KAI ELLIS
Kai works as a civil litigation paralegal focusing on complex insurance coverage litigation. She obtained her BS in paralegal Studies from the University of West Los Angeles which was an ABA-approved program. Kai is a NALA certified Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) in Trial Practice, Discovery, eDiscovery, and Workers Compensation; a California Advanced Specialist (CAS) in Discovery; and a Certified eDiscovery Specialist (CEDS). She recently taught Civil Litigation at the College of the Canyons in Valencia, California. Kai is also an officer and director of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association and serves as a liaison to the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA). She is also a member of the Continuing Education Council (CEC) for the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).
TINA M. KELLER
Tina M. Keller, ACP has been a paralegal for approximately 30 years. Currently she is employed as the legal analyst for the Legal Division of the California Department of Technology (CDT). Her CDT job responsibilities include processing all Public Record Act requests received by the department as well as assisting with State Personnel Board matters involving the department. She completed her degree in paralegal studies at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater Campus, in Florida in 1988. She earned the CLA credential in 1997, followed by her advanced credential as an Advanced Certified Paralegal (at the time known as CLAS) in 1998. She is a past director of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), past president of the Indiana Legal Assistants (ILA) and former Liason of the Arizona Paralegal Association (APA). Since 2012, through the current time, she devotes her professional organization time and attention solely as a member of the board of the Commission for Certification of California Paralegals.
CATHERINE DURGIN
Catherine R. Durgin has been a paralegal for over twenty years and is currently a senior paralegal in the Trusts and Estates Department at Loeb & Loeb LLP, where she focuses on trust administration and corporate law, including nonprofit organizations. She earned a B.S. in paralegal studies and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, where she graduated summa cum laude. She earned the CLA designation in 1994 and the ACP designation (previously known as the CLAS) in 1997. She currently serves as the President of the Commission for Certification of California Paralegals. She is also currently serving as a director for the Advanced Paralegal Certification Board for the National Association of Legal Assistants. She is a past director and officer of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association and a past board member of the Certifying Board for the National Association of Legal Assistants.
DAWN DUROCHER
Dawn M. DuRocher, ACP, CAS, has been in the legal field since 1989, and a paralegal since 1999. She is currently a Paralegal for the Legal Department of the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association. She obtained her BA, with honors, in Criminal Justice/Paralegal Studies from California State University at San Bernardino. Dawn is a NALA certified Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) in Discovery, Trial Practice, and Business Organizations; and a California Advanced Specialist (CAS) in Discovery. She is currently the Program Coordinator with the Paralegal Certificate Program at University of California Riverside Extension, and the coordinator/instructor in the Paralegal Certificate Program at University of California Riverside Extension. Furthermore, Dawn serves on the Paralegal Advisory Committee at University of California Riverside Extension. Dawn is also an officer and director of the Inland Counties Association of Paralegals (ICAP), ICAP’s liaison to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and, in 2016, served as the secondary representative to the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA). Dawn has received the following professional recognitions: June 25, 2016 – CAPA Paralegal of the Year second runner-up award; July 23, 2015 – 2015 Affiliates Award by NALA for outstanding contribution and dedication to the advancement of the legal assistant profession through volunteer service to NALA affiliated associations; June 6, 2015 – UCR Extension’s Certificate of Appreciation for participation at the Paralegal Career Workshop; July 12, 2013 – 2013 NALA Affiliates Award; December 2008 – ICAP Recognition Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and dedication to the paralegal profession and ICAP; December 2008 – ICAP’s President Award in recognition of her leadership and dedication as president of ICAP; October 2008 – recipient of the IPMA 2008 Therese A. Cannon Educational Scholarship; July 30, 2008 – 2008 NALA Affiliates Award; December 2007 – ICAP’s President Award; December 2007 – selected as one of ParalegalGateway.com’s 2008 Paralegal Superstars (one of twelve paralegals nationwide that lead the field and contributed above and beyond in the profession and/or in their community).
MARY THEROUX
Mary Theroux is an experienced Real Estate Paralegal with corporate expertise and a record of leadership in elevating the paralegal profession in the State of California to the highest standards of excellence. Mary earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of West Los Angeles, an ABA approved program. Her awards and certifications include the NALA Affiliated Associations Outstanding Contribution Award, 2011; Public Counsel’s Outstanding Volunteer Award, 2001; Five Star Paralegal of the Year Award, 2002; UWLA Award of Excellence, 2003; CLA from NALA, 2000, ACP in Business Organizations, 2008, ACP in Land Use, 2011, ACP in Real Estate Principles in 2013, and ACP in Business Organizations – Non-Corporate Entities in 2016. Her commitment to the paralegal profession includes service as NALA Region IX Director, Director and Officer (currently as Treasurer) of the Commission for Certification of California Paralegals (formerly CACPS) and as a Director and Officer (including as President, Executive Vice President, VP of Membership and Policy, VP of Marketing and Planning, and Secretary) of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association. Mary also serves as an Advisory Committee Member of National University, Paralegal Studies, is a frequent speaker for paralegal programs throughout the Los Angeles area, and has served the community with Public Counsel’s Children’s Project Adoption Day since its inception in 1999.
MICHAEL ZWEIBEL
Michael Zweibel is – or has been – and in various combinations – an attorney, educator,
administrator, writing consultant, translator, and mediator.
He began law practice in a small, Beverly Hills litigation firm. And, within a short time, he opened his own office in Beverly Hills, specializing in immigration law. He also practiced criminal appellate law.
In 1986, within a year of embarking on law practice, Michael began teaching law and paralegal studies. He has been an adjunct and a full-time professor and has taught more than 150 courses and 30 workshops in over 5,000 classroom hours of instruction at various Southern California universities and educational institutions. He was also appointed Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs for the University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) School of Paralegal Studies and was the founder and director of UWLA’s writing center. He has lectured on legal writing for CLE credit before legal-professional organizations, including LAPA.
Michael is a mediator. In addition to helping resolve disputes in private practice, he is called upon to mediate in a wide range of matters as a member of the Los Angeles County Bar’s Civic Mediation Project (CMP) volunteer panel. He is also called upon by CMP to supervise, coach, and evaluate mediators in training. In 2014, the Los Angeles County Bar Association bestowed on him the Hon. Benjamin Aranda III Outstanding Public Service Award.
Michael earned his M.A. and B.A. from UCLA, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude. The focus of his undergraduate and postgraduate university education was Hebrew and Ancient Near Eastern languages & literatures. He later enrolled in law school and earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
He has served on the Board of the Commission for Certification of California Paralegals (CCCP) since 2007. In addition, he sits on the Board of Advisors of National University’s Paralegal Studies Department and the Board of Advisors of National University’s School of Professional Studies.
JULIE DANIELS
Julie Daniels has been a paralegal for approximately 20 years and is currently employed as a Corporate Paralegal for Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. She obtained a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an A.S. in Paralegal Studies from Wichita State University. Julie is a NALA-certified Advanced Certified Paralegal in Contract Administration/Negotiation. She served as a NALA Continuing Education Council (CEC) member from 2014-2016, was an inaugural member of NALA’s Leadership Enhancement and Preparation program in 2008, and previously served in a variety of officer positions, including past president, of the Kansas Association of Legal Assistants.
