On January 8, John Kastan and I met  for lunch with the members of the Mankato Chapter. We discussed ways they could stay connected with the rest of MPA and provided additional meeting topic ideas. They are very passionate about the paralegal profession and their Chapter. It is nice to see such participation from our members.

Jenn Dingmann
Director of Greater Minnesota Chapters

Please join us in celebrating the outstanding accomplishment of one of our own; Nancy DiPasquale, a real estate paralegal with the law firm of Faegre & Benson, LLP in Minneapolis, was recently awarded the Pro Bono Award at the annual convention of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Nancy received the award and a standing ovation from an appreciative assembly. Given that the room was filled with over 200 leaders from NFPA’s nationwide network of member associations, they had a particular appreciation for volunteerism and pro bono activity in particular.

Nancy was recognized for her remarkable and sustained contributions to protecting the legal rights of low and moderate income families victimized in predatory and fraudulent real estate schemes in Minnesota.

The award included a $1,000 check to the charity of her choice, which Nancy directed to Volunteer Lawyers Network. The NFPA Pro Bono Award is sponsored by Document Technologies, Inc., who also paid for Nancy's travel expenses and is one of the highest honors presented by NFPA.

MPA Job Bank

The MPA Job Bank is located in the Members Only section and is accessible only by active members of MPA.  Neil A. Simmons, an Administrator at Kennedy & Graven, recently had this to say about his experience with candidates who used MPA's Job Bank:

"Our firm recently posted a notice of a paralegal position to work in our bond department on the Minnesota Paralegal Association's Job Bank. As a direct result of this posting, we received a number of well-qualified candidates, and we found that those who responded to us through the job bank were the best qualified and the most focused on having a career as a paralegal. Not surprisingly, we hired one of these candidates."

Click here for more information about the NFPA 2008 Tech Institute.

Sectional News

Click the Sectionals button above for all the details on MPA Sectional meetings and events, including meeting dates, times and locations.

Can't attend in Person?
Each Sectional now has an  800 number, so you can dial into the meeting and participate from wherever you are located. 

Navy Legalmen and Military Paralegal Outreach Progam: Special Request.   We have been asked to send letters and cards to go out to various Navy Legalmen and Military Paralegals for their birthdays. For more information on these individuals, click here.  If you are interested in sending greetings, please Click Here. 

~NFPA ~

Did you know?  As a member of the MPA, you're also a member of the NFPA (National Federation of Paralegal Associations)! MPA Members are able to visit the NFPA's Members Only page, which includes a summary of the NFPA 2006 Salary Survey.  Click here!   

Are you technologically savvy? The Technology Committee (of the NFPA, our parent organization) is seeking volunteers.  Please contact the NFPA Technology Coordinator, Tamara Bigford at e-mail: tbigford@goldbergsegalla.com if you are interested in submitting articles for the NFPA publication, Paralegal Reporter, related to technology or if you have any questions.

NFPA is also looking for on-line ethics seminars for the NFPA Site.  This could be something you author or another on-line ethics seminar that could be adapted for this purpose.  If you have any interest in this, please contact cox@cchalaw.com.

The Minnesota Paralegal Association (MPA) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the paralegal profession by:

1. Promoting a high standard of professionalism to the legal community as well as the general public;
2. Encouraging communication among paralegals and related organizations; and
3. Supporting the ongoing education of paralegals.

NAVY LEGALMEN PROJECT - A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM FOR NFPA’S MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS 

    The Minnesota Paralegal Association is participating in the Navy Legalmen Project by adopting one or more Legalmen stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Legalmen are the equivalent of civilian paralegals and perform legal and clerical functions under the direction and supervision of Navy attorneys. The other branches of the service use the term “Paralegal” for those performing non-attorney legal services.

    The Legalmen Project involves corresponding with our adopted Legalmen, sending care packages of books, supplies and other items needed by the deployed troops. The NFPA Pro Bono Committee pioneered the program to help support Navy Legalmen and other Paralegals from the Army, Marines and Air Force who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.  MPA has been participating in this project through the efforts of MPA’s Pro Bono Chair, Barb Peppersack. For information on how you can participate in the Legalmen Project, please contact Barb at probono@mnparalegals.org.

   There are many benefits to becoming an MPA member including access to the Members Only area of this site, MPA Job Bank, Member Discounts and more. 
     If you would like to become an MPA member, please download and complete our 2008 Membership Application.

We are located at:

1711 W. County Road B #300N (Map)
Roseville, Minnesota 55113

Contact us at:

Are you interested in MPA's own line of apparel?  Click here for information!