Helping Paralegals Achieve Excellence
SEARCH
Senior Litigation Paralegal
Nancy Heller earned a B.A. degree in Forensic Studies in 1978 from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She began her paralegal career in January 1978 when she accepted a position with the law firm of Chester, Willcox & Saxbe, where Nancy was the first, and only paralegal for six years. Subsequently, Ms. Heller was offered an opportunity to utilize her litigation skills in a labor practice group with the law firm of Porter, Wright, Morris, & Arthur, where Nancy worked for one year. She returned to general litigation practice with the law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease, LLP where Nancy has worked for the past 20 years.
Having embarked upon a career in a new profession, Nancy was eager to get involved and make her mark. Nancy learned early the value of networking when she joined the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio (PACO) in 1979, and became an active member on many committees and served on its Board of Directors for seven years, two of which were as President. Nancy continues to maintain strong ties with PACO and served on its Advisory Board for an additional 11 years.
 1998, in addition to his normal litigation paralegal duties, Dwayne assumed the task of designing, building, promoting, and now running one of the first mock courtrooms with three separate deliberation rooms in the United States. Designed as a model courtroom in Wisconsin, hundreds of lawyers, paralegals, and court staff have toured the Trial Science Institute. The courtroom is currently utilized by Reinhart attorneys and outside law firms for mock trials, mock appellate arguments and to prepare witnesses for actual trial or mediation. Today, Dwayne utilizes his knowledge of the technology and litigation practice to teach other paralegals on how to use technology in the courtroom and how to use these tools to help make their firms more successful.
Nancy was named as a lay member to the CBA and the Ohio State Bar Association Ethics and Unauthorized Practice of Law Committees. Nancy maintained active involvement in local, state, and national State Bar Association activities from 1983-2003.
Following her local paralegal association service, Nancy became active in the work of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations from 1985-2003, serving in many coordinator positions and on its Board of Directors. Some of her outstanding accomplishments during her tenure include the creation of an Outreach Coordinator and Committee position, serving as host for the 1996 Annual Convention, co-authorship of NFPA’s Model Code of Ethics and Professional and Ethics Standards Committee, and the co-authorship of the Ethics sections of the PACE Study Manual.
Nancy had the privilege and honor of serving as NFPA’s representative to the American Bar Association Approval Commission for six years from 1997-2003. As a Commissioner, she was responsible for reviewing paralegal education programs across the country that applied for initial or re-approval from the ABA. During her six-year tenure, Nancy reviewed over 30 programs, in addition to serving on the Commission’s Distance Education Committee.
Through teaching, Nancy has been able to share her knowledge and experience. Nancy has lectured on various litigation and ethics topics at seminars over the span of more than 20 years. In addition, Nancy has served as an instructor in the Capital University Law School Paralegal Program since 1999 where Nancy teaches courses on Ethical Paralegal Practice and Trial Preparation and Practice. Nancy also taught a distance education course in ethics for two years through the Consortium for Advanced Legal Education and was able to understand directly how this alternative delivery method of instruction worked.
Adjunct to her professional development endeavors, Nancy has served as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate and Guardian Ad Litem for CASA of Franklin County. Since 1994, Nancy has been the voice in court for abused, dependent, and neglected children. Her other significant volunteer endeavor has been to provide respite care for terminally ill patients and their families through two different hospice organizations.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Outstanding Young Women of America: 1983- recognition for professional contributions and achievements and community and organizational endeavors
Who’s Who in the Midwest: 1988-89- recognition for professional contributions and achievements and organizational and community involvement PACO Outstanding Member Awards: 1988-89, 1991-92, 1996- recognition for contributions to the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio which totaled 16 years of service
CASA of Franklin County Commitment to CASA Award: 1996- recognition for commitment to the mission of CASA and to the children served in Franklin County
NFPA William R. Robie Leadership Award: 1998- recognition for overall contributions to and leadership in the National Federation of Paralegal Associations which spanned 16 years of service
PACE-Registered Paralegal: 1999- recognition for passing the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam
CASA of Franklin County Speak Up for CASA Award: 2003- CASA’s highest award which recognizes overall contributions to CASA in service and development over the past nine years
Six years of service as NFPA’s representative to the American Bar Association Approval Commission
Numerous pro bono cases through the Columbus Bar Association and Southeastern Ohio Legal Services Corporation
Writing for paralegal and other legal publications and speaking at seminars over a span of 20 years
Teaching Ethical Paralegal Practice and Trial Practice and Preparation courses in the Capital University Law School Paralegal Program for the past six years.
20 years of employment at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, where Nancy is the senior litigation paralegal.
27 years of employment in and service to the paralegal profession.
<< Back
Copyright  2001 - 2008 Paralegal Focus, Inc. All rights reserved.