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Pamela Young, President (1984 – 1986) Dallas Area Legal Assistants Association, (now known as Dallas Area Paralegal Association - DAPA)
Congratulations to the Dallas Area Paralegal Association and its members on the Golden 50th anniversary! I admire and salute this incredible organization and the profession for which it represents. This milestone is a testament to the Organization’s members for their vision, dedication, and the collective effort of all committees, teams and previous Boards. Your mission will continue to make a meaningful difference to your fellow colleagues, co-workers and to clients with whom you help provide legal services. I so look forward to seeing your influence expand in the years to come. During my two year tenure as President of the Association, our Board focused on several key issues, including identity/ clarification of the legal assistant vs paralegal role, certification and professional development, educating the legal community (i.e. attorneys, judges and clients) on the roles and responsibilities and importance of the professionals in delivering cost-effective services under the supervision of attorneys. During 1984 and 1985, the Paralegal Division hosted several public hearings to gather feedback and discuss a proposed voluntary certification process, which ultimately included guidelines for the utilization of paralegals in the workplace in order to promote effective and ethical use of these professionals under attorney supervision. Of course, there was much discussion in these public hearings throughout the state that touched on regulation of the profession, limited licensure of the profession and other options for those who do not work in the law firm environment but in many situations are handling direct client work with little to no supervision by an attorney. The Dallas association worked cooperatively with NFPA and NALA in receiving information; two entities which had varying proposals. Subsequently, a uniform, standard definition was adopted in Texas with the leadership of the Paralegal Division and the Dallas Association aligned itself to those standards. The paralegal associations in the state commenced determining their own membership requirements for their associations’ purposes but aligned mostly to the uniform standards adopted in Texas. This was a tense period in time since there were pros and cons for voluntary certification vs some form of regulation. The ABA opposed regulation and at that time maintained a more neutral stance on voluntary certification. My early involvement as a member in the Association began approximately in 1982. Prior to that timeframe, in 1971, my first employment in Dallas was with Fidelity Union Life Insurance Company, and my primary role focused on tenant leases and contracts for the three downtown buildings and the ten urban/rural shopping centers owned by the insurance company. At the time, there may have been a total of four buildings in downtown with a cluster of bars and small boutique stores (but, most importantly, I fell in love with the shopping at Sanger Harris and the Neiman Marcus flagship stores, as well as Titche-Goettinger). Researching contract / lease provisions and preparing new leases and/or amendments/ renewals for a diverse (small and large) client base created a niche expertise for me in the Real Estate Property Management Department of the Company. I not only became very well acquainted with the tenant owners, C-Suite management teams but also enhanced my understanding of Texas law relative to corporations, assumed name entities, LLCs, law firms, banks, savings and loan institutions including the insurance organizations. I loved the interaction, relationships and creativity in establishing long-term or short-term tenant leases. Relationships matter in all walks of life and it is so true when you are a young person with a business degree from a small Louisiana college. First impressions matter and professional responsiveness and ethics matter the most. Subsequently. In 1975, a small law firm tenant approached me about an opportunity to join its small firm and work with its 4 partners. It just so happened that one of the partners was the incoming Dallas Bar Association President. I was given an offer that was too good to refuse and the rest is history – my legal career (not job) became a passion and wonderful journey. I owe it all to the knowledge development brought on by real estate leases, corporate entities and, especially, relationship building. The Dallas Bar met at the Adolphus Hotel for their meetings and dining. Joanna Moorland and Betty Bond became my close friends. Joanna, Executive Director, and Betty, Financial Guru, kept the Bar on solid financial ground, and because of the incoming presidency of Waller Collie, I became more involved in the legal community, its activities and goals. My position title became known as legal assistant at the firm. During the period from1978 to 1988, my title transitioned from Legal Assistant to Paralegal and this became about as a result of moving to two larger law firms. My focus then became more litigation, fast paced, deadline driven and trial ready. I was also asked to provide training on specific levels to the incoming law clerks and other staff, such as student paralegals or newly hired paralegals in litigation and added to my position paralegal manager duties to oversee their development in certain areas. I loved the training, engagement and interaction with the teams and watched as they developed and promoted upward or were offered permanent positions in the firms. From 1989 through 2015, I crossed over to the management side and held the position of Corporate Law Department Legal Administrator and/or Executive Director for two law firms. One particular role did lead me to a position for four years in that time frame as the Professional Development & Training Manager for all of the law firm offices in the states. My career journey was incredible having touched in so many areas and I loved all of it. I am a believer of continuous learning and being challenged with new ideas, networking – relationships always matter, and personal branding of integrity and ethics – they follow you wherever you go. During my work life career in the legal community and since becoming a paralegal and/or Legal Administrator of firms or Corporate Law Departments, I had the privilege of serving on the Women’s Advocacy Committee in its formative years and thereafter (2000-2014); State Bar of Texas Standing Committee on Paralegals (1985-2000); SBOT MCLE Committee (1999-2004); Corporate Counsel Forum co-host organizer (1998-2010); ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistants (1999-2004); SBOT Annual Meeting Committee (1987, 2000); Board member and Chair, Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism (2003-2011); Board member and Secretary, Legacy Family Court Foundation(2010-2020); instructor, SMU Law School CLE Program – Paralegal studies in federal and state litigation, including law practice management for 2L and 3L law students (1985-1991); frequent speaker or panelist in SBOT CLE and other programs. I also continue participation with our neighborhood non-profit Homeowners Association as Board member and served as Treasurer (2017-2024) For the paralegals and those who have specialized roles in the support of legal services, my simple notes of encouragement are to follow the seven R’s that my dear friend and mentor, Bob Middleton, always shared with me and others: If you are Responsive in carrying out your Responsibilities, and if you are Reliable and have a Real Presence in the delivery of legal services, you will be Rewarded and Recognized. And, By Golly, you should get a Raise and experience great opportunities, promotions and journeys! Enjoy your career and awesome Profession! It’s worth the investment! Pamela Young
Board officers Legacy Family Court Foundation With Judge Tina Callahan and Judge Jean Lee
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