(October 23-26, 2024 - Washington, DC) On a crisp October morning in Washington, D.C., as early arrivals to the American Association for Paralegal Education's annual conference made their way through the halls of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the juxtaposition of past and future that would define the next three days was already evident. The museum visit, scheduled before the conference's official opening, seemed a fitting prelude to an event where history and progress would intertwine in unexpected ways.
The conference proper began Wednesday afternoon at the beautiful Crystal Gateway Marriott, as attendees gathered for the welcome session in the main hall. The carefully crafted opening video concluded with an inspired flourish—a digitally reconstructed Abraham Lincoln offering words of wisdom about the democratization of legal knowledge. The choice was both whimsical and profound, setting the stage for a conference that would repeatedly bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.
In the hushed anticipation following the video, outgoing President Page Beetem and incoming President Chris Simcox took to the podium to set the tone for the days ahead. Beetem spoke of the organization's achievements, particularly its embrace of new technologies and enhanced member communication. Simcox followed with disarming humility, promising simply "not to mess things up," drawing knowing laughter from the crowd. Her subsequent words carried more gravity as she acknowledged standing "on the backs of many other people," a sentiment that would prove prophetic as the conference unfolded.
The afternoon launched into concurrent sessions that reflected the diversity of challenges facing legal educators today. In one room, Tracy Nothnagel presented an innovative workshop on using AI to create and update course content, while down the hall, Suzanne Bechtol and Chris Simcox led a thoughtful discussion on nurturing faculty connections in small academic programs. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Epstein shared practical strategies for developing paralegal skills through multi-semester file management, demonstrating the conference's commitment to both technological innovation and traditional skill-building.
Wednesday evening brought the welcome reception and exhibit grand opening, hosted by Gold Sponsor Aspen Publishing. President Beetem joined Aspen representatives for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, officially opening an exhibit hall that would serve as the conference's beating heart. As attendees dispersed to various dine-around locations—from Bindaas to Founding Farmers DC—the conversations that began in formal sessions spilled over into more relaxed settings, creating the kind of organic networking that has long been an AAfPE hallmark.
Thursday morning dawned with a breakfast hosted by NALA, where the buzz of conversation centered on the previous day's sessions and the packed agenda ahead. The morning's regional meetings gave way to collaborative roundtable discussions that tackled everything from program director best practices to the intersection of ethics and AI in teaching. Doug Lusk's provocative discussion on "Why an A is a failing grade for a practical assignment" sparked particularly animated debate, while Page Beetem led a forward-looking discussion on AAfPE's strategic planning.
The morning sessions continued with presentations on data-driven student success efforts by Judith Mathers Maloney and Lisa Hutton, while Elizabeth Donovan shared insights about creating a community legal resource center. A particularly timely session on "Empowering Paralegals with AI" by Nancy Golden, Bryan Hance, and Joseph Vallette drew an engaged crowd, reflecting the profession's growing focus on technological adaptation.
Then came Thursday's Appreciation Luncheon, sponsored by the National Society for Legal Technology (NSLT), which would prove to be the conference's emotional and organizational centerpiece. Doug Lusk, CEO of NSLT, opened with heartfelt remarks about the AAfPE community. "More than anything, I'm really grateful for all of the appreciation that everybody shows to all the vendors at this event," he said, noting that what began as business relationships had evolved into something closer to family.
The annual business meeting portion saw Treasurer Ian Sharping deliver an optimistic financial report, highlighting the association's strategic investments in CDs and money market accounts that had strengthened its financial position. He announced a modest five percent increase in membership dues, necessary to maintain the organization's commitment to quality while keeping pace with inflation. The election of three new board members—Ken Goldsmith, Deana Waters, and Lisa Hutton—signaled AAfPE's continued evolution.
Then came a moment that left the room breathless: the unannounced appearance of Janet Kaiser, AAfPE's first president. Few in attendance knew her name or recognized her face, but all would remember her words. With the quiet authority of someone who had built something from nothing, Kaiser recounted the organization's earliest days, when she and co-founder David Sapadin funded the fledgling association on their personal credit cards, driven by an unwavering belief in the importance of standardized paralegal education.
The luncheon reached its emotional peak with the announcement that AAfPE's lifetime achievement award would henceforth be known as the Kaiser/Sapadin Lifetime Achievement Award. Its first recipient under the new name was Dora Dye, whose two decades of managing the organization's listserv exemplified the kind of quiet, consistent dedication that has kept AAfPE running since its inception.
Executive Director Nathan Mihelich took the opportunity to recognize several individuals whose contributions had shaped the year's success. He began by thanking outgoing President Page Beetem, noting that under her leadership, the association had flourished. "She has led with grace and strength, steering us through important milestones and challenges. Her leadership has left an indelible mark on our association," Nathan shared. He went on to praise Bill McSorely's tireless work in conference planning, Toni Marsh's organization of social events, and Nilufar Jamir's transformative leadership of the Outreach Committee. Special recognition went to Kristine Custodio Suero and Kelli Radnathy, whose Legal Luminaries podcast had become "a truly special platform" for the association. "Kristine and Kelli built this podcast from the ground up," Nathan noted, "organizing interviews, carving out time for recording sessions, and always being present for our live YouTube broadcasts."
The afternoon sessions resumed with Erin Rybicki led a packed session on engaging students with current legal ethics case studies. As the day progressed, the ABA Guidelines on Program Assessment, presented by a team including Robyn Ice and Melissa Hamilton, drew program directors eager to maintain educational standards in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Thursday evening culminated in a Halloween networking social hosted by Clio, where costumes and karaoke provided a festive counterpoint to the day's weighty proceedings. The sight of educators and legal professionals in creative costumes offered a reminder that even in a field as serious as legal education, there's room for levity and connection.
Friday's agenda maintained the conference's momentum, opening with concurrent sessions that spanned the practical to the philosophical. Erin Gable shared strategies for promoting program visibility and fostering student interpersonal skills through community collaboration, while Tom Tankersley offered candid insights from a decade of program enhancements, sharing both successes and instructive setbacks. Crystal DeVoss Mahany led a particularly timely discussion on supporting students' use of disability services, highlighting AAfPE's commitment to inclusive education.
The morning's sessions gave way to innovative presentations on AI in legal education. Kelsey Truxal and Thomas Parker's session on "Teaching AI Smarter, Not Harder" provided practical frameworks for AI-driven course planning, while Mary Bachovsky and Kymberly Jackson explored service-learning as a high-impact practice in both online and traditional courses. Meanwhile, a distinguished panel including Jill Martin and Eric Bellone led a robust discussion on scholarship and research, underscoring AAfPE's role in advancing paralegal education through academic inquiry.
The afternoon brought part two of the ABA Guidelines on Program Assessment, where Robyn Ice and her team continued their comprehensive overview of standards and best practices. A particularly compelling session on behavioral health and the legal system featured Michael Harper and Jennifer Albright, examining the intersection of legal practice and mental health concerns.
As Friday drew to a close, Jordan Camenker shared tried-and-true high-impact practices, while a forward-looking session on bringing virtual reality to legal education, led by Adrian Copeland and team, offered glimpses of technology's role in future legal training. Ryan McMillan's presentation on enhancing writing instruction through one-on-one tutoring reminded attendees that individual attention remains crucial in an increasingly digital age.
The day concluded with dine-arounds at venues ranging from the historic Old Ebbitt Grill to the modern Succotash PRIME, while some attendees embarked on the sold-out Old Town Trolley Tour, viewing Washington's monuments by moonlight. These social events, carefully woven throughout the conference, provided essential opportunities for informal mentorship and relationship building.
Saturday morning brought the conference to a thoughtful close with peer learning labs focused on crucial issues facing the profession. Discussions ranged from AAfPE's role in creating educational requirements for limited licensing of legal practitioners to strategies for bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application. These final sessions embodied the conference's dual emphasis on maintaining high standards while adapting to changing legal landscapes.
As attendees gathered for closing remarks, there was a palpable sense that the conference had successfully navigated the space between honoring AAfPE's legacy and embracing innovation. Janet Kaiser's words from Thursday's luncheon seemed to echo: "It's an extraordinary privilege for you to work in an academic area where the once carefully guarded treasury of legal knowledge has finally been unlocked." In that statement lay both AAfPE's history and its future—the ongoing work of democratizing legal knowledge while maintaining its integrity, of embracing change while honoring tradition.
As participants departed Washington, D.C., they carried with them not just new ideas and connections, but a renewed sense of purpose. In an age where artificial intelligence promises to reshape the legal landscape, their role as educators and guardians of legal knowledge has never been more vital. The 2024 conference served as a reminder that while the tools of legal education may change, its fundamental purpose—to expand society's access to justice—remains constant. From the surprise appearance of its first president to the forward-looking sessions on virtual reality and artificial intelligence, the conference embodied AAfPE's unique ability to honor its past while boldly stepping into the future.
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