President's Message
The Central Illinois Paralegal Association (CIPA) just celebrated its 20th year in 2008. While CIPA originated in 1987, the origins of the paralegal profession began in the late 1960s when Congress, law firms, local bar associations and the American Bar Association began significant efforts to increase access to legal services and reduce poverty in the United States. Growing numbers of Americans from all socioeconomic levels were coming into contact with the legal system at the same time that more complex laws and procedures were increasing the cost of legal services. One proposal intended to offer greater access to justice was the increased use of educated non-lawyers to handle legal work that otherwise would be performed by licensed attorneys. These early non-lawyers were not members of the bar and had little or no formal legal education. Instead, many were experienced legal secretaries who received additional on-the-job taining to increase their knowledge of the law and develop skills necessary to perform complex legal tasks. These early paralegals were known by many titles. Today, these professionals are most commonly referred to as legal assistants or paralegals – and these two terms are used interchangeably in most jurisdictions.
As we enter into 2009 my goal would be to encourage your attendance at monthly meetings. Our meetings are posted here on the website under the calendar tab. These meetings provide speakers on various topics of law and continuing legal education. You also get to meet fellow paralegals. It is a great opportunity for networking.
Remember, a good organization is only as good as the people behind it. It takes hard work and determination as seen by those that forged the way for us today. Please consider getting involved and growing your professional organization. I leave you with this quote by Mark Twain:
"The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work."
Please explore what CIPA has to offer to you! Contact us today.
Crystal Thomas
Paralegal
President,
Central Illinois Paralegal Association
