Trey Apffel, Executive Director of the State Bar of Texas, gave the keynote address at the TBLS Induction Ceremony on February 23, 2018.  He spoke highly of paralegals and the contributions paralegals make to the legal profession.  He praised the almost 400 TBLS Board Certified Paralegals for their commitment and willingness to step up and sit for the TBLS exam.

There were 17 newly Board Certified Paralegals attending the induction ceremony on February 23, 2018.  President Mona Tucker and President-Elect Stephanie Sterling were able to get a photo with them.  Congratulations!

President Mona Tucker and President-Elect Stephanie Sterling were out representing the Paralegal Division on February 23, 2018.  They attended the Council of Chairs meeting at the State Bar Office and then attended the TBLS Induction Ceremony where they were recognized as special quests.

Stephanie Sterling, TBLS-BCP, President

Megan Goor, TBLS-BCP, President-Elect

Javan Johnson, ACP, TBLS-BPC, Treasurer

Sherylyne Hollinger, RP, PHP, Secretary

Edna Garza, TBLS-BCP, Parliamentarian

District 3

Susy Johnson passed the TBLS Certification examination in Real Estate Law.  

Doris Jackson received the Pro-Bono Paralegal of the Year award from the Tarrant County Bar Foundation during its annual luncheon in January.  

Jessica Amyett, CP will serve as President of the Fort Worth Paralegal Association for 2018-2019

 District 14

Maria Sturdy, PD member and President of Northeast Texas Association of Paralegals was voted 2017 Paralegal of the Year for NTAP.  

District 16

Yoland Garcia passed her TBLS exam in Civil Trial Law

The Paralegal Division is proud to announce that Megan Goor, TBLS-BCP has been elected as the 2018-2019 President Elect.

Megan Goor, TBLS-BCP
Personal Injury Trial Law
The Brender Law Firm
600 8^th Ave.
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
(817) 334-0171

Professional background: Senior Paralegal and Office Manager at The Brender Law Firm, located in the medical district of Fort Worth. Employed with Art Brender since 1983, after starting a career in the legal field as a legal secretary in 1982 for another law firm. While working for Art Brender, obtained a B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington. The Brender Law Firm is a general law practice. Experience includes personal injury, product liability, insurance bad faith, criminal, civil rights, probate, medical negligence, mass torts, class actions, sexual harassment, and employment discrimination cases from intake through trial and appellate litigation, including two cases before the United States Supreme Court, Watson v. Fort Worth Bank & Trust, 487 U.S. 977, and Trevino v. Texas, 503 U.S. 562.

Professional certification: Board Certified Paralegal in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2008)

Professional affiliations and appointments: Active Member of the Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas, Active Member of the Fort Worth Paralegal Association; Paralegal Affiliate Member of AAJ; and an Associate Member of the Tarrant County Bar Association.

Ambassador and Immediate Past President of the Paralegal Division; President (2016-2017); and Director of District 3 (2012-2015). Served as the 2017 Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar (“TAPS”) Chair and past TAPS Planning Committees; Parliamentarian (2014–2015), former Board Advisor to the Pro Bono Committee, Annual Meeting Committee, and Vendor Liaison Ad Hoc Committee, and former Liaison to the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association. Served as the Fort Worth Paralegal Association’s Professional Development Chair and as the SBOT Liaison to the Paralegal Division. Awarded the Fort Worth Paralegal Association’s Paralegal of the Year 2014 Award.

As Editor of the Texas Paralegal Journal, currently serves as the Paralegal Division’s Publications Chair.

Appointed by the State Bar of Texas to the Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee (2017-2020).

Other: Served as Advancement Chair and Committee Member of Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, Pack 9 (2008–2013), and Committee Member on the Vision Committee 2013 of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

District 2

Melissa Leslie, TBLS-BCP, received Dallas Area Paralegal Association’s Paralegal of the Year award at the Holiday Luncheon held last month.

District 3

Doris Jackson will be receiving the Tarrant County Bar Foundation’s TVAS Paralegal Volunteer Pro-Bono Award at a ceremony on 1/24.

Mary Wintermote was named Fort Worth Paralegal Association’s 2017 Paralegal of the Year at their Annual Holiday Luncheon.

District 4

Brittany Posadas passed her exam in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

District 15

Three members passed their special exam in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization:

1. Andrew Liesman

Thornton, Biechlin, Reynolds & Guerra, L.C.
*Note: Andrew also serves as a Sub-Chair in the Professional Development Committee!

2. Carmen Anthol

Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano, LLP

*Note: Carmen serves as Sub-Chair in the Publications Committee and the as Sub-Chair in the Public Relations Committee.

3. Rose Ouderkirk

Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano, LLP

*Note: Rose serves as a Sub-Chair in the Membership Committee and was appointed by the President in December 2017 to serve on the Website Development Ad Hoc Committee.

PARALEGAL DIVISION ONLINE STORE

Visit the PD online store today!

The State Bar of Texas was the first bar association in the United States to create a separate division for paralegals. The Division was created on October 23, 1981, and charged with “enhancing legal assistants’ participation in the administration of justice, professional responsibility, and public service  in cooperation with the State Bar.”  The term “legal assistants” later was changed to “paralegals.”  The Division looks forward to fulfilling its mandate enthusiastically, energetically and professionally.

The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas offers members merchandise to promote the paralegal profession and their membership of the Paralegal Division

http://www.cafepress.com/paralegaldivision