45th Annual
CALSPro Conference
October 4-6, 2013
Harrah's Lake Tahoe
Stateline, Nevada
On October 4th, legal support profesionals from across California will head to Harrah's Lake Tahoe for the 45th Annual CALSPro Conference. The conference will focus heavily on eService and technology, and leaders at the association are looking for member guidance on which direction the California legal support profession should take in the coming year. ServeNow spoke with CALSPro Immediate Past President Chad Barger for more details.
1. Why is it important for process servers to attend this event?
CB: The voice of the membership at the conference will guide and strongly affect the course of our legislative program relating to the electronic service of documents (eService).
2. What is CALSPro hoping to accomplish with this conference?
CB: CALSPro is hoping to receive guidance from its members. The legal support profession has come to a fork in the road and there are varying schools of thought on this topic and how our industry should accommodate changing technology.
3. How has process serving in California changed in the last year?
CB: Process serving has been affected by electronic transfer of documents in many facets of the legal industry. Cooperative parties may invite receipt of their legal documents via email, rather than being served a hard copy, even if this form of service is not supported in civil codes of procedure for primary service of process. Mr. Steve Janney, a past president of CALSPro, recently reminded our membership of the following:
Quoting from our Best practices, our Association believes that . . .
“The foundation for the legal system of our country is due process. The rights of all parties are protected in order that an unfair advantage is not gained by one over another. The beginning of due process, that can ultimately lead to forfeiture of rights and property, is placing an individual or entity under the jurisdiction of the appropriate court as a result of the service of the applicable documents.”
This is our role as registered process servers. We are the disinterested third parties placing individuals and entities under the jurisdiction of the court through legal and verifiable service of process. This is the bedrock of our judicial system; a confidence that a registered process server brought the correct parties under the jurisdiction of the court. This confidence is vital and should be trusted by the entire panel of judicial officers involved in every case.
4. What are some of the major issues your association is planning to tackle this year?
CB: We hope to formulate a plan to bring our industry in line with technology for the benefit of all parties.
5. What training will take place in the conference?
CB: This year we have sidelined other educational sessions to focus on learning more about eService. In fact, we have devoted our entire conference to this topic for the benefit of our members. However, at every conference, we offer a review course and test to become a California Certified Process Server.
6. Can you give us an overview of the speakers at this event including topics, summaries, and names of speakers? What do you think sets this conference apart from others?
CB: Our speakers include Mr. Mark Schwartz, Chairman of the CALSPro eService Committee. He will provide the members with the current rules and statutes related to electronic service. Mr. Schwartz has presented hundreds of law related workshops to teach the legal community how to use an electronic platform for filing and service.
Mr. Ray Louis Maranda, President and General Manager of the Quebec Chamber of Bailiffs, will share his experience with utilizing a secure platform to provide notice (i.e. service) in Quebec electronically. He is also a member to the Chartered Administrator, a professional organization, and secretary of the International Union of Judicial Officers, a worldwide organization. Mr. Maranda is a Delegate for North America for the National Trusted Third Parties Association, and he is the founder of Huissier Quebec. Mr. Maranda is very involved in developing measures for IT and to put technology to the service of justice. He is also involved in several committees to help access to justice. He helped create "Nota Bene", the secured electronic platform for services of legal documents utilized in Quebec.
Mr. Jeff Karotkin is a renowned expert in the eFiling and eService world. Mr. Karotkin will provide a behind the scenes look at the systems and integration that make eFiling and eService function in California. As V.P. of Strategic Development at One Legal, he has extensive knowledge pertaining to the infrastructure to support electronic platforms in the legal industry.
7. What types of products and companies will be present at this event?
CB: The exhibitors at the CALSPro Annual Conference are diverse in the services and products they offer, but they have one thing in common: they support our members to grow their business by offering services and products that make our jobs more efficient. Each year varies and we have had, in the past, software companies with industry specific programs, insurance agencies, online data providers, office supply companies, and some exhibitors that are there to put a smile on our face by presenting us with a beautiful array of purses, wallets and fine gifts!
8. What are you most excited for with this conference?
CB: We are excited to learn. As with most industries, ours is not stagnant, and the legal support industry seems to be changing with great strides. I think our membership is excited to learn, develop strategies, and actively make changes in our businesses to keep pace.
9. What recreational events and activities will there be at this conference?
CB: We kick off our Conference with the 17th Annual CALSPro Jack C. Janney Memorial Golf Tournament at the beautiful Lake Tahoe Golf Course. In addition to this event, we are holding our Friday Night Welcome Reception at Tahoe Bowl. This venue will provide our members with competitive entertainment and another chance at a little friendly sportsmanship.
10. Are there any other conference highlights or anything else you would like to add?
CB: On Saturday night we have our Annual Awards and Installation of Officers Banquet. This formal event is a joyous one for the members and is a fine way to celebrate the hard work done by the Board, the Committees and the Members in promoting our profession.