CALSPro - California Association of Legal Support Professionals

Come Join Us In Sacramento

Posted May 10, 2018 in Conference

By Mark Manchester, Conference Committee Chair

We are more than halfway there, and time is flying. Before you know it, it will be time for our 50-Year Celebration and Conference. This year’s conference will be at the Embassy Suites in Sacramento’s beautiful Riverfront Promenade.

We are just five months away from conference, and this is one you won’t want to miss. We will start our Friday with the Jack C. Janney Memorial Golf Tournament, and a Capital Tour, then at 5pm we are delighted to announce the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, The Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye, will attend and speak at our opening reception and cocktail mixer. She is the 28^th Chief Justice of the State of California and the second woman to serve as the State’s Chief Justice. Then later that night, we will be playing poker or bingo.

This year’s main guest speaker will be Stephanie Chandler, she is the author of nine books, including, Own Your Niche: Hype-Free Internet Marketing Tactics to Establish Authority in Your Field and Promote Your Service-Based Business. There is no need to wonder how to build your online presence to increase exposure, Stephanie will teach us how to identify and attract your ideal audience online and optimize your website.

Saturday we will continue with our Annual Business Meeting, educational speakers, history spotlights, and 4 raffles. After the Saturday night banquet, we will be dancing the night away, so bring your dancing shoes.

This will be the first year our election of officers will be done online prior to conference. The new policy will be out soon, so stay tuned. This new policy will allow more members the opportunity to get involved and share their knowledge.

We are still busy planning and putting the schedule together, it should all be ironed out soon. This won’t be like any Annual Conference you have ever attended, so please help us get the word out.

I look forward to seeing you all in Sacramento!

Mark Your Calendar – A CCPS Workshop Is Coming To Bakersfield In May

Posted May 1, 2018 in Education

CALSPro is dedicated to the education of Process Servers statewide. Educate yourselves and your process servers by attending one of our workshops this year. Our workshops feature a comprehensive study of the primary California process serving codes. We had a successful workshop recently in Los Angeles that sold out. Space is often limited, so please reserve your spot early!

Our next CCPS workshop and exam is scheduled for Saturday, May 19^th. Light snacks will be provided. In addition to the standard workshop, this seminar will include a portion dedicated to the beginning or inexperienced process server.

Upcoming Dates:

May 19, 2018                             Bakersfield – REGISTER HERE

June 30, 2018                             Riverside

August 25, 2018                         Santa Ana

October 7, 2018                         Sacramento (Conference)

Unable to attend in person? Join us online! CALSPro is now offering our informative and resourceful workshop online. The very first CCPS Online Webinar will be offered in conjunction with our workshop in Bakersfield, on Saturday, May 19^th.  REGISTER HERE. Space for the Webinar will be limited.

Now Offering The First CCPS Online Webinar

Posted April 17, 2018 in Process Service

By Andrew Gowing

Your Continuing Education Committee has been hard at work planning and arranging the upcoming CCPS Workshops in your area. You can always check the CALSPro website for our upcoming events. We just held another successful workshop in LA that sold out, and we added two new members to CALSPro as an added bonus.

Listed below are your upcoming CCPS Workshops. In addition to the listed workshops, we are working on the details for two more to be offered in Chico and Marin County. Once the details are finalized, we will announce the dates and locations.

• Saturday, May 19^th in Bakersfield (Webinar Option Offered) – REGISTER HERE

• Saturday, June 30^th in Riverside

• Saturday, August 25^th in Santa Ana (Orange County)

• Sunday, October 7^th in Sacramento (Conference)

As you can see above, CALSPro is also now planning to offer a Webinar option for its members to be able to attend the CCPS Workshop online! The very first CCPS Online Webinar will be offered in conjunction with our workshop in Bakersfield, on Saturday, May 19^th.  REGISTER HERE. Space for the Webinar will be limited.

Lastly, the Continuing Education Committee has been working diligently to update all information and CCPS materials for the new year, as well as updating the look and feel of the CCPS Presentation. Below is a small snapshot of the previous version of the presentation next to the new version. We would encourage you to register for the next upcoming CCPS Workshop in your area to experience the fresh new look and feel of the CCPS Workshop, and more importantly, to stay educated and informed on the changes in how you serve process in California.

Conference Corner: Optimizing Your Online Presence

Posted March 6, 2018 in Conference

By Mark Manchester

Author Stephanie Chandler

Have you ever wondered how to build your online presence to increase your exposure? Does the thought overwhelm you? If so, then you are not alone. Come and join us this year at Conference and have your questions answered by author Stephanie Chandler.

She is the author of nine books including, Own Your Niche: Hype-Free Internet Marketing Tactics to Establish Authority in Your Field and Promote Your Service-Based Business.

You will learn how to:

• Identify and attract your ideal audience online
• Optimize your website—your most important marketing tool
• Leverage blogging to increase site traffic and boost sales
• Get visibility with internet media sources
• Use the most effective content marketing strategies available
• Produce and promote videos, webinars, and teleseminars
• Utilize Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest—all without a big-time commitment

With so much competition, it is critical to build a marketing plan that works, so come join us and meet Stephanie. She will have material and books for  purchase to help move your business forward.

We look forward to seeing you at CALSPro’s 50^th Annual Conference in Sacramento October 5-7, 2018!

CCPS Workshops Are Coming To A Location Near You!

Posted February 22, 2018 in Education

By Andrew Gowing, Continuing Education Committee Chair

CALSPro is dedicated to the education of Process Servers statewide. Educate yourselves and your process servers by attending one of our workshops this year. Our workshops feature a comprehensive study of the primary California process serving codes. The scheduling of workshops and exams for 2018 has begun.

We kicked off the year with our first CCPS Workshop in San Jose on January 27^th. Below are the tentative dates and locations for the remainder of 2018.

Confirmed Dates:

April 14, 2018                            Los Angeles

May 19, 2018                              Bakersfield

June 30, 2018                            Riverside

August 25, 2018                         Santa Ana

October 7, 2018                         Sacramento (Conference)

Proposed Dates:

June 23, 2018                             Chico

July 28, 2018                              Ventura

September 15, 2018                  San Rafael

Unable to attend in person? Join us online! CALSPro is working on a solution for offering our informative and resourceful workshops online. We plan to offer this as an option as early as May 2018. Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements on a CCPS workshop and exam near you.

If you are interested in having a workshop near you, or if you have a readily available venue in mind, please contact our Continuing Education Committee Chair Andrew Gowing to offer your much-appreciated suggestions.

Please note: The above dates and locations are subject to change.

California Legalization Of Recreational Marijuana: What Does It Mean For Employers?

Posted January 30, 2018 in Education

By Robert Porambo

In 2018, employers across California saw the passage of the controversial Proposition 64, which legalizes the use of recreational marijuana.

This article analyzes its impact on employment law, including the ability to monitor existing employees and screen potential applicants.

READ FULL ARTICLE

Recent Judicial Assignment Changes – LA County

Posted September 24, 2014 in Conference, Education, Membership

Los Angeles Superior Court Notices To Attorneys
Public Information Office
Website: www.lasuperiorcourt.org
E-mail Address: PublicInfo@LASuperiorcourt.org

Please see attached Details regarding the recent judicial assignment changes at several branch and divisions in the Los Angeles county court system.

 Probate Division Judicial Changes In Effect Sept. 15 At Mosk Courthouse

 Central Civil West Courthouse Announces Complex Litigation Judicial Changes

Family Law Judicial Assignment Change At Mosk

Probate Division Makes Bench Officer  Changes At Mosk Courthouse

Downey Courthouse Reassigns Felony, Traffic, Misdemeanor & Infraction Cases Probate Division Makes Bench Officer  Changes At Mosk Courthouse

LinkedIn- What is it & how can it help me?

Posted July 1, 2014 in Education, Legislation, Membership

Social media is a great way to connect with clients and keep up to date on what everyone is up to. That being said, social media posts aren’t always the most professional & may contain more personal information than we want clients or potential employers to have access to. This is where LinkedIn comes in to play. It is the social media solution for business professionals. Linkedin is not the place you post about your cat, your political opinions or about the most amazing cheeseburger in the world. Linkedin is a place for professionals who want to advance their careers and/or their businesses to connect with each other. I recently had an amazing opportunity to attend a seminar given by Wayne Breitbarth (www.powerformula.net) where he gave some great insights of how to use this powerful tool to find business opportunities. If you are serious about fully utilizing LinkedIn, I recommend going to his website and checking out all of his resources. Here are some of the most important things you need to know:

Profile:

Think of your Linkedin profile as your online resume. This is where you can showcase what sets you apart and makes you specially qualified to work in the position you are seeking, or to work for the clients you are going after. The profile can/should be fluid and it can be tweaked to meet your current purposes. For example, if I’m trying to pick up an account that I know does primarily workers comp defense, I’m probably going to update my profile to talk about my experience with surveillance and maybe share some stories about catching people committing fraud, BEFORE I REACH OUT TO CONNECT. Another important thing to know is that the profile should be keyword rich. Unlike Google & most other search engines these days, the Linkedin search algorithm rewards the use of key words used again and again. The more you can work in those key words, the better. That being said, keep in mind that prospective employers/clients will be reading it as though it were your resume, so make sure that it reads well and that your use of key words doesn’t become obnoxious.

Connections:

Understanding how connections work is very important. There are 1^st level, 2^nd level, 3^rd level and 4^th level connections. 1^st level connections are people you are currently connected with, 2^nd level connections are connected with one of your current connections and so on. The closer you are to somebody, the more profile information you can see, and the easier it is to connect with them. The more shared connections you have with someone, the more likely they are to accept an invitation to connect. If there is someone really important you want to connect with, reach out to a mutual connection first and ask for an introduction. In the “real world” we all know this works great, but it also works online too; and that’s one of the most powerful things about LinkedIn. Think about who you might be able to connect with that might not be in your typical professional circle. It may be an old classmate, a neighbor or someone from church. You never know who might be able to put you in contact with that person, and that will make all the difference.

Now, before you go connecting with people like it’s Myspace in 2003, there is a caveat you need to consider. If you are connected with people who you would consider “competition”, then you could inadvertently be introducing your clients to your competition or at the very least, increasing the probability that they will connect. One of the wonderful things about CALSPro is that we work together as process serving and photocopy companies to help each other & I don’t want to minimize that; however it’s important to consider whom you want to connect with and if you would want them to see all of your other connections and everything you have posted on your profile. I personally connect with other private investigators and process serves & I have even hired several independent contractors because I found them using LinkedIn.

Groups:

On LinkedIn, it’s important to join groups for the same reason it’s important to join groups in “real life”; because it helps us meet people and expand our professional network. The key here is to think about what kind of people you would like to meet & join groups that they would belong to. If you want to meet attorneys, join bar association type groups. If you are trying to meet process servers, join one of the many process server groups. There is a limit of 50 groups that any one person can join, so join as many as you can up to that point. If you do join a bunch of groups, make sure to go in and change the email notification settings; otherwise you will be inundated with emails.

Joseph Jones
CALSPro Technology Committee Member

Bank of America – Notice of Change of Designated Centeralized Location

Posted May 9, 2014 in Education, Legislation, Membership

Bank of America, N.A.’s Notice of Change of Designated Centralized Location for Valid Service of Civil Levies and Other Legal Process (AB 2364)

Download Notice:

Internet Explorer Users Beware – Immanent Threat

Posted April 30, 2014 in Education, Legislation, Membership, Technology

As chairman of the technology it is my job to provide information and resources that enable CALSPro members and process servers to further educate themselves on all things technology.  These items can range from things that merely make our jobs simpler to the downright necessary. Well, this is one of those moments where you need to take note and pay attention because it down right necessary.

I come across many articles on a daily basis and I have to decide, is this the one?  Is this the kind of information that the membership cannot do without?  Eventually I do find the topic that I just have to pass on.  Such is the case with regard to “0day” (zero-day).

It has been discovered that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) is vulnerable to a massive security flaw that can harm your computer and network.  The warning comes from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and is echoed by the UK National Computer Emergency Response Team.

US-CERT has the following message posted on its website is as follows:

“US-CERT is aware of active exploitation of a use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer. This vulnerability affects IE versions 6 through 11 and could allow unauthorized remote code execution.

US-CERT recommends that users and administrators review Microsoft Security Advisory 2963983 for mitigation actions and workarounds. Those who cannot follow Microsoft’s recommendations, such as Windows XP users, may consider employing an alternate browser.”

FireEye researchers have already said that a known gang of malicious hackers are already exploiting the previously unknown use-after-free vulnerability in targeted attacks per ARS Technica. The popular website also notes the following:

“The “zero-day” code-execution hole in IE versions 6 through 11 represents a significant threat to the Internet security because there is currently no fix for the underlying bug, which affects an estimated 26 percent of the total browser market. It’s also the first severe vulnerability to affect Windows XP users since Microsoft withdrew its support for the aging operating system earlier this month. Users who have the option of using an alternate browser should avoid all use of IE for the time being. Those who remain dependent on the Microsoft browser should immediately install EMET, Microsoft’s freely available toolkit that greatly extends the security of Windows systems.”

“Everybody should be moving off of it now. They should have done it months ago,” said Jeff Williams, director of security strategy with Dell SecureWorks.

It is my recommendation to you, as a concerned member of the association and as your Technology Chairman, that you immediately start using another internet browser until the Microsoft has completely resolved this issue.  Alternative internet browser that I would suggest switching to in order of best security features are:

1. Google’s Chrome  (https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/)
2. Mozilla’s FireFox  (http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/)
3. Opera Software’s Opera  (http://www.opera.com/)
4. Apple’s Safari (can be used on PC also)  (http://support.apple.com/downloads/#safari)

(A list of alternative browsers can be found at:

http://internet-browser-review.toptenreviews.com/)

Please do not take these warnings lightly.  The potential risk or not taking action regarding these warnings could potentially cost you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. For additional information on “zero-day” and the security warnings please visit the following websites:

US Department of Homeland Security:  http://www.dhs.gov/

Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/28/us-cybersecurity-microsoft-browser-idUSBREA3Q0PB20140428

FindLaw.com: http://blogs.findlaw.com/technologist/2014/04/security-warning-stop-using-internet-explorer.html#more

Kenneth Hastings
CALSPro Director & Technology Chair