It takes a creative mind, serious organizational skills and a passion for the law to be a great paralegal, according to Cathleen Kohr, who was recently honored by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations for her pro-bono work. Kohr, a litigation paralegal at Lavery, Faherty, Young & Patterson, P.C. in Harrisburg, PA, won the NFPA's 2004 Individual Pro Bono Award for creating an innovative training program and recruiting volunteers to offer legal aid to the poor. ''Cathy has truly made a difference in the lives of the most needy through her outstanding efforts, dedication, and service in the area of pro bono service to the public,'' said Sandy Ballard, public services coordinator with the Dauphin County Bar Association. ''Cathy's leadership and creative ideas have enhanced the delivery of quality legal services to the less fortunate population in Dauphin County Pennsylvania. In fact, her efforts can be a model for other paralegal associations and legal services across the country.'' In July 2003, Kohr became aware that MidPenn Legal Services was turning people away because they didn't have enough time or manpower to fill the legal services need in the community. ''There were issues with regard to government cutbacks and Mid-Penn Legal Services was hit fairly hard,'' she told LawCrossing. ''They lost a lot of attorneys and a lot of paralegals and there was a greater demand from the public for these services and they just couldn't process people fast enough.'' Related Article What are the requirements to become a Justice of the Peace If you are interested to work in a court of law, then you may be wondering what justices of the peace do. This kind of work can be interesting, but make sure you research any field that you are possibly looking into. The governing organizations of your town, state, and country are things that you would have t .... How to Become a Good Lawyer after Studying Law All the young people have certain aspirations regarding the kind of profession they want to choose. Though there are a lot of career opportunities being introduced with the onset of globalization, some people still like to stick to the more basic and conventional means of earning a livelihood. The law profess .... 10 Good Reasons to Become a Paralegal Becoming a paralegal can be an important step in one’s career and provide an opportunity to work in a legal environment without having to be a lawyer. Paralegals are usually well paid, and it has been predicted that job prospects will be on the rise for paralegals through 2014. Here are 10 good reasons to .... So Kohr helped create a program which pooled volunteers of paralegals from various firms and trained them how to help with legal aid. Paralegals responded to Kohr's call for help and MidPenn Legal Services held two training sessions to teach volunteers how to support the center's programs. The volunteer paralegals now perform pro bono services for the needy, who now have increased access to the justice system. Kohr, who has been a paralegal for 15 years, says it's a great career for people who love the law, but don't necessarily want to become attorneys. ''If you are interested in the legal field and you don't want to undergo the seven years of education required to be an attorney, that's one of the reasons I got into it,'' she said. ''You have to be a very detailed and organized individual, and if you meet those criteria and are still interested in the legal profession, then I think it's a great fit. ''During trial, the attorneys heavily rely on paralegals because they have their hands full as it is with testimony. It helps if they have a second set of eyes, so it's a little bit more than just organizational skills; you've got to use your brain too,'' she says. Kohr, 37, graduated from the Central Pennsylvania Business School with an Associate's degree in paralegal studies in 1987. She has always worked in litigation and enjoys it because every day is different. ''When you're preparing for a trial, of course, you kind of eat, live and breathe it,'' she said. ''I encourage anyone who is interested in the legal field to pursue a paralegal job. It is fun. My days are never the same. I have things that come up. Some days I'm on trial, some days I'm in the office, some days I'm out interviewing individuals, whether they be the witnesses or clients - it's an array of things. It's a very rewarding occupation.''

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Article ID: 115     Article Title: What is the requirement to become a good litigation paralegal by Cathy Kohr Comments: are the police allowed to conduct unresonable hotel room searches? i went to a hotel on early morning and before check out they were at the door talking bout they werelooking for someone. i told them i had no clue then they yhreatened me with mace if i ddn't open the door. i opened it they asked my name ran it put me in cuffs said i had traffic warrants searched the room and i have a drug charge now. the girl they were looking for was with me but the room was in my name. now i know that the police can't come to my house wthout a warrant and search just because they say they need to know what woman is along with me. do the same rules apply? this is a b.s. case i acquired after serving 72 of the past 76 months, at the time. they are getting the girl to testify that it was mine the cop actually gave the girl her signed sttement to read before they got to a hearing tellin her they didn't want her they wanted me doesn't matter if it's hers or not. i believe it was an illegal search and seizure; they even said that i gave them permission to search my room. why would i do that if i'm dirty and how are they allowed to just attempt to bustt he room in. hat's why i opened the door he said he would mace me and it was damn near chek out time. from this account can you tell me something. (i'm the codefendent, he suggested i ask.) is what i'm askng a violation of the constitution? and what if i don't want to testify against him? Posted by: heth wright   |   Date: 11-14-2007 Comment

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