The nation’s largest annual gathering of paralegals will meet July 14-17 in Jacksonville for the 35th annual convention of the National Association of Legal Assistants at the Hyatt Downtown.
The Northeast Florida Paralegal Association is assisting NALA in the event.
NALA has booked rooms for 225 delegates who will arrive July 13 and depart July 17.
“They are very loyal to Hyatt,” said Hyatt Director of Sales and Marketing Casper van Eldik Thieme.
“They have held this meeting at some of our other properties, but it will be their first time here. It’s good for Jacksonville and a great piece of July business. We love it,” he said.
The convention will open with a keynote address by Daniel Bean, a commercial trial lawyer with Holland & Knight in Jacksonville. Barbara P. Burke, a Maitland attorney, is also on the agenda.
Bean’s practice includes public/private partnership work for domestic and international clients, and providing preventive legal counsel to clients in order to mitigate future litigation costs.
Burke has worked in Florida private practice and in-house as underwriting and claims counsel for title insurance companies for more than 20 years. She will present a course on mortgage foreclosures and bailouts.
Convention attendees who arrive early are invited to an early bird reception and orientation July 13 sponsored by the Northeast Florida association.
Annual NALA business meetings, including election of officers and regional directors, spotlighting the annual Leadership Enhancement and Preparation class, along with a two-day vendor exhibition and a social agenda, round out the convention.
Three-day institutes will be featured in the educational program, including a Bankruptcy Institute, an Elder Law Institute and a Veterans Law Institute.
The wide-ranging educational program will also include four tracks of half-day courses in paralegal practice and substantive legal topics.
The Essential Skills track is a program for paralegals preparing to take the CLA/CP certification examination. It is also for experienced paralegals who want to refresh their basic knowledge and skill sets.
The Corporate Law Track will feature courses about mergers and acquisitions, secured transactions under the Uniform Commercial Code, and a discussion on dealing with the avalanche of data to be dealt with in managing records.
The Litigation Law Track will present courses on intellectual property litigation, medical records/injury law, and a course on introduction to electronic discovery.
A presentation on energy issues and employment law will fill out the “Hot Topics” track.
Prestigious Member Exchange presentations by two selected NALA members will be the principal educational program on the last day of the convention.
Patricia J. Gustin will present some motivational ideas to paralegals who may find themselves languishing, and Kristina M. Hopkins and Jaye L. Koch will speak regarding the place of humor on the workplace.
For information visit www.nala.org, or call 918-587-6828.
— Courtesy Florida Bar News