Back to Basics: Life as a Family Law Paralegal

8:55 Welcome and Introductions

9:00 Custody Evaluations/Psychological Evaluations

Lindsey A. Ohler, Lepage Associates, Durham

Explore the differences between a custody evaluation and a psychological evaluation, including the purpose and use of each, and the benefits of consulting an expert on how to prioritize custodial goals when considering an evaluation. This session is the paralegal's guide to preparing an expert's testimony and using an evaluation in a custody trial.

10:00 Break

10:10 Ethics in Action: Guiding Paralegals Through the Ethical Landscape in North Carolina Family Law^*

Christine S. Eatmon, Eatmon Law Firm PC, Wake Forest

This session thoroughly examines the important and necessary rules of professional conduct and aspirational behavior of members of the legal field in the practice and administration of duties and actions in a legal case to fully and comprehensively represent clients, advance individual rights, and comply with the judicial system.

11:10 Break

11:20 Case Management 101

Tamara W. Brooks, Eatmon Law Firm PC, Wake Forest

Review the basics of working a case from beginning to end, including completing document logs and asset/debt charts, dealing with pro se litigants, and managing attorney, paralegal and client relationships.

12:20 Lunch Break

1:20 Soberlink

Chris Beck, Soberlink, Mooresville

Learn about the history and creation of Soberlink, how a real-time alcohol monitoring device works, and technological advances. The presentation discusses Soberlink's partnership with North Carolina family law firms and why the device is useful for family law cases. It also walks through how to request Soberlink in a court order, obtain results and include shared contacts.

2:20 Break

2:30 Ins and Outs of Division of Retirement in Equitable Distribution

Catherine R. Bailey, Fresh Start Family Law, Raleigh

This session defines the different types of retirement division orders, including a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO), domestic relations order (DRO), military pension division order (MPDO), court order acceptable for processing (COAP), retirement benefits court order (RBCO), etc. Find out when to use which type of order to divide various retirement plans (such as 401(k)s, IRAs and TSPs) and pensions (state, military, federal, and other types), when a court order is necessary, and the procedures for drafting an order.

3:30 Break

3:40 Financial Affidavits, Equitable Distribution Inventory Affidavits, Supporting Disclosures and the Family Law Paralegal's Guide to Effective Case Management

Lajon E. "LJ" Frederick, Fresh Start Family Law, Raleigh
Margaret M. "Peggy" Pardue, Hampson Family Law, Raleigh

During this open discussion on the importance of financial affidavits in financial cases, attendees receive practical tips for drafting affidavits and organizing financial information that is effective for the attorney. Hear about equitable distribution inventory affidavits and how to prepare for your client to complete and gather the necessary documentation to accurately capture assets and debts. The presenters also share best practices for drafting, understanding and disclosing information on an affidavit.

4:40 Adjourn

* Indicates portion providing Ethics/Professional Responsibility credit

Description

Designed for family law paralegals of all experience levels, this CPE course goes back to the basics, allowing the paralegal to rejuvenate and develop new skills for completing financial affidavits, equitable distribution inventory affidavits, and retirement division orders.

Participants explore key concepts and procedures relevant to family law cases involving financial and family law matters, including case management, custody and psychological evaluations, and using Soberlink.

The course also includes a session to help family law paralegals navigate ethical dilemmas!

Contributors

Catherine R. Bailey

Catherine R. Bailey is a Partner at Fresh Start Family Law in Raleigh. She mediates family law cases and represents family law clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, domestic violence, child custody, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, separation agreements, adoption, termination of parental rights, and surrogacy. She has a special interest in representing clients involved in military divorces, particularly military pension division. She also has a special skill as a certified mediator in assisting parties reach a resolution of their case without further involvement by the court.

Catherine is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist and a Certified Family Financial Mediator and Certified Superior Court Mediator. She is also member of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Catherine earned her J.D., cum laude, from Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. She received the Award of Distinction from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers upon her graduation. After graduation, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Justice Edward Thomas Brady at the North Carolina Supreme Court before starting work as a private attorney.

Click here for more information about Catherine
Chris Beck

Chris Beck is the VP of Family Law Business Development for Soberlink in Mooresville. He works with family law Judges, attorneys and health care professionals across the country to educate them on Soberlink's modern approach to alcohol monitoring for child custody cases.

Chris earned his B.A. in Psychology from the University of California Irvine, with an emphasis in child psychology.

Click here for more information about Chris.
Tamara W. Brooks

Tamara W. Brooks is an attorney with Eatmon Law Firm PC in Wake Forest. Her practice has focused primarily on family law where she enjoys helping families find their new normal.

Tamara is a DRC Certified Family Financial Mediator as well as a Certified Parenting Coordinator in high conflict custody cases.

Tamara is a part-time instructor in the Duke Paralegal Studies online and ground programs.

Tamara earned her B.A., and a Paralegal Certificate, from James Madison University and her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law. Prior to law school, she worked for many years as a personal injury paralegal on the coast of North Carolina.

Click here for more information about Tamara.
Christine S. "Chris" Eatmon

Christine S. "Chris" Eatmon is the owner of Eatmon Law Firm PC in Wake Forest.

Chris joined the Marine Corps after high school graduation and served on active duty at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina. After her military service, she began working as a legal assistant and later worked as a paralegal in the family law section of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP in Raleigh. After earning her law degree, she joined Wyrick Robbins as an associate in the firm's family law section.

Chris has co-authored family law related manuscripts for Continuing Legal Education for the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and the North Carolina Bar Foundation. Most recently, she was a revising editor of the Domestic Violence chapter for the Second Edition of the North Carolina Family Law Marital Claims Book.

Chris is a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for children in Franklin and Granville Counties. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, 10th Judicial District Bar, and North Carolina State Bar. She is also a certified Parenting Coordinator in high conflict custody cases, a DRC Certified Family Financial Mediator, and NC Board Certified Family Law Specialist.

Chris earned her B.A. in Business Administration from Campbell University and her J.D. from Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law.

Click here for more information about Chris.
Lajon E. "LJ" Frederick

Lajon E. "LJ" Frederick is Senior Paralegal at Fresh Start Family Law in Raleigh.

Click here for more information about LJ.
Lindsey A. Ohler

Lindsey A. Ohler is a Licensed Psychologist at Lepage Associates in Durham. She also serves as the Clinical Services Director.

Lindsey has worked with children, adolescents, young adults and adults. She has practiced in a variety of settings including private practice, businesses, community mental health centers, the juvenile court system, college counseling centers, inpatient facilities, outpatient hospitals, and a clinical research lab investigating the neurocircuitry of eating disorders.

Lindsey earned her B.S. in Psychology and Music from West Liberty University and her M.A. in Psychology and Ph.D in Clinical Psychology from Xavier University.

Click here for more information about Lindsey.
Margaret M. "Peggy" Pardue

Margaret M. "Peggy" Pardue is a North Carolina Certified Paralegal with Hampson Family Law in Raleigh. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Paralegal Division – Family Law Section and is a Notary Public.

Peggy has volunteered as a proctor for the North Carolina Paralegal Certification Exam. In May 2019, she was appointed as a Council Member for the Paralegal Division of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Peggy began working as a Paralegal in 2003 with McGill & Hampson PA. She continued her role as a Family Law Paralegal transitioning to Hampson Family Law when it opened in 2017. Prior to becoming a paralegal, she was with the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners, where she worked for seven years in their disciplinary section. Subsequently, she was an Executive Assistant with a local propane company.

Click here for more information about Peggy.

View Forms and CLE Policies, Terms and Conditions.

If paying by check, please use this printable registration form. Reference the in-person live program code 349LWC.

Certificate of Completion and Archived Video: Your certificate of completion and archived video will be available approximately two weeks of the program date and can be found in your CLE account. MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day(s) of the live event. This archived content is offered solely for review purposes and is not a substitute for live attendance. See our FAQ page for more information about archive videos.

Description

Contributors

Catherine R. Bailey

Chris Beck

Tamara W. Brooks

Christine S. "Chris" Eatmon

Lajon E. "LJ" Frederick

Lindsey A. Ohler

Margaret M. "Peggy" Pardue