July 2024 Affiliate Spotlight – Tony Sipp

Tony Sipp is the Vice President of Membership and Policy for the Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA), where he has served in numerous roles since 2014, including President in 2020.  

“It was quite an experience,” he remarked about his presidency. “It was one of those challenging years, and I was able to successfully lead the organization through some of those challenges.” 

Tony connected with Amy McGuigan, then President of the San Francisco Paralegal Association, and they formed a bond with many local associations. They hosted virtual get-togethers for their members and came up with creative ways to keep people engaged. 

His motivation for getting involved with LAPA was increasing access to justice. He wanted to combine his legal and political experience to do some work for the community.  

“When the pandemic happened, the city decided to do some pro bono work for people with insecurities,” Tony said. “I got to partner LAPA with the city’s initiative to help those people.” 

Paralegals from LAPA worked together with attorneys to provide pro bono work to people in need. Tony’s role in this project earned him an Affiliate Award from NALA in 2020. 

Tony graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s in political science. He works at Ellis George LLP. He co-hosts the Paralegal Voice podcast, sponsored by NALA, with Jill Francisco, ACP. Jill and Tony met in 2020 when she was serving as NALA’s President. Years later, she invited him to join her as the co-host of the Paralegal Voice. You can learn more about the podcast and listen to the episodes
here. 

As the current Vice President of Membership and Policy, Tony has the goal of increasing LAPA’s membership. He wants people to understand the benefits and value of being part of an association as part of their professional career.  

“Whether they want to network or look for a job, we want this to be a place where they can come and feel comfortable to ask questions,” Tony explained. “We want to create opportunities for them and offer value so that they are more engaged and involved and stand out in their career.” 

While Tony has been involved with LAPA for a decade, he wants to branch out to the national level. 

“LAPA is always going to be a part of me,” he shared. “I want it to be successful. If anything, I want to get more involved with NALA and engaged in what they are doing.” 

Tony’s advice to paralegals is to come as they are.  

“Do not be intimidated by the field,” he advised. “Bring the experience you already have. More than likely, it is going to come in handy when you are doing your job.” 

Tony and Amy co-presented at the Affiliated Associations Annual Meeting at the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo on the Benefits of Collaboration. Keep an eye on NALA’s YouTube channel here for a recording of the presentation. 

Read Tony’s favorite quote, by Marianne Williamson, below.  

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just for some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”