Paralegal Spotlight: Peggy Pardue

Peggy PardueBy the Communications Committee

This month’s Paralegal Spotlight is on Peggy Pardue.

I am a North Carolina Certified Paralegal at Hampson Family Law located in Raleigh.

I attended Elon college for one year before transitioning my studies to a community college. I also became a notary public in the ’80s. While formal education may be the best route for some people, experience was the best way for me to learn the skills I needed to become a successful paralegal.

Initially, I worked full time at the North Carolina Board of CPA Examiners in their disciplinary section. This position gave me a taste of the legal world. After working there for eight years, I transitioned into the role of an Executive Administrative Assistant with a local propane company. After a couple of years as an Executive Administrative Assistant when my son was young, and I had been through a divorce and remarried, I started working in a family law firm. This position gave me and continues to give me the opportunity to do something to help others who are going through similar circumstances. I thought that passion and calling would have led me to Child Support Enforcement, but I found my home with family law. As of May 2022, I have served in the legal field for 19 years.

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Annual Meeting: Transcending Today’s Paralegal

By the CPE Committee

On May 6, 2022, the Paralegal Division will host its first in-person annual meeting since May 2019. The pandemic stopped the planning of the 2020 annual meeting in its tracks. That year’s Chair, Tina Dadio, hosted the first online annual meeting for the division. We thought that 2021 would bring better tidings, but Stephanie Durham-Rivera also found herself hosting an online annual meeting. Both chairs during the pandemic did an amazing job leading the division in uncharted waters, and their dedication during that time should be applauded.

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Volunteer Opportunity: NCBA Pro Se Custody and Family Law Advice Clinic

By the Paralegal Division Pro Bono Committee 

The Paralegal Division has partnered with the Family Law Section to hold a Pro Se Custody and Family Law Advice Clinic for residents of Wake County. This clinic is a pilot program, and while it is currently limited to the Wake County area, the hope is that it can eventually be expanded to other counties around the state several times per year. In order for an individual to be assisted in the clinic, the individual must be a resident of Wake County or the biological parent of a child/children who live in Wake County.

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Volunteer Remotely for the Charlotte Expunction Clinic

By Rachel Royal

On April 23, 2022, the Charlotte Expunction Project will hold another clinic at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. This project is a partnership between the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center (PBRC), the SelfServe Center, the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, and Public Defender’s Office. During the clinics, volunteer public defenders offer advice to applicants regarding their eligibility for expunction relief under North Carolina law. Due to changes in the law that may be temporary, the upcoming clinic will only offer expungement assistance for dismissed charges, Not Guilty charges, and youthful offender convictions. However, the number of clients the clinic will serve will expand by 33% over the previous event.

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Be a Pro Bono Paralegal at this Year’s 4ALL (Virtual) Statewide Service Day!

By Stephanie Crosby

The 15th Annual 4ALL (Virtual) Statewide Service Day will be held on Friday, March 4, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The 4ALL Statewide Service Day is a pro bono program of the North Carolina Bar Foundation and held in conjunction with the North Carolina Bar Association. During 4ALL, North Carolina lawyers provide free legal answers, information, and resources to callers seeking information regarding North Carolina-related legal matters. This year’s event will be virtual, and it will provide an opportunity for paralegals to participate as call screeners.

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Paralegal Spotlight: Ileigh Kuga

Ileigh Kuga

By the Communications Committee

This month’s Paralegal Spotlight is on Ileigh Kuga.

Before I started my career as a paralegal, my intentions were to go to law school. I planned my undergraduate career with that intention in mind; however, my undergraduate advisor threw me a curveball. He suggested that I go and work for an attorney before committing to three years of law school, just to see if I would like the field (and to see if I was willing to accumulate all the debt associated with law school). At first, I was pretty taken aback that my advisor was telling me not to pursue my career aspirations, but I gave it a shot. Now that I am a North Carolina Bar Certified Paralegal, I am glad I listened! I love my work, and I feel so accomplished with all I have done thus far.

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Pro Bono Volunteer Opportunity: Save the Date

By Amanda OwensAmanda Owens

On March 17, 2022, the Paralegal Division will be hosting the next Driver’s License Restoration Project Virtual Clinic. This clinic will further the efforts of the Driver’s License Restoration Pro Bono Project, which launched in 2017, to address the crisis-level license suspension rate in North Carolina. I volunteered for the virtual clinic hosted by the NCBA Paralegal Division in May of 2021, after reading the May 5, 2021 blog post written by Paralegal Division Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair, Rachel Royal, in which she elaborates on the project and the driving forces behind it:

As of April 2019, there were over 1,225,000 active license suspensions in the state of North Carolina related to unpaid traffic fines and failure to appear in court.[1] Even more disheartening is that poverty and systemic racism, rather than a willful refusal to appear in court or to pay fines, are the driving factors of a majority of these suspensions.

The statewide suspension rate of Black or African American drivers is four times higher than that of white, non-Hispanic drivers. This racial disparity is higher in some counties, both urban and rural.”

Being no stranger to the snowball effect that can take place when someone becomes involved in the judicial system, I jumped at the opportunity to participate. I wanted to help make tangible, meaningful progress for those impacted by the system driving such high numbers of license suspensions. It would soon become clear to me that this is not just a small effort to help some folks who had some bad luck or made a bad decision; it is a huge effort to effect change where systemic racism is evident. I recommend hopping over to Rachel’s previously mentioned post to learn more about the Driver’s License Restoration Pro Bono Project, and the impact it is making on North Carolinians. But first, here is how it impacted me.

It had been almost a decade since I completed my paralegal certificate program when I volunteered, but as I listened to Pro Bono Resource Center staff attorney, Leigh Wicclair, explain why the Driver’s License Restoration Pro Bono Project was launched, I was reminded of something my instructor told me on the first day of class. To paraphrase, he said to the group of fledgling legal professionals that if we wanted to do something to really help people, we should work for an attorney that handles traffic tickets. He said that would be the way to make the most positive impact on the most people. I also remember thinking, well . . . that’s not very romantic. If you are anything like I was then, you had a vision of rushing into a courtroom with some piece of evidence that would prove your client’s innocence or stop a family farm from being bulldozed. After about 3 months of being a paralegal, I realized that most of the game-changing work does not happen in a courtroom (and that courtrooms almost never have oak woodwork or dramatic lighting).

The reality of our profession, and the legal world in general, is that it is mostly procedural. It is about working within systems, filling out the right forms with the right words, and getting the most done with the resources available. Volunteering our skills and knowledge as paralegals creates a resource for those who need help navigating that world, and each one of us who volunteers increases an attorney’s ability to be a resource exponentially. I did not take my instructor’s advice from the first day of class, so I had no experience with the issue of license suspension, but after an hour of training, I was reviewing client records and drafting advice letters about how they could proceed toward getting their license restored. The supervising attorney was on hand to answer questions, and all of us were able to easily interact throughout the work session. The clinic was extremely well organized, efficient, enjoyable, and it was doing something to help.

I am a volunteer by nature. I believe in karma. I also like to do something different now and then to remind myself that good paralegals are quick learners, easy adapters, and produce results. This clinic checked all those boxes for me. You do not have to take my word for it. Here is what others had to say when asked about what motivated them to participate and what they took away from the experience:

“I formerly worked in the legal department of a large corporation where pro bono work was not only encouraged but where opportunities were offered to partner with local firms and where paralegals could really pitch in and make a difference. I changed jobs a few years ago and really missed the community interaction, and the feeling that I was contributing and doing needed work. When this opportunity came along, it was so great to be able to participate, and the topic was particularly meaningful because I have a family member whose license can be restored through this type of activity. I learned a lot and realized that a lot of people whose licenses are revoked just need someone who can help them with a second chance.

This was a GREAT program. I really felt like I helped people who might otherwise not have an advocate and also loved the fact that I got to meet new paralegals through this process and expand my network, in addition to doing worthwhile service. I would DEFINITELY do this again!” – Paralegal Volunteer

“I love volunteering and thought this would be an excellent opportunity. The clinic met my expectations. The organizers were well organized. The training was thorough and provided the information necessary to complete the assigned tasks. I would love to volunteer for this program in the future.” – Alice L. Johnson, NCCP

So, if you are interested in volunteering, register here for the March 17, 2022, virtual event. I will see you there!

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The Paralegal Division Blog is managed by the Division’s Communications Committee. Via the blog, the Communications Committee provides information written by attorneys, paralegals, and other experts designed specifically for paralegals in the areas of substantive law, ethics, technology, paralegal practice advice, and more. If you are interested in signing up to submit a blog post on a future date, you can do so here. When you are ready to submit a blog post, you can do so by using this form.

You may also wish to participate in the Division by using our virtual suggestion box to submit suggestions/ideas to the Division Council, nominating a paralegal for Paralegal Spotlight, or completing the Paralegal Spotlight Questionnaire if you are nominating yourself. If you are interested in volunteering with the Communications Committee, please contact the Communications Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you are interested in joining other division committees, you can review a list of committees and sign up here.

Limited Licensing and Regulatory Reform Update

By the Utilization Committee

Happy New Year from the NCBA Paralegal Division’s Utilization Committee!

One mission of the Utilization Committee is to keep the Paralegal Division informed concerning potential regulatory reform in North Carolina and other jurisdictions that might impact the paralegal profession.

As you may be aware, the North Carolina State Bar Subcommittee Studying Regulatory Change has been exploring various types of regulatory reform that might positively impact access to justice in North Carolina.

The Subcommittee has completed its work, and Mark Henriques, the Subcommittee Chair, has completed a report, Issues Subcommittee on Regulatory Change: Report and Recommendations (January 2022). The report includes recommendations to the Issues Committee and the State Bar Council concerning regulatory reform (e.g., limited licensing, regulatory sandbox, and more).

Mark Henriques will present the report to the Issues Committee at its meeting on January 19, 2022, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and to the State Bar Council at its meeting on January 21, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. While the Issues Committee and Council will likely be discussing many topics during their meetings, you are welcome to watch the meetings by visiting the North Carolina State Bar YouTube Channel and subscribing to receive a reminder.

After these meetings, we hope to understand better how the State Bar Council will manage the Subcommittee’s recommendations.

In the interim, click here to read the full report by viewing the 1/7/2022 update entry on the North Carolina Justice for All Project website.

S.M. Kernodle-Hodges, Utilization Committee Co-Chair

Alicia Mitchell-Mercer, Utilization Committee Co-Chair

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The Paralegal Division Blog is managed by the Division’s Communications Committee. Via the blog, the Communications Committee provides information written by attorneys, paralegals, and other experts designed specifically for paralegals in the areas of substantive law, ethics, technology, paralegal practice advice, and more. If you are interested in signing up to submit a blog post on a future date, you can do so here. When you are ready to submit a blog post, you can do so by using this form.

You may also wish to participate in the Division by using our virtual suggestion box to submit suggestions/ideas to the Division Council, nominating a paralegal for Paralegal Spotlight, or completing the Paralegal Spotlight Questionnaire if you are nominating yourself. If you are interested in volunteering with the Communications Committee, please contact the Communications Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you are interested in joining other division committees, you can review a list of committees and sign up here.

2021 Reflections and Moving Forward

By Shawana Almendarez

Another year of unprecedented times has caused the council to experience some transitions in its members whose terms have not yet expired. I am pleased to announce that Yazmeen Gadalla will serve as Interim Treasurer and Kimberly Johnson will serve as an Interim Council Member for the remainder of the year. Jennifer Gaff has been nominated by our Nominations Committee to fill Yazmeen’s Council Member Seat, which is set to be officiated during our next council meeting.

With those announcements, we will have three council member vacancies in 2022. Nominations to fill the vacancies of the unexpired terms will be held at our annual meeting. Members interested in joining the council may submit their nominations to [email protected].

It is hard to believe I am already halfway through my tenure as the Paralegal Division Chair. When the year began, I announced that my overall goals for the council and division were inclusivity, transparency, and the implementation of activities to continue to advance the excellence of the Paralegal Division. Many thanks to the Executive Council and Council Members for helping to accomplish those goals.

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Preparing for the Holidays

By Yazmeen O. Gadalla

Hello, fellow division members, and happy holidays!

As we come to the end of December, we have made it through another year together, adjusting to the challenges the world has presented us.

I wish you all the best as we continue through our journeys!

With these challenges, the holidays can be a stressful time.

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