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What is it that process servers have against professional education? Why is it that any attempt at holding seminars at the WSPSA Annual Conference is usually met with an empty room? Do process servers in Washington know all there is to know about what it is they do? Or are they simply "know it alls"?
I'm a founding member of WSPSA but I also happen to be a member of the Washington Association of Legal Investigators (WALI) so I receive their mailings and announcements. They're holding their Fall Conference in October. Let's take a look at the mailing I received today as it seems to list the topics for their educational seminars. I'll put on my reading glasses and .... yes, it does indeed list some seminar topics. They are:
- Forensic Accounting
- Workplace Violence
- FOIA - Open Government
- Business & Financial Fraud
- NCISS Legislative Update
- Attorney Expectations of PI's
- Interviewing the Child Witness
- The Business of Running a Small Business
- All Things Evidence
- The Art of the Interview
Not a bad set of topics. Obviously they don't all apply to process serving but several of them could. For instance #3, #5, #6, #8, and #10. With some slight adjustments at least half of the topics on the WALI list would apply to process servers.
Now I'll take a look at the educational opportunities available at this month's WSPSA Annual Conference.......Still looking...........Nope, nothing yet..........Can't find a thing. Why? Because in years past the level of interest has been slim to none.
So why aren't process servers interested? Now you and I both know that no one wants to sit through a 1 hour seminar on Attorney Expectations of Process Servers but sometimes it is important to do things you don't want to do.
Obviously my questions are rhetorical. I know the answers. And the main answer has to do with the fact there is no requirement, at any level, for process servers to know what they're doing! Process servers are answerable to no one.
At some point some level of government is going to force a change upon us. I understand that is what happened in Florida and what is about to happen in New York. In a few states, Arizona for instance, the servers saw the light at the end of the tunnel and worked with state authorities and imposed some level of accountability on process servers. The Federal Trade Commission is already looking at us (see previous posts) we could see action at that level.
If we don't get our heads out of the sand (and soon) someone is going to force change on us. Then we'll find out how much we really know. Comments (3)
Robin Mullins September 10th, 2009 05:20:10 PM
Federal Trade Commission Draft Agenda Published this afternoon. Process Servers are on the agenda at 9:30 a.m. on September 30th. The following is a copy of the draft agenda that pertains to process servers:
Default Judgments and Service of Process
•How frequently are default judgments entered in debt collection litigation?
•What evidence is there of a possible relationship between default judgments and service
of process?
•In what ways is process served in debt collection litigation against consumers?
•What role do the courts have regarding service of process?
•What is required of debt collectors regarding service of process?
•Should there be changes in the law or industry practice with respect to service of process or default judgments?
For more info go to: { Link }
At the Ferndale (Whatcom County) conference, I brought up the subject of training. I had noticed Law Enforcement Civil Departments recieving ongoing education regarding civil matters and wondered why we couldn't join them. I posed that question. Someone was going to look into it and report back. I missed that last two conferences. Did that ever happen and if so what was the outcome?
I do beleive we should be educated more on what we actually do. I didn't feel very comfortable "shooting in the dark" when I first began and was greatful for the WSPSA and all of their knowledge to draw from. I would be interested in learing more and feel we should all have some minimum stardard to work from.
Leslie, I believe Ron Belec at Northwest Legal Support in Seattle looked into this matter. As I recall he made inquiry at the law enforcement training center in Tukwila but ran into some kind of difficulty and the idea was shelved. You might try contacting him and asking for more details. I have his e-mail address as ron@nwlegal.com. Let us know what you find out.
As for process server education and training, well, you and I both know it is sorely wanting. In effect, there is none at this time. I am offering free access to my education website at www.c4pse.com to all WSPSA members. Give me a call if you want access.