Chapter 9
CELIA C. ELWELL, RP
Research & Writing
Litigation Paralegal
Oklahoma City, OK  73104

 

 

CELIA C. ELWELLl, RP, has been a Registered Paralegal since 1999.  She works for Vernon L. Smith & Associates in Norman, Oklahoma. 

Elwell began working as a paralegal in 1984.  The majority of her experience is in complex civil litigation.  She graduated from the University of Oklahoma, Department of Legal Assistant Education, in 1986. Elwell taught various paralegal courses at the University of Oklahoma’s ABA-approved paralegal program for fifteen years.

Celia Elwell is a co-author of Practical Legal Writing for Legal Assistants (MN: West Publishing Co., 1996), and one of the co-authors of the PACE Study Manual (contributing author/legal writing chapter), published by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). From 2002 through January 2005, Elwell was the legal research and writing columnist for Legal Assistant Today magazine.

Elwell has lectured at many paralegal seminars and workshops on civil litigation, legal research, analysis, writing, Interview factual and legal research and legal technology,  interviewing techniques and investigation, discovery, trial preparation, legal technology, and legal ethics.

Elwell was the first legal assistant to work for the Oklahoma Supreme Court. She assisted in drafting the minimum standards for education and experience for Oklahoma paralegals and legal assistants. The Oklahoma Bar Association adopted these standards in 2000.

In addition to serving as the NFPA’s PACE Coordinator, Assistant PACE Coordinator for Education, and Internet Communications Coordinator, Elwell has also served as Kansas Paralegal Association’s primary and secondary delegate and PACE Ambassador. She is a member of the Kansas Paralegal Association, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and a former member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfFPE).