WWW.KCPAONLINE.ORG ISSUE 33 A KERN COUNTY PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION Follow us on: The Paralegal Post
President s Message The Kern County Paralegal Association held its Installation of Officers and Awards Luncheon at The Petroleum Club on June 8th. At the luncheon, the Association thanked its Sustaining Members and its outgoing Board, swore in the incoming board, and presented the Jeannie D. Conner Memorial Scholarship and the Paralegal of the Year award. KCPA was delighted to honor Erica Bjornstad with the Paralegal of the Year award. The Jeannie D. Conner Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Sissy Rucker. This scholarship assists with continuing legal education expenses. I am proud to announce KCPA s 2017-2018 Board of Directors: President: Karen A. Clemans, CBA Vice President: Cindy Oliver Secretary: Whitney Radcliff Treasurer/Webmaster: Troy Thompson Newsletter: Kayleen Ungar, CP, CAS Membership Services: Sissy Rucker Community Affairs: Danielle Rodrigues CAPA Representative: Erica Bjornstad CAPA Representative: Kelly Grijalva Student Members: Grecia Hernandez and Jamie Thompson Public Information Officer: vacant Programs: vacant I am looking forward to our August 10th membership appreciation luncheon to be held at the Klein, DeNatale, Goldner law firm, one of our KCPA sustaining members. T. Scott Belden will present on Ethics and the Use of Social Media on the Cloud. This presentation will be at no charge for all members who have submitted their membership application and it has been accepted by the date of the meeting. For those who would like to attend and are not members the cost will be $30.00. The purpose and goals of KCPA are to establish and maintain the high standards of the paralegal profession, to provide a gathering place for thoughts and ideas, and to provide a forum for continuing legal education. KCPA offers quality continuing legal education at nine lunch meetings per year, and organizes the annual Holiday Luncheon with KCBA. Established in 1987, KCPA this year celebrates serving the Kern County community for 30 years. Karen Clemans Kern County Paralegal Association P.O. Box 2673 Bakersfield, CA 93303 www.kcpaonline.org The Paralegal Post 2
PARALEGAL OF THE YEAR 2017 ERICA BJORNSTAD The Jeannie D. Conner Memorial Scholarship 2017 Recipient Sissy Rucker KCPA Board of Directors 2017 The Paralegal Post 3
KCPA is collecting cash donations to benefit the Kern County 999 Foundation, an organization whose mission is to recognize and honor Kern County's fallen peace officers who gave their lives 'In The Line of Duty' serving the citizens of Kern County and to provide support to the family members left behind. Please make checks payable to KCPA. The Paralegal Post 4
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KCPA invites you to its MCLE Ethics event: Ethics and the Use of Social Media on the Cloud presented by T. Scott Belden, Esq., of Belden Blaine Date: August 10, 2017 Time: 12 noon 1:15 p.m. Location: Klein DeNatale, Goldner 4550 California Avenue, Conf. Room 304, Bakersfield, CA 93309 Cost: FREE for KCPA Members $30 for non-members, attorneys, and late reservations RSVP: by Thursday, August 3, 2017, to vicepresident@kcpaonline.org Deadline for cancellations is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, August 3, 2017. No-shows and late reservations will be charged. Cancel via email by August 3, 2017. Checks (payable to KCPA) may be brought to the luncheon or mailed to: KCPA P. O. Box 2673, Bakersfield, CA 93303 The Paralegal Post 6
Date Location Event August 10, 2017 Klein, DeNatale, Goldner MCLE Ethics Luncheon September 4, 2017 Kern County Superior Court CLOSED The Paralegal Post 7
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An Assistant s Title Matters Kayleen Ungar, CP, CAS Attorneys, what is your assistant s title? Are you correctly identifying your assistant? Is your assistant a legal secretary or a paralegal? Business & Professions Code Section 6450 et seq. specifically describes a paralegal and sets forth paralegal qualifications and functions. Paralegal, legal assistant, attorney assistant, freelance paralegal, independent paralegal, and contract paralegal are synonymous terms under Section 6454 that are only to be used by individuals that are qualified to identify themselves as a paralegal. There are specific qualifications that must be met in order to be a paralegal. Section 6450(c) provides that a paralegal shall possess required qualifications. Once qualifications are met, a paralegal must meet continuing legal education requirements per Section 6450(d). The continuing education hours must meet the same legal standards as those mandated for attorneys, as shown in Business and Professions Code Section 6070. A paralegal must account for his/her continuing legal education by submitting proof to his/her supervising attorney. Even if a legal secretary performs some paralegal functions in job duties, an attorney should not allow a legal secretary to identify as a paralegal. Section 6452 states that it is unlawful to identify as a paralegal if the qualifications have not been met. (An exception is provided in Section 6456 that exempts state-employed paralegals.) Please don t overlook the importance of your assistant s title. The paralegal title carries significance, and only an individual qualified is allowed to identify as a paralegal. The Paralegal Post 9
What do you want to learn about at KCPA Luncheons Have an idea? Topic of Interest? General Interest in! Send them our way and we will do our best! programs@kcpaonline.org The Paralegal Post 10
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Education Opportunity Enroll in UC Davis Extension s online Paralegal Studies Certificate Program http://extension.ucdavis.edu/paralegal UC Davis Extension s online Paralegal Studies Certificate Program gives you the knowledge, convenience and flexibility to become a certified paralegal in as few as six months. Our program offers rolling enrollment, so you can enroll at any time. Passwords are issued within two days of enrollment, and you will have six months to complete the program. $6,995 (Payment plan available; call (530) 757-8895 for more information) Enroll in section 164PLG300. Our program aligns with the California Business and Professionals Code for paralegal education, ensuring that our graduates have the skills to succeed in this high-demand field. To enroll or for more information, visit UC Davis Extension at http://extension.ucdavis.edu/paralegal or call (530) 757-8895. * * * * * UC Davis Extension, the continuing and professional education division of UC Davis, has been an internationally recognized leader in educational outreach for individuals, organizations and communities for more than 50 years. With 58,000 annual enrollments in classroom and online university-level courses, UC Davis Extension serves lifelong learners in the growing Sacramento region, all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The Paralegal Post 13
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Support our Sustaining Members AMS Legal Support Services 31 H Street Bakersfield, CA 93304 (661) 324-8018 Attorney Certified Services 1731 16th Street, Suite H Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 327-8022 Borton Petrini, LLP 5060 California Avenue, Suite 700 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 322-3051 Centex Legal Service 8050 North Palm Ave, Suite 300 Fresno, CA 93711 (559) 691-4700 Chain Cohn Stiles 1731 Chester Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 323-4000 Dowling Aaron Incorporated 5080 California Ave., Suite 200 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 716-3000 Esquire Deposition Solutions 1430 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 777 Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 322-2202 First Legal Network 1527 19th Street, Suite 214 Bakersfield, CA 93301 (855) 378-9433 The Paralegal Post 21
Support our Sustaining Members GKL Corporate/Search Inc. One Capitol Mall, Suite 660 Sacramento, CA 95814 (800) 446-5455 Keleher s Certified Shorthand Reporters 19237 Flightpath Way, Suite 100 Bakersfield, CA 93308 (661) 393-1856 Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, et al. 4550 California Ave., 2nd Floor Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 395-1000 Law Offices of George Martin, Inc. 5060 California Ave. Suite 700 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 371-2202 Northwestern Mutual 5080 California Avenue, Suite 350 Bakersfield, CA 93309 (661) 431-5305 Trans-West Security 8503 Crippen Street Bakersfield, CA 93311 (661) 834-0711 US Legal Support 5200 N. Palm Ave, Suite 110 Fresno, CA 93704 (559) 260-9715 Wood & Randall 900 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 320 Bakersfield, CA 93301 (661) 395-0726 The Paralegal Post 22
2017-2018 KCPA Executive Board. President KAREN CLEMANS, CBA (661) 395-1000 president@kcpaonline.org Member Services SISSY RUCKER (661) 322-3051 memberservices@kcpaonline.org Vice President CINDY OLIVER vicepresident@kcpaonline.org Community Affairs Danielle Rodrigues communityaffairs@kcpaonline.org Secretary WHITNEY RADCLIFF (714) 421-2716 secretary@kcpaonline.org Programs/Education Director -vacantprograms@kcpaonline.org Treasurer and Webmaster TROY THOMPSON treasurer@kcpaonline.org webmaster@kcpaonline.org Newsletter Editor KAYLEEN UNGAR, CP, CAS newsletter@kcpaonline.org Public Information Officer -vacantpio@kcpaonline.org CAPA Primary ERICA BJORNSTAD capa@kcpaonline.org CAPA Secondary KELLY GRIJALVA capa@kcpaonline.org Student Representatives GRECIA HERNANDEZ JAMIE THOMPSON student@kcpaonline.org P.O. Box 2673 Bakersfield, CA 93303 www.kcpaonline.org KCPA is one of twelve CAPA affiliates. The Paralegal Post 23