Congratulations to Cecilia Ulpiz

Congratulations to Cecilia Ulpiz Cecilia just earned the Bachelors of Science in Paralegal Studies, from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Florida*.  She is currently employed at Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. as Legal Assistant to Gary Rosen, Esq., Daniel DeSouza, Esq. and Ryan Hobbs, Esq., in the Commercial Litigation department.  *The legal studies major is an interdisciplinary major that incorporates a variety of subjects and professors from different disciplines such as philosophy, history, and law. Nova Southeastern University 800-541-6682 http://www.fcas.nova.edu/programs/undergraduate/legal_studies/index.cfm

Rules for E-Mailing (we all need to know)

5 types of emails to avoid

Marsha Egan, author of Inbox Detox and the Habit of Email Excellence

Maria had been emailing back and forth with a colleague all day about a work issue, when she finally decided to cc the boss. “We weren’t getting any closer to resolving the situation. I had to do something,” she says.

It felt like the right thing to do. Maria thought her supervisor would make the decision that the two co-workers couldn’t agree on. End of argument.

But that’s not how it turned out. In­­stead, it came back to bite her. Her co-worker became angry, and her boss saw Maria’s email as immature and undermining. Maria left the company shortly after, embarrassed but wiser.

“Emily Post was not around when email began,” says Marsha Egan, author of Inbox Detox and the Habit of Email Excellence. “So people have to make up their own rules. What one person might see as absolutely fine, another might find offensive.”

Don't make the same mistake as Maria. Avoid cc’ing up and these other email faux pas:

The instant follow-up, or “Did you get my email?” Egan describes the instant follow-up as a “gotcha” move. The etiquette, she says, is to call before sending the email. “Let them know what you’ll be sending them and when.” They’ll be more likely to respond and read your message in the first place.

Screaming via email, or typing “READ THIS.” The intent may be to grab someone’s attention, but an all-cap message can come across as forceful or arrogant. The same goes for multiple exclamation points.

Correcting a co-worker. In an effort to make sure higher-ups see a clean document, a person may proofread, correct and resend an email sent by her colleague ensuring that the corrected version lands at the top of the boss’s inbox. How is the effort perceived? As a way of one-upping or publicly shaming a co-worker. Nobody wins.

Overflagging. Using the priority flag for too many emails, particularly ones without a deadline or an expiration date, is a “boy who cried wolf” move. The odds are your emails will have less of a chance of being read quickly.

Recycling an old email chain. Rather than begin a new email chain to someone, you piggyback on a message already in your inbox—with an old subject line. The perception on the recipient’s end may be that you’re disorganized or lazy. Solution: Always start a new email chain that reflects the subject being discussed.

The golden rule applies: How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of your message?

Broward County Bar Association Panthers Game - January 13, 2012

Alan Becker named Chairman of Miami-Dade's Beacon Council

The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s economic development arm, named attorney Alan Becker, managing partner of Becker & Poliakoff, chairman for its 2011-2012 year. He has served on the agency’s board since 1996 and has been a member of its executive committee and the international committee. Most recently, Becker has been focused on helping the Beacon Council work to launch the Miami International Aerospace Show (MIAS),  a commercial trade show geared toward airplane and parts manufacturers, airlines, the military and others.
He’s to also focus on growing South Florida’s burgeoning bioscience sector, “and helping the community address the issues involved in potentially expanding gaming,” according to a press release. Beacon Council President and CEO Frank Nero has advocated a closer, more critical look at the impact of gambling in Miami-Dade, should Malaysian gambling giant Genting Group receive permission to build a 5,000 room hotel with attached casino in downtown Miami.  Though he’s publicly discussed many of the drawbacks of gambling, the Beacon Council has yet to take an official position on the issue.
Becker started his career as an assistant public defender and served as a Florida state representative from 1972 to 1978. He opened Becker & Poliakoff in 1973, which today has more than 135 attorneys in offices in throughout Florida as well as New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Prague.
The Beacon Council is a public-private partnership funded by Miami-Dade County and the private sector that focuses on economic growth by working to help local businesses expand and attract new business from around the nation and world to relocate or open offices in Miami-Dade Counthttp://www.worldcityweb.com/people-making-news/1379-becker-a-poliakoff-founder-takes-beacon-council-reins

Congratulations to Florida Paralegals Belinda Martinez, David Johnson and Linda McGrath on Paralegal Gateway's 2012 Paralegal Superstars

Introducing ParalegalGateway’s 2012 Paralegal Superstars

Jeannie Sapp Johnston | Dec 12, 2011 | Comments 0

ParalegalGateway.com is proud to announce the 2012 Paralegal Superstars!    The following twelve Paralegals clearly exemplify some of the best and brightest of our profession.
1.   Jana Kaplan (Georgia)
2.   David Johnson (Florida)
3.   RoxAnn D. Mack (Colorado)
4.   John Goudie (Wisconsin)
5.   Joncilee Miller Davis (Texas)
6.   Belinda Martinez (Florida)
7.   Barbara Haubrich-Hass (California)
8.   Marie Koster (Wisconsin)
9.   Raeann Bromark (Connecticut)
10. Kim Smith (Calgary)
11.  Linda McGrath-Cruz (Florida)
12.  Amy Bernardino (California)
http://paralegalgateway.com/2011/12/12/introducing-paralegalgateways-2012-paralegal-superstars/

Join the South Broward Bar Association as a Paralegal Member

Welcome to the South Broward Bar Association!

If you're interested in the educational and networking opportunities the SBBA provides and becoming more involved in the Broward County legal community, we welcome you to attend one of our events and learn more about the SBBA.  The SBBA holds monthly luncheon meetings on the first Thursday of every month at 12:00 at The Ark Restaurant, (Ballroom) located at

6255 Stirling Rd.

in Davie, Florida. You'll be eligible to earn CLE credits at no additional cost to your membership, meet judges in an informal setting, and network with numerous local attorneys. SBBA members receive discounted admission prices at our seminars and social events. 

Membership Application:  http://southbrowardbar.org/application.php

Join the Broward Bar Association as a Paralegal Member.

Broward County Bar Association Membership Application Welcome to
Broward County Bar Association
The Broward County Bar Association, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1925 to foster courtesy, ethics, and professionalism among lawyers, to educate the citizens of Broward County on their legal rights, and to provide necessary legal services to Broward County's residents.

Membership link: https://www.browardbar.org/membershipapplication.php

South Broward Bar Annual Holiday Party December 16, 2011

Don't miss our 1st Annual South Broward Bar / West Broward Bar Joint Holiday Party on December 16th at the Big Easy & Mickey Byrnes Irish Pub and Restaurant in Hollywood.

Josh's Legal Community Update: Belinda Martinez selected as inaugural chairperson...

Josh's Legal Community Update: Belinda Martinez selected as inaugural chairperson...: Broward County Bar Association formed a Paralegal Section at their Board of Directors Retreat on Friday July 22, 2011. Belinda Martinez o...