Message from the Board

STLPA Members: 

It is hard to believe that summer has passed us by so quickly and that we are already heading into pumpkin season! While I am always a little sad to see summer come to an end, there is a lot to look forward to this fall with the St. Louis Paralegal Association.

As we head into another busy season, I want to take a moment to say how truly grateful I am for all of our STLPA members. Your continued involvement, support, and participation are what make this organization so special. I am especially thankful for all of our committee members who volunteer their time, ideas, and energy throughout the year. There is a tremendous amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, and our committees play such an important role in making STLPA the great organization that it is.

We had a fantastic turnout for our August CLE, “The Anatomy of a Product Liability Case,” presented by Brad Wilmoth of The Bruning Law Firm. It was a great presentation, and it was wonderful to see so many of our members in attendance. Thank you to Mr. Wilmoth for taking the time to share his knowledge and experience with us, and thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the CLE such a success.

We are now busy planning our Fall Event, and I am excited about what we have in the works! We hope to have all of the details out to our members very soon, so keep an eye on your email and our STLPA communications for more information. It is always great to have an opportunity to get together at these events and catch up with familiar faces, and meet some of our newer members.

As we trade summer vacations and sunshine for cooler weather, fall activities, and everything pumpkin, I hope everyone had a wonderful summer! Thank you again to our members, committee members, speakers, sponsors, and everyone else who continues to support STLPA.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon at our Fall Event!

Mary Sowerwine
VP Elect
St. Louis Paralegal Association

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Membership

Please welcome our new members that joined us in July/August 2026:

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Birthdays

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Facts & Findings

Confess, Correct, Continue: Handling Errors Professionally – Q2 2026 Facts & Findings

In the world of civil litigation, some errors are more detrimental than others. None of us wants to be defaulted, to miss an admission response deadline, or to file an untimely witness list. Experience in this field often means you or someone in your legal circle has already learned what not to do.

Over the years, I have seen staff shed real tears over postage stamps that were printed incorrectly. I have witnessed fellow paralegals accidentally spend $3,000 in an afternoon searching for case law. I was part of a team that endured a mistrial, then lost the second trial. I once scheduled a deposition for a local physician, but failed to hire a court reporter.

These things happen, or can happen, to anyone. We all make mistakes, but it is what you learn from your mistakes that shapes who you are as a paralegal. What you may not know is that many mistakes can be fixed. While I am in no way suggesting you test this statement, I am highly encouraging you to tell your supervisor immediately when a mistake is caught, take responsibility for your mistakes, and have compassion for those in the same position.

Once you notice an error, it is important to let your attorney know. Not only is your attorney ultimately responsible for your work, but they can often help in quick and efficient ways you might not know are available. The error response timeline in law is usually critical, especially when corrections and revisions need to be made. A simple conferral between two reasonable lawyers can resolve many errors.

Additionally, owning up to your faults can build trust. Trust is earned, remembered, and frequently rewarded within any office. Admitting your mistakes is noble. Who is going to get the promotion – the employee who creates chaos by diverting reprimand and leaving others to clean up their mess, or the transparent employee who helps to fix problems in a timely
manner?

Lastly, consider letting someone know about their mistake privately instead of publicly. That grace can go a long way in fostering trust. You can even help them resolve the situation. Compassion allows everyone to do better. Do not embarrass or insult someone you work with. Remember not to put anything in writing that you would not want to see attached to a motion.

I have been in the legal field for close to 30 years. While I do not have all the answers, I usually know where to find them. Despite being very busy with board commitments, I still make time for learning and rarely miss a free CLE. I make an effort to take the high road, admit to my mistakes, and inform my supervising attorney as soon as possible.

Over the past few years, it has been hard to keep up with rule changes here in Florida. Case management orders were part of COVID-19’s repercussions. Additionally, there have been significant shifts in litigation deadlines, discovery, and disclosures. With very few continuances granted under our new 18-month timeline, a paralegal’s job has become more stressful. My advice is to cut yourself some slack, stay focused, and do not be afraid to use those vacation days. Remember that, while no one is infallible, our failings are often fixable.

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Business Partners

Court Reporting

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Downloadable Newsletter

St. Louis Paralegal Association - Newsletter

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Monthly Membership Meeting

Meeting/Event Information

STLPA - September Joint Meeting with Mo Bar

 

September 25, 2026 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Logan University | 1851 Schoettler Rd
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Directions

St. Louis Paralegal Association members are invited to attend the Federal Practice Quadrennial Seminar: “Objection, Robot! Lawyering and Judging in the Age of AI” on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Purser Center at Logan University. The program will explore the rapidly evolving impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession, including AI in legal practice, cybersecurity, appellate practice, ethics, and the judiciary. The seminar is approved for 6.4 hours of MCLE, including 2.8 hours of Ethics.

The day begins with registration and continental breakfast from 8:00–8:45 a.m., followed by sessions throughout the day, including AI in Legal Practice (8:55–10:15), Hot Topics in Cybersecurity (10:30–11:30), lunch (11:30–1:00), Relevancy & Effectiveness in Security Success (1:00–2:00), Best Practices for Appellate Courts (2:15–3:15), and Ethics in the Digital Age/Judicial Roundtable (3:30–4:30). The program concludes with a reception from 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Learn more and view the full program: Federal Practice Quadrennial Seminar information and agenda

Link to register: https://www.bamsl.org/?pg=events&evAction=showDetail&eid=298844&evSubAction=listAll

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STLPA Mentorship Program

If you are interested in becoming a mentor for incoming members please reach out to Mary Sowerwine, Jess Cargill or Marie Bacon.

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