It’s a Paralegal World: Invest in You!
2014 MPA Annual Convention
June 20, 2014
Crowne Plaza Suites
3 Appletree Square Bloomington, MN 55425
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8:00‐8:30am Registration/Breakfast 8:30‐8:45am Morning Announcements 8:45‐9:45am Morning Keynote Speaker 9:45‐10:00am Break/Time with Vendors 10:00‐11:15am Breakout Session I 11:15‐11:30am Break/Time with Vendors 11:30‐12:00pm Lunch/Networking 12:00‐1:00pm Lunch Keynote Speaker 1:00‐1:15pm Break/Time with Vendors 1:15‐2:30pm Breakout Session II 2:30‐2:45pm Break/Time with Vendors 2:45‐4:00pm Breakout Session III 4:00‐4:30pm Wrap‐up and Door Prizes
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ITIZENSHIPAllen Mihecoby, Senior Paralegal, RP, Kimberly‐Clark
What does it mean to be a good “Paralegal Citizen?” Is it enough to come to work every day and do a good job, or is there more to it than that? In school, we all learned about being good citizens in our school, our community and our country. We learned that being a good citizen meant that we obeyed the laws, paid taxes and generally were good neighbors. What we often forget is that, as paralegal professionals, we also have a duty to be a “good citizen” within the paralegal community. This session will discuss what is entailed in being a good paralegal citizen and why it’s so important, not only to the legal community, but also to our own careers. Finally, Mihecoby will give practical pointers on what you, as a “Paralegal Citizen,” can do to demonstrate good paralegal citizenship.
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Georgine Madden, Organizational Development Consultant, GEORGE: Purpose, People, Performance, Ltd.
Good team communication is vital to the success of any team. Building effective communication skills will help ensure that information exchange is accurate, collaboration is facilitated and conflicts are minimized. Effective communication begins with the dialogue you have with yourself – inside. Coaching yourself to consider perceptual differences will help you make good choices about how to best communicate with others – outside. This highly interactive and fun presentation will present tools that you can use immediately to build more effective communication on your team.
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SESSION 1: CRIMES, CRIMINALS, AND CHAOS: AN EXPLORATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Treye Kettwick, Attorney, Anoka County
An exploration of the criminal justice system from the moment a crime is committed, through the charging phase, into the courtroom, and beyond. Assistant Anoka County Attorney Treye Kettwick will provide insight into everything you have ever wanted to know (that fits into a 1‐hour presentation) about who charges crimes, what happens when defendants get to court, and how cases proceed through the criminal system.
SESSION 2: COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS
Linda Cross, Attorney, First American Title Insurance Company
Handling a commercial real estate transaction requires a solid grasp of the closing process and procedures. This course will examine closing due diligence, closing documents, closing procedures and closing challenges.
SESSION 3: LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE AND RELATED LITIGATION TIPS, TRAPS AND LAUGHS Jacqueline M. Schuh, Attorney, Engelmeier & Umanah, P.A. In this session you will enjoy conversation with a “seasoned” estate planning, administration and litigation attorney about tips to assist and manage your associates and senior attorneys, create a more enjoyable practice for you, and listen to unintended pitfalls and traps we can all find ourselves in with a dose of healthy humor.
SESSION 4: CAREER PERSPECTIVES FROM WORKING PARALEGALS
Moderators: DeAnne Brooks, Senior Legal Search Director, Special Counsel and Corey Erickson, Business Development Director,
Special Counsel
You’ve graduated from paralegal school – now what? How do you locate and then step onto that important first rung on your career ladder? Two experienced and active placement professionals will share real‐world lessons along with important new insights gained every day from a changing job market. They will discuss how to find available jobs; how to combine the power of personal networking with the immediate reach of social media; how to draft a cover letter and resume that stands out from the others; and how to prepare for the all‐important personal interview. If you want to find out how you can maximize your chances for job‐seeking success, this session is for you.
SESSION 5: HOW TODAY’S MEDIA IS INFLUENCING JURORS AND YOUR TRIAL GRAPHICS
Adam Bloomberg, Managing Director – Visual Communications, Litigation Insights
This presentation will discuss the work of litigation consultants, and the challenges of simplifying complex concepts into straightforward ideas that juries can understand. The presentation will also cover how today’s media shapes what people expect from trial graphics, as well as how lawyers can best utilize tools like timelines, flowcharts, maps, and flip charts in the courtroom.
SESSION 6: DO YOU TWEET?
Carey Vossler, Business Development Director, Special Counsel Are you up‐to‐date with Social Media? Do you wonder what all the fuss is about Twitter? This presentation will cover Twitter and why you should care – including Twitter and the law, how Twitter can help you stay up‐to‐date in your career and the different ways Twitter can help you market and develop your firm’s business. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of Twitter and tips on how to maximize your social media presence.
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SESSION 7: CURRENT & UPCOMING EDISCOVERY CHALLENGES: BYOD (BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE) INITIATIVES & THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE Sean Dunn, Consultant, Orrery Consulting This session will discuss BYOD initiatives, the factors that are accelerating and decelerating the implementation of these initiatives, technology that supports BYOD initiatives and how BYOD initiatives will affect you as a practicing paralegal. This presentation will also discuss the proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26 & 37 and how those amendments will affect you as a practicing paralegal.
SESSION 8: PARALEGALS IN A NATION OF I‐M‐M‐I‐G‐R‐A‐N‐T‐S Leslie Karam, Attorney, Karam & Associates
This session will give an overview of immigration law and discuss the role of paralegals in this area using the following acrostic:
Identify applicant, dependents, and petitioner, Maintain a deadline list, Manage client expectations, Immigrant vs. non‐immigrant,
Give clear instructions, Review your work, Always be sensitive, Never miss a deadline, Time to process case, Save your work
SESSION 9: ETHICS FOR PARALEGALS
Lynda Nelson, Paralegal Supervisor, Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility
This program will describe the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct that are of most interest and relevance to paralegals and, using actual disciplinary scenarios, will provide guidance as to how paralegals can avoid ethical issues. Among the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct that will be discussed and illustrated are those relating to client confidentiality, unauthorized practice, competence, diligence, notarization, conflicts of interest and trust accounting.
SESSION 10: HOT TOPICS IN ADOPTION LAW, INCLUDING THE EFFECT OF SAME‐SEX MARRIAGE, FATHER’S RIGHTS AND OTHER UNIQUE ISSUES Wright S. Walling, Attorney, Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A.
Stacia Walling Driver, Attorney, Walling, Berg & Debele, P.A.
This session will discuss hot topics in Adoption Law. The presenters will specifically touch on the effects of same‐sex marriage, father’s rights, and other unique issues as they relate to adoption laws and processes. This session will be an insightful look into current trends, as well as challenges in adoption law as our laws and culture continue to evolve and change.
SESSION 11: CLOUD COMPUTING: NAVIGATING A PLATFORM THAT REIGNS
Damien Riehl, Attorney, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
What laws control my files on Dropbox? On Gmail? On Spotify? In an entertaining and engaging discussion, a technology litigator will explain why cloud computing has exploded in popularity, discussing some of the laws that govern cloud computing and cloud storage.
SESSION 12: PARALEGAL PANEL: CAREER PERSPECTIVES FROM PARALEGALS ON THE JOB Moderator: Corey Erickson, Business Development Director, Special Counsel
Are you interested in working in‐house for a company? How does being a litigation paralegal compare to being a transactional paralegal? Ever wonder what it is like to work for a small firm in outstate MN? Are you a new graduate that wants to find the paralegal career of your dreams? Join us for a discussion with paralegals that work in various practice areas and settings about the pros and cons of their practice areas, how they got there, and how you can get there too.
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SESSION 13: BE PART OF THE TREND TO BECOME PACE® OR PCCE™ CERTIFIED! Tina Johnson, RP and Lori Boris, RP
Have you wondered whether becoming a Certified Paralegal is right for you? Are you wondering about how difficult it would be, what the time commitment is, and whether it’s worth it for you to pursue? Come learn about the Certification exams offered through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (“NFPA”): 1) The Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE®) and 2) the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE™). Topics covered will include: What does Paralegal Certification mean? What can Certification do for you as a paralegal? How can you become part of the trend to become PACE® and/or PCCE™ Certified? We will give you an inside look into what the Certification exams are really like, provide you with helpful study tips and strategies for passing the exams; and provide you with personal insights from those who have successfully obtained their RP® and/or CRP™ designations.
SESSION 14: RESEARCH AND WRITING SKILLS FOR THE PARALEGAL Stephen Arnott, Professor, Hamline University Our issue is that research and writing skills are essential for attorneys and paralegals and the rule is that good legal writing is really no different from, well, good writing. We’ll analyze the elements of this rule and conclude that it should not be too difficult for a paralegal (or even a lawyer) to communicate clearly and effectively.
SESSION 15: PRO BONO PANEL – EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
Moderator: Nicole Foley, Legal Administrative Assistant, Lindquist & Vennum
This will be an informative panel about pro bono programs that have paralegals using their legal talents to help people all over the state of Minnesota and how it impacts not only the people and organizations you help, but your career as well. Come and learn about the opportunities available to you and where your legal talents can make an impact in 2014! Amy Kern – Executive Director or Ellen Sackrison – Volunteer Coordinator of Watch Michael Vitt – Executive Director LegalCORPS Dorothy Miller – Legal Services Coordinator at Tubman Cynthia Anderson – Pro Bono Director of Lindquist & Vennum LLP Carol Watson – Executive Director of Missing Children of Minnesota
SESSION 16: KEEPING YOURSELF RELEVANT IN THE LEGAL FIELD AND IN YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE Michael Boulette, Attorney, Lindquist & Vennum Whether you are a paralegal student or an experienced paralegal, the way you market yourself can be an effective way to stand out from the competition. This session will discuss how social media, blogging, professional associations, and pro bono involvement can foster and enhance your professional relationships and reputation. Learn how to create your own competitive edge.
SESSION 17: THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL EVIDENCE
Mark Lanterman, Chief Technology Officer, Computer Forensic Services
Computers have dramatically changed the way companies and their clients do business and how cases are investigated and litigated. This session discusses what the pervasive use of computers means to attorneys and their clients. It also covers such topics as an overview of the benefits of and the burdens imposed by electronic evidence, how information can be recovered from computers even though it has been "deleted", and the options for protection corporate trade secrets. The presentation will also cover non‐ traditional evidence sources, such as the iPhone, iPad and social media.
SESSION 18: FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE AND ALL THE DRAMA IN BETWEEN: FAMILY PLANNING FOR LGBT COUPLES
COURSE MATERIALS: Materials for all presentations will be provided on a USB drive that will be handed out at the Registration Table. If you wish to follow along as the presentation is taking place, please be sure to bring your laptop to the conference. However, MPA does not guarantee each room will have a plug in for your laptop. Printed materials will not be provided the day of the convention. CLE CREDITS: MPA has applied for CLE credits through NFPA® for each breakout session. CLE certificates will be emailed to each person requesting a CLE certificate. Please be sure to sign in at each session you attend and please see Michelle Sok at the registration table to request a CLE certificate. ACCOMMODATIONS: If you require special accommodations in order to attend, please contact us at least two weeks prior to the event at (651) 633‐2778 or info@mnparalegals.org REGISTRATION FEES: Member Rate Non‐member Rate Full Day $125.00 $150.00 Student (full or half day) $50.00 $90.00 Half Day – with lunch $90.00 $115.00 Half Day – no lunch $65.00 $90.00 Lunch Only $30.00 $30.00 PARKING: Free parking is available in the hotel parking ramp to the left of the hotel driveway entry. You must park on the top two levels of the ramp. It is clearly marked with “Hotel Parking Only”. PUBLIC TRANSIT: This hotel is located on the light rail and is a short walk from additional bus service at the Mall of America. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Registration, along with full payment must be received no later than Friday, June 13, 2014.
