Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia

LAPSWV elected its 2010-2011 officers, effective July 1, 2010:

  President: Loretta J. Walker, CP / Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC (Charleston);
  First Vice-President: Karen Nichols, ACP / Jackson Kelly PLLC (Charleston);
  Second Vice-President: Patricia Schoolcraft, CLA / Preston & Salango PLLC (Charleston);
  Secretary: Nodgie Kennedy, CLA / Schuda & Associates (Charleston);
  Treasurer: Renee Clay, ACP / Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (Charleston); and
  NALA Liaison: Cynthia L. Lowther, ACP / Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (Charleston). 
  Tammy Welch, CP / Jackson Kelly PLLC (Charleston) was appointed as Historian/Parliamentarian.

2010 Paralegal of the Year: 

Cynthia L. Lowther, ACP, was honored as the 2010 Paralegal of the Year by Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia (“LAPSWV”) at its Sixth Annual Seminar and Meeting on Friday, June 4, 2010, in Huntington, West Virginia.  Ms. Lowther has been a member of LAPSWV since 2004.  She was President from 2008-2010 and is currently serving as NALA Liaison. Ms. Lowther’s enthusiasm for the paralegal profession is inspiring to the members of LAPSWV.  Her dedication and loyalty to this organization and to the paralegal profession in general, are great assets to everything she does and LAPSWV is better for her involvement. 

Shining Star Award:

Shannon Todd, ACP, is the recipient of the LAPSWV 2010 Shining Star award.  This award is presented by the Executive Committee in recognition of a member who has shown great leadership ability and commitment to the paralegal profession during the year.  Ms. Todd has been a vital part of LAPSWV by her involvement with the Bylaws Review Committee and by taking on the position of newsletter editor during 2010.  Ms. Todd is a paralegal with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in its Columbus, Ohio office.

2010 Educational Scholarships Awarded:

William Ayers, a student in the legal assistant program at Mountwest Community and Technical College (“MCTC”), formerly Marshall Community and Technical College, was awarded a $500 academic scholarship to be used for books and/or tuition for the Fall 2010 academic year.  Mr. Ayers also received a free one-year student membership to LAPSWV.

Maria Cain, a paralegal with the Huntington, WV law firm of Setliff, Turner & Holland was awarded a scholarship up to $275 towards the cost of the National Association of Legal Assistants (“NALA”) certified legal assistants (“CLA”) examination. The CLA examination asks the examinees to demonstrate his or her knowledge and writing skills by responding to questions regarding Communications, Ethics, Legal Research, Judgment and Analytical Ability, and Substantive Law areas. The skills required by these tests involve recall of facts and principles that form the basis of the specialty practice area. Examinees must also demonstrate an understanding of the structure of the law and procedures to be followed in each specialty practice area.  For more information, see www.nala.org.

Loretta J. Walker, CP (LAPSWV President) is the recipient of the ACP Scholarship Award.  This award allows a paralegal who already holds a NALA certification to receive a curriculum-based advanced certification based on specific course material in any of the following areas:  Contracts Management/Contracts Administration; Discovery; Social Security Disability; Trial Practice; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Business Organizations: Incorporated Entities; Trademarks; Personal Injury - Core Courses; and Personal Injury - 8 Practice Area Courses.  For more information, see www.nala.org.     

Posted on Thursday, July 01, 2010