Debra Overly Receives 2006 McCormac Award

December 15, 2006

Dec. 14, 2006, Debra Overly, paralegal with Volkema Thomas, joined a distinguished group of paralegals as the recipient of the fourth annual John W. McCormac Award for Outstanding Service to the Paralegal Profession. The award was presented jointly by Capital University Law School, Project Lawyers, the sponsor of the award, and the Columbus Bar Association.

Capital University Law School Dean Jack A. Guttenberg; former Dean, the Hon. John W. McCormac; Nelson E. Genshaft, president-elect of the Columbus Bar Association; and Warner M. Thomas of Volkema Thomas LPA. participated in the ceremony which was held at the Columbus Bar Association.

Thomas presented the award and spoke of Overly’s dedication, warmth and excellence with clients, colleagues and attorneys. He highlighted her kindness and contributions to the community as a legal professional, while becoming a foster parent and, later, an adoptive parent.

“When I first started, I never planned on joining the legal profession,” said Overly, “or staying in Columbus. My paralegal career, foster parent career, and now parenthood have been exciting and rewarding in ways I could never have imagined.”

Overly began her contributions to the Columbus legal community in 1981 as a legal secretary for Volkema & Scherner. Then, in 1983, she was asked by an attorney if she wanted to go back to school to earn a paralegal certificate. She earned her paralegal certificate in 1984 from the American Institute for Paralegal Studies at Ohio Dominican College. Through 1988 she focused on her paralegal career at Carlile Patchen Murphy & Allison and subsequently at Volkema Thomas, where she remains employed today. She also has advanced the paralegal profession by teaching in Capital University Law School’s Paralegal Program and serving on the Advisory Board at Columbus State Community College Legal Assistant Program. Overly has been and continues to be an active member of the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio, where she has served as an Executive Board Member as well as on various committees, and is a frequent speaker at paralegal seminars. In 1995, PACO recognized her as the recipient of their Outstanding Member Award. About six years ago, Overly became involved with the Franklin County Children’s Services, and became a licensed foster parent and has fostered seven children, of which she has adopted three.

The John W. McCormac award was established in 2003 to recognize paralegals who have a long of involvement in the paralegal profession, support paralegal educational efforts, increase the credibility and status of the profession, and provide service to the legal community and professional organizations. Previous award recipients include Donna Prehm (2003), Katherine L. Essex (2004) and Jo Barrett (2005).