MCCC Hosts Legal Staff Group's First Meeting
10/6/04
The administrative staff in a busy law office keeps the wheels turning for both lawyers and clients, insuring that vital paperwork is completed and critical deadlines are met. Yet, until this fall, there were no educational or networking opportunities for the hundreds of paraprofessionals and other legal staff who work in law offices throughout Mercer County. A new group has been formed to address the need. In September, Mercer County Community College hosted the inaugural meeting of the “Mercer County Legal Staff Lunch and Learn Program.” Some 50 paraprofessionals and legal staff met at the MCCC Conference Center for a luncheon that featured guest speaker Honorable John J. Hughes, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Judge Hughes spoke on “Issues in Ethics: Civility—Respect and Courtesy in the Profession.” The program was co-sponsored by MCCC and the Mercer County Bar Association. According
to Mark McCormick, Dean of the Division of Business and Technology
at MCCC and a member of the Lunch and Learn steering committee,
the group’s goal is to develop a regular schedule of “working”
luncheons. “We want to bring together administrative professionals
in the legal field to enhance knowledge, update skills and develop
valuable professional connections,” McCormick said. “Our
own Paralegal Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary of American
Bar Association approval this year, so it seemed a particularly
auspicious time to help establish this program.” |
Steering
committee members (l. to r.) John Kane, Francine Kowalczyk and
Mark McCormick at the “Lunch and Learn” program’s
first meeting, held at the |
John Kane, chairperson of the Lunch and Learn steering committee and senior paralegal with the firm of Szaferman Lakind in Lawrenceville, noted that this is the first group of its kind in the state. “Paralegals and other legal staff are on the front lines. We need quality programs on timely topics.” Kane added that the group has received solid support from the legal establishment. “Most firms covered the cost for their employees to attend the lunch.”
Before deciding
on Lunch and Learn topics, the steering committee polled law firm administrators
and legal staff. “Ethics issues were at the top of the list,”
Kane said. “These issues do not get discussed often enough, and
they are highly important.” In addition to ethics, practical topics
such as electronic filing and working with the Clerk’s Office
will be subjects for future luncheons. The next event is tentatively
scheduled for January 11, 2005.
In addition to Mark McCormick and John Kane, steering committee members
include Francine Kowalczyk, Executive Director of the Mercer County
Bar Association, Judith Irizarry, Ombudsperson – EEO/AA Officer,
Mercer County Courthouse, law firm administrators Laurie Winegar, Paula
Rossi Dullighan, Betsy Law and Karen Cook, independent paralegal Gisela
Sciarra, and in-house paralegals Jess Kilpatrick, Anne Marie Robb, Monica
Sargeant and legal staff Pam Howell. For more information call Ms. Kowalczyk
at (609) 585-6200.
For information on
the Paralegal program at MCCC see:
Paralegal
Certificate and Degree Programs
Related
Business Programs
