Outstanding Paralegal of the Year

Each year the Richmond Paralegal Association recognizes an outstanding paralegal who has made significant contributions to the development of the paralegal profession in the Richmond metro area within the last 12 months.

Nominee Criteria:

  • A member of RPA from July 1 to June 30
  • Performed 12 hours of service on behalf of RPA and/or attended 1 RPA event per month
  • Possess high ethical standards

To nominate a paralegal submit a letter to the Membership Committee by August 1 with the following information:

  • nominee name
  • nominee address
  • nominee telephone number
  • your name
  • your address
  • your telephone number
  • a short paragraph stating why the nominee should be RPA’s Outstanding Paralegal of the Year

After accepting a nomination:

  • Nominees are invited to submit a resume describing his or her background, education, public service, and other relevant activities.
  • Employers of each nominee have an opportunity to provide letters of support, articles, or other documentation for consideration by the Membership Committee.

Print a copy of the criteria here Outstanding Paralegal of the Year

The Outstanding Paralegal of the Year award is presented in October at the Paralegals’ Week Reception.

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David B. Richardson, 2010 Outstanding Paralegal of the Year Recipient

2010

Pictured from the left: Amy C. Vaughan, Teresa A. Clark, CP & David Richardson, Director

Excerpt from letter in support of David:  I have found David to be a pleasant, generous person who is never afraid to take on a challenging task.  He has dedicated a tremendous amount of time developing RPA’s and VAPA’s websites, served RPA at the NALA Convention, and continuously donates time, talent and energy to those in need through the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. David’s career as a paralegal has been brief considering this is his second career; however in a short time David has demonstrated himself time and time again to RPA with numerous good deeds which should not go unnoticed.  David is an independent, self directed person who is able to communicate effectively and meet the most demanding challenges. Recently, David’s firm found themselves without the necessary IT support it needed.  David opened his toolbox of knowledge and guided his firm through a tough time.  David is full of surprises and takes the initiative to be prepared.  He completed the Lexis-Nexis Paralegal Mastery program after attending an RPA event.  Why is this important?  Because David works in the corporate field and does not perform legal research regularly in his position.  However, David wants to be prepared to perform any duties that his office may request. .

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Amy C. Vaughan, 2009 Outstanding Paralegal of the Year Recipient

Amy C. Vaughan, 2009 Outstanding Paralegal of the Year Recipient

2009
Pictured from the left:
2009 Outstanding Paralegal of the Year Amy C. Vaughan & Marcia Meekins
Excerpt from William F. Etherington, Esquire’s letter in support of Amy’s nomination:
“Amy has been with our firm for fifteen months and took over from a long standing paralegal in commercial real estate area of the firm.  With great distinction, Amy coordinates commercial real estate settlements; coordinates all foreclosures; counter-coordinates and reconciles trust accounts, payments and receipts; handles all day-to-day correspondence for settlements and foreclosures as well as assits with the formation by virtue of drafting corporate documents of various busniess entities; and does all preliminary drafts of contracts for purchase and sale of assets.  As you can see, these are very much the things we would expect lawyers to be able to do and Amy is able to doe all of these with minimal oversight and great attention to detail.  Amy is a significant asset to this firm.”