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When Social Events Override Professional Development

Up until August, I was the Primary Representative (and webmaster) for the Western Massachusetts Paralegal Association, and I was proud of it. I worked hard to raise funds for my association to keep us involved at the national level, and I poured my heart into it. Without going into painstaking detail, the president and I did not see eye to eye on some issues, in particular, national involvement, which she felt was not important to the membership. I was chastised for my efforts: designing a new brochure and bringing it to the board meeting without being asked, forwarding information to the membership about the region meeting asking for input, and doing everything in my power to make sure WMPA would have a delegate present at the national convention. Unfortunately, the board agreed with the president. Without the support of the rest of the board, I had no choice but to resign.

Sadly, similar scenarios play out across the country in other associations, where national involvement takes a backseat for whatever reason. I have heard anecdotal evidence from other former board members across the country, and it prompts me to ask why national involvement isn't a priority, why so many paralegals seem unable or unwilling to see outside their geographic area.

In the above case, the board planned programs: pizza lunches, an ethics seminar and dinner (last year's was very poorly attended by only seven actual members), and an annual meeting that would be a social event without a speaker of any sort. It prompts another question: how many other paralegal associations are sacrificing professional development for purely social reasons? Is this actually attracting paralegals or repelling them? Or is it attracting a certain type of paralegal, the person who believes that being a paralegal is just a way to pay the bills and nothing more?

Certainly, I have nothing against socials. When I first relocated to Western Massachusetts, WMPA held an after work social gathering every month, an informal way to get to know fellow paralegals, in addition to dinners featuring educational speakers. My favorite part of the conventions are the social events; there is an amazing sense of camaraderie, and being with people who are as enthusiastic about being paralegals as I am is exhilarating and inspiring.

At the same time, though, we as paralegals are struggling to be seen as professionals. Across the country, we're watching paralegals' efforts at regulation be thwarted. Just this year, the Supreme Court ruled that paralegal fees are recoverable at market rate, rather than just the cost to the attorney. With this climate of contrasting attitudes, it is imperative that we band together nationally to present a united front, to carefully watch legislation in other states, and to be involved in our association at the national level. Social events are nice, but they are not going to transform us into professionals, nor will they project the image of paralegals as professionals.

There is no magic bullet that will ensure paralegals will be viewed as professionals, but keeping on top of our professional development goes a long way toward that goal. The local association -- and the board of that association -- should lead the way, guiding its members toward professional development and national involvement. Without that guidance, what is the incentive to join a local paralegal association? What is the incentive to be involved in the local association? I ask myself that question, and I fervently wish that an association existed in the same town as my firm so that we could hold meetings and educational sessions during lunch and be involved on the national level.

Until such an association exists in my geographic area, though, I'm left with two choices: joining another local association within driving distance, or becoming an individual sustaining member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. I'm leaning toward the former.

Full post as published by A Paralegal's Blog on September 15, 2008 (boomark / email).