The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP) was honored to have the 2018 Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor, Mary F. Platt, administer the oath of office to the 2018 incoming PAP board members at the first quarter luncheon and board induction ceremony held on Jan. 30 at the Sofitel Philadelphia.

The PAP promotes the paralegal profession and encourages individual excellence in skills and abilities through education and networking. Chancellor Platt spoke on the long-standing relationship between the PAP and The Philadelphia Bar Association. PAP has partnered with the Philadelphia Bar Association on several projects, including pro bono and the access to justice. Additionally, PAP will again partner with the Philadelphia Bar Association in offering 2018 memberships to both associations at a discounted rate and look forward to continuing our work with the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2018, including connecting on pro bono projects as well as continuing legal education opportunities.

PAP was also honored to have several guests in attendance from The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) including NFPA President Valerie Wilus, RP^®, Pa.C.P. and NFPA Region IV Director Becky Reedy.

In addition to the board induction ceremony, PAP also presented the Mary F. Creekmore Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to preserve and foster the ideals of Mary L. Creekmore by supporting the paralegal profession and individuals who aspire to the profession who share like-minded ethics, values and interests. The scholarship was awarded to Elizabeth Lynch, a paralegal student at The Community College of Philadelphia. Lynch maintains a 4.0 GPA. She also volunteers at several nonprofit organizations and serves her community in a variety of activities. In her essay submission, she outlined the role of ethics in the field of law. Lynch graciously accepted the award, along with a $1,500 monetary contribution toward her paralegal education and academic studies. Elizabeth Canapary, curriculum coordinator of the paralegal studies program at the Community College of Philadelphia, as well as Julia Rafferty and Kim DiStasio, Creekmore's niece, were also in attendance in honor of the awarding of this scholarship.

To become a member of The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals or to volunteer to serve on a committee, contact [email protected] or visit www.philaparalegals.com. For additional information on paralegal pro bono opportunities, contact Christine Flynn at [email protected].

Christine M. Flynn is a litigation paralegal with Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith with 29 years of experience in the field. She is a past president of The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP). She is currently a board member and acts as the 2018 chair of pro bono, litigation, programs and professional development committees.