2015 Paralegal Publicum Summer Issue (Full)

P A R A L E G A L P Û B L I C U M
Volume 2015 Issue 2

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Paralegal Pûblicum Volume 2015 Issue 2
2

In This Issue:
From the Desk of the Editors 5
Message from the President 7-9
Weird Laws & Facts 14
“What’s My Story 16 -19
By Pauline Hand Cochran, CP
4 Thoughts About Diversity 22
August Speaker Bio 25
Contest Announcement 26
MPA Calendar 29
“What’s My Story“ 30 - 31
By Glenda N. Ferguson, CP
"What’s My Story?” 36 - 37
BY Sandrena Durr, M.A.
3

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4

From the Desks of the
Editors:
By: Rachel Nesbit and
Rachel James – Terry
As the summer season is winding down, this is a great time for
everyone to do a mid-year reflection. The MPA Executive Board is
doing the same! When looking back at the long list of goals we
had in January, coupled with what all we have accomplished thus
far, it gives us all renewed energy to finish strong. For a short
synopsis of what all we have been up to this year, see the
“Message from the President” on page 7.
If you are interested in being a part of something as rewarding as
serving on MPA’s Executive Board, we highly encourage you to
consider running for a board position. Elections are right around
the corner! Just think of all the things you can add to the “MPA
Highlights” page for 2016! If you are still undecided or miss the
Declaration of Candidacy deadline, you may be appointed to an
open position. And, as always, if you have any questions about
anything board-related, simply reach out to a current board
member. We are delighted to assist any time!
Ezine Editors
5

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6
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Message from the President
Steven J. Jones 7
Dear MPA Members:
Welcome to another edition of the MPA Ezine. I hope you all have beaten the summer
heat and are looking forward to the fall weather.
MPA is continuing to move forward in a positive manner. MPA has had several
accomplishments that we can all be proud of for 2015. Those accomplishments include
but are not limited to the newly created CP and ACP Professional Development Awards in
the amount of $250.00 each (awarded to one recipient for each award annually); the
newly created Student Scholarship in the amount of $1,000.00 (awarded to one paralegal
student annually); the launch of the MPA Mentorship Program; the MPA website
enhancement that includes uploading the monthly luncheons to the member-only
section; and making our first deposit into MPA’s newly created Reserve Fund a sure step
towards securing MPA a sustainable future.
MPA’s Fall Seminar/Vendor Fair is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2015 at the
Capital Club, downtown Jackson. Our partner for the event, Association of Legal
Administrators (ALA), will provide our vendors. If you missed the event last year, you don’t
want to miss it this year. We had several good vendors, wonderful speakers and topics,
and great networking opportunities with MPA members from all over the State. MPA
board members have worked really hard to assure you another successful Fall Seminar
and Vendor Fair. Not to mention, MPA will also be celebrating Paralegal Day, on Thursday,
September 24th. So what better way to celebrate YOUR DAY than to be surrounded with
other people who share the same compassion for this wonderful profession? Mark your
calendars, submit your registrations, and look forward to a great event. I hope to see you
there.

MPA will host its first Student Workshop on Thursday, October 8, 2015. The event will invite
paralegal students and directors/instructors statewide to the Capital Club, downtown
Jackson, for a day filled with professional development and information regarding MPA
membership. The event will expose paralegal students to a few areas of the law that are
not typically required or apart of the academic curriculum including but not limited to
asbestos litigation and workers’ compensation litigation. A round-table discussion is also
scheduled. This will give the students an opportunity to hear from a diverse panel of
paralegals.
MPA’s Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2015. The annual meeting
will be the last meeting of the fiscal year for our members. The MPA board will continue to
meet through December 31, 2015 when the new board takes office. The Annual Meeting
will consist of a NALA Convention presentation by Suellen Johnson, CP, MPA’s NALA
Liaison. I will also provide a Year-End Report to the membership. Will a Paralegal of the
Year and/or Pro Bono of the Year recipient be announced and awarded? (hint) You will
have to come and see.  So mark your calendars and make every effort to attend. I am
sure you will enjoy the NALA presentation and more. By the way, the deadline to submit
Paralegal of the Year and Pro Bono of the Year nominations are Wednesday, September
30, 2015. Do you know of someone deserving of these professional recognitions? If so,
please submit your nomination forms as soon as possible.
As we approach the end of another successful year, I thank everyone who has made my
two years as MPA president a success. A special “thank you” to the 2014 and 2015 board
members who supported me, my vision, and the mission of MPA for the betterment of our
profession, our community, and our State. Many of these board members have spent
numerous volunteer hours away from their families and jobs to help make MPA’s future
brighter. You know who you are – and I sincerely thank you for your commitment and
determination. Without your help, MPA could not have conquered the many
accomplishments that it (MPA) did over the last two years. We have updated and
organized our Bylaws and Standing Rules; created a Reserve Fund, student scholarship
and professional development awards; secured new sponsors; regained and strengthen a
meaningful relationship with the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), created a
Mentorship Program, and engaged our members through community services,
professional development, and other social events and more.
8Message from the President
Steven J. Jones Cont…

9
I am proud of the legacy that I will leave behind as president of MPA. I pray that as we
(MPA) move forward, we (MPA) will continue to expand upon the vision and mission of our
association – promoting education, professional development, and the CP and ACP
examinations.
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve you as president, and I look forward to
supporting the future presidents, board members, and members of this great association.
Thank you again.
“Let’s do something great!!!!”
/s/ Steven J. Jones
Steven J. Jones
MPA President
Message from the President
Steven J. Jones Cont…

http://sociallyin.com/
Sociallyin. 60 Technology BLVD
Starkville, MS 39759
Phone: + 769-257-9183
Email: contact@sociallyin.biz
10

Officials work to raise awareness of
human trafficking
August 19, 2015 Prosecuting prostitution charges and other misdemeanor offenses in Municipal
Court gave Pat McNamara a look at life on the streets. In hindsight, though, he realized that
many of those people were likely victims of human trafficking.
“I didn’t know. I look back and say that I didn’t see the signs,” McNamara told a conference of
more than 170 Mississippi social workers and judges gathered Aug. 13 at the Fifth Annual
Indian Child Welfare Act Conference at Choctaw, Mississippi.
Signs that a youth may be a sex trafficking victim include homelessness, a history of being a
runaway, a juvenile record of truancy, and drug or alcohol abuse, said Victoria Sweet,
program attorney for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in Reno,
Nevada. Multiple STDs, bruises or other signs of physical trauma, withdrawn behavior,
depression, anxiety, fear, hunger or malnutrition may be signals that a person may be a victim.
A significantly older boyfriend or male travel companion may be a tipoff.
McNamara, a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Bureau of Victim Assistance, and Sweet
aimed to raise awareness about human trafficking, educate the people who are likely to
come into contact with victims and help the community begin to formulate a plan to address
human trafficking.
Police, Youth Courts and social workers are among those likely to encounter victims of human
trafficking. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of victims of human trafficking were involved with
child welfare services at some point, Sweet said.
Other risk factors that make people vulnerable include poverty; limited education; lack of
work opportunities; drug or alcohol addiction; physical, mental or emotional challenges;
previous sexual abuse; PTSD; truancy; and being a runaway, thrown away or homeless.
Native Americans are at higher risk. “Indian Country does have challenges that we don’t see in
other areas,” said Sweet, who is Native American and a frequent lecturer on violence against
native women, intergenerational trauma and human trafficking. Tribal youth are two and a half
times more likely to experience trauma from exposure to violence, and tribal children
experience PTSD at a rate of 22 percent, the same rate as combat veterans and triple the rate
of the general population.
“Every community needs to be concerned,” Sweet said. “We need to start asking some tough
questions within our own communities about how we are going to deal with this risk.”
“We must be collaborating together if we want to be dealing with the crime of human
trafficking,” Sweet said. “It’s hidden. It’s secretive.”
Victims are unlikely to come forward on their own. They may be loyal to the traffickers. That
kind of loyalty means that some victims, when taken into custody by law enforcement, may
attempt to recruit for their trafficker in jails or juvenile detention centers.
McNamara is coordinator for the Mississippi Human Trafficking Act. He is the point person to
receive all reports of suspected human trafficking in Mississippi. He may be reached at 601-
359- 6766.
“We are in our infancy getting started on this,” he said. “I’m a bit short on experience, but I
have all the enthusiasm in the world because I begged for this job.”
https://courts.ms.gov/news/2015/08%2013%2015Human%20trafficking.pdf
11

1. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
The Paralegal Degree Program at Georgetown University is respected for
offering a comprehensive, challenging curriculum of excellence. First
established in 1973, this academic program gained accreditation in 1977 has
has maintained this status since then. This tradition college education and
detailed degree program can be completed within one year structured as three
semesters of fifteen weeks each. It offers daytime, evening and summer courses
of study to accommodate students with existing jobs and careers. The essential
goal of this paralegal program is to fully instruct each student in the primary
foundation and elements of the law while teaching the skills of critical thought
and conclusive decision-making within the boundaries of paralegal work.
2. UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The highly praised and accredited professional Paralegal Degree Program at
the University of Cincinnati offers students both major and minor degree
curricula. Students can graduate with one of three degree credential types: a
bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a professional certificate. The
rigorous paralegal course of study is extensive, preparing participants for both
acceptance into law school and quality employment opportunities with top law
firms. Applicants for this academic program have GPA scores ranging from 3.0
to 3.6 and above, and most ranked in the highest grade percentage averages
of their high school graduating classes. The university’s College of Criminal
Justice is dedicated to highest principles of discovery and quality in research,
training and community service related to real world situations, causes and
challenges. Creating positive social advancement for beneficial impact is a
major goal.
3. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
This extensive Paralegal Degree Program at LSU provides future paralegals with
a flexible course of study. It can be completed in as little as 12 months or take
as long as 30 months, depending on each student’s personal schedule and
situation. This LSU paralegal training is the only non-credit program of its kind in
Louisiana now certified by the American Bar Association. The curriculum is
specifically structured for adults currently in the workforce, unlike many
traditional degree program designs, and classes are offered in the evening.
Most students in this paralegal program have obtained a bachelor’s degree at
an accredited college or university, although BA degrees are not required to
qualify for this program. However, students who receive admittance have no
fewer than 45 college credits and a grade point average of 2.3 or above.
12
Top Five College and University Degree Programs
in Traditional Paralegal Studies for 2015

4. VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY
The Villanova Paralegal Degree Program is a well-respected certificate
program approved by the American Bar Association. As a degree
program in the department of professional studies on the university’s
scenic, prestigious campus in Villanova, PA, it offers students the choice of
either the full-time day session or part-time evening schedule. While the
full-time curriculum can be completed in only 16 weeks, the part-time
evening session is a one-year course of study. For admission, students are
required to have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university
that is accredited and submit a compelling essay describing their career
goals. Students are permitted to apply for evening program admission
beginning in any term of the year—fall, winter, spring and summer, unlike
the structure of a traditional degree program. This Evening Paralegal
Certificate Program has been an active and popular course of study since
1983 at Villanova.
5. TIFFIN UNIVERSITY
This attractive, friendly modern brick and mortar schools example in Tiffin,
OH, places the needs of students before anything else. The Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Paralegal Studies at Tiffin has been accredited by the Ohio
Board of Regents and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Students are
carefully interviewed before admission and guided throughout their
degree programs in their talents and strengths as relative to their studies
and future paralegal careers.
13
Top Five College and University Degree Programs
in Traditional Paralegal Studies for 2015 Cont…

Weird Laws and Facts:
ALABAMA
You may not have an ice cream cone in your back pocket at any time.
MINNESOTA
A person may not cross state lines with a duck atop his head.
TEXAS
Throwing a snake at anyone is illegal.
www.dumblaws.com/random-laws
14

15
WHAT’S YOUR STORY
BY SUELLEN JOHNSON, CP
NALA LIAISON
The June 1, 2015, NALA Convention News email stated that “part of
NALA’s 40th anniversary celebration will be celebrating all
paralegals and this great profession. As part of this, [NALA] would
share paralegal’s stories of challenges and successes throughout
the days’ meetings.“
"Tell us why you chose the paralegal profession, your experiences
in helping others, and why you like your career. Also, considering
this is NALA’s 40th annual convention, what are some of the
changes you have experienced in your professional life?“
MPA was founded in 1980 which is 35 years ago! I have contacted
longtime paralegals in Mississippi to tell us THEIR STORY!

I entered the field by stepping into the office of an attorney for the first time in my life in
1957 to apply for a part-time job, to give me time with my year-old son. I had no paralegal
training at that time, but had taught bookkeeping, typing and shorthand for a year in the
Mississippi Delta after graduating in 1955 from Delta State. The attorney hired me, and I
began working for him as a secretary. He had a probate and real estate practice plus an
abstract company run by Bernie, another woman in the office, and he quickly taught me
how to prepare wills and probate pleadings, also certificates of title and Mississippi Valley
Title Insurance Company forms after Bernie checked the title. At some point between 1957
and 1965, Xerox copiers came into existence – Wikipedia says 1959. The brother-in-law of
the attorney for whom I worked owned one of the largest lumber companies in Alabama
and had one of the first Xerox copiers ever heard of in those parts, so, when we needed
copies of something other than carbon copies of documents we produced, I drove over to
the lumber company and made copies. Several years before we moved in 1965, Bernie
moved away and I became manager of the abstract company in addition to my
paralegal/secretarial work. I then had to keep our record index up to date of all deeds
and deeds of trust filed in the office of the Bibb County Probate Court, fortunately right
across the street.
After training someone to take over the abstract company, we moved back to our home
state, to Jackson, in 1965, where I had already obtained a job at Wells, Thomas & Wells in
the Lamar Life Building. With only 14 attorneys, it was considered a large firm in the city at
that time. It was a very formal office, expecting the ultimate in professional conduct and
dress at all times. It was a very pleasant place to work, but it had a firm line drawn
between attorneys and staff. I was back to my secretary-only duties for awhile. But, shortly
before the firm split, I had an opportunity to move to a different attorney, one who almost
immediately began teaching me how to draft litigation pleadings, and I was introduced to
briefs. I had never worked in litigation before, and I simply loved it.
In October of 1968, our part of the firm moved to the First National Bank Building, later the
Trustmark Building. Associates were added from time to time, and the workload, most of it
federal court practice, increased but also became more and more interesting. We
represented First National Bank in an anti-trust lawsuit filed in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, so our pleadings had to be filed and delivered
to Gulfport, where the federal court for the Southern District was located at that time. One
of the trust officers of the main branch of First National Bank in the building in which we
were located was a pilot and flew our pleadings down on a fairly regular basis to be filed,
and delivered our briefs to the judge there.
16
"WHAT'S MY STORY?"
BY PAULINE HAND COCHRAN, CP
CERTIFIED PARALEGAL
(RETIRED)

In the late 1970s, I began taking paralegal courses from the University of Mississippi which
were taught at the R&D Center in Jackson. I completed these courses and was certified
received a certificate as a paralegal around 1982. I then took the National Association of
Legal Assistants exam and was certified by NALA not long after that. After I finished my
courses, I was fortunate to be able to work as a paralegal with the attorney for whom I had
been working as a combination paralegal/ secretary.
My first experience going to a trial was somewhat daunting. Some later experiences were
even more so. Our firm, and the attorney with whom I worked, primarily represented
national and international companies in defense. The most lengthy trial in which I worked,
however, was a 5-week trial in federal court in Biloxi in which we represented two plaintiffs
who had purchased land in south Mississippi for their business, then discovered they were
sitting on a hazardous waste site formerly occupied by a large chemical company. I
worked my first 23 1/2-hour day pulling documents for a pre-trial hearing in that case.
Then, when the trial began, I was terrified that I would not know what I was supposed to do
or be able to do it all quickly and efficiently enough, but somehow things fell into place. A
young woman from the town where the property was located took responsibility for having
our local witnesses there at the proper time. My responsibilities were for our many exhibits,
recording when each of our exhibits and the exhibits of the defendant was entered into
evidence, plus having our expert witnesses there when they were needed, plus getting
down as much of the testimony of all of the witnesses as I possibly could [this trial being
before the days when daily transcripts were available], plus dictating the testimony into a
tape recorder and mailing it to a secretary in our office so she could have it typed when
the attorneys arrived back at the office for the weekend. I was busy at the end of each
day with whatever the attorneys needed after we left the courtroom, so sitting on the
beach early each morning, I dictated my transcript of the previous day’s trial proceedings;
the secretary said she could hear the beach birds in the background.
One of our most interesting cases, and the one that provided my most interesting
deposition trip, involved the disappearance of a private plane owned by a CPA from the
Jackson Metro area. The plane disappeared in December, and the plane was not spotted
until the following June on a mountaintop near Safford, Arizona. The CPA was piloting his
plane and had stopped in San Antonio to pick up his paramour, an Air Force doctor, for
their trip to California. They obviously survived the plane settling onto the mountain.
17
"WHAT'S MY STORY?"
CERTIFIED PARALEGAL
(RETIRED) CONT…

Apparently she (the doctor/passenger) was injured somewhat and stayed near the plane
while he set out to get help. The plane disappeared at night, and the lights of the town of
Safford could clearly be seen from the site of the plane, but, while a trail leading straight
down existed just a few feet away, it could not be seen from where they were, so he left in
a direct route to the lights of the town, which took him into Dead Man’s Canyon, very aptly
named in their case and others apparently. Once you get in, you can’t find your way out;
a helicopter had to guide the Sheriff’s deputies out of the canyon when they went to
retrieve the pilot’s body. Two attorneys in our firm and I went to Safford to depose the park
ranger who was first on the scene after the plane was spotted as well as others who had
been involved with an initial search for the plane in December and examination of the
plane after it was found in June. The attorneys went to another state prior to our Arizona
depositions, so I had the two very large boxes of documents with me.
After our arrival in Tucson, we drove to Safford on a Monday morning, and the park ranger
took us up the mountain to the site of the plane in his jeep. After that, we deposed all the
local people who could give any information about the search and the condition of the
people and the plane. We then returned to Tucson for the deposition of the doctor who
performed the autopsies on both the pilot and the passenger. Incidentally, the doctor who
performed the autopsies had taught and mentored the Air Force doctor who was the
passenger in the plane. After these Arizona depositions were completed, we flew to Los
Angeles for the deposition of Wally Funk, the NTSB investigator, who had conducted the
investigation of the plane “crash”. She happened to be one of the group of thirteen
women who passed grueling tests in order to be trained to be astronauts but were denied
the opportunity because they were women. She pointed out that her group of women had
scored better than most of the men who were allowed to go into astronaut training. Our
lawsuit, on behalf of the daughter of the passenger, was against the estate of the pilot, and
his estate had a suit in federal court in Louisiana against the manufacturer of the battery in
the emergency locator transmitter, which did not transmit a signal the night the plane went
down. I went to Baton Rouge to listen and take notes on the trial there. At the end, the
judge took it under advisement but said things indicating that he would be finding for the
plaintiff but wanted to consider how much to award. This was good news for us for the
possibility that his widow (and children) would be awarded a large sum. However, the
judge was pulled into hearing a backlog of cases in the Southern District of Mississippi,
Southern Division, and, by the time he got back to considering the case I went to hear, he
decided to rule for the defendant battery company.
18
"WHAT'S MY STORY?"
CERTIFIED PARALEGAL
(RETIRED) CONT…

At various points between the time I started my career and the time I retired in 2005, we
progressed from electric typewriters to computers, from carbon copies to copiers, from
slow printers to laser printers, from cardboard boxes of documents to computerized
documents shown on large screens, from choosing jurors without a lot of knowledge about
them to having them fill out questionnaires and having an excellent and experienced jury
consultant with us from the get-go, also doing mock trials, with our jury consultant
involved, of course, and getting analyses from those.
It was such an exciting and challenging experience, one I wouldn’t trade for anything.
19
"WHAT'S MY STORY?"
CERTIFIED PARALEGAL
(RETIRED) CONT…

4 THOUGHTS ABOUT CLOSING THE DIVERSITY GAP IN
THE LEGAL PROFESSION
By Renwei Chung
Last month, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) published an article titled “Closing the
Diversity Gap in Silicon Valley” that addressed the diversity crisis in the technology field.
Just like Silicon Valley, the legal profession is also facing a diversity crisis. BCG’s diversity
report for Silicon Valley provided four key takeaways that are just as relevant to our
profession:
1. Diversity Is Good for Business
According to BCG:
Diverse companies outperform homogeneous ones. One study showed that a 1%
increase in gender diversity correlates with a 3% gain in revenue, while a 1% increase in
racial diversity correlates with a 9% gain in revenue. Diverse companies have better
reputations—and by bringing together different points of view, they are also more
innovative—than less diverse companies.
Last month, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg penned a letter discussing the importance
of diversity and inclusion. Along with this letter, Facebook provided a video module that
discussed the business case for diversity and inclusion. According to the Corporate
Executive Board, diverse and inclusive workforces demonstrate 12% more discretionary
effort, 19% greater intent to stay, 57% more collaboration among teams, and 42% greater
team commitment.
2. It Starts at the Top
According to BCG:
CEOs and senior leaders need to promote diversity in public, in the boardroom, in their
day-to-day interactions with their direct reports, and with employees. They need to set an
overall tone of inclusion and respect for racial and gender differences. Without CEO
support, the pressures of everyday business and the forces of inertia will overpower
diversity initiatives. It should not be any surprise that, at diverse companies, CEOs are
more involved in diversity efforts—and hold their senior team accountable for diversity
results—than at homogeneous companies.
As I have previously mentioned, the tech industry and legal profession (along with others)
are both facing a diversity crisis. Many of the same restrictive structures, policies, and
biases can be found in both sectors. Correlation or causation? One difference between
these two professions is that the tech industry’s leaders are publicly addressing this issue
and making it a priority in 2015.
20

21
Whether forced or persuaded, the leaders in the tech industry are beginning to change
the way they usually operate and starting to embrace the challenge of diversity. They are
developing real, practical programs to deal with diversity. Intel has pledged $300 million
towards this cause; Sandberg has founded Leanin.org and become an active, influential,
and powerful champion for equality in her field; and Google has launched an education
initiative to address this problem as well as committed to an unconscious bias training
program.
What is preventing the majority of law firms from implementing these types of policies? Do
diversity activists in the technology field demand more than we demand? Or have leaders
in the tech industry taken more ownership of this problem than partners in our profession?
Going forward, which industry will be more willing and able to handle and promote
diversity? Which industry will be more diverse in 2020? Why?
3. Transparency Is Key
According to BCG:
Executives will need to look beyond these topline numbers and conduct quantitative and
qualitative analyses of their workforce through surveys, interviews, benchmarks, focus
groups, and quick pulse checks. The data should be broken down by business unit,
function, and region. The point of such a diagnosis is not to lay blame but to improve. Such
data typically reveals pockets of best practices that can be replicated. The findings also
may indicate places to dig further for evidence of unconscious biases in hiring, promotion,
and retention practices.
This level of transparency and thoroughness demonstrates commitment to employees and
recruits—much more so than simply releasing raw, topline diversity statistics. This root
cause analysis allows companies to turn the page and start creating a diverse and
inclusive workforce in a new way. The results should be on the dashboards of senior
executives and business leaders and refreshed regularly.
Earlier this year, Professor Melissa Hart, past president of the American Bar Association
Laurel Bellows, and I were guests on The Legal Talk Network’s Lawyer 2 Lawyer Podcast,
where we discussed the importance of transparency and objective metrics in fighting
discriminatory tendencies of a firm’s culture.
4 THOUGHTS ABOUT CLOSING THE DIVERSITY GAP IN THE
LEGAL PROFESSION Cont…

22
In an earlier post, I wrote that to avoid showing discriminatory tendencies, firms should
have objective measures of success for their employees. Transparency in the form of open
communication, proper expectations, and objective measures are critical for success in
the workplace. As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously stated, “Sunlight is
said to be the best of disinfectants.” In other words, if the broad light of day could be let in
upon our actions, it would purify us as the sun disinfects.
A black-box type of promotion process handicaps employees and promotes a
discriminatory environment. This being said, subjective measures are not going anywhere;
they are inherent in the dynamics of the employment environment. It is when subjective
measures corrupt the employee review process that discriminatory acts are enabled to
become pervasive in the workplace. Many employees face discrimination even where no
harmful intent of discrimination exists. I’d argue the majority of employees
encounter unconscious racial and gender bias much more often than overt prejudice.
4. Hiring Practices
Job referrals, which are a key source of leads in Silicon Valley, tend to mirror the current
employee pool rather than expand it. Similarly, interviews that focus on achieving a good
fit with the company can damage the chances of women, blacks, and Latinos. The
unconscious biases of the interviewers can cause them to unintentionally hire candidates
who are like themselves.
These challenges can be overcome through mechanisms such as training, more inclusive
recruiting pools, and blind resume screening: half of all Google employees, for example,
have participated in workshops on unconscious bias, and some orchestras have achieved
greater diversity by using blind auditions. Leveraging professional associations of women,
blacks, and Latinos also makes sense. IBM, for example, partners with the Society of
Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and NACME.
I believe implicit bias is the silent killer of diversity in the legal profession. I recently
recommended 3 things law firms can do right now to increase diversity in the legal
profession. To improve hiring practices, law firms should:
1. implement a resume-blind policy for job interviews;
2. conduct “unconscious bias” workshops; and
3. begin with the end in mind.

23
By 2042, it is projected that no one race or ethnicity will be a majority in America. It would
be great if the legal industry reflected the diversity of people and culture in our country,
but this has never been the case. It is important to recognize that diversity does not
happen by accident. Diversity is not self-executing. Accidental activists do not exist. We
cannot hope our way to change. Diversity needs to be fought for, it needs a voice. We
have to fight for it. We have to become the agents of change whom we seek. The legal
profession must strive to be more racially tolerant if it aspires to be as diverse as the
country it serves.
Renwei Chung is a 2L at Southern Methodist University School of Law. He has an
undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of
Chicago. He is the author of The Golden Rule: How Income Inequality Will Ruin America
(affiliate link). He has been randomly blogging about anything and everything at Live Your
Truth since 2008. He was born in California, raised in Michigan, and lives in Texas. He has a
yellow lab named Izza and enjoys old-school hip hop, the NBA and stand up
paddleboarding (SUP). He is really interested in startups, entrepreneurship, and innovative
technologies. You can contact Renwei by email at projectrenwei@gmail.com follow him
on Twitter (@renweichung), or connect with him on Linkedin.
Source: http://abovethelaw.com/2015/08/4-thoughts-about-closing-the-diversity-gap-in-
the-legal-profession/

24
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION
RACHEL JAMES – TERRY
Hello MPA Members,
It was an honor to serve as your Vice President of Education this year. I enjoyed
the responsibility of gathering speakers for our luncheons and my other duties. I
also took pleasure in planning our social at Sal & Mookie’s.
In fact, other guests at Sal & Mookie’s wanted to know who we were because of
all the fun we were having. We were proud to tell them that we were members
of the Mississippi Paralegal Association.
However, it is with a heavy heart that I have decided not to run for a board
position for 2016. I have really enjoyed my five year’s serving on your board as
secretary, Vice President of Membership and my current position. But, I no
longer have the time to donate to the MPA board and our organization needs
people who can fully invest the energy to continue MPA’s success.
This is why it is so important for you (our members) to run or accept
appointments for board positions. It is a great learning opportunity and very
rewarding.
Now, I know that I have been preparing you all to select a Speaker of the Year.
However, I have decided to withdraw the award since I can not guaranty that
this is something MPA can continue in the future.
I do not think it’s rationale to give out an award one year and not continue to
reward speakers who the membership deems both dynamic and informative.
Yet, I do hope you have enjoyed all the speakers thus far.
Our speaker confirmed for Thursday, August 27, 2015 is Christopher Shaw and his
topic is Got Ethics? Ethical Issues and Dilemmas for the Practical Paralegal. His
bio is as follows:

25
MEET YOUR AUGUST SPEAKER
ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER SHAW

Good afternoon Mississippi Paralegal / Legal Assistant Students:
On behalf of The Mississippi Paralegal Association Inc., (MPA), we are excited to
announces the: 2015 MPA Student Essay Contest
** Students in a paralegal program in Mississippi are eligible to participate.**
Check with your school’s Paralegal Program Director, they will have all of the
details and information. Or you can checkout MPA website for more information.
Deadline for students to submit essays is close of business / postmarked on or by
Friday, October 16, 2015
There will be three winners (1st place, 2nd place and 3rd place) selected by a
panelist of judges based on an overall scoring of 100.
This year’s essay topic: “Is there any specific case, lawyer, or person in the legal
environment (local, state, national, courts, government, or a paralegal) that
influenced you to pursue a paralegal/law career? If so, why?”
The announcement of the 3 winners of the essay contest will be published in
MPA E-zine and they each will be invited to attend a luncheon in early 2016 to be
presented their prize.
Again, thank you for your continued support of MPA and we look forward to
receiving the essays from the students’ by Friday, October 16, 2015.
If you have any questions, please not hesitate to contact me at ttalley-
chorba@mscenterforjustice.org
Have a wonderful day.
26
Contest Announcement
TANYA TALLEY – CHORBA,
STUDENT LIAISON

Jackson Office
125 S. Congress Street,
Suite L150
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601-355-5555
Fax: 601-355-3914
Email:
jeff@choicecopyservice.com
27

Attorneys…law
firms…businesses
…take notice…
MPA JOB BANK IS AVAILABLE TO YOU!
The MPA Job Bank is only viewed by MPA members.
Instead of paying for expensive advertising to
attract qualified paralegals and assistants, why not
advertise with MPA? Let MPA post your job openings
and contact information on our Job Bank. Qualified
applicants will contact you and you can begin the
process of choosing your next employee. Give us a
try!
Contact the MPA Job Bank Coordinator, Tina G.
West, at WestTG@fpwk.com with the job information
you want posted.
28

MPA Calendar
SEPTEMBER
9th Executive Board Meeting
22nd Deadline to Register for Fall Seminar
22nd Election ballots are sent to Membership
24th Fall Seminar & Vendor Fair /Paralegal Day
OCTOBER
8th MPA Student Workshop
14th Executive Board Meeting
16TH Deadline to Submit Student Essays to Student
Liaison
29

I kind of fell into being a paralegal. I graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and a minor
in Paralegal Studies from USM in 1978. I minored in Paralegal Studies because they were
just adding the program & did not have enough classes to major in it. I continued to take
Paralegal courses as they were added to the curriculum after I graduated, but never took
enough hours to classify as another major.
I began in the oil and gas field as a paralegal for the old Gerald & Brand law firm for 20
years to the day. And, when I started on my career path, there was no paralegal
association in MS, so I was one of the charter members of the Mississippi Association of
Legal Assistants, now MPA, Inc. We specifically chose the name of the group at the start,
MALA to coordinate with NALA. I'm not sure why we suddenly became paralegals instead
of legal assistants, but a rose by any other name....
After I had been out of college almost ten years, a group of us decided to study for & take
NALA's CLA exam. We formed the first study group in the Jackson area & studied for over 6
months. A few of us went to St. Louis for the CLA Short Course for more study. We were then
the first in the state to become certified in January 1989.
After leaving Gerald & Brand, I took some time off to be with my daughter. Since then, I
have worked as an independent contractor in the oil and gas business for attorneys, oil &
gas companies, brokers, etc.
I have seen many changes to our profession from when we were barely recognized as
anything more than legal secretaries to where we are now another part of the attorney,
secretary, assistant, investigator, paralegal team. We have made ourselves almost
indispensable in some areas of law, while there may still be a way to go in others.
We have worked hard to gain and maintain the professional status and respect we now
have. We had to earn the trust of associates who knew less than we did when they were
hired, while proving to them that we could help and were not threats to them. It took skill
to walk the narrow line between their fragile egos and getting the job done the right way.
Sometimes we were met with a cool reception from secretaries who were not exactly sure
where we fell in the scheme of things, or if they really liked that we were there. By
treading lightly and treating others with the respect they deserved, and being willing to do
anything to get the job done, we were gradually accepted as an indispensable part of the
work force. We had to prove our worth and earn the respect of the ones who had been
there before us. When they saw how we could be of use to them and that we could make
their jobs easier, our status as paralegals began to become more secure.
30
"WHAT'S MY STORY"
BY CHARTER MEMBER
GLENDA N. FERGUSON, CP
INDEPENDANT OIL & GAS PARALEGAL/LANDMAN
(JACKSON, MS)

31
"WHAT'S MY STORY"
BY CHARTER MEMBER
GLENDA N. FERGUSON, CP
INDEPENDANT OIL & GAS PARALEGAL/LANDMAN
(JACKSON, MS) CONT.
I have worked as a paralegal, and now a Certified Paralegal/Oil & Gas Landman for over
36 years now, and things have changed tremendously. Computers have changed the
way work is done. Where the attorney once dictated his or her work to the secretary
directly while she took notes in shorthand, or to a tape recorder for her to play back and
type on a typewriter, now almost everyone inputs their own original work into a computer.
Computers, cell phones, and other technology have changed the way we do business.
We can work from anywhere now with computer hook ups. We are more mobile and can
therefore be more flexible with our work schedules. More opportunities abound now than
ever in the paralegal field.

MEMBERS CORNER
32
(Left to right) Tameika Givens, Southern Region Director; Tina G. West, Parliamentarian
July Speaker: Terryl Rushing Staff Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi;
Rachel James – Terry, Vice-President of Education; Tanya Trosclair, Treasurer;
Shantaye Payton, Secretary
Mark Harmon, Holmes Community College Pearl Green; Jennie Cannon
Forman Watkins Krutz & Tardy, LLP

33
Dee Moses; Dunbar & Monroe P.A.;
and Jackie Watkins, Guest
Julie Clark, Steen, Dalehite & Pace, LLP
(Left to Right) Natalie Levanway; LaTasha Clark; R.J. McInnis; Peggy Haralson – Cox; Jamie Earls
Forman Watkins Krutz & Tardy, LLP
MEMBERS CORNER

34
MEMBERS CORNER
Charlotte Simmons; Vickie Phillips
Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes PLLC

R McGee
Photography
Photography Price Quote
Package # 1: (1 hr. minimum); Receive 5 of your best
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Package # 2: (1 hr. minimum); Receive 8 of your best
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*Additional images can be provided
for a fee.
*Images can be transferred to a CD
for additional fee.
Contact Info:
Rodney McGee
601.260.6129
RMcGeePhotographyjxn@gmail.com
Find me on Facebook @
www.facebook/rodney.mcgee.169.com
Official
Photographer for MPA
35

“I Can Do All Things Through Jesus Christ Who Strengthens Me." Phillipians 4:13
That Bible verse is so small, but it has great meaning. After graduating from high school, and my
first year of college, my question was, “What are the things do I want to do? What is my area of
expertise? What can I do to help me be great? What goals and dreams do I have?
When I enrolled in Alcorn State University, the summer of 1990, my goal was to become a lawyer.
My major was pre-law/political science. While at Alcorn State University, I participated in every
activity/club that had anything to do with my major. I was in the Political Science Club, Pre-law
Club, Criminal Justice Club, was the President of my Freshman class, and I also joined a sorority. I
had set my platform as to what I wanted to do to help me “Be Great.”
The summers of my Junior year and Senior year, I was afforded the opportunity to work for a law
firm back home. In 1993, my focus on life changed. I began to work for attorney Henrietta
Sweeney. She was new in town and she needed help in her law office. I was afforded this great
opportunity where I learned the inner operations of a law office from opening files, to filing, to
drafting, etc. I did not learn these things while in college because there was no paralegal
program at Alcorn State. Ms. Sweeney had a Plaintiff’s law firm practice. Most of the clients that
we helped were very poor. We dealt with all areas of the law from divorce to bankruptcy. It
amazed me how the system worked. I also learned that a paralegal’s job was just as important as
an attorney's job. For example, I dealt with a lot of the clients while the attorney was in court. The
most important part of my job was learning how to assist with filing for their social security/disability
claims. People who really deserved assistance and were in dire need of their disability were being
denied. It was my job to help assist them with obtaining the correct paperwork and completing all
information required to appeal their denial. It is from this experience that I knew my calling was to
be a paralegal and not to pursue law school.
Being in a sorority Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc,. since 1992 which is built on scholarship, service,
sisterly love, and finer womanhood, influenced me that my talent of community service was
needed in my community and surrounding areas. After graduation from Alcorn State University, I
attended Mississippi College ("MC") and decided that I would pursue my Masters in Social Science
with emphasis in Political Science, and at the same time, receive my Paralegal Studies
Certification. I did both. During the entire time that I was at MC in 1995, I started working for a small
Plaintiff’s firm, Roland C. Lewis, PA., where I was the paralegal, the secretary, and the office
manager. I played all these roles and I would not trade that experience for the world. I worked all
day, then I attended MC every night, Monday through Thursday. I was pregnant with my first child
the last year of school. I had many complications, but I continu ed to press forward. My daughter
was born on February 6, 1998, and I walked across the stage December, 18, 1998.
36
"WHAT’S MY STORY?“
BY SANDRENA DURR, M.A.
PARALEGAL & EDUCATOR
(BUTLER SNOW, LLP)

"WHAT’S MY STORY?“
BY SANDRENA DURR, M.A.
PARALEGAL & EDUCATOR
(BUTLER SNOW, LLP) Cont…
In 2002, I made the biggest transition in my work life. I never thought I would do this- transition
from a Plaintiff’s firm, to a Defense firm. I met an attorney by the name of W. Scott Welch, III, who
was a partner at Butler Snow. It seemed like every case we had, the Butler Snow law firm would
always be on the other side. We had a huge mediation one day, and the attorney I worked for
became very ill. Since I prepared everything for the mediation, it went forward with an attorney
who was a friend of my boss. I assisted him with the mediation, and we settled the matter. Mr.
Welch was impressed with my abilities under stress. So, after my boss retired, he told me that I
should consider applying at Butler Snow. I did, and I have been there ever since.
During my time at MC, I became very close to Dr. Anna Clements (Puckett). She became my
mentor. She guided me through the Paralegal program. She always gave me encouraging words
and challenged me to be the best at whatever I was seeking to do in life. I still felt I had an
additional calling other than being a paralegal, but I just did not know what that was. One day, Dr.
Puckett called me and asked me whether I could help her with some of the paralegal classes. I
was ecstatic and very excited about this opportunity! I have been an adjunct at Mississippi
College since 2002 teaching American Government and Politics, Wills and Estates, Family Law, and
Bankruptcy Law. I work with Tricia Nelson who is currently over the Paralegal Program at MC and
who has been very encouraging and supporting of my dual career. She has most definitely done
a great job with the program at MC.
Through the trials and tribulations of life, it is has become my goal in life to give back and to help
others. Through being on bed rest nine months with my second child, through a divorce, through
learning to be a single mother, I continue to be that person that God intended for me to be. We
can do all things through trusting and believing, and much prayer.
37

Announcements
CLE Opportunities on the MPA Website
Did you know that there are CLE opportunities on the MPA website? Well, yes
there are and in several different contexts too. First you may purchase CLE
from the website from the website at
http://www.msparalegals.org/members/products-page. There you will find
past CLE presentations that can be purchased and used toward your NALA
requirement for continuing legal education. There are also CLE seminars and
products from NALA, the Paralegal Knowledge Institute and Lormar, among
other for your reference at
http://www.msparalegals.org/members/continuing-legal-education. Check
them out today and get the CLE you need to recertify.
38

39
Hello MPA, It has been my pleasure to serve as your 2015
Parliamentarian and continue to serve as the Job Bank Coordinator.
As Parliamentarian, I am currently working on revising the Bylaws
and Standing Rules to include changes in the Student Scholarship,
the creation of the CLA/CP/ACP Award, along with previously
approved language; continuing to strengthen our organization and
promote Mississippi’s paralegal profession. You will be receiving the
revised Bylaws and Standing Rules for your review shortly.
I hope that MPA members who are seeking employment are taking
advantage of our Job Bank. We are on target to double the job
leads posted in 2014! There have been 170 job leads posted this
calendar year. These are quality job leads for students entering the
paralegal professional through veteran paralegals throughout the
state. We also post job leads upon request from law firms (requests
from law firms have also increased). So if you know any fellow MPA
members seeking employment, let them know about our new and
improved job bank. To view our job bank go to Members drop down
menu, click on Job Bank, and hit the blue “click here”. To view job
listing directly, I recommend you copy and paste website link within
job information.
TINA G. WEST, PARLIAMENTARIAN/
JOB BANK CHAIRMAN

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40

MPA REGIONS
NORTHERN REGION: Attala, Bolivar, Carroll, Choctaw, Clay,
Grenada, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Lowndes, Montgomery,
Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Sunflower, Washington, Webster, Winston,
Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Coahoma, DeSoto,
Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Monroe, Panola, Pontotoc,
Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica,
Union and Yalobusha counties.
CENTRAL REGION: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Hinds,
Issaquena, Jefferson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Lincoln, Madison,
Neshoba, Newton, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Simpson, Smith,
Warren, Wilkinson and Yazoo counties.
SOUTHERN REGION: Clarke, Covington, Forrest, Jones, Jasper,
Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Walthall, Wayne,
George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone,
Clarke, Covington, Forrest, Jones, Jasper, Jefferson Davis,
Lawrence, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Walthall and Wayne counties.
2015 MPA Board of Directors
Steven J. Jones President
Rachel James - Terry VP of Education
Shantaye Q. Payton Secretary
Tanya Trosclair, CP Treasurer
Rachel Nesbit VP Membership
Suellen Johnson, CP NALA Liaison
Tanya Talley - Chorba Student Liaison
Jessica Flanagan – Avery Northern Region Director
Glenisa Jiles Central Region Director
Tameika Givens Southern Region Director
Tina Griffin – West, CP Parliamentarian
Kathryn Green Ford, J.D. Paralegal Education Advisor
41

42
To submit an article for publishing,
send to the editors
Rachel James – Terry and Rachel Nesbit at
rjamesterry@fwkt.com or
rnesbit@heilmanlawgroup.com

2015 Paralegal Publicum Summer Issue (Full)

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