Los Angeles Paralegal Association upcoming events

Trial Ready: How the Best Paralegals Stay Three Steps Ahead (MCLE) (June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Trial Ready: How the Best Paralegals Stay Three Steps Ahead

You already know the basics. You've survived the all-nighters, the last-minute exhibit chaos, and the attorney who changes strategy at 9pm the night before trial. This session isn't about starting from scratch, it's about sharpening everything you already do and showing you where technology can quietly do the heavy lifting.

Join Joe Stephens, J.D., for a practical, skills-forward session built specifically for legal support professionals who want to level up their trial prep game. You'll walk away with proven techniques for anticipating attorney needs, organizing critical documents, and transforming complex case materials into compelling, court-ready presentations faster than ever before.

You’ll explore:

Attorney Work Styles: Understanding how your attorney actually thinks and building systems around it
Document & Timeline Mastery: Organizing case materials in ways that hold up under trial pressure
Deposition Support: What seamless deposition prep looks like before, during, and after
AI Workflows: How modern tools are helping paralegals move from reactive support to proactive case architecture
Trial Excellence: Building the command center mentality that keeps everything running smoothly when it matters most

Walk away with strategies you can use immediately and a fresh perspective on what great trial prep actually looks like. Your next case will thank you.

Presented by:
Joe Stephens, JD
Director,
Legal Solutions at Steno

Tuesday, June 9, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom

Joe Stephens, J.D. is the Director of Legal Solutions at Steno, and is the architect of one of Texas' largest rural public defender offices where he mastered the art of managing complex cases across twelve counties with limited resources. His diverse professional experience ranges from direct client representation to working three legislative sessions under two different Committee Chairmen in the Texas Legislature. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Joe combines his passion for legal technology with practical experience to help teams work more efficiently, and is now teaching the next generation of legal professionals at Texas Tech University School of Law.

Top 7 Strategies That Increase Case Value (MCLE) (June 15, 2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Top 7 Strategies That Increase Case Value

and 5 Mistakes That Kill It

Presented by:

Michael Alder

Founder and Trial Attorney,
Alderlaw

Monday, June 15, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Online via Zoom

What separates high-value cases from those that settle for less than they should? In this practical and engaging session, veteran trial attorney Michael Alder shares the proven strategies he has used for over 30 years of plaintiff practice to maximize case value long before trial.

Attendees will learn how effective investigation, evidence development, negotiation tactics, reserve-setting strategies, and case management can significantly influence outcomes. The program also explores five common mistakes that can quietly undermine even the strongest cases. Whether you're a legal professional, case manager, or support staff member, you'll leave with actionable insights to help strengthen case preparation, increase settlement leverage, and avoid costly missteps.

Michael Alder is owner and Senior Trial Attorney at AlderLaw, a leading Los Angeles firm that represents plaintiffs in personal injury, business torts and employment litigation cases. As one of the top trial attorneys in California, Mr. Alder vigorously pursues all cases on behalf of his clients who have suffered injustices.

As an underdog advocate, Mr. Alder takes pride in being personally involved in every case his firm takes on. Along with his team of lawyers, paralegals, law clerks and litigation assistants, he is consistently breaking records and earning the praise of the press with significant settlements and impressive verdicts.

The former CAALA president, well renowned speaker, and published author on trial strategy has a long history of supporting other trial attorneys. Mr. Alder maintains a 9,000-deposition database and an expert witness directory and provides information, at no charge, to up and coming lawyers upon request.

Ahead With Horses (Non-MCLE) (June 27, 2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:45:00 GMT

AHEAD WITH HORSES

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026

Time: Morning Shift 8:45AM - 11:45AM

Where: AHEAD With Horses

10157 Johanna Avenue, Shadow Hills, CA, 91040

About the event

Volunteers are vital to the success of our program and we truly appreciate your willingness to help us work toward our mission of helping our students achieve success through our equine vaulting program.

What will volunteers do?

There's a variety of tasks that volunteers may be asked to do:

Side walking/spotting during lessons
Leading horses during lessons
Grooming horses
Cleaning stalls
Cleaning tack
Landscaping/gardening
General ranch work
Assisting with office work

What will volunteers need to bring or wear?

Closed toed shoes, long pants, & a shirt with sleeves (T-shirts are fine; no tank tops) are required.
Sunscreen is always recommended. A hat & sunglasses might be helpful on sunny days.
Bring plenty of water.

Please do NOT come on site if you are sick in any way or if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in known contact with a positive case of COVID-19 in the last 5 days.

Parking is up the driveway, turn left past the arena and park in one of the non-disabled "spaces". If they are all full, you can park across the street in the church parking lot. (Please park in the large lot and not in the perpendicular spaces along the street.)

ABC's of Civil Motions (MCLE) (July 15, 2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:00:00 GMT

ABC's of Civil Motions (MCLE)

MOTIONS

- The different types
- Why they are important
- How to calendar
- How to see if courts have special requirements
(like if they need a separate statement)
- Drafting proposed orders
- How to put them together

Presented by:
Mikaela Dixon, Esq. and Allison M. Melendez, Esq.
Co-Hosts of Ladies in Law Podcast

Tuesday, July 15, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom

LAPA's 50th Annual October Conference (October 17, 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Early Bird Pricing - May 1st to June 13th!
LAPA Member: $125.00

LAPA Student Member: $100.00
Non-Member: $150.00

Regular Registration - June 14 to October 9th

LAPA Member: $145.00 (10/10-10/17 $155)

LAPA Student Member: $125.00 (10/10-10/17 $135)
Non-Member: $175.00 (10/10-10/17 $200)

Not a Member? Join Now and Enjoy Member Rates

Group Rate (students or paralegals): Purchase 5 or more Registrations and get $10 OFF each Registration.
Discounts and/or Group Rates cannot be combined and payments must be made with a single company or school check or credit card.

AGENDA

Continental Breakfast / Exhibitor Meet & Greet

8:30 – 8:45 Good morning and welcome guests!

Charity of Choice: CASA Los Angeles

8:45 – 9:45 General Session (Ethics)

10:00 – 11:00 Morning Break-out Sessions

11:00 -- 11:40 Visit with Exhibitors / Sponsors

11:40 – 1:00 Lunch & Keynote Speaker

1:10 – 2:10 Afternoon Break-out Sessions

2:20 – 3:20 General Session (Ethics)

3:20 Awards

Scholarship, Lifetime Achievement, Maria Teresa Bravo, Volunteer

Closing Remarks

EXHIBITOR: LAPA's 50th Annual October Conference! (October 17, 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Saturday, October 17, 2026

8:00am – 3:30pm

Pacific Palms Resort
1 Industry Hills Parkway
City of Industry, CA 91744

Benefactor Members: $900
$1000 (after September 18, 2026)

Non-Members: $1050
$1150 (after September 18, 2026)

Schools and Non-Profits: $450
$500 (after September 18, 2026)
(Only accredited schools and government recognized
non-profit organizations are eligible for this discounted rate)

Registration includes 6' table and two chairs, conference syllabus listing, pre-conference marketing, and access to hundreds of decision making paralegals!
Additional items that may be purchased: lunch, syllabus advertising, electrical.

Can't attend the conference? You can still get your company in front of hundreds of paralegals! Ask about our BAGSTUFFER opportunity.

Order Electrical Directly from the Pacific Palms

Package Handling Policy