Happy New Year!  I am sure I am like most people right now, wrapping up projects and wondering, “Where did 2021 go?” 2021 was another challenging year navigating the changing world in both personal and professional settings, but I am proud to say I am proud of where we are as an organization. We were able to hold in-person monthly CLE’s and still include the option of monthly virtual specialty CLE’s for those who were unable to attend in-person CLE’s for whatever reason. I hope to continue this option going into 2022. We value our members and want to accommodate those unable to attend in-person. 

   Thanks to our website chair, we have a new website that has a lot of great options including the ability to pay for CLE’s online. We will have many more new features coming soon. Thank you Megan for all of your hard work and dedication to this project. 

   We will have more opportunities to volunteer in 2022. I encourage you if you have never volunteered for one of the legal clinics to try it just once. It is very rewarding and an opportunity to meet other professionals. The legal clinics truly make a difference in our community for people that would otherwise not have access to legal assistance. As paralegals, we play a huge role in making those successful.

  2022 will also bring our 40th Anniversary of the FWPA. Stay tuned for details on that celebration coming! I promise you won’t want to miss it! 

  We still have a few spots on the board open and would love to welcome you to join us. I joined 5 years ago and it has been one of the best decisions that I have made. I have made lifelong friends and had a chance to make an impact in our legal community. It is truly rewarding. As always, any member can attend a board meeting to see what we do. 

  I encourage everyone to do one thing in 2022 that you didn't get to do or finish in 2021. Let's make this year our year and remember that as legal professionals we can continue to do great things despite the changing world.

Warmest regards,

Lisa Grimaldi

FWPA President 2022