Utah Bar Paralegal Division

by: J. Robyn Dotterer, CLA - Legal Assistant Division Utilization Chair

In the upcoming months the Legal Assistant Division of the Utah State Bar will be contributing articles regarding utilization of legal assistants in a number of practice areas. Our goal is to assist the legal community in understanding the role we can play in all areas of the practice of law. In the December, 2002, issue of the Utah Bar Journal Marilu Peterson, Division Chair, provided the Utah State Bar Guidelines for the Utilization of Legal Assistants.

Continue reading "The Dollars and Sense of Utilization of Legal Assistants" »

by: Lucy A. Knorr

Can your family law practice function in your absence? If you find yourself scoffing at the idea of taking time off during the middle of the week to attend a seminar, volunteer at your child's school or ski in the middle of the week, you may find the ideas about utilizing legal assistants in this article especially helpful. The last time the lawyer I work for was gone for a few days, both her secretary and I remained extremely busy, and I billed as many hours as when she was present. Working at that level is very fulfilling because it feels like you are an essential part of a team. Granted, if there was an emergency where a client required immediate legal advice we had another family law attorney who could help. However, the point is, when you utilize your legal assistants effectively, they are happier in their jobs; and it allows you the ability to manage your time and to choose whether you want to service more clients, attend a seminar or take that ski day. In preparation for this article, I spoke with several family law legal assistants to gain additional perspective on legal assistant utilization. Our conversations about utilization fell primarily into the three categories of work delegation, communication and relationship style.

Continue reading "Utilizing Legal Assistants in Your Family Law Practice" »

by: Peggi Lowden, CLA-S

To get the most from an experienced and trained legal assistant1 in litigation practice, an attorney may need to open their practice to the pain of change. This will however lead to the benefits of change. The benefits are many. The most prevalent is an optimization of two valuable resources in litigation law practice - Cost-Savings and Efficiency. Cost-saving and efficient task delegation to accomplish the law firm's goals are for the benefit of client services. While cost-savings and efficiency are improved, economic and service benefits are realized by your clients.2 Incidental to the process of improving client services is an increase in the law firm's bottom line of potential earnings.

Continue reading "Legal Assistant Utilization May Optimize Client Services in Litigation Practice" »

by: Shari Snell Faulkner

Officially, a probate is a court procedure to (a) determine the validity of a will; or (b) determine legal heirs, if no will. A probate proceeding also names a personal representative to perform fiduciary roles in settling a decedent's estate. Whether or not a court proceeding is necessary, unofficially a "probate matter" in a law office would include such things as:

filing the necessary documents with the court
assisting the personal representative to inventory all of the probate and non-probate assets
paying final expenses and debts of the decedent
filing an estate tax return, if necessary
filing the necessary income taxes
preparing an accounting
distributing the remaining assets to the proper beneficiaries

Continue reading "How to Effectively Use a Paralegal in a Probate Matter" »

by: Danielle Price

I have a few membership and CLE updates to share and I have some information in follow up to Paralegal's Day, which was May 18th.

As many of you may already know, the Bar has added a new member benefit for attorneys which is a Lawyers Assistance Program that began in March of this year. The Paralegal Division is very pleased to announce that the Bar is also making this program available to members of the Paralegal Division. These services are offered through Blomquist Hale and will be available to Division members beginning September 1, 2006. Additional information about Blomquist Hale is available on their website at www.blomquisthale.com. The Paralegal Division will be mailing information on this program to all Division members at their home address in August.

Blomquist Hale offers services throughout the state and beginning September 1, 2006, "you and your family will have immediate access to trained counselors for face-to-face help with family problems, stress, depression, anxiety, personal cash management difficulties, elder care challenges, assessment of drug/alcohol dependence, and any other issues impairing your work or personal lives." This is just some of the information available on the Bar's website at http://utahbar.org/members/blomquisthale.html.

Continue reading "Message from the Chair" »

by: Danielle Price

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Paralegal Division since its creation by the Utah Supreme Court in April of 1996. The Division hosted an anniversary celebration on April 6, 2006, at Rice Eccles Stadium Tower to recognize those who worked to create the Division and to continue its growth and progress. The event celebrated the accomplishments of the Division and its members over the past ten years, as well as the growth of this profession. The evening included special guest speakers, Steven Kaufman, Former Chief Justice Michael Zimmerman, Peggi Lowden, and Mary Black. The celebration wrapped up with an amazing performance by Kurt Bestor. A copy of the program for the event is available on the Division's website and contains some interesting historical information from 1996 to present. I hope you will take a moment to review the program if you have not already. We also posted several photographs from the event.

Continue reading "Message from the Chair - 10th Anniversary of the Paralegal Division" »

The "How To Guide" for Membership in the Paralegal Division

by: Peggi Lowden

Are you wondering how to apply for membership in the Paralegal Division of the Utah State Bar (the "Division")? Am I a paralegal by the Division's definition? What are the educational and experience requirements for membership? How can I get the application forms? Once I'm a member, are there any CLE requirements to maintain my membership? We are frequently asked these questions. We are glad that you asked. To better serve you - a future member - we offer this "How To Guide" to answer your questions and to assist you in your application for membership in the Division.

Continue reading "The "How To Guide" for Membership in the Paralegal Division" »

http://www.legalassistanttoday.com/

Welcome to Legal Assistant Today’s (LAT) Web site. As the only independent trade magazine geared toward the rapidly expanding needs of the paralegal profession, we’re happy to offer you a look into the pages of LAT.

Farewell - 2005

I know that many of you share a story similar to mine. In the Spring of 1996, I was eagerly anticipating the prospect of completing my Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies from Salt Lake Community College. I was already working in a position at the law firm of Kruse Landa Maycock & Ricks, LLC, then known as Kruse Landa & Maycock, LLC ("KLM&R") as its receptionist. After graduation, I began working for the office manager where I learned how a law office really operates, how I could best be utilized, and how I should perform as a paralegal. Since then, I have continued my employment with KLM&R and was honored to become Mr. James R. Kruse's paralegal. I have now been working for Jim in the corporate and securities area for five years and have been with KLM&R a total of ten years.

Continue reading "Farewell Message from Tally Burke" »

by: J. Robyn Dotterer

At long last the data have been compiled on the first web-based utilization/salary survey for the Utah State Bar Paralegal Division with the assistance and cooperation of the Legal AssistantÕs Association of Utah (LAAU). A joint committee was formed to undertake the drafting of a utilization/salary survey that could be established on the Utah State Bar Paralegal Division's web page and could then be taken by paralegals or their supervising attorneys online.

Continue reading "Results of the Beta Test of the Utilization/Salary Survey - 2005" »