Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Paralegal Profile: Deana M. Waters, ACP

By Lynne DeVenny

Employer: Cook Schuhmann & Groseclose, Inc., the largest law firm in Fairbanks, Alaska with 8 attorneys.

Years of Paralegal Experience: 10

Education/Degrees: BA, History/English and AAS, Legal Assisting

Specialty Areas: Civil litigation, workers compensation, family law, debt collection

Career Highlight: Which one to pick? Passing the Judgment & Analysis section of the CLA/CP exam, even if was the on the second try. When I was appointed to NALA?s Continuing Education Council in July 2010. Teaching in the paralegal program at the University of Alaska Community & Technical College.

Paralegal Practice Tip: I keep a spiral bound note book and pen with me at all times. That way when an attorney stops by with an assignment or if a client calls, I can jot my notes down. Later, if there?s any question, I can go back and see what I did on a certain day.

Favorite Internet Resource: Has to be Google.com or Accurint.com (http://www.accurint.com/).

Favorite Legal Software: Our firm recently switched case management software from Amicus V to Practice Master by STI (http://www.tabs3.com/). I love the document management and email integration features of PM.

Fun Fact: I love rodeo and demolition derbies, but both are few and far between in Alaska.

One Gadget You Can?t Live Without: My semi-smart cell phone.

Favorite Quote: "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." ~ Voltaire

Paralegal/Legal Association Memberships: Fairbanks Association of Legal Assistants (charter member, past president, past vice president, NALA Liaison elect) and NALA.

Professional Links: Cook Schuhmann & Groseclose, Inc. (http://www.alaskalaw.com/). Alaska State representative on Paralegal Gateway (http://www.paralegalgateway.com/)
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I'll always be grateful to Deana, one of the first paralegals to welcome me to the blawgosphere, as well as to contribute a guest post to Practical Paralegalism, "The Four C's of a Paralegal's Fortune." As a newbie blogger, I was very encouraged to hear from other paralegals all over the country, including Alaska. (Deana has almost convinced me to vacation there.) She also reached out to me when I announced I was going to take the NALA CP/CLA exam, and provided a much needed morale boost after it finally sunk in how much prep time it will take to be ready next spring.

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on October 12, 2010 (boomark / email).