HISTORY OF LSPA
The Louisiana State Paralegal Association was formed in 1986 as the result of a group of paralegals from Baton Rouge, Monroe and Lake Charles meeting at a celebration for graduates of the Paralegal Studies Program at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Inasmuch as our profession was at that time growing on a statewide level, it was felt that there was a great need to organize people in our field. Soon after, regional committees began working to locate paralegals and legal assistant in the state and to identify common goals and objectives in the profession. The main objectives were found to relate to educational and professional advancement. LSPA has worked with these goals in mind throughout its existence.
The first annual meeting was held on September 20, 1986 with a group of charter members from twelve Louisiana cities in attendance. Since that time, membership has continued to grow. LSPA is a statewide association divided into eight districts with a representative from each district serving on the board of directors as a liaison for their area. LSPA holds an annual meeting, seminars and workshops in different cities within the state throughout each year.
The Rochelle Scholarship, awarded by LSPA each year to a worthy student enrolled in a paralegal education program in Louisiana, was created in memory of Carol Rochelle, a member of LSPA’s Formation Committee, who was killed in an automobile accident while returning to her home in Lake Charles from a formation committee meeting in Alexandria.
In 1992, LSPA became an affiliate of NALA, which is a national organization of paralegals from around the United States and its territories. NALA offers a national certification program for paralegals, the CP/CLA examination. Also in 1992, LSPA passed a resolution adopting a definition of “paralegal” which is reflective of the functions of paralegals and the realities of their work.
A very busy year, 1992 also saw the beginning of a Louisiana law-based state certification program for paralegals. Committees worked diligently to assess the educational validity of such an exam and to determine what subjects should be tested in the exam. Once those initial steps had been taken, committees of lawyers, judges and paralegals from around the state were formed and exam topics assigned to committees for the purpose of drafting test questions. Work on this project continued for four years, until 1996, when the first LCP® (Louisiana Certified Paralegal) was administered. It is now administered in two locations around the state twice a year, in the spring and fall.
In 2005, the Louisiana State Paralegal Association celebrated its 20th anniversary at its annual meeting in Monroe, Louisiana, at which “a good time was had by all.” In 2010-2011, we held our LSPA 25th Anniversary Celebration with our 25th Annual Meeting in Alexandria, Louisiana, the home of many, many quarterly board meetings and several annual meetings.
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LSPA’s First Officers
Jimmie W. Murvin, President
Wanda V. Courmier, President-Elect
Lori Robinson, Vice-President
Celia Bailey, Secretary
Robin Anderson, Treasurer
Josie Guidry, District II Director
Linda Carpenter, District IV Director
Shirley Long, District V Director
Jesslyn L. Landers, District VI Director
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PAST PRESIDENTS
1986-1987
Jimmie W. Murvin, CLA
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2000-2001
Jan L. Melton, CLA, LCP
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1987-1988
Wanda Cormier
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2001-2003
Jimmie W. Murvin, CLAS, LCP
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1988-1989
Jesslyn Landers, CLA
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2003-2004
Angelle LaGrange-Hebert
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1989-1990
Robin Anderson, (CLA), Esq.
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2004-2005
Bessie C. Booth
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1990-1991
Susan Johnson
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2005-2006
Rebecca Bentin Maum
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1991-1992
Libby Fenstermaker
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2006-2007
Amy Crawford
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1992-1993
Karen McKnight, CLA
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2007-2008
Traci Hebert
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1993-1994
Sandra A. Smith, CLAS
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2008-2009
Rebecca Bentin Maum
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1994-1995
Mary Ann Greco
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2009-2010
Jimmie W. Murvin, ACP, LCP
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1995-1996
Karen Greer McGee, CLAS
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2010-2011
Rhonda McManus
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1996-1997
Lupe L. Acosta
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2011-2013
Jessie Cormier, CP, LCP
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1997-1998
Angella B. Rayon, CLA
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2013-2015
Sandy M. Pourciaux, ACP
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1998-1999
Tanya M. Herring, CLA, LCP
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2015-2016
Deborah P. Fontenot, ACP, LCP
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1999-2000
Gail P. Seale, CLA, LCP
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2016 - 2019
Karen McGee, CP
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OUTSTANDING PARALEGALS OF THE YEAR
1989
Jimmie W. Murvin, CLA
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2005
Heather D. Wyatt
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1990
Susan Johnson
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2006
Traci Hebert
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1991
Karen L. McKnight, CLA
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2007
Shondra L. Broussard, CP, LCP
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1992
Libby Fenstermaker
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2008
Rebecca Bentin Maum
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1993
Jessie Cormier, CLA
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2011
Sonjanita Jordan
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1994
Sandra A. Smith, CLA
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2012
Deborah P. Fontenot, CP, LCP
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1995
Lupe L. Acosta
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2013
Sandy M. Pourciaux, ACP
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1996
Karen Greer McGee, CLA
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2014
Debbie Billiot
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1997
Gail P. Seale, CLA
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2015
Renee Grissom
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1998
Denise R. Prather
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2017
Cindy Haggerty-Horne
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1999
Angelle Lagrange-Hebert
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2000
Jan L. Melton, CLA, LCP
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2002
Bridget John
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2003
Terri L. Russo, CLA, LCP
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2004
Amy Crawford
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LSPA’s CHARTER MEMBERS
LSPA could not have been formed if not for the following charter members who attended the first annual meeting and who literally lined up at the door to pay their dues to become “instant” LSPA members. These members adopted LSPA’s first By-Laws and elected its first officers at this meeting, established LSPA’s objectives and purposes, and dreamed that our Association could be what it is today.
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Robin Anderson
Ellen Artopoeus
Allison Avery
Celia Bailey
Nelle A. Barlow
Marian N. Belanger
Janet J. Bergeron
Kay Blount
Meredith H. Bono
Joyce W. Boresaw
Jackie M. Bowman
Sharon Bowman
Kate Broderick
Karin Broussard
Dorothy Cabe-Maurey
Linda Carpenter
Evelyn L. Casell
Karen L. Couch
Wanda V. Courmier
Bessie S. Cummings
Linda M. Dearing
Constance DeRise
Sharon T. Driver
Burnadine Drummond
Steven M. Drury
Jeffrey Dugar
Cathy Filhiol
Tammy Garbarino
Mary Ann Greco
Josie Guidry
Linda K. Hall
Arlene K. Hebert
Shana E. Hebert
Peggy Hitchcock
Donald Jean Jackson
Jesslyn L. Landers
| Lisa Latham
Jayne E. Lavergne
Richard Liberman
Shirley Long
Patricia G Loup
Cinde M. Lowery
Patsy L. Magnon
Cheryl C. Mahaffey
Lisa McClelland
Marguerite McDaniel
Nancy Cagle McGinty
Glynda R. Mehl
Robbin C. Monahan
Donna M. Monnier
Jimmie W. Murvin
Rose M. Perrodin
Kathryn Pilkerton
Yvonne M. Rachon
Linda S. Reynaud
Linda H. Richard
Lori Robinson
Paula Marcy Saia
Lisa B. Smart
Brenda L. Smith
Giny L. Smith
Helena S. Stowe
Dorothy L. Sullivan
Alison Q. Touchstone
Debbie Venable
Jodie P. Viguerie
Mona Ward
Theresa Wilkins
Gloria V. Williams
Timothy M. Williams
Francis G. Wynn
Phyllis Zaleski
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LSPA’s Formation Committee
The Louisiana State Paralegal Association acknowledges and thanks the formation committee, its first officers, and all of its past presidents for their hard work and dedication to the paralegal profession in Louisiana and to LSPA.
Linda Carpenter, Baton Rouge, LA - Coordinator
Carol Rochelle, Lake Charles, LA
Robin Anderson, Lake Charles, LA
Josie Guidry, Lafayette, LA
Mary Tessier, Baton Rouge, LA
Jimmie Murvin, Baton Rouge, LA
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Objectives and Purposes
- Promote the paralegal profession
- Encourage a high order of ethical and professional conduct
- Establish and maintain working relations with state and local bar associations
- Provide educational opportunities for paralegals
- Promote the exchange of information regarding duties, functions and responsibilities related to paralegals
- Establish standards and guidelines for service in the paralegal profession
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