Orange County Paralegal Association upcoming events

Ethics Law Section - Virtual MCLE Lunch Meeting (26 Aug 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ETHICS SECTION MEETING

INTAKE MATTERS: ETHICAL DUTIES TO PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS

1. Why intake Is an Ethical Event, Not a Clerical Task;

2. Paralegals are often the "face of the firm" during this critical stage; and

3. Avoiding Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL).

Presented By: Thomas Pokladowski, ESQ.

Thomas Pokladowski is a is California licensed attorney currently working for Progressive Insurance, where he collaborates with attorneys and paralegals to find innovations in the delivery of the company's legal services. He also has experience directing and teaching for ABA-approved paralegal programs. He serves on the NALA Certifying Board.

OCPA is a State Bar of California Approved MCLE provider and certifies that this event qualifies for MCLE ETHICS CREDIT 1.0.

** License renewal pending**

$10.00 for OCPA Members only.

$20.00 for Non-Members.

$5.00 for OCPA Students only

Per OCPA Policy, please pay via Paypal, Debit or Credit Card on the website. Check or cash payments are not accepted.

*Cancellation Policy* - If you need to cancel your registration, please e-mail vptechnology@ocparalegal.org at least 48 hours prior to the event in order to receive credit for a future meeting. No refunds will be issued.

Corporate Section: Mergers and Acquisitions (31 Aug 2026)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Corporate Section Meeting

Creating an Optimal Due Diligence Strategy for Mergers & Acquisitions

This presentation will cover effective due diligence strategy in M&A transactions. The presenter will discuss the role of liens, litigation, bankruptcy, and tax liens searches play in M&A due diligence. You will learn to formulate search strategy that aligns with the transaction and helps identify issues before they become a costly surprise.

Presented By: Lydia C. Duynstee, Esq.

Presenter Biography

Lydia Duynstee, Esq. is a native of Orange County and worked for years as a paralegal before becoming a lawyer. Lydia serves CT Corporations law firm and corporate clients on the West Coast.

She focuses on developing strategies and solutions for corporate compliance issues arising in finance, M&A, real estate deals, corporate formations, dissolutions, and corporate reorganizations. Lydia earned her J.D. for the Catholic University of America and a B.A. in business economics for UCSB,

OCPA is a State Bar of California Approved MCLE provider and certifies that this event qualifies for MCLE CREDIT 1.0

** License renewal pending**

$10.00 for OCPA Members only.

$20.00 for Non-Members

$5.00 for OCPA Students

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*Cancellation Policy* - If you need to cancel your registration, please e-mail Kai Williamson at VPAdministration@ocpa.org at least 48 hours prior to the event in order to receive credit for a future meeting. No refunds will be issued.

September OCPA Board Meeting (02 Sep 2026)

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The Board will discuss OCPA's business, goals and plans.

Documents for the Board to review before the meeting will be posted in the Board of Directors Meeting Room.

All attendees are required to RSVP via this event posting.

Questions? Please contact Lorena Hughes (lorenahughes.ocpa@gmail.com)

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION: 40th Annual Educational Conference (19 Sep 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

ORANGE COUNTY PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION 40th ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

THEME: Ruby Jubilee Honoring 40 Years of Conference Excellence

8:30am- 10:00am Morning Keynote- 1.5 hours (Ethics MCLE)

Speaker: Zachary Zaharek, Esq, Associate General Counsel, Virgin Galactic

Title: From Earth to Orbit: The future of law and career adaptability."

11:45am- 1:15pm Lunchtime Keynote- 1.5 hours (Ethics MCLE)

Paralegal Panel of past-presidents of the Orange County Paralegal Association

2026 Conference Speaker Topics-v2.pdf

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10:15-11:30 AM- Morning MCLE Breakout Sessions

Session 1: Corporate Law presented by John Kelly, Esq.

Session 2: Civil Litigation presented by Suzanna Harman, Esq.

Session 3: AI and the Law presented by Michael Iseri, Esq.

Session 4: Contracts presented by Brianna Gonzalez, Esq.

11:45AM-1:30 PM- (Lunch)

Lunchtime Keynote Address (Ethics MCLE)

Exhibitor Drawings

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1:45 PM-3:00PM- Afternoon MCLE Breakout Sessions

Session 1: Intellectual Property Law - Carmellia Imani, Esq and Carmel Imani, Esq.

Session 2: e-Discovery presented by Christi McGowan & Gerry Wolfe, JD

Session 3: Labor & Employment Law presented by Sam Nielson, Esq.

Session 4: Estate Planning Law- Ariana Burris, Esq.

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REGISTRATION FEES:

$170- OCPA Members

$100- Student Members

$195- Non-Members

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Per OCPA Policy, please pay via Zelle, or Debit/Credit Card on the website. Check or cash payments are not accepted.

*Cancellation Policy* - If you need to cancel your registration, please e-mail Conference Chairperson Penny Gutierrez at treasurer@ocparalegal.org and at at least 48 hours prior to the event in order to receive credit for a future meeting. No refunds will be issued.

OCPA is pending renewal of its State Bar of California Approved MCLE provider status and certifies that this event will qualify for MCLE CREDIT.

EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION: 40th Annual Educational Conference (19 Sep 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Re: OCPA 40th Annual Educational Conference

Dear Legal Service Provider:

The Orange County Paralegal Association is proud to announce its 40th Annual Educational Conference, being held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel Costa Mesa located at 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, California 92626.

The OCPA has been providing continuing legal education for attorneys, practicing paralegals and legal professionals, as well as networking opportunities for members and legal services providers for the past 49 years!

This is your opportunity to participate in this annual event. You will have the opportunity to interact directly with motivated professionals who share in the decision-making process for their employers. More than 200 of OCPA's members will attend this all-day Conference, along with other members of the legal community. We encourage you to take this opportunity to educate potential clients about your products and services at what has become a premier OCPA event.

The Exhibitor Sponsor fee will be $685.00.

The exhibitor fee will provide your company with a six-foot table in the main exhibition area, marketing in OCPA’s newsletter, The Compendium, marketing on Social Media platforms, and in the Conference Brochure. In addition, a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch for one.

As always, we anticipate a great turnout at this year’s Educational Conference. Exhibitor space goes quickly, so please make your commitment early. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have question or need additional information, please feel free to contact Kai Williamson via email at kwilliamson.ocpa@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

OCPA 40th Annual Educational

OCPA Corporate Sponsor

October OCPA Board Meeting (07 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 01:00:00 GMT

The Board will discuss OCPA's business, goals and plans.

Documents for the Board to review before the meeting will be posted in the Board of Directors Meeting Room.

All attendees are required to RSVP via this event posting.

Questions? Please contact Lorena Hughes (lorenahughes.ocpa@gmail.com)