Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Professional Profile: Oliva K. Burgess, Paralegal & Super Woman

By Lynne DeVenny

Employer: Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A., Jackson, Mississippi

Years of Paralegal Experience: Three, in addition to about seven years as a legal secretary

Specialty Areas: Previously corporate transactional and mass tort litigation, but I have recently moved into a new area for me ? construction litigation.

Career Highlight: During April and May 2010, I earned my college degree, was elected to serve my local and state chapters of NALS as President and Vice President, respectively, and landed a promotion at the office!

Paralegal Practice Tip: Ask for help and delegate to others when necessary. As a card-holding member of the Type A Club, I tend to want to do everything myself. I?ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that even we Super Women can?t save the world alone.

Favorite Internet Resource: Dictionary.com ? http://www.dictionary.com/

Do you use social media resources, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or blogs, for career and/or case development?
Sure! I use all of them. LinkedIn is a great place to find networking opportunities. I also use it to help keep up with professional contacts. I use Twitter as I have time to follow breaking news and legal industry trends. Blogs are great because they provide practical, relevant information about industry-specific topics, and I use them (especially yours) to discover new professional resources that help me be more productive. Facebook is the social media I reference the most, and I use it to keep up with friends and family across the country, as well as to network with other legal professionals.

Fun Fact: I?ve been onstage with Ozzy Osbourne. He was wearing more mascara than me!

Favorite Quote: ?We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.? -- Winston Churchill

Professional Links:
LinkedIn ~ http://www.linkedin.com/in/livburgess
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/foxipedia
Facebook ~ Liv Burgess (Clinston, MS
NALS ~ http://www.nals.org/
Mississippi Legal Professionals Association: http://www.mississippilpa.org/
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2010 has been a big year for Olivia. Practical Paralegalism is pleased to share her good news here, and to congratulate her for her many achievements.

Showcasing legal support staffers in professional profiles is one of my favorite blog activities. If you'd be willing to complete the short questionnaire and share a little about yourself, plus a few pearls of hard-earned wisdom, with Practical Paralegalism readers, please contact me at lynne.devenny@gmail.com.

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on June 15, 2010 (boomark / email).