Louisiana State Paralegal Association

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 20^th anniversary at its annual meeting in Monroe, Louisiana, at which “a good time was had by all.”  In 2010-2011, we held our LSPA 25^th Anniversary Celebration with our 25^th Annual Meeting in Alexandria, Louisiana, the home of many, many quarterly board meetings and several annual meetings.

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

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.

            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

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

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