Cupcakes have been around a long time, but the kinds of cupcakes we have today are not the ones I had as a child. Today’s cupcakes are an art, a trend, an industry. Despite the phenomenon, what makes cupcakes really yummy has not changed very much. The most basic ingredients are the same whether the…
So You Think Your Paralegal Job Is Secure?
Paralegals, here is your wake-up call… If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, read the rest of this post – seriously. Have you grown apathetic toward your work? Do you make careless mistakes frequently? Have you stopped striving to be the very best at what you do? Are you annoyed by every assignment you…
Don’t Make This Mistake When Contracting with a Paralegal
Is there a difference between a freelance paralegal and a virtual paralegal? Which one should an attorney look for when needing some extra help? I don’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence, but the only difference is that a virtual paralegal’s work is all done virtually and a freelance paralegal’s work can be done at the…
VIDEO – Paralegal Career Tip – How To Get More Substantive Work
One of the top complaints I hear from paralegals is that their supervising attorneys are not utilizing the paralegal’s full potential. This scenario leads to boredom, frustration, and low job satisfaction. It is a lose-lose, for the paralegal and the firm. Today I am going to share three ways to help you get more substantive…
Paralegal Career Moment – A Pleading for Matlock
We have moments in our careers that we will remember forever; some for good reasons, some for bad. I had one of those “paralegal career moments” early on when I drafted a pleading for Matlock. Here is a little back story for my more youthful readers. Bobby Lee Cook is a famous criminal defense attorney…
Three Common Objections To Outsourcing Paralegal Work
I am privileged to work with very talented and forward-thinking attorneys. I realize working with a virtual or freelance paralegal is a little off the beaten path. One of the challenges I encounter is convincing firms to break out of the mold and try something new. Attorneys are change resistant, but those willing to move…
Home Office – A Few of My Favorite Things
I enjoy reading about the latest tech gadgets and software. Who doesn’t want information about things to make your professional life more efficient, convenient, and productive? Technology makes my virtual work possible, but my favorite and most used items are completely no-tech or low-tech. Here some items that make my home office a very pleasant place for…
Proud To Be A Crusader
One of my dearest, longtime friends recently called me a crusader. My immediate mental image was of a knight on horseback waving a flag. When I asked her why she called me that she said it was because I like to talk about ideas. This is absolutely true, but I was not sure it qualified…
Emotional Stages of a Document Review
Document reviews have changed drastically since I became a paralegal in 1992. E-discovery is now its own industry and the market place is full of document review technology products that did not exist only a few years ago. Even though we have moved from paper to PDF, I have found something that remains the same…
Are You An ABA-Certified Paralegal?
No. You are not an ABA-Certified Paralegal. Even if you graduated from an ABA-approved paralegal program and have “ABA-Certified Paralegal” plastered all over your resume and LinkedIn Profile, you are in fact NOT an ABA-Certified Paralegal because there is no such thing. If you follow me on Twitter, you have heard me express my frustration…
About
Misty L. Sheffield is a freelance paralegal helping solos and small law firms in civil litigation. She has been assisting attorneys for over 12 years. Read More »
