The Oklahoma Bar Journal September 2023

F or Y our I nformation

OU LEGAL PROGRAM UNDERGOES NAME CHANGE In 2020, the American Bar

CONNECT WITH THE OBA THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA Are you following the OBA on social media? Keep up to date on future CLEs, upcoming events and the latest information about the Oklahoma legal community. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. LHL DISCUSSION GROUPS HOSTS OCTOBER MEETINGS The new Lawyers Helping Lawyers women’s discussion group will meet on the fourth Thursday of every month from 6-7:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City at the Oil Center, 2601 NW Expressway. Discussion groups will also meet Oct. 5 in Oklahoma City at the office of Tom Cummings, 701 NW 13th St, and Oct. 12 in Tulsa at the office of Scott Goode, 1437 S. Boulder Ave., Ste. 1200. Each meeting is facili tated by committee members and a licensed mental health profes sional. The small group discussions are intended to give group leaders and participants the opportunity to ask questions, provide support and share information with fellow bar members to improve their lives – professionally and personally. Visit www.okbar.org/lhl for more information. IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES The Oklahoma Bar Center will be closed Monday, Sept. 4, in obser vance of Labor Day. Remember to register and join us for the OBA Annual Meeting to be held at the Skirvin Hilton in downtown Oklahoma City Nov. 1-3.

Association exchanged the term “legal assistant” for “paralegal” in its definition of “a person qualified by education, training or work

experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corpora tion, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.” After receiving feedback from students, graduates and administrators, the OU Law Center has followed suit, changing the name of the Department of Legal Assistant Education to Paralegal Studies. Katheleen Guzman, dean of the OU College of Law, explained, “This change lets employers know that our program’s graduates are educated in substantive areas of law and are prepared to complete substantive legal work under the supervision of a licensed lawyer.” OU’s paralegal program stresses understanding and reasoning rather than rote learning of facts. Students are taught to perform tasks that have traditionally been handled by lawyers: They may interview clients, research legal issues, prepare documents and assist in litigation, allowing the supervising lawyer to provide quality representation at a lower cost to the client. Paralegals cannot give legal advice, accept cases, represent clients in court or perform any legal service without the supervision of a licensed lawyer. To learn more about the program, visit https://bit.ly/3QKXMWu. NEW OBA SECTION SEEKS LEADERSHIP The Animal Law Section has been created to promote and assist OBA members with studying and understanding the laws, regulations and court decisions dealing with the legal issues involving animals. It is also intended to provide a forum for members to consider, educate and discuss the legal

issues involved in humanity’s relationship and coexistence with animals. Annual dues are $20, and any OBA member in good standing is eligible to join. Register at ams.okbar.org. Section leadership is forming now! Contact Enid attorney Gary Maxey at 60maxey@gmail.com

or 918-323-5160 for more information.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL