Palmetto Paralegal Association

04/21/2026

Walk a Mile in Our Shoes is happening now:
Support Pathways to Healing by donating to the Palmetto Paralegal Association fundraiser: https://givebutter.com/YFUEcv/palmetto-paralegal-association/allysondesumma

Ending Sexual Violence Through Advocacy, Education, and Supportive Services.

24 hour hotline - 803-771-7273

04/20/2026

An engaging and informative afternoon at our April CLE and Luncheon at the Palmetto Club on April 15, 2026 📚✨

The Palmetto Paralegal Association was pleased to welcome Evan Gessner, Esquire, from Collins & Lacy PC who presented on the South Carolina Tort Claims Act. His presentation offered helpful insight into how claims involving governmental entities are handled, along with key considerations that can affect how these cases move forward.

We are grateful to Evan for sharing his time and expertise, and to everyone who joined us for another great opportunity to learn and connect.

We love bringing our members together for meaningful education and conversation, and this event was a wonderful example of that.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Walk a Mile In Our Shoes event tomorrow, April 21st. More details on our page 💙

04/18/2026

An evening of learning, connection, and discovery at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law Library 📚✨

Our members had the opportunity to explore the largest law library in South Carolina and get an inside look at the incredible resources available to support legal research and professional growth. From guided tours through the stacks to learning about specialized materials and historical collections, this experience was both informative and inspiring.

A special thank you to Rebekah Maxwell for welcoming us and sharing her knowledge. Opportunities like this are a great reminder of the powerful tools available to us as legal professionals right here in our community.

We love creating opportunities for our members to learn, connect, and grow together and this event was a perfect example of that.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Walk a Mile In Our Shoes event this Tuesday, April 21st. More details on our page 💙

04/15/2026

Please join the Palmetto Paralegal Association in supporting sexual assault survivors at the annual Walk a Mile in Our Shoes event on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:00 PM.

This meaningful event, hosted by Pathways to Healing, raises awareness and supports survivors through advocacy, education, and community connection. You can join our team and or make a donation using the link below:
https://givebutter.com/YFUEcv/palmetto-paralegal-association/allysondesumma

We will meet in front of the State House on the Gervais Street side between 5:45 and 6:00 PM. The Opening Ceremony begins at 6:00 PM, and the walk will start at 6:30 PM. The route circles the State House grounds and typically lasts about 30 minutes.

Wear whatever shoes you feel comfortable in and come walk alongside us in support of an important cause. And keep an eye out for Sheriff Lott, who is known to step out in a pair of red Michael Kors high heels for the walk. It is always a memorable sight that brings meaningful attention to an important cause.

For more information about Pathways to Healing and their mission to end sexual violence, please visit:
https://pathwaystohealing.com/

We hope to see you there. 💙👠

Pathways to Healing is a non-profit organization with the goal of putting an end to sexual violence via advocacy, education, and supportive services. Serving SC.

04/13/2026

Reminder that our Law Library Tour is happening today at 5:30 PM.

We are excited to see everyone and spend the evening learning, connecting, and discovering new resources together. See you there!

April is NATIONAL LIBRARY MONTH and this year’s theme is Find Your Joy 📚✨

The Palmetto Paralegal Association is proud to support every opportunity for continued learning, and we are excited to invite you to a special event at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law Library.

Join us for an exclusive library tour for PPA members and paralegal students from Midlands Technical College. Discover the incredible FREE resources available to support your legal research and professional growth, all while connecting with fellow members.

Monday, April 13, 2026
5:30 PM

Please RSVP via email to Allyson De Summa to reserve your spot.

Find YOUR Joy in learning something new, connecting with others, and discovering resources that support your success. We hope to see you there 📖✨

04/10/2026

What an incredible evening with the Palmetto Paralegal Association at our Self Defense Class with WellWithin Martial Arts in downtown Columbia 💥

Our members had the opportunity to step outside the office, get active, and learn practical self defense techniques in a fun and supportive environment. From elbows and kicks to lots of laughs along the way, this event was the perfect mix of learning, movement, and connection.

A huge thank you to the team at WellWithin Martial Arts for hosting us and sharing your knowledge and expertise. We truly appreciate your time and energy in making this such a memorable experience.

We love creating opportunities for our members to connect, grow, and try something new. This one was definitely a hit 💙

04/07/2026

April is NATIONAL LIBRARY MONTH and this year’s theme is Find Your Joy 📚✨

The Palmetto Paralegal Association is proud to support every opportunity for continued learning, and we are excited to invite you to a special event at the Joseph F. Rice School of Law Library.

Join us for an exclusive library tour for PPA members and paralegal students from Midlands Technical College. Discover the incredible FREE resources available to support your legal research and professional growth, all while connecting with fellow members.

Monday, April 13, 2026
5:30 PM

Please RSVP via email to Allyson De Summa to reserve your spot.

Find YOUR Joy in learning something new, connecting with others, and discovering resources that support your success. We hope to see you there 📖✨

04/03/2026

Friendly reminder that our Self Defense Class at WellWithin Martial Arts is this Monday at 6:15 PM. If you plan to join us, please be sure to RSVP by emailing Emilie Wannamaker. We are excited for a fun evening of learning something new and spending time together outside the office.

The Palmetto Paralegal Association is shaking things up and trying something new this year, and we are excited to invite you to a special social event!

Please join us for a Self Defense Class on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 6:15 PM at WellWithin Martial Arts.

This event will be hosted by Dan Bernardo, owner of WellWithin Martial Arts.

Location: WellWithin Martial Arts
Address: 1801 Gervais St., Columbia, SC
Location Note: The studio is located in the rear of the building, behind Smart Phone Medic.
Dress Code: Workout attire

Come get active with us while supporting an amazing local small business. This is a great opportunity to connect, network, exercise, and learn something new with your PPA family. Feel free to bring a friend. The more the merrier.

Please check your inbox and reply to Emilie Wannamaker to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

03/31/2026

The Palmetto Paralegal Association is shaking things up and trying something new this year, and we are excited to invite you to a special social event!

Please join us for a Self Defense Class on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 6:15 PM at WellWithin Martial Arts.

This event will be hosted by Dan Bernardo, owner of WellWithin Martial Arts.

Location: WellWithin Martial Arts
Address: 1801 Gervais St., Columbia, SC
Location Note: The studio is located in the rear of the building, behind Smart Phone Medic.
Dress Code: Workout attire

Come get active with us while supporting an amazing local small business. This is a great opportunity to connect, network, exercise, and learn something new with your PPA family. Feel free to bring a friend. The more the merrier.

Please check your inbox and reply to Emilie Wannamaker to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

03/30/2026

The Palmetto Paralegal Association is proud to celebrate one of our own, Jillian Hansen, on being recognized as an Unsung Hero by South Carolina Lawyers Weekly. This honor highlights the dedication, professionalism, and hard work that Jillian brings to the legal community each and every day.

Jillian’s commitment to the paralegal profession and to serving others truly embodies the spirit of the PPA. We are so proud to call her one of our board members and are thrilled to see her recognized for the impact she makes behind the scenes.

Congratulations, Jillian, on this well deserved recognition. We are lucky to have you as part of the PPA family! 👏

JILLIAN HANSENPARALEGAL GALLIVAN, WHITE & BOYD COLUMBIA Jillian Hansen

03/19/2026

The Palmetto Paralegal Association was pleased to welcome Jerrod Fussnecker, Esquire of Collins & Lacy, P.C., to our March luncheon and CLE held at the Palmetto Club. Jerrod presented a compelling introduction to military law that had our members fully engaged from start to finish. We are so grateful for the opportunity to hear from him and appreciate the time, insight, and perspective he shared with the PPA. Thank you, Jerrod, for sharing your experience with us, and thank you to everyone who joined us.

03/09/2026

The Palmetto Paralegal Association was pleased to host our February Membership Luncheon and CLE on February 18th at the Palmetto Club.

A special thank you to Carrie Lewis, Esquire, for serving as our guest speaker and presenting an engaging program on “Navigating AI Ethics.” As artificial intelligence continues to evolve and become more integrated into the legal profession, Carrie provided valuable insight into the ethical considerations legal professionals must keep in mind when using these emerging tools.

We appreciate Carrie taking the time to share her knowledge and perspective with our members and helping us stay informed on this important and rapidly developing topic.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming PPA events!