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No, I'm special. At least that's what I'm told.

But I thought maybe I should run the idea by someone I respect and admire, to see if she would think my few remaining marbles were rolling out the front door.

The other senior paralegal at Elliot Pishko Morgan P.A., Rana Holcomb, has been here since the partners formed the firm over 20 years ago; she's the one who told me there was an opening here 15 years ago. She's also been one of my closest friends since 1988, when we bonded over pictures of our children in a paralegal class at the local community college.

Rana is a world-class litigation paralegal, veteran of many successful trials in federal and state court. She supports one of the firm's busiest partners, who bristles if you call him a workaholic, but doesn't deny he sometimes gets to the office at 4:00 a.m.

If anyone can tell me if I'm nuts, it's Rana.

I decided to approach her with an offer I figured she'd most certainly refuse, if only for the reason that she works seven days a week. (She bristles if you call her a workaholic, too.)

I asked her if she wanted to get the Certified Paralegal designation, too. I might have said it would be fun, and even meant it. In fact, by the time I got to her office, I had almost certainly convinced myself that it will be fun, and that I would be an underachieving woos of a paralegal if I didn't do this. I might have said she would be, too. (Not really, because I'm kind of scared of her).

I was caught off guard when she said it sounded like a great idea.

All I could say was, "Really?"

Really. Rana and I are going to do this together. She even helped me finalize the four substantive law areas we'll study: Litigation, Family Law, Business Organizations and Contracts. The latter two will help us in our litigation work, even though we do not specialize in them.

I have to admit I'm relieved to do this with a super-smart close friend, who will help me stay focused and be available to study with.

Best of all, I'm so relieved I'm not NUTZ.

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Related Posts: Can I Still Be Switzerland?; When, Where & How Much?; To Seek or Not to Seek NALA's Certified Paralegal Credential?

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