Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Paralegal Profile: Lorie J. Smith, Paralegal Today's Spotlight for April/June 2010

Posted on May 19, 2010
Job Title: Paralegal Employer: Hager & Associates Law Office, P.C., Wilmington, NC 28401Years of Paralegal Experience: 1Specialty Area: Family LawCareer Highlight: Winning the North Carolina Bar Association Paralegal Division Student Scholarship.Paralegal Practice Tip: Wear comfortable shoes!Favorite Internet Resource: http://www...

Today's Quote: Sing Loud and Proud Anyway

Posted on May 18, 2010
When you were seven, you stood on risers in church with your cousin, Carla, and your friend, Pam, singing "Away in a Manger" for the brimming congregation. Afterward you ran down the aisle to find your mother. "Mom, how was it? Was I good?"She beamed and circled her arms around you and said, "Oh, Honey, you were so loud...

Profile of Legal Document Assistant, Tammy Casados

Posted on May 18, 2010
The Anderson Valley Post has published an in-depth profile about Tammy Casados, a California legal document assistant who owns her own business, C & C Document Service, in Anderson. Casados has an associate degree in paralegal studies, and is working toward a bachelor's degree in criminal justice...

Legal Assistant to Compete for Mrs. Pennsylvania Title

Posted on May 18, 2010
Sherri Xanthopoulous Russo, the current reigning Mrs. Collegeville and a legal assistant employed by Keenan, Ciccito and Associates for 13 years, has a very personal platform for her competition in the Mrs. Pennsylvania International Pageant. A thyroid cancer survivor, she is also using Facebook to raise thyroid cancer awareness:It is my intention to encourage gynecologists to make this simple neck check part of their regular routine gynecological examinations...

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How to Get Fired on Facebook 101

Posted on May 17, 2010
Even though I recommend Facebook as a great way to network and get to know your friends, family and other professionals better, Facebook is not for the faint of heart - or those who like to pour their hearts out via social media.Fellow North Carolinian Ashley Johnson found that out the hard way...

Would You Bleed Purple for Corporate?

Posted on May 17, 2010
So you're at the annual employer conference, in a recessionary economy, and your boss mentions that the really loyal employees (the ones he seems to lunch with the most) are all getting the company logo tattooed on their bodies, and coincidentally, there's a tattoo artist right there on the premises to help you show your team spirit - forever...

Happy Ohio Paralegal Day!

Posted on May 17, 2010
If you're a paralegal in Ohio, then today's your day:The Cleveland Association of Paralegals, Inc. (CAP) is celebrating Ohio Paralegal Day May 17th. Governor Ted Strickland signed a Proclamation declaring the 3rd Monday in May as Ohio Paralegal Day. Mayor Frank G...

Practical Paralegalism's Recommended Reading This Week

Posted on May 16, 2010
I blog for paralegals to share information they might find helpful for professional development - or a much needed laugh during a hectic week working with lawyers. Once a week (or every other week when the demands of a full-time job and teens supercede my best intentions) I share links to a half dozen or so articles focusing on legal news and humor, practice tips and technology...

You're Never Too Old to Start a New Career

Posted on May 16, 2010
Davida Barnes graduated from Nashua Community College's Paralegal Studies program in Nashua, New Hampshire this weekend with two notable distinctions. At age 79, not only is she the oldest student in this year's graduating class, but she also received a rose at the ceremony, recognizing her as "the person most significant to the completion of the current goal of graduation...

Today's Quote: Walk the Walk

Posted on May 15, 2010
"I was thinking their dresses were like perfect bridesmaid dresses." ~ New York paralegal Helen Dweck didn't realize how prophetic her thoughts were when her boyfriend, Joseph Setton, popped the question to her in the latest art installation and performance piece, "Walk the Walk," inside Bryant Park...

Utah State Bar Paralegal Division Selects Paralegal of the Year

Posted on May 15, 2010
The Paralegal Division of the Utah State Bar has selected Sanda Flint, CP as its 2010 Distinguished Paralegal of the Year. The award honors:...a Utah paralegal who, over a long and distinguished career, has by their ethical and personal conduct, commitment and activities, exemplified for their fellow paralegals and the attorneys with whom they work, the epitome of professionalism...

Saturday Laugh Out Loud: A Cake to Celebrate the Loss of a Few Pounds

Posted on May 15, 2010
Getting divorced? There's even a cake for that. A reader recently sent me an email with pictures of divorce cakes - for your divorce party to celebrate losing major poundage in the form of an unwanted spouse. Source: 31 Awesome Cakes to Celebrate Your Divorce

Working Girl Wednesday: Critter Control Ain't in My Job Duties

Posted on May 12, 2010
I'm a longtime paralegal. I like to think I function well under pressure, and that I can handle pretty much anything thrown at me in a fast-paced litigation practice. I've always been proud of my ability to solve problems and think on my feet in emergencies...

You Like Tomato and I Like Tomahto

Posted on May 12, 2010
You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahtoPotato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off~ Louis Armstrong, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"Tomatoes, tomahtos, whichever you prefer - the prison system still frowns on inmates receiving steamy photos of their gal pals wearing nothing but the "strategically placed" ripe, red fruit...

You Think a Paper Cut Is Bad?

Posted on May 11, 2010
by Debbie HonesAn experienced workers' compensation paralegal for many years, I had the opportunity to raise an adjuster's eyebrows when I gave a recorded statement for my own on-the-job injury several years ago.I told the adjuster from the very beginning that I was calling to report my own claim because it was just my supervising attorney, Jay Gervasi, and me...

Grammar Geek Grammy

Posted on May 10, 2010
You know how some people dream of having their 15 minutes of fame on reality TV shows like American Idol, Survivor - or Paris Hilton's My New BFF?Not me. I can't sing, I like my food processed - and Paris scares me. Instead, I dream of catching that next big grammar snafu for one of my favorite grammar blooper blogs, like The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks or Apostrophe Catastrophes...

Practical Paralegalism's Recommended Reading This Week

Posted on May 09, 2010
Happy Mother's Day! I hope your children showed their appreciation for the hard-working legal professional moms in their lives - or at least didn't announce at 5:00 p.m. today that they have a project worth 50% of their grade in Social Studies due tomorrow - that they've known about for weeks and haven't started...

Facebook Helps Put Legal Assistant's Dog Over the Top

Posted on May 09, 2010
Even a dog can use Facebook to benefit a good cause, in this case Bark for Life of Pottstown. Pennsylvania legal assistant Lindsay Tate spread the word on Facebook about her dog Hank's participation in The Mercury's Top Dog competition, and raised enough votes, in the form of monetary contributions, for him to tie for first place...

Today's Quote: Some Paralegals Don't Get Enough Excitement at Work

Posted on May 08, 2010
?Most people want sunny, warm weather on vacation. We want rain and bad weather.? ~ Leanne Richard, a Rhode Island paralegal, chases tornadoes on her vacations, and once had a candy bar sucked out of her hand while watching one from a mile away.Sometimes I feel like I'm witnessing a tornado when an attorney takes my office by storm, announcing surprise litigation deadlines that need to be completed yesterday...

Saturday Laugh Out Loud: Even Wrinkled Ladies Can Shake It to Beyonce

Posted on May 08, 2010
Not even a month ago, I said, "Belting out Beyonce in the car is a non-gender based pleasure." This video shows that there's no age discrimination allowed either. I thought all my readers of a certain age (my age), who are comfortable embarrassing their kids (right back atcha!) would get a kick out of this:Now if you're just a spring chicken, but want to envision your visage 20 or 30 years from now, you can go to the most depressing web application on the planet, In20Years...

Today's Quote: One Way to Get Rid of Those Documents on Your Desk

Posted on May 06, 2010
"A box of legal documents in a legal assistant?s office were intentionally set on fire and a box of files that were found under Shreve?s desk also had fire damage, according to court records." ~ The Herald-Mail reports that attorney Ashley Shreve, formerly employed by McNeer, Highland, McMunn & Varner L...

Working Girl Wednesday: Low Tech in High Places

Posted on May 05, 2010
Some paralegals and legal assistants, like Vicki Voisin, Laureen Pittman, and Therese Josie Chaffee (see her drool-worthy, award-winning apple pie in my last post) are naturally talented cooks.Other people are born to appreciate the efforts of naturally talented cooks and would give away their stoves if their spouses weren't oddly resistant to the idea...

Legal Assistant Is a National Pie Contest Winner

Posted on May 05, 2010
When guests visit Colorado legal assistant Therese Josie Chaffee at her home in Longmont, they are very disappointed if they don't get a piece of home-made pie. Chaffee wouldn't dream of using a store-bought crust, and loves baking pies so much that last month she and her husband traveled all the way to Florida for the American Pie Council's 2010 National Pie Championships...

Today's Quote: Do We Really Want a Mother's Day Without the M-Word?

Posted on May 04, 2010
"I'd like to not hear the word 'mom' for 24 hours. I want a day off from being CEO of the household, where I don't have to think about who has to go where and what has to be done by when." ~ Elizabeth Crippen, a West Palm Beach paralegal with two boys, ages 10 and 11...

My Assignment: To List the Benefits of Less Paper in Our Law Firm

Posted on May 03, 2010
"Going paperless is a simple matter of buying a scanner and using it. Being paperless means adopting practices and procedures that maximize efficiency and minimize cost." ~ The Paperless (Law) Office (Lawyerist Media, LLC, 2009)My boss (he hates to be called that) asked me to write a memo explaining the benefits of going paperless in our law firm, or at least the benefits of reducing the paper we deal with now...

NALS of Lansing Selects 2010 Legal Professional of the Year

Posted on May 03, 2010
Congratulations to Michigan paralegal Rhonda Mask, ALS, who was named the 2010 "Legal Professional of the Year" by NALS of Lansing at its April 14, 2010 Awards & Installation Banquet. Mask was also elected to serve as the 2010-2011 President of the association...

Today's Quote: Paralegal Jobs Are Safe from New Law School Graduates

Posted on May 02, 2010
"As part of our current deferral package, all of you who have received offers from us are eligible to start working at the firm no later than seventy-two (72) months from the date of your law school graduation. During that time, we require that you refrain from applying for jobs as lawyers, legal assistants, receptionists, or back-office staff at any peer firms...

Paralegal and Legal Assistant Have Creativity in Common

Posted on May 02, 2010
Indiana paralegal Kay Bozarth and Canadian legal assistant Amanda Ciring share the creativity gene - and appear to have unlimited energy to spare after work.Bozarth is a talented seamstress whose quilt, Lavender Dreams, was featured last November in the sewing magazine, Creative Expressions...

Paralegal Student Candidly Discusses Mental Health Barriers to Employment

Posted on May 01, 2010
I want future employers to know that, while some of us may need special arrangements, these will benefit you as it will maximize our performance and productivity. We will give you our best efforts, because we will be grateful for the chance to show what we can do...

Saturday Laugh Out Loud: Do Paralegals Have a Higher Risk of Paper Cuts than the General Public?

Posted on May 01, 2010
As I prepare to talk about "10 Ways to Present Top Civil Injury Settlement Demands" to the Guilford Paralegal Association today, I'm sharing another one of my favorite personal injury commercials, this time featuring a real (inconvenient) injury that most paralegals experience several times a month:We know the pain...

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