PACO NEWS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTOh, what a night! Our Paralegal Day 2025 celebration was last night, and it was a truly spectacular event! It was wonderful to see everyone and share an evening of catching up with old friends and colleagues and meeting new! Justice Daniel R. Hawkins providing a wonderful keynote address highlighting the access to justice issue and how paralegals can help to bridge the gap, particularly in rural, under served communities. We had some really nice silent auction items and the bidding was fast and furious. Congratulations to all who "won" their favorite basket(s)!
I want to thank to PR Committee for planning and executing such a terrific event. Your hard work and vision was evident and everyone had a great time! Thank you to Chair, Randi Daniels-Blair; Mindi Schaefer; Michaela Banville; Caroline Combs; Carrie Davis; Becky Lewis; and Liz Kemmerer. I also want to thank our sponsors for the evening: Veritext, Ohio Reporting, Encore Process Service, US Legal Support, Profile Discovery, Spectrum Reporting, Magna Legal Services, Esquire Deposition Solutions, and Hon. Terri Jamison of the Tenth District Court of Appeals. I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge and thank Key Evidence, who once again printed our programs and sponsor boards. We could not do what we do and have such wonderful events without our incredible sponsors!
The evening ended with our annual awards of excellence and recognition of those earning service awards. Congratulations to the following:
Paralegal of the Year - Vanessa Sharpe
Sustaining Member of the Year - Spectrum Reporting
Law Firm of the Year - Eastman Smith Ltd.
Service Awards:
Ashley Harris - 25 years
Diana Severance - 30 years
Lucinda Miller - 30 years
Angie Vohsing - 30 years
And finally, congratulations to our scholarship applicants! We had some outstanding scholarship applications and we're sure you'll all continue to do well and experience much success as you progress through your paralegal programs and launch your paralegal careers! We'd like to recognize scholarship applicants Yosmir Chirinos and Maria Ruiz-Ortega and congratulate our scholarship recipient, Josh Moore. Congratulations!
ELECTIONS
We've extended the deadline for interest forms for those who may be interested in serving in the following roles in the upcoming year (one year terms): PR Committee Chair, NFPA Secondary Representative/Statewide Representative, Student Liaison Representative, Pro Bono Committee Chair, Program Committee Chair, Mentoring Committee Chair, and OSBA Paralegal Exam Study Group Sub-Chair. These positions are a vital part of managing the ongoing processes of PACO. Please reach out with any questions or if you're curious about joining the leadership team.
The extended deadline for registration is Friday, May 23, 2025. For more information and to register, go to https://pacoparalegals.org/event-6130287/Registration
LEGAL INSIGHTS
Please join us on Thursday, May 29 at noon when Merisa K. Bowers, J.D. will join us to discuss ethics to be considered when opening and closing a client file. This session will be conducted by Zoom. Registration is open on the website.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION ROUND TABLE
Please join us on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at noon when Barb Knapic, Esq. will join us to discuss how to handle difficult claims. This session will be conducted via Zoom. Registration is open on the website.
OSBA EXAMINATION STUDY GROUP
Congratulations to all you participated in the OSBA exam study group and sat for the exam this past Saturday, May 17, 2025. You've worked hard, and we're sure your efforts will be rewarded! Thank you to Randi Daniels-Blair, who led the study group and certainly made an impact on all who participated. Congratulations to all on a job well done!
PRO BONO NEWS
Pro bono opportunities are available through LASCO. The next Asylum Clinic is being held on June 11, 2025 from 9AM-1PM and 1-5PM at the Mauritanian Community Center, 4300 North Kimberly Parkway, Columbus.
Contact Liz Kemmerer for information on how to sign up. liz@sorokalegal.com
NEWS FROM US DISTRICT COURT
Dear United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio legal community,
On June 24, starting at 1 p.m., our Court is co-sponsoring a virtual Power Act event promoting pro bono legal work for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
We are pleased to provide attorneys in the Southern District of Ohio an opportunity to learn more about providing legal services to the most vulnerable in our communities.
The event features three speakers: Chief Judge Virginia Mary Kendall for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chief Judge Laura Taylor Swain for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and Stacy Schecter, the legal director for the Domestic Violence Project at Safe Horizon. It will last one hour.
To register: The POWER Act - Event Registration
Thank you,
Chief Judge Sarah D. Morrison
United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
ACEDS SUMMER EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING EVENT
ACEDS invites you to a special Summer Educational & Networking event hosted by the ACEDS Ohio Chapter and its sponsor, Epiq. This event promises to be an insightful and engaging session on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in the legal sector.
Paul O’Hagan will share his expertise on the practical applications of AI that improve e-discovery and legal workflows. Attendees will gain insights into how AI technologies are reshaping legal processes, the risks to be aware of, and a brief overview of Epiq’s AI Discovery Assistant. Paul, the Epiq Senior Director of AI Product Management, has over 25 years of experience in AI and ML, holds 3 patents, and has authored a book on being a Product Manager of AI solutions.
Date & Time:
Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Location:
Braxton Brewing
27 W 7th
Covington, KY 41011
We look forward to seeing you there for an afternoon of learning and networking. Please register here to ensure your spot at this exciting event.
MENTORING COMMITTEE - MORNING MUG MENTORING
PACO's Mentoring Committee will hold its next Morning Mug Mentoring event on Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 7:30-9AM. Join us at ProFile Discovery (815 Grandview Ave, Suite 650, Columbus, OH 43215) for a casual, informative gathering where we’ll dive into: different areas of law and what it's like to work as a paralegal in those fields as well as interviewing tips to help you stand out in your career! This event and parking are free.
Whether you're looking to explore new legal specialties or get expert advice on the job hunt, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow paralegals and mentors in the field. Registration is open on the website: https://pacoparalegals.org/event-6178627?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=5/2/2025
NFPA SCHOLARSHIPS
The application period for NFPA scholarships is now open! The deadline for applications is July 1, 2025. For rules and eligibility criteria, and to register, go to https://paralegals.submittable.com/submit/71469633-4556-4986-a287-8818393b2e19/2025-nfpa-student-scholarship