Or perhaps I should say I’ve been “in the air” again….lots of airports were involved!
September was a busy month for me…hence no posts on this blog. I’m back at home now and will soon be posting more of the ideas and information I want to share with my readers.
First, a bit about my travels…
St. Louis, Missouri and the law firm of Thompson Coburn was my first stop. On my first day there, I presented Ethics for Legal Support Staff to 120 legal secretaries. There were 80 paralegals in attendance the next day when I presented Advanced Ethics for Legal Assistants and Paralegals. This program was also web cast to the paralegals in the firm’s Washington, DC, Belleville, Illinois and Chicago offices.
The staff at Thompson Coburn, particularly Jacqueline O’Quinn and Patty Brokaw, made me feel right at home and I enjoyed meeting everyone. Their offices are beautiful, with expansive views of the city and the famous St. Louis Arch. The newly rennovated St. Louis Renaissance Grand Hotel on Washington Street was a perfect place to stay.
My next stop was Grand Rapids, Michigan and the beautiful Amway Grand Plaza Hotel ….
where I presented Critical Ethics Issues for Legal Assistants and Paralegals: A Case Study Approach at the State Bar of Michigan’s Annual Meeting/ICLE Solo and Small Firm Institute.
While in Grand Rapids I also attended my last meeting as Chair Ex Officio of the Legal Assistants Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Serving on the Council of the Section was truly a privilege! Denise Gau,2006-08 Chair, turned over the gavel to Cheryl Nodarse. While Denise will be a tough act to follow, I know Cheryl will be an awesome leader this next year. I must also mention that Annual Meeting Chair, KathyAnn Blunck, did a great job planning this year’s meeting.
My last stop was Tulsa, Oklahoma and the Fall meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Legal Assistants. I serve on the Board in my capacity as Chair of NALA’s Advanced Paralegal Certification Board. I also assisted with some entertainment for the Board … Cowboy Olympics … designed to promote NALA’s 2008 Convention to be held in Oklahoma City, July 29th through August 2nd.
Did I say it was a busy month? That would be an understatement! But it was lots of fun, too. I made new friends, re-connected with old ones, and continued to educate the legal community about the importance of ethics education for legal support staff.
