Biography
Anne Murphy Brown, J.D. is an Associate Professor, Director of the Legal Studies Program and campus pre-law advisor at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. She teaches several courses such as Legal Ethics, Business Organizations, and Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. In 2012, the American Bar Association published her book, Legally Mom: Real Women’s Stories of Balancing Motherhood and Law Practice. Anne graduated cum laude from John Carroll University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History. Thereafter, she received her law degree from the University of Illinois. Anne began her legal career in litigation, and eventually practiced primarily business and corporate law before entering academia full-time in 2005.
Statement
As a paralegal educator for the past 14 years, I was approached about serving on the Standing Committee on Paralegals by the former Chairperson of the Committee. I am excited to have a seat at the table to voice ideas that are shaping the legal profession. In my role, I have worked to increase understanding of the paralegal’s role within the profession. Being a member of the Standing Committee on Paralegals has given me the opportunity to have critical discussions about trends in the legal profession, the changing roles of paralegals and access to justice, while always keeping in mind the importance of competence and ethical conduct.
As a national organization devoted to justice, the American Bar Association serves its members, the legal profession and the public through education and advocacy. It is critical that the important role of paralegals be recognized and supported. With several states considering and moving forward on initiatives to increase access to justice by allowing non-lawyers the ability to participate in limited practice, the American Bar Association must understand the effects on the legal profession as a whole and, specifically, paralegals. Moreover, as technology continues to influence legal practice, I am keenly interested in how these changes will affect paralegals now and in the future.
It is an honor to serve on the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals.