Congratulations to Patty Allred, Paralegal of the Year for the year 2011-2012. Patty Allred had several nominations. Each expressing her qualities, abilities and attributes to the legal community.
Patty has had nearly three decades of paralegal experience in the legal profession. She has achieved a degree in Paralegal Studies from Utah Technical College, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and subsequently will be soon receiving a Masters in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security from University of Phoenix. She has been a member of the Utah and National Paralegal organizations over her long career. She is currently working as a Paralegal for Jones, Waldo Holbrook & McDonough.
Pattys character has been unanimously described with three simple words: Guide, Mentor and Friend. One of the best examples of Pattys descriptive words is her willingness to mentor the paralegals that are planning on taking the CLA or CP exam. This exam is a nationwide, full two-day test, requiring a great deal of knowledge and skill. She volunteers her time to help teach and prepare these people prior to taking the test, then volunteers two days of her time to administer the test here in the Salt Lake City area. By her donating her time for this cause, it makes it possible for the paralegals in this area to take the exam here in Utah. Otherwise, they would have to travel out of state in order to take the exam.
One of her former students and colleague remarked, she reaches out to every Paralegal she meets. Another colleague affirmed that Patty has vigorously worked to establish the definition of Paralegal by always striving to raise the bar for paralegals in the Utah legal community.
Others have remarked She is a strong proponent of paralegals and promotes the paralegal profession with those both inside and outside of the legal community.Ó
Important Notes and Upcoming Events for Paralegals
As paralegals in the State of Utah, we take great pride in our profession. The paralegals primary role is to assist attorneys with the delivery of low cost and professional legal services to the public. In addition, paralegals are committed to assisting the Bar in furthering its purposes and missions and to assist with the Bars goal of providing affordable access to the justice system for the citizens of this state.
As a reminder, paralegals must be under the ultimate and direct supervision of an attorney. WE do NOT PRACTICE LAW.
As always, there are a variety of activities and committees the Paralegals are involved in throughout the year. We are very involved within our local communities, seeking out new opportunities for our members to pull together and serve others. We are proud to work hand-in-hand with the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) serving as notaries and witnesses with the rapidly expanding Wills for Heroes and Serving Our Seniors programs. We work very hard making hats and gathering food and clothing for the homeless each year. We assist the YLD in their Cinderella project, gathering gently used prom dresses to be given to young ladies that otherwise may not be able to attend their prom. The paralegals are currently working with several different formal wear providers, convincing them that they should donate their older and maybe slightly abused tuxedos to us, in an effort to create the Cinder-fella project to help ensure more dates and dancing partners are available to attend the proms as well.
We continue to collect used printer cartridges, recycling them. The monies are directly donated to the schools that have been selected, in an effort to help assist them with school programs, purchasing additional supplies and field trips throughout the year. The more cartridges we collect, the more schools we can assist.
Our Continuing Legal Education Committee is hard at work coordinating outstanding CLE opportunities to help us in the legal field maintain the highest standards of professionalism. The Brown Bags are held once a month, are usually free, and are open to anyone who needs legal CLE.
In addition, paralegals are committed to assisting the Bar in furthering its purposes and mission and to assist with the BarÕs goal of providing affordable access to justice to the citizens of this state.
Last fall, a Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Heather Finch, the Chair for the Paralegal Division, this current year. The Scholarship Fund was created with the help of Nate Alder, our Committee members and Utah Valley University in an effort to assist future paralegals with their paralegal studies. We would like to thank all those who have contributed to this scholarship fund. We hope to continue to see it grow.
Thank you for your support and remember to Pay it Forward it counts!