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SNAP SHOT

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    Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals						March 2007
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Visit our web site at www.snapreno.com 
Inside This Issue:
New CLAs ………. 2
Annual Seminar/Mock Trial News &
          Registration  ……… 3
NNWLA/SNAP Joint Meeting …… 4
Paralegal Saves the Day ……… 5                                           
Getting to Know You-Debra Newman…... 6
Legal Websites ………….. 8
NALA News …………………… 8-10                                                  
Washoe County Law Library  …… 11 
SNAP Meeting Minutes …… 12-13	 
SNAP Officers & Contact Info…………….14            Job Bank ………… 15-16
Treasury Reports ……… 18-19                                               
SNAP Calendar-in-Brief

March 6, Tuesday, 12 noon
Executive Committee, McDonald Carano
All members welcome

March 30, Friday, 9-4:30                 
SNAP Annual Seminar with Mock Trial
Second Judicial District Court, Reno

April 3, Tuesday, 12 noon
Executive Committee, McDonald Carano
All members welcome

April 17, Tuesday, 12 noon
Joint meeting with Northern Nevada Women 
Lawyers.   Washoe Steakhouse, 4201 W. 4th 
Street, Reno
                           	
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Paralegal Day 2007 was a great success.  Thank you Misty Taylor, and your committee members, for all the hard work.  I hope all the attendees are enjoying their Starbucks gift cards.  Congratulations to our Paralegal Saves the Day winners also.  Their stories are posted in this newsletter. 

 Did you send in your registration for the MOCK TRIAL?  Please make sure you are registered.  The Mock Trial is at the 2nd Judicial District Courthouse on March 30, 2007.  There is limited space and we’d like our members to have the first opportunity to attend.  We will be sending the brochures to other organizations in another week.  So please take the time to complete the form and send it in – you can access the brochure with the registration form from the link at the bottom of this page. 

                                                (Continued on Page 2)

Daylight Saving Time begins March 11 this year – set clocks ahead 1 hour!	

REGISTER NOW for our March 30 Annual Seminar/Mock Trial.   Registration forms are at http://www.snapreno.com/SNAP-MockTrialFlyer-Color-Final.v2.pdf

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE     (Continued from Page 1)

We are having some problems with our post office box.  If you have received returned mail, please send me the envelope so I can meet with the postal supervisor.  However, the clerk has advised that the problem has been resolved.  You can send your registration forms for the Mock Trial directly to me at McDonald Carano Wilson, P.O Box 2670, Reno, NV 89505.  Please call me should you have any questions. (775) 326-4354. 

I look forward to seeing all of you at the Mock Trial.  Melissa Paschal has planned a fabulous seminar for us.  Don’t miss out on such a wonderful educational opportunity right here at home. 

As always, feel free to email me at any time with thoughts or suggestions for SNAP activities.  I can be reached at:
lcarlson@mcdonaldcarano.com 
 
Sincerely, 
Laura A. Carlson, CP

	

Congratulations To Our New CLAs!
Amy Hodgson  --  Kathryn Vitalie  -- Dirk Hodges

Amy, as you are aware, is SNAP’s NALA Liaison this year and was Secretary last year.  She works for Silverman, Decaria & Kattelman and is expecting her first child in April.

Kathryn is Judicial Assistant for U. S. District Court Judge Edward Reed.  She has told me that she is already planning on getting an Advanced Certification. 

Dirk just retired after 25 years in the airline field.  He will now be taking a couple of months off before looking for a position as a Paralegal.

Submitted by Christine Saito, ACP

SNAP’S ANNUAL SEMINAR
  FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2007

A MOCK TRIAL
Opening Statements to Verdict – Jury Trial of an actual case

Presiding Judge: The Honorable Robert H. Perry 
Defense Counsel: William H. Ginsburg, Esq.
Plaintiff Counsel: Michael E. Sullivan, Esq.
Jury will be comprised of volunteer SNAP members

ETHICS DISCUSSION BY DAVID A. CLARK, ESQ.

PRESENTATION BY WILLIAM H. GINSBURG, ESQ.
“THE TRIAL PARALEGAL”

9 A.M.  -  4:30 P.M.
SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
75 Court Street, Dept. 9
Reno, NV

SNAP Members $95     Non-members $125     Attorneys $150
Payment must be included with Registration Form

Register early – seating is limited.  Download flyer with Registration Form:
http://www.snapreno.com/SNAP-MockTrialFlyer-Color-Final.v2.pdf

NNWLA and SNAP JOINT MEETING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 17, 2007

A joint luncheon meeting will be held by the Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association and Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals on April 17, 2007, noon, Washoe Steakhouse (aka Washoe Grill), 4201 West Fourth Street, Reno.  Reservation forms will be in the April newsletter.

The speakers will be attorneys from Washoe Legal Services. 
		Karen Sabo, Esq., Child Advocacy Division
		Caryn Sternlicht, Esq., Domestic Violence Division
		Marc Ashley, Esq., Immigration and Consumer Division

Be informed as to what Washoe Legal Services does, who is eligible for services, and the appropriate practice areas for referrals. Each attorney will speak for approximately 10 minutes explaining their division, then a question and answer period will follow.

Christine Saito, ACP
1st Vice President 

Daylight Saving Time begins earlier this year – set your clocks and watches ahead 1 hour on March 11.   The energy bill approved by Congress in 2005 stipulated that Daylight Saving Time be extended by four weeks beginning in 2007.  So, from 2 am on Sunday March 11 until 2 am on Sunday November 4, most states in the U.S. will set their clocks an hour ahead of local standard time.

PARALEGAL SAVES THE DAY!

As part of our very successful Paralegal Day celebration February 20, SNAP presented its Paralegal Saves the Day awards.  

Congratulations to Amanda de la Rosa who has been chosen as our 2007 recipient of the Paralegal Saves the Day Award.  Amanda is Barbara Gruenewald’s assistant (Troy Anderson & Barbara Gruenewald, Reno).  Barbara’s nomination story was entitled “Amanda Saves Barbara’s Butt.” While working on a worker’s compensation case, Barbara told Amanda she didn’t need to calendar an appeal, as Barbara believed the matter was related to the vocational rehab portion of the case, for which they had already received a positive result.  However, the ever attentive Amanda, while double checking the determination letters, noticed that the appeal deadline related to the insurance determination letter.  Amanda’s attention to detail and watching her employer’s back is definitely deserving of our Paralegal Saves the Day Award for 2007.  Congratulations Amanda.  

We also presented a team award to the paralegals and legal assistants of Silverman Decaria.  This was their team nomination.
 
We employ four paralegals and one legal assistant.  Our team of paralegals is the fail safe to ensure we don't generally require "save the day" strategies.  They work to prepare the case from day one, to make sure no one has to "save the day" at trial. This team is intelligent, cohesive, and competent.  They understand our clients.  They understand self-motivation.  Above all, they understand teamwork.  We work in the emotionally charged and turbulent field of family law.  From day one our paralegals begin to put the case together -- and the client back together.  Like no other office I've seen, this team is supportive of each other, does not gossip about each other, and they do not throw each other "under the bus."   They understand professionalism in every sense of the word, from their language to their dress to their work ethic.  Every day we are honored to work with Susan Sunday,  Jennifer Grundy,  Toni Matts,  Amy Hodgson, and Elizabeth Krutz.   We nominate them as one great team. 
Mike Kattelman
Mary Anne Decaria
Gary R. Silverman
Silverman, Decaria & Kattelman, Chtd.

Getting to Know You …… Debra Newman

In 1986 I graduated from high school in Fallon, Nevada.  My goal at the time was to never do homework again so I decided to go to cosmetology school.  After 1800 hours of training, I became a licensed cosmetologist and began working in a salon.  I quickly realized that I needed paid sick days and insurance for my two little boys and decided that I had better bite the bullet and go back to school and do my homework after all.

I entered the night program at Reno Business College (now Morrison College) to become a professional legal secretary.  Shortly thereafter, I began working as a receptionist for Wm. Patterson Cashill, Hank Cavalalaera, and Silverman & Decaria.  Pat and Hank decided to move their offices a block over and asked me to join them.  After graduation from Reno Business College, I began taking on more secretarial work for Pat.  I happily worked as a legal secretary for Pat for several years and focused on my family.

One day a flyer for the Paralegal Studies program at UNR came to the office in the mail.  But with my phobia about homework, I decided to let some of the other secretaries in the office take it first and let me know how much homework was involved.  After one of them made it through, I bit the bullet and entered the very next program.  I loved it!  I even loved the homework so much that I enrolled in the next program at UNR for Advanced Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals. I completed both programs in 1994.  Finally, I thought, my days of homework had come to an end.

In 1995, I accepted a position at McDonald Carano Wilson LLP for Valerie Cooke, Esq. This was a learning experience for me because Valerie’s practice included creditors’ rights in bankruptcy.  I only had litigation experience and had to learn the ways of the world – bankruptcy style.  After several months of questioning and struggling with the bankruptcy way of doing things, I finally learned to actually enjoy the work and found that bankruptcy is not boring!  Valerie had some fascinating cases with complex issues and McDonald Carano Wilson LLP became a home away from home for me.

A wonderful opportunity arose when Valerie was appointed in 1999 as a United States Magistrate Judge.  Valerie (now Judge Cooke) asked me if I would like to join her as her Judicial Assistant.  I had to think about it for approximately a nano-second before I screamed, “YES, YES, YES” at the top of my lungs.  My ship had come in, my dream job was right before my eyes.  The homework had actually been worth it after all.

Through the years, I joined SNAP and attended meetings, always careful to duck under the table when they asked for volunteers.  Then one day I noticed that I wasn’t receiving a newsletter anymore.  I called to ask why and suddenly found myself volunteering to edit the newsletter – what was I thinking?  I had just signed myself up for more homework!  The next thing you know, a few years later, I became President of SNAP.  I thoroughly enjoyed my tenure on the board and I was able to meet so many new friends and colleagues through my service on the board.  I am so glad that I was able to give back to the organization that has given me so much over the years.

I was working along happily, minding my own business when Christie Saito decided to start a CLA study group in February 2006.  My loathing of homework had caused me to put off taking this exam for ten years.  But there had not been a study group for several years.  How could I not join this group?  Twenty weeks of homework later, I sat in the exam room, palms sweating, heart pounding, taking the CLA exam.  Three months later, the homework paid off when I found out that I passed on the first try!  I could not believe my eyes and my first thought was, “Finally, no more homework.”

					-----Submitted by Debra Newman, CP

Would you like us to Get To Know You better?  You may volunteer a brief biography for the newsletter.  Submit to Newsletter Editor, Gloria Jaureguy, at ggjaureg@mindspring.com

	

Decrypt This Legal Cipher!

Following is a cryptogram created from a quotation by a famous person on a legal topic.   Each letter in the cipher stands for another.   Answer, with author and source, will be in next month’s SNAP Shot. 

GJYJLRYJDE  JZ  R  FRPKJEN  VKJPK  TDX  LD  JEYD  RZ  R  CJL

REO  PDFN  DXY  DM  RZ  R  ZRXZRLN.

	
Legal Websites to check out!

www.legalnewsline.com.  This is a web-based newswire founded in December 2006, dedicated to 24/7 coverage of state supreme courts and state attorneys general, focusing on cases and actions that can impact business.  You can sign up for their e-newsletter.

A recent “hot topic” was titled “Hartford Insurance puts up $26 million to settle ‘Colossus’ class action.”  Datelined 1/18/2007, Texarkana, Arkansas, the article described the case in which several insurers were sued for improperly reducing payouts for injuries, while using Colossus software.  The software provider, Computer Sciences Corporation, was named as the first defendant.  Issues of joinder, jurisdiction, and standing were raised. Defendants filed motions to dismiss, in one instance stating: “The fact that insurers strive to not over pay claims is not illegal.”  The lengthy article discusses additional aspects of this interesting matter.

www.plainlanguage.gov.  This is an interesting site and has many great resources.  There is a Legal Quotes section.  One of the quotes stresses the importance of commas.  A “legal analysis” of a document should always include a review of grammar and punctuation.  The following quote demonstrates why. 

During the First World War, Sir Roger Casement was charged with treason.  [Casement was an Irish revolutionist who sought help for the Irish cause in Germany after WWI broke out and remained there until 1916.] But the question was: Did the law apply to acts of treason performed abroad? The answer depended on whether there was a pair of commas in the relevant section. The Act was so old that this was not clear, but the judges went down to the Public Record Office and looked up the old parchment Statute rolls, where they found markings that they interpreted as punctuation. As a result Sir Roger Casement was almost literally "hanged by a comma." The moral of the story is: do not neglect punctuation.
Dr. Michael Arnheim, Contract Vetting

Submitted by Melissa Paschal and Gloria Jaureguy

 “Geaux to New Orleans with NALA”
32nd Annual Convention & Exhibition   July 11-14, 2007

The 32nd Annual Convention of NALA will be held July 11-14, 2007, at the
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.
An ambitious agenda of educational programs, business meetings and
 social gatherings—along with the popular exhibition of vendors—has
 been planned by the NALA Continuing Education Council.  For complete
 information go to http://www.nala.org

NALA’s 2007 Annual Convention Educational programs 
offer a wide array of educational opportunities for all paralegals.
Featured are 3 Institutes and 3 Educational Tracks, as follows:
Institutes:
• Appellate Procedure
• Electronic Data Discovery
• Human Resources

Tracks:
A la Carte
• Disaster Recovery: Lessons from Katrina
• Fundamentals of Elder Law
• Vulnerable Immigrant Populations - How to Recognize Them

Advanced Essential Skills
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Real Estate - Multi-use Development
• Personal Injury – Damages

Essential Skills
• Written Communications
• American Legal System
• Judgment & Legal Analysis
• Legal Research

The speakers are noted experts in their fields. Check out the session details and descriptions at http://www.nala.org

Very Special Session Announced. In recent years, members have asked for more in-depth leadership sessions for their personal growth as well as for the benefit of their affiliated associations.  In 2007, we have merged these ideas into a very special Membership Forum Session. Thanks to the sponsorship of Thomson/Delmar Learning, nationally recognized speaker Mark Levin will make a presentation on Thursday, July 12, from 1:15-4:30 p.m. Mr. Levin’s presentation stresses that effective leaders have the ability to do things AND to get things done. His interactive presentation will help bring out the leader in you. For more details and a biography of Mr. Levin, please see the NALA web site or visit http://www.baileadership.com.

The Venue. The meeting will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New
Orleans, Louisiana. Guest room arrangements for the 2007 convention may be made on the web at
http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/nala

UPCOMING NALA DATES

March 23-24, 2007	CLA Exam	
May 15, 2007	Deadline for application for July CLA Exam	
July 11-14, 2007	NALA Annual Convention	
July 20-21, 2007	CLA Exam	

Visit the NALA website www.nala.org

View the latest issue of the Affiliates Brief at http://www.nala.org/Aff-Brief.pdf

				
NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTICES
ARTICLES
SUGGESTIONS
WHATEVER……………..
Please submit by the 28th of each month to your newsletter editor: ggjaureg@mindspring.com	

	

Check our website at www.snapreno.com for upcoming events, and links to great legal sites.

WASHOE COUNTY LAW LIBRARY
75 Court Street, Room 101, Reno, NV
(775) 328-3250

March  2007

Library Hours
Monday to Thursday	8 am to 9 pm
Friday 			8 am to 5 pm
Saturday & Sunday 	 10 am to 5 pm

March 2007 - The American Jury System: People participating in government.  Speaker is Judge Jerome Polaha.  Thursday, March 29 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm in the R.Z. Hawkins Conference Room at the Law Library, Washoe County Courthouse, 75 Court Street, Room 101 in Reno, Nevada.  To reserve a space, please call 328-3250.

CLOSED on all legal holidays listed in NRS 236.015 and on Easter Sunday.  PARKING on Virginia or Court Streets (metered parking), or use Gallery parking lot at corner of First/Sierra (parking fee).

Check the website www.washoecounty.us/lawlib/ to find free programs available to the public such as Legal Seminars, legal links, and much other information.

	

CLE OPPORTUNITIES

The Corporate Transactional Paralegal Institute. March 26-27, 2007, Chicago.  Designed  specifically for the corporate paralegal in law firms, in-house legal departments, and government agencies.  Some of the workshops will be: The Paralegal’s Role in LLCs; Securities Regulations; How to Avoid Costly Errors in UCC Filings; SOX Update; Computer Forensics 101A. Tuition is $695 – the Early Bird Rate.  Find out more at www.EstrinLegalEd.com

MINUTES OF THE SNAP
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
February 8, 2007

The Executive Committee (EC) Meeting was called to order by President Laura Carlson at 12:07 p.m. at McDonald Carano Wilson’s offices in Reno.  A quorum was present.  Those in attendance were:

Laura Carlson, CP, President
Crystal Huss, Second Vice President/Website Manager
Melissa Paschal, CP, Secretary
Jennifer Grundy, CLA, Treasurer
Amy Hodgson, NALA Liaison
Gloria Jaureguy, Newsletter Editor
Misty Taylor, Social Activities Chair
Mary Ann Cushman, Student Liaison
Doreen Smith-Power, Librarian

President’s Report
President Laura Carlson announced that final details and arrangements for Paralegal Day would be the main topic of the meeting today.  Numerous discussions on details of the event were held.  

Laura reported that a videoconference meeting with the board of SNAP and Nevada Paralegal Association (in Las Vegas) has been scheduled for May 15, 2007 at McDonald Carano.

A thank you was received from CAAW for the gifts collected at the SNAP holiday party.  

Elections for new board members will commence soon.  An extra key will be made for the SNAP P.O. Box.

First Vice President’s Report
First Vice President Christi Saito was unable to attend the meeting due to a last-minute date change.

Second Vice President/Website Manager’s Report
Second Vice President Crystal Huss suggested that the password be changed for the SNAP website; it was discussed and approved.  A secret password will be distributed to members only.  At Christi Saito’s request (which was received via email), Crystal will update the information on the SNAP website, such as details for the next study group, mentioning the NALA 2007 convention on the SNAP website, etc.  Crystal will update the information at her earliest convenience.

Secretary’s Report
Secretary Melissa Paschal advised that we need to determine how the jury for the Mock Trial will be selected.  It was determined that SNAP members will be asked when they sign in at the seminar if they wish to be on the jury.  If they do, their name will be placed in a box and names will be drawn for the jury.  If we do not have enough volunteers, EC members will fill in as needed.  Food at the event was also discussed.  Since there are no tables and chairs for formal sit-down meals, we will provide a simple continental breakfast and box lunches.  The food will be set up in the jury room.  SNAP EC members will clean-up the breakfast items and set the room up for lunch.  Melissa asked to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for the Mock Trial in the amount of $34.26 for binders and tabs for the participants.  Crystal MOVED to approve reimbursement of the expenses; SECONDED;  MOTION CARRIED.

Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Jennifer Grundy had no report.

NALA Liaison’s Report
NALA Liaison Amy Hodgson offered to look into the Legal Assistants Division of the Nevada State Bar to inquire about certification of paralegals.

Parliamentarian’s Report
Parliamentarian Kate Cline was unable to attend the meeting.

Newsletter Editor’s Report
Newsletter Editor Gloria Jaureguy had no report.

Activities/Social Chair’s Report
Activities/Social Chair Misty Taylor reported that Paralegal Day festivities were on track.  We are hoping for more attendees.

Librarian’s Report
Librarian Doreen Smith-Power had no report.

Student Liaison’s Report
Student Liaison Mary Ann Cushman inquired about whether scholarships can be applied to attendance at the Mock Trial.  It was determined that we need to review the bylaws and approve scholarship applications on a case-by-case basis.

New/Miscellaneous Business
No new or miscellaneous business to discuss.  With all business complete, the meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

Melissa Paschal, CP
Secretary

SNAP Officers and Chairpersons for 2006-2007

President:
Laura Carlson, CLA
McDonald Carano
Phone:  788-2000
lcarlson@mcdonaldcarano.com

	First Vice President/Education: 				Parliamentarian:	
	Christi Saito, ACP					Kate Cline, CP				
	Washoe Legal Services					Sutton Place Limited
	Phone: 329-2727, ext. 123					Phone: 348-0125
	csaito@washoelegalservices.org				kate.cline@suttonpl.com

	Second Vice President/Membership/Job Bank		Social Activities: 	
	and Web Site Manager:					Misty Taylor 
 	Crystal Huss						Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw
	Attorney Marilyn D. York, Inc.				& Ferrario
	Phone: 324-7979						Phone: 741-7330
	crystal@marilynyork.net					mxfamily2005@yahoo.com

	Secretary:						Librarian:	
	Melissa Paschal, CLA					Doreen Smith-Power
	Steven J. Klearman & Assoc.				McDonald Carano			
	Phone: 323-3700						Phone: 788-2000
	melissa@injurylitigators.com				dsmith-power@mcdonaldcarano.com

	Treasurer:						Student Liaison:
	Jennifer Grundy, CLA					Mary Ann Cushman             		Silverman, Decaria & Kattelman				Phone: 232-4228
	Phone: 322-3223						maryanncushman@mac.com
	Jennifer@silverman-decaria.com
				
	NALA Liaison:						Newsletter Editor:	
	Amy Hodgson 			 			Gloria Jaureguy
	Silverman, Decaria & Kattelman				Phone: 887-0556
	Phone: 322-3223						ggjaureg@mindspring.com
	amy@silverman-decaria.com				

SNAP Shot is an official publication of the Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (“SNAP”).
SNAP Address:  Post Office Box 2832, Reno, Nevada  89505
SNAP Shot is published monthly. The 2006-2007 Editor is Gloria Jaureguy. Please e-mail Gloria at          ggjaureg@mindspring.com to submit newsletter information. Deadline for submitting articles for publication in the newsletter is the 28th  of each month.
Please note:  SNAP does not endorse any specific education program. Information provided in the SNAP Shot is to be evaluated by the reader. All editorial material is to be used at the discretion of the reader and does not imply endorsement by the editor, SNAP, its officers or members.
SNAP may make members’ names and business addresses available to legal related entities without the direct consent of each member. Members who do not want their information released must advise the Executive Committee in writing.