Betty Zimpfer
NFPA Vice President &
Director of Professional Development
(513) 868-5852
VPPD@paralegals.org
October 20, 1999
PENNSYLVANIA PARALEGAL RECOGNIZED FOR PRO BONO CONTRIBUTIONS
Laurie Mansell, RP, a corporate/securities paralegal with Alcoa Inc., has been named by The Affiliates as winner of its 1999 Pro Bono Award for distinguished contributions to paralegal pro bono publico services. Ms. Mansell was first led to pro bono five years ago through the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association (PPA), of which she is the current president. Her contributions now extend to the national level as a member of the pro bono committee of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA). She is also pro bono coordinator for the legal department of her employer. In 1998 Ms. Mansell received the Pro Bono Paralegal Achievement Award from the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA).
Ms. Mansell volunteers regularly for the Protection from Abuse program of Allegheny County. Some of the other areas that have benefitted from her time and leadership include the Hill House Project in Pittsburgh, a family law clinic for low income individuals, fundraising through the ACBA to benefit Neighborhood Legal Services, presenting a pro bono workshop at the NFPA 1999 fall convention, and encouraging pro bono participation among PPA members. Ms. Mansell also is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association Public Service Committee. In addition, she is co-chairing the first national Paralegal Pro Bono Conference sponsored by the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association to be held in Pittsburgh on November 6-7, 1999.
The Affiliates initiated its pro bono award in 1998 to recognize individual service. The first winner, Sylvia Lee of Philadelphia, was also from Pennsylvania. This year The Affiliates will make a $1,000 contribution to a pro bono project designated by Ms. Mansell. She has selected the Allegheny County Bar Foundation's Center for Volunteer Legal Resources as the recipient of her contribution. The Affiliates also underwrites expenses for the winner to attend the fall convention to receive a plaque. This year's fall convention was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Affiliates provides law firm and corporate legal departments with specialized temporary and full-time professionals including paralegals, project attorneys and legal support personnel. The Internet address for accessing The Affiliates' Web site and online job search services is www.affiliates.com.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, NFPA is a non-profit professional organization representing more than 17,000 paralegals in the United States and Canada. NFPA is the national voice and the standard for excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on the issues of regulation, ethics and education.
