You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.
Author Unknown
There is something to be said forhaving a strategy or plan as wecontemplate a project. Some-times, we may be accused of pro-crastination as we continue tostrategize, recognizing that wemay be having trouble executingthe plan. However, at some pointit will become necessary to exe-cute the plan. Does “Just Do It”come to mind?
What if you aren’t sure whetheryour plan will be successful?What if you’re faced with a pro-ject that is new or novel, and youhave little experience or perspec-tive to even begin to formulate aplan? Have you ever felt asthough you have no one to call - nowhere to get some advice??Talk about “analysis/paralysis?!!”
As a beginning litigation paralegal in a small firm I was faced with many interesting situa-tions that caused me to contemplate longer than necessary. As a timekeeper, however, Iwas forced to adopt a “just do it” approach and get the project finished. After moving to alarger firm, it became clear that I was going to be relied on to know much more than I didabout procedure, and how to get things done. Luckily, I had access to a group of parale-gals who had “been there, done that,” so I had resources in colleagues that helped me be-come a better paralegal. I also joined NEFPA, and met more paralegals who were morethan willing to share their expertise.
It was after serving as an active NEFPA member that I realized not everyone works in alarge firm that has awesome resources available at the end of the hallway, or on anotherfloor. What does the paralegal faced with a new or novel scenario in a case do for guid-ance? If that person is like me, he or she is going to do everything to find an answer ordevise a plan for the lawyer. I suggest contacting NEFPA.
Kathryn Howell, CP, FRP: Kathryn A. Howell is the current President of NEFPA. As alitigation paralegal with Alexander, DeGance & Barnett, P.A., Kathryn’s focus is on laborand employment litigation in a busy trial practice. Kathryn earned an A.S. in ParalegalStudies from Vincennes University in 1993 and later earned a B.S. in Finance from IndianaUniversity E. W. Kelley School of Business in 1998. Kathryn is a member of the NationalAssociation of Legal Assistants, and has served previously as the NALA Liaison for NEFPA.Also, as NEFPA’s Technology Committee Chairperson, Kathryn spearheaded a one-dayseminar featuring Summation and Sanction, leading software applications for the legalindustry, which also highlighted NEFPA member presentations and a lively ethicspresentation by Jacksonville Bar President-Elect, Daniel K. Bean. Kathryn has been sought as a lecturer with
the National Business Institute for Paralegal Education on various topics.
Margaret Costa: Margaret is the First Vice President of NEFPA. She moved toJacksonville from Tampa in March 1997, to join then U.S. District Judge Ralph W.Nimmons, Jr. at his new duty station. Margaret obtained an Associates Degree inparalegal studies in May 1998 at Hernando Community College. Margaret took theNALA certification examination and obtained her Certified Paralegal status in 1998.She has been a Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) since April 2008. Margaret hasserved NEFPA in several officer and committee chair positions, including three terms asPresident. During her first term as President, she helped to develop and launchNEFPA’s CLA Review Study Course. Margaret served as instructor in several coursesections, including the development and presentation of the CLA Exam WritingWorkshop. She is a four-time recipient of NALA’s Affiliates Award and was appointed byPresident Linda Wolf in 2009 to serve as Credentials and Nominations Chair for the NALA 35th AnnualConvention. Margaret’s greatest source of pride and joy in NEFPA rests in the expanded network of its
members, all of whom she considers friends and mentors.
Dana Welcker, ACP, FRP: Dana is NEFPA’s Second Vice President-Membership, and hasbeen a paralegal for over 17 years. She has primarily worked on the defense side oflegal practice, but most recently is adjusting to working “both sides of the fence.”Heradvanced certification is in trial practice. She enjoys participating in trials. Dana earnedher CP while working in Charleston, South Carolina and moved to the Jacksonville area
in 2002 with her husband of 25 years and her two sons Joshua (23) and Donald (20).
NEFPA NEWSLETTER 3rd Quarter , 2011 —Page 3
Stephanie C. Howell, CP, FRP: Stephanie is currently serving as NEFPA’s VicePresident – Professional Development. Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Arts in LegalAdministration from the University of West Florida in 1993, and a Masters degree inPublic Administration from Troy State University in 1998. She obtained her CPdesignation in 1996 and became a Florida Registered Paralegal in 2009. Stephaniestarted her paralegal career in Pensacola, and then relocated to Jacksonville in1999 to work for McGuire Woods, LLP, in the commercial litigation department. In2005, Stephanie joined the Office of the General Counsel at the University of NorthFlorida. She previously served as Parliamentarian and President of NorthwestFlorida Paralegal Association, and is currently a member of Higher Education forLegal Managers (HELM), and will serve as the NEFPA delegate on the board of Florida Alliance
Paralegal Associations (FAPA). Stephanie lives in St. Augustine with her husband and two children.
Cindy Schuessler, FRP: Cindy is NEFPA’s current Vice-President, Committee Liaisonand Job Bank Coordinator. She started her career as in 1972 as a legal secretaryfor a small, Chicago law firm. She started taking paralegal classes while still living inIllinois, but eventually moved to Tallahassee in 1985. After continuing to developher legal skill set, she relocated to Jacksonville in 2004 to pursue her currentposition with Saalfield, Shad, Jay, Stokes, Inclan & Stoudemire as a paralegal in amedical malpractice defense practice. Cindy enjoys her affiliation with NEFPA and
looks forward to continuing that involvement for many years to come.
Nancy Mason, CP, FRP: Nancy is the current secretary of NEFPA. She has attendedFlorida State University, and obtained her Bachelor Degree in Business Administrationfrom the University of North Florida. After graduating from the legal studies programat FCCJ, she joined NEFPA in December 2007. Nancy earned her CP and FRPdesignations in 2008. Nancy has worked as a family law paralegal for Dale, Bald,Showalter, Mercier and Green for the past three years. She is also a volunteer for the
Missing Link of Jacksonville and is on the Fourth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee.
Board of Directors (Continued from page 2)
(Continued on page 4)
NEFPA NEWSLETTER 3rd Quarter , 2011 —Page 4
Cindy Houston, CP, FRP: Cindy is NEFPA’s current Treasurer, and past President fromthe 2009/2010 term. She has worked as a paralegal for the past 22 years. Herexperience is primarily in civil litigation, with emphasis on the plaintiff’s side, as wellas criminal defense and commercial litigation. She earned her CP designation in2005 and her FRP designation in 2008. Cindy attended both FSU and UNF, earning aBachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She sits on the board of The MissingLink of Jacksonville, Inc., a non-profit organization, which assists victims of domesticviolence with completing their divorce papers. Cindy enjoys riding her Harley, scuba
diving, and traveling.
Allison Smith, ACP, FRP: Allison currently serves as the NALA Liaison. She was born andraised in Pensacola, Florida. Allison graduated from the University of West Florida in 2006with a Bachelor Degree in Legal Studies/Pre-Law. She obtained her CLA designation thatsame year. In July 2007, she moved to Jacksonville, Florida to pursue a paralegal career. In2008, she obtained her ACP designation in Discovery and became a Florida RegisteredParalegal. Allison loves civil litigation and currently works as a construction defenseparalegal at Boyd & Jenerette. She has been on NEFPA’s board since 2010 where sheinitially served as Parliamentarian and teaches select portions of the CLA Review Course
offered by NEFPA.
Board Members (Continued from page 3)
ATTENTION ALL CLAs/CPs:
If you would like to teach a section of the upcoming CLA Review Short Course(December 8th – 10th), please contact Allison Smith at [email protected].
We are looking for paralegals to teach the following sections:
December 8th @ 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – General Law
As an affiliated association of the National Association of LegalAssistants, NEFPA can act like a large law firm. Althoughsomeone might not be down the hall, a member can be on theother end of the telephone line, or can respond to an e-mail.Whether you work in a small, medium or large law firm, NEFPAwants to be a resource to you that wouldn’t otherwise have.
Just check out our web site. We recently added a Legal Re-sources page that contains updated links to legal resources ger-mane to the paralegal. We are also in the process of upgradingour site so we can offer electronic registration, electronic pay-ments, technology tips, polls, and other helpful information forour members.
Finally, we want to hear from YOU! Pleasesend us any new technology tips, or sug-gestions for seminars. We want YOU tohelp fulfill the purpose of NEFPA by col-laborating with us!
Wishing you the best for your career,
Kathryn A. Howell, CP, FRP
(Continued from page 1)
NEFPA NEWSLETTER 3rd Quarter , 2011 —Page 6
Note: All submissions for the Newsletter will be reviewed prior to publication and are subject to editing . The editor
reserves the right to refuse publication for any submission that is deemed inappropriate or in bad taste.
We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line, give us yourthoughts, suggestions or just indulge in a good rant (but keep it
clean, and relevant—this is the legal community, you know). :)
Francie DePaolo, Newsletter Committee Chair
francie.depaolo@fowlerwhite,com
VOICE LESSONS
By Cindy Schuessler, Vice President-Committee Liaison
I would like to thank all of you for your confidence in re-electing me to a second term as "Vice President - CommitteeLiaison." This year, we will be planning "standard" events,such as "Christmas in January" and the "Annual Mixer" in late February, as well ascontinuing with "NEFPA After Hours" at various locations throughout Jacksonville. Also,Maxine Lewis is heading up the "Operation Santa" drive to collect items for shipping toMarines currently serving overseas. I hope that all of you will make a contribution to thisworthy cause.
As I mentioned at our first luncheon last week at CSX, I am currently seeking volunteers toserve as Chairpersons and members for the following Committees: Technology,Membership, Events and Activities and Newsletter. Teresa Puopolo has graciously offeredto serve as Chair for the Membership Committee, Stephanie Ingram has offered to serve onthe Technology Committee, and Francie DePaolo has offered to continue to serve as Chairfor the Newsletter, which will be coming out sometime later this month. I hope that all ofyou will consider volunteering to serve on these Committees so that, together, we cancontinue the tradition of serving the legal community to the highest standards possible. Weneed fresh ideas for exciting and fun events for our members, with the hopes of catchingthe interest of many more paralegals who have not yet joined an organization inJacksonville. If you are interested in serving, please send me an e-mail at:[email protected]. Thank you for your consideration of this request, and Ilook forward to seeing all of you at future meetings and events.
The next testing window is January 2012! For more information, check outwww.nala.org!
The Certified Paralegal Exam Review Manual and The NALA Manual for Parale-gals may be purchased in electronic format from the publisher. The electronicoptions include access to material for 6, 12 or 24 months, or access to individualchapters. Prices vary by book and by option. This is a great and economical wayto purchase this material! Check out www.nala.org for more information!
REMINDER MEMBERS: Renewals are dueOct. 31! There will be a late fee assessed be-ginning Nov. 1 to renew your membership. IFyour renewal occurs after the October 31deadline, you will lose access to the Members
