LOUISIANA STATE PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
Summer 2018 Report to NALA
The Louisiana State Paralegal Association was faced with a unique issue this year. Louisiana House Bill No. 748 proposed legislation that would have prohibited Certified Paralegals in Louisiana from using the word “Certified” in their credentials. The LSPA Board members stepped up to fight against passage of this legislation by contacting their legislators and by urging LSPA members and other paralegals in Louisiana to contact their legislators and urge they vote against, or amend, this legislation.
Working with a public policy law firm out of Washington, DC, LSPA worked to defeat the bill, or at a minimum to revise it to remove the provisions restricting CPs, ACPs, and LCPs from including the word “certified” in their title. On Wednesday, May 9, the bill was on the agenda to be heard before the Senate Commerce Committee. LSPA President (and former NALA President), Karen Greer McGee, attended the committee hearing to stand up for LSPA members and all paralegals of Louisiana. (Karen in wearing a white jacket in the photo below taken at the hearing.) Senators were overwhelmed with the response and returned with amended legislation which included only a provision that the governor review agencies engaged in regulatory and licensing activities within the next five years. We were elated at the outcome.
Throughout this process, the board of LSPA worked together as a team to get results; it appeared the board had worked together for years, although elections had been held only days before learning of the pending legislation.
Officers of LSPA elected on April 21, 2019 are:
President: Karen Greer McGee, ACP
First Vice President: Rhonda K. McManus
Second Vice President: Christine Midkiff, CP
Treasurer: Sandy M. Pourciaux, ACP
Secretary: Lescee Mills
NALA Liaison: Deborah P. Fontenot, ACP, LCP
Chair, LCP Certifying Board Jessie Cormier, CP, LCP
Submitted by: Louisiana State Paralegal Association
NALA Liaison, Deborah P. Fontenot, ACP, LCP