CATHERINE DURGIN
Catherine R. Durgin has been a paralegal for over twenty years and is currently a senior paralegal in the Trusts and Estates Department at Loeb & Loeb LLP, where she focuses on trust administration and corporate law, including nonprofit organizations. She earned a B.S. in paralegal studies and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is a past director and officer of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association and a past board member of the Certifying Board for the National Association of Legal Assistants.
DAWN DUROCHER
Dawn M. DuRocher, ACP, CAS, has been in the legal field since 1989, and a paralegal since 1999. She is currently a Paralegal for the Legal Department of the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association. Prior to joining SBCERA in 2016, Dawn was the firm-wide Senior Paralegal and Paralegal Manager at Lobb & Cliff, LLP (1997-2016). Her primary practice involved: business organizations (entity formation, corporate compliance, mergers & acquisition, and dissolution); business and real property litigation; post-judgment collections; real property transactions; and estate planning. She obtained her BA, with honors, in Criminal Justice/Paralegal Studies from California State University at San Bernardino. Dawn is a NALA certified Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) in Discovery, Trial Practice, Business Organizations, and Contract Management; and a California Advanced Specialist (CAS) in Discovery. She is currently the Program Liaison with the Paralegal Certificate Program at University of California Riverside Extension, and the Paralegal Internship Coordinator/Instructor. Furthermore, Dawn serves on the Paralegal Advisory Committee at University of California Riverside Extension. Dawn has been an officer (including President for two 1-year terms) and director of the Inland Counties Association of Paralegals (ICAP) from 2000-2017 and currently serves as their Board Advisor (2018-present). She has also served as ICAP’s secondary representative (2016) to the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) and ICAP’s NALA Liaison (2007-2017). Dawn has received the following professional recognitions: June 25, 2016 – CAPA Paralegal of the Year second runner-up award; July 23, 2015 – 2015 Affiliates Award by NALA for outstanding contribution and dedication to the advancement of the legal assistant profession through volunteer service to NALA affiliated associations; June 6, 2015 – UCR Extension’s Certificate of Appreciation for participation at the Paralegal Career Workshop; July 12, 2013 – 2013 NALA Affiliates Award; December 2008 – ICAP Recognition Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership and dedication to the paralegal profession and ICAP; December 2008 – ICAP’s President Award in recognition of her leadership and dedication as president of ICAP; October 2008 – recipient of the IPMA 2008 Therese A. Cannon Educational Scholarship; July 30, 2008 – 2008 NALA Affiliates Award; December 2007 – ICAP’s President Award; December 2007 – selected as one of ParalegalGateway.com’s 2008 Paralegal Superstars (one of twelve paralegals nationwide that lead the field and contributed above and beyond in the profession and/or in their community).
MARY THEROUX
Mary Theroux is an experienced Real Estate Paralegal with corporate expertise and a record of leadership in elevating the paralegal profession in the State of California to the highest standards of excellence. Mary earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of West Los Angeles, an ABA approved program. Her awards and certifications include the NALA Affiliated Associations Outstanding Contribution Award, 2011; Public Counsel’s Outstanding Volunteer Award, 2001; Five Star Paralegal of the Year Award, 2002; UWLA Award of Excellence, 2003; and LAPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. She received her CLA from NALA in 2000, followed by Advanced Paralegal Certifications in Business Organizations, Land Use, Real Estate Principles, Business Organizations – Non-Corporate Entities, and Contract Management. Her commitment to the paralegal profession includes service as NALA Region IX Director, Director and Officer (currently as Treasurer) of the Commission for Certification of California Paralegals (formerly CACPS) and as a Director and Officer (including as President, Executive Vice President, VP of Membership and Policy, VP of Marketing and Planning, and Secretary) of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association. Mary also serves as an Advisory Committee Member of National University, Paralegal Studies, is a frequent speaker for paralegal programs throughout the Los Angeles area and has served the community with Public Counsel’s Children’s Project Adoption Day since its inception in 1999.
MICHAEL ZWEIBEL
Michael Zweibel is – or has been – and in various combinations – an attorney, educator,
administrator, writing consultant, translator, and mediator.
He began law practice in a small, Beverly Hills litigation firm. And, within a short time, he opened his own office in Beverly Hills, specializing in immigration law. He also practiced criminal appellate law.
In 1986, within a year of embarking on law practice, Michael began teaching law and paralegal studies. He has been an adjunct and a full-time professor and has taught more than 200 courses and 36 workshops in over 6,000 classroom hours of instruction at various Southern California universities and educational institutions.
Michael was also appointed Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs for the University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) School of Paralegal Studies and was the founder and director of UWLA’s writing center. He has lectured on legal writing for CLE credit before legal-professional organizations, including LAPA. He currently holds the title of PT Professor, National University College of Law and Public Service.
Michael is a mediator. In addition to helping resolve disputes in private practice, for many years, he was called upon to mediate in a wide range of matters as a member of the Los Angeles County Bar’s Civic Mediation Project (CMP) volunteer panel. He was also called upon by CMP to supervise, coach, and evaluate mediators in training. In 2014, the Los Angeles County Bar Association bestowed on him the Hon. Benjamin Aranda III Outstanding Public Service Award for his mediation efforts
Michael earned his M.A. and B.A. from UCLA, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude. The focus of his undergraduate and postgraduate university education was Hebrew, Arabic, and Ancient Near Eastern languages & literatures. He later enrolled in law school and earned his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
He has served on the Board of the Commission for Certification of California Paralegals (CCCP) since 2007. In addition, he sits on the Board of Advisors of National University’s Paralegal Studies Program and the Advisory Committee of Cerritos College Paralegal Studies Program and formerly on the Advisory Committees of Pasadena City College Paralegal Studies Department and West Los Angeles College Paralegal Studies Department.
KAI HUFFMAN
Kai Huffman currently works as a paralegal supervisor at Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP, where she supervisors a team of about 20 paralegals in several states. She has her bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from the University of West Los Angeles and is a NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal/California Advanced Specialist and ACEDS Certified eDiscovery Specialist. She has served on the board and as an officer and volunteer in her local and state paralegal associations and is currently on the board of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Legal Administrators Association. She was briefly an adjunct professor teaching aspiring paralegals civil litigation in an ABA-Approved program and is currently a 4L at Northwestern California University School of Law, one of the first two all online law schools accredited by the California State Bar from which she expects to earn her JD in April 2025. Kai is married to Kurt and has two grown sons.
Samantha Armijo
Samantha Armijo has 20 years of experience and practices exclusively in Family Law. During this time, she has handled hundreds of cases ranging from simple to complex matters. She also has experience in the areas of bankruptcy, criminal, worker’s compensation, and personal injury. Samantha is an Advanced Certified Paralegal through NALA and a California Certified Paralegal through CAPA. Additionally, she has her Master of Science degree in Legal Studies. She strives to provide excellent and relevant service to all clients. Samantha is an active board member of Inland Counties Paralegal Association (having served as Secretary and President, multiple times) and a member of NALA (also serving as Liaison and Parliamentarian). She also serves on the advisory committee for UCR Extension.