Florida Paralegal Olga Patterson Earns Advanced Certification in Discovery

West Palm Beach, FL (September 21, 2011) – Olga Patterson, (Stuart resident) with the law firm of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, has earned Advanced Paralegal Certification from NALA, the leading association of paralegals in the United States.

Patterson’s advanced certification is in the field of discovery, the investigative stages of a lawsuit that are conducted before trial. To earn the right to use the term “ACP” (advanced certified paralegal) in connection with her work, Patterson completed 13 learning modules in a curriculum designed and monitored by a NALA board of legal experts nationwide. Her coursework covered verifying and understanding the facts of a case, locating and interviewing witnesses, exploring opposing legal theses, and evaluating the likelihood of successful litigation.

“As a professional, my goal is to be well educated and thoroughly prepared for the job at hand,” said Patterson. “This advanced certification adds substantially to the skills and support I provide to the firm’s attorneys and clients.”

Patterson is a member of the Paralegal Association of Florida, and a paralegal member of the Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Justice Association, and the American Association of Justice. She became a paralegal in 1989, Florida registered paralegal in 2009, and earned the Certified Paralegal credentials in July 2011. She joined Searcy Denney in 2005 after working for a Miami law firm for more than 20 years.

Searcy Denney (www.SearcyLaw.com) is a nationally recognized trial law firm committed to protecting and defending the rights of people injured through negligence, improper conduct, deceit or abuse of power.  The firm has represented clients in courtrooms throughout Florida and across the nation, for over 45 years.

For more information, please contact: Robin Kriberney, Director of Community Relations (561) 686-6300 or rkx@searcylaw.com.