Hard work and dedication are what prompted attorney M. Lynne Osterholt to nominate Paralegal of the Year runner up, Denise Cunningham, for LAT’s prestigious award. Osterholt pointed to one recent case as an example of Cunningham’s perseverance. While the attorney-paralegal team was representing a client from another case, Cunningham found out that an employee performing surgery at a Louisville, Ky., physician’s office was not licensed. After consulting with her supervising attorney, Osterholt, who has a private practice, Cunningham called an investigator from the state attorney general’s office to express her concern.

In 1989, Cunningham got involved with the Kentucky Paralegal Association, which is made up of five paralegal associations within the state. She recently concluded a two-year term as director of the board of directors. She also has served as treasurer and corresponding secretary. In 1991 and 1997, she co-chaired the association’s statewide conferences. Cunningham was awarded KPA’s statewide Founders Award in 2001. “[It’s] an honor I am quite proud of — the award hangs proudly in our office reception area,” she said. Most recently, she became a member of the American Alliance of Paralegals Inc. in 2003.

In addition to her commitments to LAP, KPA, LBA and the American Alliance, Cunningham has served on the advisory board for Sullivan University’s legal studies department since 1992, and the University of Louisville’s Paralegal Studies Program for 10 years. She also is a volunteer for Catholic Charities in the Senior Services program.