Leadership
Maharaj-Lucas, Asha
Chapter President
Asha Maharaj-Lucas has been a paralegal since 1997, beginning her career in the Federal Court System in the Northern District of New Jersey. In 2004, she relocated to Tallahassee. She is a strong advocate for the paralegal profession and focuses on strengthening resources and education for those currently in the profession, while inspiring budding students to begin their career! Asha has been diligently working with the Big Bend Chapter to continue its growth and stay competitive with local paralegal associations. She is currently serving as the Immediate Past President and has served as the President, and Vice President for Big Bend Chapter, she also serves as Committee Chair for the State Scholarship Committee. Asha received her BA in political science from Rutgers University. Asha is a proud Florida Bar Registered Paralegal and is a paralegal with Guilday, Simpson, West, Hatch, Lowe & Roane P.A. (Guilday Law). Her past employments included one of the largest creditors firm in the New York/New Jersey area as well as the general counsel’s office of several state agencies. (Email) Asha is currently the President of the Big Bend Chapter. She is a Florida Bar Registered Paralegal and has been a paralegal since 1997. Since moving to Tallahassee in 2004 she has worked in the general counsel’s office of several state agencies, but, presently she is a paralegal with Guilday, Schwartz, Simpson, West, Hatch & Lowe, P.A. (GuildayLaw). Asha received her BA in political science from Rutgers University and completed paralegal training at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Mara, Melissa CP, FRP
Chapter 1st Vice President
Melissa is currently employed by The Florida Bar where, she has been since 2000. She has held many positions in the legal division for The Florida Bar such as, part-time receptionist, program assistant for the diversion program, legal secretary for the advertising counsel, administrative assistant to the director of the legal division and now as a paralegal. Melissa monitors the terms and conditions of disciplined attorneys. She moved to Tallahassee in 1998 from Deltona, Florida where she grew up. Melissa holds an AA degree (2010) and an AS degree in Paralegal and Legal Studies (2011) from Tallahassee Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Florida State University (2015). She became a certified paralegal with NALA and a Florida Bar Registered Paralegal in 2013.
Hamrick, William M. FRP
Chapter Secretary
Mike, a Florida Registered Paralegal since 2008, has a bachelor’s in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s in Accounting from Flagler College. He is currently employed by the Office of the City Attorney, defending matters related to employment. Mike previously worked for the Office of General Counsel at the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection. You can reach Mike through https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmhamrick/, the Chapter's Facebook Page, or Facebook Group.
