Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Paralegals & Legal Secretaries Blogs -> ParalegalGateway Blawg

Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

: ParalegalGateway Blawg

The First Step

By ParalegalGateway.com

THE FIRST STEP
By Patty Dietz-Selke

QUOTE: ?Take that first step in faith??..you may not see the whole staircase, but take that first step.? - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I love quotations. They inspire me, motivate me, fascinate me and even perplex me. In short, they make me think and ponder on their deeper meaning and, more specifically, how their wisdom may apply to my personal and work life.

For the last year or more, I have found myself cutting out and saving quotations that I have run across in my emails, on weblogs, in newsletters, in magazines, on websites and in sundry other materials. At first, this was purely a personal effort to preserve these kernels of truth and their astute perceptions and common sense for my reading pleasure and special benefit. However, somewhere along the way, my strictly personal effort crystallized into an idea and then a mission to share these quotations and their broader meaning and significance with others. As weblogs are becoming an easy and quick method of everyday communication, I have been contemplating on using a blog as the means to connect with others.

Let me step back a minute and explain that I am a Paralegal by profession. I have had the distinct pleasure and privilege of being a part of this wonderful business for the last 16 years. So let me confess right off that I LOVE being a Paralegal. This is truly a calling for me?a vocation?and one of my biggest joys has been to teach and mentor Paralegal students wishing to enter/transition into this worthwhile and significant career. I have been lucky enough to have been an Instructor for several Paralegal Certification programs over the past 13 years. I have taught hundreds of Paralegal students and assisted many of them in their hard-won efforts to land that first entry-level job. I am proud to be able to call them my fellow Paralegals and co-workers today.

The current turbulent economic situation has seriously affected the legal industry at an unprecedented level with massive layoffs, pay reductions and vanishing job opportunities. Today, many experienced Paralegals are unemployed and looking for guidance and aid in navigating the uncertain job market and in making career transitions. There is a great need in our profession. As such, it has become obvious to me that now is the time to act??to participate??to contribute. The little voice inside of my head has become a roar urging me to connect with other Paralegals of all levels and to lend a hand.

Providence was on my side. As luck would have it, a chance encounter with the esteemed and renowned Jeannie Johnston of Paralegal Gateway led to a meeting that led to her offer to be a part of her weblog. I truly believe in fate, in things happening for a reason and that one attracts what one projects. Jeannie?s wonderful and fortuitous opportunity is truly a great example of Karma and so is my finding the above-listed quote from Dr. King, which I came across recently as I was listening to ?The Secret? audio book.

Dr. King?s quote is so very applicable to the place in which I now find myself for this is my ?first step? on my mission to act??to participate??to contribute. I am resolute in my desire to be of service to my fellow Paralegals, be they novices wishing to enter the field or fully seasoned professionals looking for a sounding board or a guide. I wish to be a friendly voice and provide some ruminations, observations and inspirations on and for the Paralegal Profession. I hope you will join me each week to take that ?first step? together.

Patty Dietz-Selke is an immigration Paralegal at Troutman Sanders in Atlanta, GA as well as a Lecturer/Speaker and Instructor for Paralegal Certificate Programs.  She may be reached via email at Patty@ParalegalGateway.org.

Full post as published by ParalegalGateway Blawg on November 24, 2009 (boomark / email).