OSBA Certifies 31 Paralegals

The Ohio State Bar Association has announced the certification of 31 paralegals who have met the requirements to earn this designation.

“Credentialing of paralegals in Ohio assists lawyers and law firms in identifying qualified paralegal professionals,” said OSBA President Carol Seubert Marx.

"And clients and the public understand that these paralegals meet objective and uniform standards of competence and professionalism. We welcome paralegals as members of the OSBA, and recognize their role in working with lawyers to assist Ohioans everyday.” 

By definition, a paralegal eligible for OSBA certification is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.

An applicant must meet the definition of a paralegal and becomes eligible to sit for the written examination only after a successfully meeting specified education/experience, continuing legal education and reference requirements.

"Becoming an OSBA certified paralegal has allowed me to provide meaningful assistance in the courtroom,” Amanda Mack of the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office said. "The training I received in legal research has allowed me to better assist in the writing and preparation of legal briefs and has also given the criminal attorneys more confidence in my skills.”

The certification period for an OSBA Certified Paralegal is four years. Biennial reporting is required to maintain certification. At the end of the certification period, a paralegal may be recertified if the continuing legal education and reference requirements continue to be met.

A Paralegal Certification Board was established with members appointed by the OSBA president. The purpose of the OSBA Paralegal Certification Board is to grant, revoke or re-grant certification as an OSBA certified paralegal. The Certification Board determines eligibility, administers the written exam and sets passage rates.

Congratulations to these 2011 OSBA certified paralegals:

Akron
Brandi S. Stewart, Goldman & Rosen, LTD

Cincinnati
Angela M. Baker-Colyer, Western & Southern Financial Group
Lisa Kinder, Scott Mullins & Company, LPA
Kathleen M. Richey, Wood & Lamping, LLP

Cleveland
Mary O. Fogg, Brindza McIntyre & Seed LLP
Jessica L. Kubiak, Zoller Biacsi LPA
Genevieve A. Mononen, Wilkerson & Associates, LPA
Chris Sedar, Skirbunt, Skirbunt & Wirtz
Angela Simonyi, Weisman, Kennedy & Berris

Columbus
Kathy L. Austin, Wiles Boyle Burkholder & Bringardner
Laura M. Ezzie, Manley Deas Kochalski LLC
Connie French, Sowald Sowald Anderson & Hawley
Jacquelyn R. Harrington, Law Office of Richard T. Taps
Rebecca J. Long, Wiles Boyle Burkholder & Bringardner
Dianne L. May, Wiles Boyle Burkholder & Bringardner
Elizabeth D. Robertson, Tyack Blackmore & Liston Co. LPA
Teresa Scharf, Newhouse Prophater Letcher & Moots, LLC
Shannon K. Todd, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Fairview Park
Matthew G. Wirfel, Goodwin & Bryan LLP

Fredericktown
Amy C. Boyd, Wiles Boyle Burkholder & Bringardner

Hamilton
Melissa A. Spurlock, Butler County Prosecutors Office

Independence
Renee L. Miller, Wegman Hessler & Vanderburg

Mayfield Heights
Tina M. Morton, Elk and Elk Co. LPA

Miamisburg
Kelly Ann Pierro, Law Office of Michael A. Ledbetter, LLC

New Albany
Stephanie A. Foster, Abercrombie & Fitch

Toledo
Susan A. Maziar, Covrett & Associates, Ltd.

Urbana
Sandra G. Perry, Champaign County Prosecutors Office

Warren
Linda C. Ireland, 11th District Court of Appeals

Waverly
Christina C. Fain, Oths Heiser & Miller LLC

Wickliffe
Benita R. Burton, The Lubrizol Corporation
Lori B. Ondecko, Mary K. Bender Co. LPA
For more information about the OSBA Certified Paralegal credential, follow this link.