President's Report

During my commute into Cincinnati this morning, I found myself mentally sorting through the extensive list of responsibilities awaiting our team. We recently completed the accelerated acquisition of another national bank—moving from announcement to close in just five months, including all regulatory approvals. It was a significant accomplishment, but the pace has not slowed as we transition into the integration phase. These efforts, layered atop our day‑to‑day responsibilities, have resulted in long, demanding, and often stressful days.

When I arrived at the office, I was met with confused looks and comments from colleagues who wondered why I was there. Only then did I realize: I was supposed to be on vacation. I had intentionally scheduled the day off because I knew I needed a break—yet I was so consumed with the workload that I forgot to take it. That moment was a powerful reminder that even the most committed among us must pause and prioritize our own well‑being.

The leadership of the American Alliance is experiencing a similar strain. With too few members stepping into leadership roles, those who have volunteered are carrying an outsized share of the work. So I will keep this President’s Report brief and direct: your association needs your engagement.

If you have ever considered getting involved—whether in a small supporting role or in a position with greater responsibility—now is the time. There are numerous ways to contribute that do not require holding office, and even modest commitments can meaningfully ease the demands on those currently serving.

I encourage you to reach out. Send me an email, and let’s schedule a conversation about how your skills and interests can support the ongoing work and mission of the American Alliance.

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Welcome New Members

Join us in welcoming our newest members!

Sardar Durrani, Staten Island, NY

Elizabeth Garcia, West Palm Beach, FL
Robyn Jefferson, East Orange, NJ

Carlos Oxholm, Southfield, MI
Lori Pallak, Cheyenne, WY
Gail Ross, Pittsburgh, PA

Membership information, including the various types of membership and the dues for each membership category, can be found on our website at www.aapipara.org.  If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Bass, Vice President and Director of Membership at [email protected].

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Educational Opportunities

Need CLE Credits?

The American Alliance continues to plan for the Spring Summit, which will be held in the second quarter of the year.  In the meantime, if you still need CLE credits, don't forget that the American Alliance has partnered with Lorman Education Services to offer members a 10% discount on all seminars.  To access this benefit, simply visit the American Alliance website to retrieve the Lorman Discount Code, then apply it when registering at www.lorman.com.

Additionally, our newest sponsor, IPE – Institute for Paralegal Education, a division of National Business Institute, provides a wide range of live webinars.  You can explore upcoming live and on-demand courses by visiting https://ipe-sems.com/search. Below are some of the scheduled live webinars:

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In The News

Anthropic Releases AI Legal Tool Impacting Legal Departments
Anthropic unveiled an AI-driven legal software platform designed for corporate legal teams. This announcement triggered significant market reactions in data and service company stocks, and signals increasing integration of advanced automation tools into legal workflows, a trend paralegals should be aware of as legal tech evolves.  Anthropic’s launch of AI legal tool hits shares in European data companies | AI (artificial intelligence) | The Guardian

Regulatory Evolution in British Columbia Paralegal Services
A working group in British Columbia invited feedback on draft recommendations to establish a regulated paralegal services role under the Legal Professions Act, aimed at improving access to affordable legal support. While Canadian, this initiative reflects global shifts in legal support professional recognition.  BC working group invites feedback on draft regulated paralegal services recommendations | Canadian Lawyer

The legal tech landscape continues evolving: recent commentary explores how AI is reshaping paralegal work. 

Automating routine tasks but increasing the value of human judgment and strategy in legal support roles.   Will AI Replace Paralegals? What the Future Really Holds - Spellbook

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Paralegal Resources

Free Law Project — A nonprofit providing free access to legal data, PACER document collections (via RECAP), oral arguments, and court opinions.  Useful for independent case research.  https://free.law

Loyola University Chicago Law Library – A curated list of legal research, government, and professional resources tailored to paralegals and legal assistants.  https://lawlibguides.luc.edu/c.php?g=610774&p=4239495

Auraria College Legal Research Guide — A broad guide with links to legal research tools helpful to paralegals and students alike.  https://guides.auraria.edu/paralegal

Legally-Focused Productivity Tools List — A useful roundup of tools that help paralegals automate, organize, and streamline work such as legal research engines and workflow apps. https://www.proofserve.com/learn/paralegal-productivity/online-tools-for-paralegals-automate-organize-and-streamline-with-legal-tech

Central Penn Legal Studies Database Guide — A guide to key legal research databases and how to navigate them — beneficial for paralegals sharpening research skills.  https://guides.centralpenn.edu/legalstudies/articles

Reddit Paralegal Community — Peer-shared insights on research tools, workflow apps (like Everlaw for e-discovery), visualization apps, and real-world recommendations from working paralegals.  https://www.reddit.com/r/paralegal/

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Welcome Our Newest Sponsor

Welcome Our Newest Sponsors!

We are pleased to welcome LexisNexis® and Hathaway & Kunz, LLP as the newest sponsors of the American Alliance!

LexisNexis® Legal & Professional provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers increase their productivity, improve decision-making, achieve better outcomes, and advance the rule of law around the world. As a digital pioneer, the company was the first to bring legal and business information online with its Lexis® and Nexis® services. LexisNexis Legal & Professional, which serves customers in more than 150 countries with 11,800 employees worldwide, is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.

Hathaway & Kunz, LLP was founded in 1975 by Stanley K. Hathaway and Brent R. Kunz – Hathaway, a two-term Wyoming Governor and U.S. Secretary of Interior, and Kunz, former Counsel for U.S. Senator Clifford P. Hansen and Special Assistant to Secretary Hathaway in Washington, D.C.  Throughout their distinguished careers, both founders dedicated themselves to protecting Wyoming’s natural resources and strengthening its economy. Today, the firm continues that legacy with unwavering commitment, advocating for Wyoming’s people and the businesses that support our state’s vitality. Whether guiding clients through Wyoming’s evolving digital legal landscape or navigating the complexities of energy and national resources, Hathaway & Kunz is known for delivering smart, creative solutions across a wide range of dynamic industries.

For more information and links to LexisNexis, Hathaway Kunz LLP, and the sponsors listed in the Sponsor Appreciation section below, please visit the Sponsors tab on our website. 

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Sponsor Appreciation

More information on each of our sponsors and a link to each sponsor’s website can be found on the Sponsor tab of our website.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, or if you know of a business that you think would be, please contact Cheryl Stuber at [email protected] for more details.

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Job Bank

Don’t Forget to Explore the Job Bank!

If you’re considering a career move, be sure to take advantage of the American Alliance Job Bank—an exclusive member benefit filled with exciting opportunities for paralegals across the country.

Current openings include positions such as:

• Compliance Paralegal – Columbus, Ohio
• Construction Litigation Paralegal – Los Angeles, California
• Labor & Employment Paralegal – Cincinnati, Ohio
• Litigation Paralegal – Dallas, Texas
• Paralegal / Legal Operations Analyst – Chicago, Illinois
• Real Estate Paralegal – Boston, Massachusetts
• Retail Operations Paralegal – Columbus, Ohio

You’ll also find several roles available in multiple locations, including:

• Corporate & Securities Paralegal – Arizona, California, D.C., Illinois, Nebraska, Texas
• Mass Tort Paralegal – Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Washington

And that’s just the beginning—new positions are added regularly! Visit the Members Only section of our website to browse the full list of postings and make the most of this valuable resource when planning your next career step.

If your office is hiring and would like to reach qualified candidates, we’re happy to help. Simply send the job description to [email protected] for inclusion in the Job Bank.

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