Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Judge Says Disabled Legal Assistant Can Use Aids During Bar Exam

Posted on February 06, 2010
California legal assistant, Stephanie Enyart, employed at Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley, is legally blind due to macular degeneration, but that has not stopped her from pursuing a successful career in the legal field, including graduating from law school last year...

FBI Hiring Thousands, Including Paralegals

Posted on February 06, 2010
The St. Louis American has published a detailed article about the FBI's hiring plans for 2010, including 2,000 professional support staff positions nationwide. Paralegals - and other positions that people with paralegal backgrounds and education may qualify for - are listed...

How to Describe a Paralegal

Posted on February 05, 2010
Philadelphia paralegal Mary L. Creekmore has written an excellent article for Law.com, entitled "Top Essential Skills and Assets for Paralegals." This is a must-read, especially for anyone thinking about embarking on a paralegal career.It takes a special person to meet the demands of a paralegal career, and Creekmore describes some of the traits that person must have to succeed in detail, including:The ability to set priorities and multi-taskThe ability to anticipate what needs to be done nextStrong oral and written communication skillsExcellent organizational skillsFlexibilityResourcefulnessAn aptitude for technologyA copy of this article should be given to every brand new paralegal student...

Parish Paralegal Supervisor Loses Job

Posted on February 05, 2010
This is an update to my January 23, 2010 post, "Parish Paralegal Supervisor's Qualifications Questioned."Apparently her qualifications and her job duties were questioned and found wanting.FOX 8 News and several other local media sources are reporting that Karen Parker has been fired from her job as a Paralegal Supervisor for Jefferson Parrish in New Orleans...

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Practical Paralegalism Survey: Finding a New Job Is a Popular Resolution

Posted on February 05, 2010
At least among the 74 readers who kindly answered the survey.There are all kinds of reasons to look for a new job, including career advancement, better pay and benefits, a more amenable working environment and/or relocation. With layoffs in the legal sector slowing down, this is not a bad time to keep an eye on the paralegal want ads, if you think you need a change...

N.C. Bar Association Seeks Social Media Director

Posted on February 04, 2010
I know some of you are a little skeptical about social media and its place in the professional world.Tell the truth. You think it's a fad, although you agree there may be real need for intervention for Facebook users who spend more time with their Mafia Wars families than their real families...

Paralegal Loves Coming to Work at MedStar Health

Posted on February 04, 2010
With so much bad news about layoffs and hiring freezes, including in the legal sector, it's a real pleasure to read Baltimore Magazine's article "Best Places to Work 2010," especially paralegal Mary Cierkowski's story about how her employer, Medstar Health, helped her move up the corporate ladder...

Paralegal Profile: Bonnie Ruffin, NCCP, Business Owner & Gardener

Posted on February 04, 2010
Job Title: PresidentEmployer: Ruffin Consulting, Inc., Wilson, NCYears of Paralegal Experience: 20Specialty Areas: Personal Injury, Worker?s CompensationCareer Highlight: Working as a senior litigation paralegal for a large law firm in downtown Dallas, TexasParalegal Practice Tip: Learning to manage deadlines is essential!As a successful business owner, what advice do you have for paralegals interested in starting their own businesses providing legal support services?Set clear goals as to what type of service(s) you want to provide and then research and investigate to ensure there is a market for what you are offering...

Social Media 101: A Bit of Fun with a Meme

Posted on February 02, 2010
No, That's Not a Typo, and This Is Not About Me. Well, Maybe a Little...This is a post for silly people who need a wee mental health break while working for lawyers. Why is it in a paralegal blog? Because Susana (@madeinkowloon on Twitter), a paralegal, tweeted this fun diversion or "meme", which is how I found out about it...

Toronto Paralegal Accused of Scandalous Conduct in Litigation

Posted on February 01, 2010
A recent Law Times story "Judge tosses 'scurrilous' claims against lawyer" makes a thought-provoking (if somewhat complicated) read, especially since the "scurrilous" claims were made by lawyer's former paralegal and law clerk, Domenic Rosso.Superior Court Justice Helen Pierce, in a decision awarding costs last month, specifically condemned Rosso?s pleadings and an affidavit that exceeded 40 pages and was teeming with allegations about his former boss? professional behaviour and personal life...

Practical Paralegalism's Recommended Reading This Week

Posted on January 31, 2010
One of the many reasons I blog for paralegals is to share information they may find helpful for professional development (or for a much needed laugh during a hectic week working with lawyers). Once a week I share links to a half dozen or so articles focusing on legal news, practice tips and technology - plus a good laugh or two...

Stymied Paralegal Graduate Receives Brusque Job Search Advice

Posted on January 31, 2010
It's very difficult for new graduates in any field to find that first job these days, and there's no question that they need all the expert guidance they can get. They're vulnerable and justifiably scared, and they don't always get the best real world job search advice in their degree programs...

Get Your Legal Maid Degree from Food Court College University

Posted on January 30, 2010
I can't believe I've never seen this video lampooning legal "one stop degree shops" before.Thinking about becoming a corporate puppet or just street legal?You better get cracking, because according to FCCU, you "don't got much time."Anyone else craving an Orange Julius?

Independent Paralegal Goes Another Round in Longtime UPL Dispute

Posted on January 30, 2010
For many years, independent paralegal and former Montana state senator, Jerry O'Neil, has been embroiled in ongoing disputes with the State Bar of Montana and the Montana Supreme Court Commission on the Unauthorized Practice of Law (the "Commission") over his business advertising and allegations that he has engaged in UPL...

Quote of the Day: You Really Are Going Off The Deep End

Posted on January 28, 2010
If You're a First Year Associate Yelling at the ParalegalsYou know I've been a little fixated on ABC's new legal dramedy "The Deep End," mainly because of the portrayal of Katie the paralegal as cute, um, "easy" - and generally clueless.(By "fixated" I don't mean enough to actually watch it...

"Unique" Funding of Paralegal Staff Gets DA in Trouble

Posted on January 28, 2010
The Denver Post has published an interesting story about 18th Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers' alleged irregular funding of "her prosecution of a high-profile murder case."When facing questions about her spending in the case, which is still pending, Chambers told the court that one of the paralegals working on the case was "a unique employee paid in a unique way...

Student Documents Challenges Facing Kenyan Nonprofit Paralegals

Posted on January 28, 2010
The next time I feel frustrated at work with my older model Dell desktop, with its clunky CRT monitor, I'm going to look at this picture. And then I'm going to count my blessings, and treasure my access to email and e-filing.This is a photograph taken by Tufts University student Ian MacLellan, who won the student division of the PhotoPhilanthropy Activist Award "for his look at nonprofit paralegal help in Kenyan prisons...

The Biggest Paralegal Coffee Mug Ever

Posted on January 27, 2010
Only the Word "Paralegal" Is Nowhere on ItBut this is better. Namby (we're on a first name basis - he told me so in a blog post) is offering a mug that's bigger than a demitasse for those lawyers under the impression that they're bigger than a demigod...

Paralegal Profile: Stephanie Elliott-Park, NCCP & Instructor at UNCC

Posted on January 27, 2010
Job Title: Litigation Paralegal Employer: Gray, Layton, Kersh, Solomon, Furr & Smith, P.A., Gastonia, NCYears of Paralegal Experience: 13Specialty Areas & Bio:Litigation, and her experience also encompasses employment litigation, personal injury, insurance defense, trust and estates, and corporate and complex business litigation...

Quote of the Day: Tell Us What You Really Think

Posted on January 26, 2010
I had to laugh at the Toronto Sun's description of bad boy Sandy Hutchens (also known as "Moishe" - don't ask):As reported here on Sunday, Sandy Hutchens first appeared as a Baptist-raised, drug-dealing, scam-running bogus paralegal with a criminal record spanning 20 years when he was finally arrested by Toronto fraud cops back in 2002...

I'll Get You My Pretty - And Your Little Dog Too!

Posted on January 26, 2010
For my blog, folks, for my blog. It's no secret that we love dogs here (and other four-leggeds, too).So when I saw Georgia freelance paralegal Kristina Bynum's adorable Twitter profile picture, I had to get the scooper, I mean, the scoop.Kristina is @ParalegalServ on Twitter...

Psssst, TV Writers, Most Paralegals Have Never Flunked a Bar Exam

Posted on January 25, 2010
Okay, I admit that I didn't watch Katie the paralegal toss her "pre-Raphaelite" curls on ABC's first episode of "The Deep End," even though I had a pretty good time blogging about her based on TV reviewers' online articles.Alabama paralegal, Melissa Hinote, who blogs at Paralegalese, took the plunge for me (sorry 'bout that, couldn't resist) and watched it, sharing her very thoughtful and detailed notes in her post, "Splash!"...

2010 NFPA Tech Institute

Posted on January 25, 2010
I'm very excited and honored to have received an invitation to present at the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) 2010 Tech Institute, which is taking place from March 26-27 in San Jose, California. For more information, including the brochure and online registration, go to NFPA's "Upcoming Events" link...

Legal Community Collects Clothes for the Homeless

Posted on January 24, 2010
It's been a cold winter, so I was pleased to see Washington, D.C.'s legal community continuing its tradition (since 1986) of coming together to provide clothing for the homeless (and to see a legal assistant included in the story): Want to help? Here's the link to Gifts for the Homeless: http://www...

Retiring Police Department Legal Assistant Honored

Posted on January 24, 2010
Illinois legal assistant, Mary Bourdeau, is retiring from the Pekin Police Department, after 25 years of outstanding service.Bourdeau worked as a legal assistant for the police department, functioning as a liaison between the department and the courthouse...

Paralegal Wins Photography Contest

Posted on January 24, 2010
South Carolina paralegal Richard Glover's stunning photo of Lake Murray's annual July 4 fireworks show was taken solely to preserve a memorable experience.But it won this year's Taste of Lake Murray Poster Artwork Contest.The Chicago native, who moved to South Carolina when he was 8 years old, got involved in photography in high school...

Practical Paralegalism's Recommended Reading This Week

Posted on January 24, 2010
One of the many reasons I blog for paralegals is to share information they may find helpful for professional development (or simply entertaining during a fast-paced week). Once a week I share links to a half dozen or so articles focusing on legal news, practice tips and technology - plus a good laugh or two...

Parish Paralegal Supervisor's Qualifications Questioned

Posted on January 23, 2010
Karen Parker, a Paralegal Supervisor for Jefferson Parish in New Orleans, Louisiana, earns $64,000 per year, but now her qualifications for the job - and the existence of the job itself - are under intense scrutiny. Last month, FOX 8 News asked for a copy of her resume, as well as information regarding the paralegal certification required for the position...

What We've Learned about Katie the Paralegal in ABC's "The Deep End"

Posted on January 21, 2010
I was bemused in an earlier post about television's newest paralegal character on ABC's legal series, "The Deep End," because some television reviewers couldn't tell the difference between Addy, one of the first year associates, and Katie the paralegal...

Unemployed Pop Star Becomes a Legal Assistant

Posted on January 20, 2010
Or On-the-Job Training to Sue Your Sleazy ManagerI've seen people accept legal assistant positions for many reasons, but Taiwanese pop singer Yuki Hsu's reason is a new one for me:She said that she was taking the opportunity to study legal principles in preparation for her eventual lawsuit against her former management company to resolve contract issues...

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