PARALEGAL CERTIFICATION OVERVIEW

PANEL PRESENTATION

Join DAPA's Certification Overview Panel on Monday, May 12, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. via Zoom to hear representatives from the following organizations explaining the different paralegal certification opportunities:

• Texas Board of Legal Specialization (for Board Certified Paralegals)
• NALA - The Paralegal Association 
• NFPA - National Federation of Paralegal Associations 

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

*** For additional questions regarding this event, please contact

Inter-Organizations Director Michele Boerder at iod@dallasparalegals.org.

Get to Know The Speaker:

Kelly is a graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio with a double major in Communication and Political Science. At SMU Law School, she competed both on campus and across the United States in mock trial and moot court competitions. Her hard work on those competitive teams resulted in her selection to The Order of Barristers, a nationally recognized honor reserved for the top ten graduating students demonstrating excellence in courtroom advocacy.

Licensed since 2002, Kelly has worked in a variety of civil litigation areas but has always maintained that her heart and interests lie in estate and trust litigation and in guardianship work. She has been a certified attorney ad litem appointed by the courts since beginning her practice. Kelly was honored to be nominated by her peers and selected as a Thomson Reuters “Texas Rising Star” in 2011 and 2012 and then from 2014-2017, and as one of the best lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine in 2017. Kelly has been selected for recognition from 2021 to 2024 as a Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly magazine, a recognition given to less than five percent of all Texas lawyers.

When not practicing law, Kelly is very involved with her family and friends, loves sports, and works with DFW Pug Rescue. She is also active in St. Andrew United Methodist Church where she has been a member for three decades.

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

*** For additional questions regarding this event, please contact

Leadership/Management Specialty Section Chair, Michele Boerder at leadership@dallasparalegals.org.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

USING TECHNOLOGY FROM COLLECTION THROUGH REVIEW

Our May General Membership Meeting will be in-person at the Arts District Mansion and presented by Edward Fiducia. 

 

Throughout his 30+ year career in the legal technology space, Ed has been a technology expert while also possessing a solid understanding of the legal discovery process – a rare combination.   Beginning with document coding in the early 90’s, through the evolution of database creation, e-discovery, hosted applications and concept search technologies, Ed has worked in virtually every aspect of the industry. Ed currently works with clients to customize review workflows and determine appropriate e-discovery solutions from both a technology and Discovery Management standpoint.

The sheer volume of discovery is making it virtually mandatory to automate the document review, selection, production and post-production process (i.e., deposition preparation, briefing, and trial). Not only are lawyers having to figure out how to handle the sometimes staggering volume of e-mail and other e-discovery, they're having to figure out how to handle it in a way that is complementary to and builds on the procedures that are already in place for handling paper-based productions.

This course explores an attorney’s Ethical Duty of Competence specific to issues involving electronic discovery, beginning in the early parts of the discovery phase of complex litigation during which parties are obligated to review documents then either produce relevant documents or withhold privileged ones. During this course the presenter will compare and contrast methods for electronically searching and reviewing documents including Technology Assisted Review (TAR), Early Case Assessment, Keyword, Concept Search and Document Clustering Technology, Boolean Logic, Fuzzy, and Word Association. In addition, we will explore the use of technology in performing potential spoliation audits of documents received from opposing counsel as well as use of the search functionality during deposition or trial.

MAY'S GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SPONSOR

DataPlus Advantage Inc dba Open Door Solutions

 

Thank you to DAPA’s Sustaining Member, Open Door Solutions for sponsoring May's General Membership Meeting. Thanks to Open Door Solutions for their support, we’ll be hosting two gift card drawings during the presentation, so don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and win!

Open Door Solutions is a Dallas-based company, providing litigation support services and document management solutions to law firms and corporations nationwide. Utilizing proven technologies and sound business practices, they provide premiere services that adhere to industry standards and exceed their clients' expectations. For more information about Open Door Solutions and the services they provide, please contact Bob Sweat, Open Door Solutions Automated Litigation Specialist.

Bob Sweat

Tel: 214-643-0000

Email: bsweat@opendoorsolutions.com
http://www.opendoorsolutions.com

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE and 0.50 of Ethics CLE credit through DAPA.

*** For additional questions regarding this event, please contact Caroline Rose programs@dallasparalegals.org.

Optional Lunch Buffet

Price includes tax/gratuity

$14 Soup and Salad only

$18 Full Buffet

Parking

$5 Parking Garage 

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

***For additional questions regarding this event, please contact DEI Committee Chair, Venisha Harmon at diversity@dallasparalegals.org.

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

***For additional questions regarding this event, please contact Criminal Specialty Section Chair, Rachel Johnson at criminal@dallasparalegals.org.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

PROFESSIONALISM

Our June General Membership Meeting will be in-person at the Arts District Mansion and presented by Carol Donovan. 

 

Carol attended DISD’s Bryan Adams High School and the University of Texas at Austin, where she was the first woman elected as Student Body President. During college, she worked in the Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C. offices of U.S. Congressman J.J. (“Jake”) Pickle.  After earning her law degree at Texas Tech School of Law, Carol served as a briefing attorney for U.S. District Judge Robert M. Parker.  

At the University of Texas at Austin, Carol successfully lobbied for compliance with Title IX. In Dallas, she reinstated the Dallas Women’s Coalition and founded the Susan B. Anthony Award Luncheon, now sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Dallas. She frequently speaks to community groups on topics related to politics, legal rights, and conflict resolution.  

In 2007, Carol chaired the International Women’s Peace Conference, attended in Dallas, Texas by over 1,400 delegates, including 3 Nobel Peace Laureates, from 45 countries. She was Founding Director of the Castleberry Peace Institute, now owned and operated by the University of North Texas. 

She has served as an officer and board member of numerous nonprofit groups and as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of her church. She is currently assisting UT Southwestern with fundraising for research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and she is writing a book about former Dallas Times Herald Womens Editor Vivian Castleberry for TWU‘s Pioneering Women Book Series.

Carol is married to Dan Donovan, a named partner of the law firm of Geary, Porter & Donovan. They have two children: Kathleen and Patrick, both attorneys in Dallas. They are the proud grandparents of five almost-perfect grandchildren.

JUNE'S GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SPONSOR

Thank you to DAPA’s Sustaining Member, Capitol Services for sponsoring June's General Membership Meeting. Thanks to Capitol Services for their support, we’ll be hosting two gift card drawings during the presentation, so don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and win!

Capitol Services Capitol Services is a different kind of service company. After four decades, we remain committed to providing personal and accommodating customer service to corporate and legal professionals. Capitol Services goes Above and Beyond to give you the service you deserve. Capitol Services provides include Corporate (Formations, FBNs, Dissolutions), Lien Services, and Registered Agent. 

Brittany Johnson

Tel: 817-925-9609

Email: bjohnson@capitolservices.com

www.capitolservices.com

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

*** For additional questions regarding this event, please contact Programs Vice President Caroline Rose programs@dallasparalegals.org.

Optional Lunch Buffet

Price includes tax/gratuity

$14 Soup and Salad only

$18 Full Buffet

Parking

$5 Parking Garage 

CALLING ALL STUDENTS PARALEGALS AND

SEASONED PARALEGALS!

***For additional questions regarding this event, please contact President, Heather Ulliman at president@dallasparalegals.org. ***

***This event is not approved for CLE.***

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

CIVILITY AND PROFESSIONALISM IN THE LEGAL FIELD

Our July General Membership Meeting will be in-person at the Arts District Mansion and presented by the

Honorable Judge Veretta Frazier. 

 

Judge Frazier was elected in 2023.  Prior taking the bench she served as attorney and litigator for over 20 year, working in complex commercial, tort litigation, employment litigation, and administrative law where she prosecuted and defended matters on behalf of individuals and corporations.

Judge Frazier is an active member of several local bar associations and community groups. She is committed to increasing civility and professionalism in the bar, as well as meaningful mentorship opportunities for law students and young lawyers.

JULY'S GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SPONSOR

Thank you to DAPA’s Sustaining Member, Elite Video Productions, Inc. for sponsoring July's General Membership Meeting. Thanks to Elite Video Productions, Inc. for their support, we’ll be hosting two gift card drawings during the presentation, so don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and win!

Since 1989, Elite Video Productions, Inc. (Elite) has provided the legal industry with professional litigation support video services at depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and courtroom hearings. We work exclusively with the best Certified Shorthand Reporters and Certified Realtime Reporters across the nation. Elite has recorded thousands of legal proceedings involving a variety of subjects in various court systems across the nation and internationally.

Beverly Woodall

Tel: 214-747-1952

Email: Beverly@elitevideoproductions.com

www.elitevideoproductions.com

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

*** For additional questions regarding this event, please contact Programs Vice President Caroline Rose programs@dallasparalegals.org.

Optional Lunch Buffet

Price includes tax/gratuity

$14 Soup and Salad only

$18 Full Buffet

Parking

$5 Parking Garage 

CALLING ALL STUDENTS PARALEGALS AND

SEASONED PARALEGALS!

***For additional questions regarding this event, please contact President, Heather Ulliman at president@dallasparalegals.org. ***

***This event is not approved for CLE.***

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

MEDIATION FOR PARALEGALS

Our September General Membership Meeting will be in-person at the Arts District Mansion and presented by the 

Bo Berry. 

 

For 35 years, Bo was an active trial lawyer.  During his rial practice he owned and managed Berry, Byrne & Randall, Berry & Randall, and The Berry Firm with offices in Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Little Rock.  Bo is now a full-time mediator with Berry Mediations who handles significant, catastrophic and med mal injuries.

This course will help inform paralegals about the mediation process.  It will help paralegals prepare for, participate in, and follow up in mediation.  It will help paralegals understand what the lawyers do at mediation.

SEPTEMBER'S GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SPONSOR

Thank you to DAPA’s Sustaining Member, Beacon Hill Staffing Group for sponsoring September's General Membership Meeting. Thanks to Beacon Hill Staffing Group for their support, we’ll be hosting two gift card drawings during the presentation, so don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and win!

Beacon Hill Solutions Group offers workforce solutions, project consulting and agile team extension across industry, skill sets and labor categories backed by 1400+ client specialists and 7,500+ specialized consultants. 

Judith Ortiz

Tel: 214-452-0042

Email: jortiz@beaconhillstaffing.com

This event qualifies for 1.0 hour of General CLE credit through DAPA.

*** For additional questions regarding this event, please contact Programs Vice President Caroline Rose programs@dallasparalegals.org.

Optional Lunch Buffet

Price includes tax/gratuity

$14 Soup and Salad only

$18 Full Buffet

Parking

$5 Parking Garage