What puts you on cloud nine in your professional life? Is it a successful settlement, winning a motion, calming a client’s fears? For most litigators, it is winning in court. Last year, I represented myself in a small civil matter (less than $17,000) in magistrate court. Yes, I know what they say about someone who…
This post is a Halloween tribute to the personalities I have met in the legal profession that scare me a little… Mrs. Always Annoyed Legal Secretary She never appears to be that busy, but when you ask her to do anything she is clearly annoyed. When you walk her by her desk, she is usually talking…
I have had lots of questions from paralegals about my study plan for the Certified Paralegal Exam. I also recently spoke to a study group for the PACE exam. Many of the questions are the same so I decided to answer them here on my blog. 1. Why did you decide to take a paralegal…
“It’s not easy being green.” Kermit the Frog “Green” as in different, out of the ordinary; not “green” as in inexperienced. When I attend local CLE’s or networking events, I am usually the only paralegal not employed by a law firm, corporation, or government agency. One of the most shocking things about working as a virtual…
More than ever before, your clients are demanding lower-cost, yet high-value legal services, which is exactly why you should be concerned with the certifications of the paralegals you work with. Whether you are are a solo or in a large firm; employ one paralegal or one hundred paralegals; occasionally contract with freelance paralegals or use…
The very things we thrive on in the legal profession such as the adversarial nature of the system; the duty to provide competent representation; and the ability to manage complex information, situations and people are also the things that can drive us down the road to burnout. I am not a counselor, psychologist or life…
Welcome and thank you for checking out my paralegal blog. I wanted to have several posts written before my “grand opening” so that you could browse around and get a feel for what I have to offer. Here are a few things I hope to accomplish with this site: to help you make the most…
There are plenty of famous movies about attorneys, but really only one about a paralegal. I recently re-watched the movie Erin Brockovich. The first time I saw it in 2000 I was entertained by it; this time I was inspired by it. I also noticed some traits I share in common with Ms. Brockovich, as…
Attention attorneys: Every improvement you make to the way you practice law will involve a little stretching, a little risk-taking. Your practice will never reach its peak without a willingness to try new things. If you have never worked with a freelance or virtual paralegal is it because: (a) Your practice is not busy enough…
The legal profession has seen a proliferation of paralegal titles and job descriptions. The trend will continue as several states consider regulating the profession and making distinctions between various types of paralegals. There has been much debate over who can and cannot call themselves a paralegal. This article will take a look the most common…