Bankruptcy Trustee Assistants
Are Welcome at NABT
by Lori L. Grahl
The National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT) is dedicated to issues involving Chapter 7 trustees. This association has been involved in the ever-changing bankruptcy laws and has been instrumental in preserving the integrity of the bankruptcy trustee within our judicial system.
NABT conducts regular board meetings, seminars and annual conventions. These events are key to the continuing education and success of Chapter 7 trustees.
Over the past decade, the trustee's assistant has become a crucial part of the Chapter 7 trustee's practice. Chapter 7 trustee assistants (informally called "trustettes") must wear many hats: paralegal, agent, private eye, bookkeeper, auditor, protector, psychologist, and parent. In a Chapter 7 trustee practice, the paralegal/assistant must stay current on the changes to reporting procedures, new case law, and exemption issues.
The best ways for the paralegal to stay current on the legal/administrative issues regarding Chapter 7 trustees is to receive quality education and form a network with other "trustettes." Until recently, however, the paralegal contingent within NABT was very low.
This has changed, due to the progressive thinking of NABT's board and officers. The turning point for paralegals within NABT was at the September 1999 annual NABT convention, which some 25 paralegals attended. They were welcomed at a special breakfast by then-current NABT president Bob Waldschmidt (my boss). Other NABT officials attended the breakfast and welcomed the paralegals into the fold. The paralegals gathered for sessions at this convention and decided that paralegals would have their own education program at future spring seminars and conventions. The paralegals were notified that board member Barbara Balaber-Strauss was willing to be a liaison between the NABT board and the paralegal contingent. The editor of NABTalk advised the assistants that the quarterly magazine would now offer a regular column for trustee assistants, and articles were welcome. The web site officials announced a special section for paralegals at www.nabt.com. What an exciting time for paralegals in NABT!
In March 2000, the association met in New Orleans for its spring seminar, with a two-day education program presented for paralegals. Topics presented included Bankruptcy Code highlights, implementing a disaster recovery plan, PACE and CLA exams, paralegal associations, Internet resources, U.S. trustee audit issues, and ethics for paralegals. Results of a post-seminar survey revealed the paralegal sessions to be a great success, with requests for more education for trustee assistants.
The next annual convention will be September 14-16, 2000, in Monterey, CA. Again, paralegals will have their own education program, with several requested repeats from the spring seminar and new topics such as investigative techniques, trustee tax issues, and a legal research and writing workshop.
NABT has come a long way in making trustee assistants feel welcome within the association. Recent articles from the NABT president and other board members have proven that the education and encouragement of trustee assistants is crucial to the success of the association and individual trustees. This trend toward paralegal involvement within the association has reaped the benefit of increased paralegal membership.
For information regarding paralegal membership in NABT or our conventions/seminars, please visit www.nabt.com or contact NABT headquarters at (800) 445-8629.
Lori L. Grahl is a paralegal and Chapter 7 trustee administrator in Nashville, TN. She may be reached at LLGRAHL@aol.com. See the next Reporter issue for her suggestions on how to work toward a paralegal section within your specialty's national association.