WSPA encourages Paralegal Students to apply for the 2010 NFPA/Thomson Reuters Scholarship.  1st Place winner will receive a $3,000 award, and 2nd place will receive $2,000.  

Here is the 2010 essay topic:

   "Pro bono providers, such as lawyers/bar associations in many states do not include paralegals and/or paralegal students in pro bono projects.  Although these providers do solicit lawyers to participate, the request does not include non-lawyers.  How would you encourage pro bono providers to utilize paralegals and paralegal students to assist in providing pro bono services to those in need?"

Keep up to date with the latest happenings around the State!  Click on the image or the Open Document linked at left to view the January - February 2010 edition of the Washington State Paralegal Association newsletter Findings and Conclusions.  

WSPA has gone green!  WSPA is now making our Findings newsletter available in a 100% Digital format with a magazine-like "Page Turning" view!

The 2010 Spring Continuing Legal Education and Annual Paralegal Awards Program will be held on Friday, May 7th at the Red Lion Hotel in Seattle. 

Additional details and Registration information will be made available in early March.   Exhibitor Opportunities will be available.  Hope to see you there!

Over 90 enthusiastic paralegal students and current paralegals attended the 2010 Career Night and Paralegal Student Dinner at the Red Lion Hotel In Seattle on Friday, January 29th.  The evening began with a well attended Resume Review workshop, where students received personalized feedback in brief one-on-one reviews of their current resume from our panel of experts.

Socializing and a sit-down dinner began at 6 pm and there was plenty of electricity in the air as guests from several different paralegal programs were in attendance. Our six guest speakers presented short talks about different legal specialty areas, tips for networking and finding open positions, identifying transferable job skills to overcome lack of legal experience for new paralegals, proper interviewing preparation, and much more!  Some fun door prizes helped add to the excitement.

Many thanks to our six guest speakers, Margaret Au, Mike Fuller, Shelly Langley, Amy Lechner, Richard Sherman and Allison Williams.  Brian Haberly emceed the program.   Special thanks go to Sue Beichley, WSPA VP of Membership who served as the 2010 Dinner Chair, worked with volunteers to help organize and promote the event, sent confirmation letters to our speakers, helped set up the Registration table and prepared name tags and greeted guests as they arrived.

Are you a Twitter user yet?  You can now Follow WSPA on Twitter!  

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Many WSPA Members and Friends have asked what they can do to help relieve the suffering of the residents of Haiti following the devestating 7.0 earthquake that took thousands of lives. 

The best way to help is to speed your financial support to those relief organizations that are able to quickly deliver supplies and care to that impoverished nation.  Please consider making a donation to any one of these agencies today.  Thank you!

American Red Cross - Doctors Without Borders - Mercy Corps -The Salvation Army - World Vision

Susan Witte (pictured on right) was selected to receive the 2009 National Federation of Paralegal Associations/Thomson Reuters Paralegal Student Scholarship. She accepted a $3,500 scholarship prize, which is the top honor awarded by the Association, at the October 2009 NFPA Annual Awards Luncheon held in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Witte is currently a volunteer at the Senior Law Center in Philadelphia, which helps the elderly with abuse and fraud issues. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Northeastern University.

Read her essay by clicking "Read more..."

The 2009 Essay Topic was "Equal Access to Justice", and specifically, "As a paralegal student, do you believe everything is being done to assist those individuals who need those services? How do you think you and other paralegal students could assist in meeting the needs of those who are seeking assistance?" The winning Essay of Susan Witte, a Paralegal Studies student at Peirce College, PA, follows below.

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At the 2009 Annual Policy Meeting, the NFPA delegates voted to approve the development and implementation of a Basic Proficiency Exam. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, the Leader of the Paralegal Profession, has begun developing an entry-level exam for newly graduating paralegals to test their skills, knowledge and ability. 

Current WSPA Members can now take advantage of several new Job Search resources and Videos found on our Members Only pages.  Log in using your Members User Name and Password from the WSPA Home Page, then select the "Resources" Tab Drop Down menu == >> Jobs == >> Job Search Tips & Tools (only visible to logged in current members.)  Forgot your User Name or Password?  Click on the "Forgot login?" link and information will be instantly emailed to your email address on record.  

Not yet a WSPA Member?  Register here today!