research a cutting-edge legal issue, specifically a search of electronic data on laptops, phones, etc., of travelers without reasonable suspicion or probable cause.”
The competitors will draft a legal memo with their findings and then sit with a panel of attorneys to discuss the findings. They will be scored in research, writing and communication.
“Next year we will invite other schools from across the state to participate,” said Martino.
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