Joanne Banker Hames, J.D., is a retired Paralegal Coordinator and full-time instructor for the paralegal program at DeAnza Community College located in Cupertino, California. She is currently a part-time instructor at the school. She earned her J.D. degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and was admitted to the California Bar in January 1972. She has been an active member since that time. For several years Ms. Hames was employed as an attorney in a busy litigation law firm. During that time she was involved in all aspects of civil litigation, including pre-trial preparation, jury trials, and appeals. For the past fourteen years she has been involved primarily in paralegal education, teaching at DeAnza Community College and previously at Santa Clara University Paralegal Institute.