"As the owner of Midwest Paralegal, I coordinate the assignments and continue the marketing process," Olley said. "I also continue to work in the 'field' when necessary. I am a certified trainer in Summation [litigation-support software] and provide consultation and training services focusing on that product." Olley first noticed a need for contract paralegal services after she was approached by a firm she had worked for in the past to help out on a large case. Because she felt the project would interfere with the work she was doing at the time, she declined; nevertheless, the situation got her thinking. She originally started Midwest Paralegal with Claudia Resnick, but she became the sole owner after Resnick sold her half of the business to Olley in 1996. Olley's employees arrange their work hours with her and can choose to work part-time or full-time. "[I enjoy] the coordination of so many different facets of owning a business," she said. "Not only is there the staffing and marketing and account balances, but [there is also] the continued paralegal work of meeting with clients and helping them work through the best, most cost-efficient way of handling a case. I have enjoyed learning all the computer-based tools that are now available for attorneys. I enjoy training in Summation and getting people to automate an otherwise manual process." Olley, who has been a paralegal since 1982, enjoys both the variety that contract work provides and the types of clients that contract work attracts. "We work for the best and the brightest clients," she said. "Our clients need to be forward-thinking to some extent to even contemplate the idea of using a contract firm. Likewise, we work in many different environments: law firms, corporate locations, etc. Contract paralegals are able to do the work and not get caught up in office politics. We have a great deal of repeat client calls, so we are able to build a relationship with the clients and feel comfortable when returning time and time again to assist on a project." Midwest Imaging, which she started in 2001, focuses on the technical aspects of large document productions, providing scanning and imaging, OCR, ediscovery, and forensic services. In April 2004, Olley purchased what used to be the Oak Creek Police Station and had it completely remodeled to accommodate Midwest Paralegal's needs. The business then moved from its Milwaukee office to the Oak Creek location, a move that Olley was particularly proud of. "It has been wonderful working in a setting that was customized to our needs—balancing both the paralegal side and production and imaging part of our work," she said. A big part of Olley's job is spent persuading lawyers to integrate technology into their practice by illustrating the benefits of it. This means she has to stay on top of new developments in the legal technology realm. "It has been an ongoing process to educate attorneys on the value of computer systems and the role they must play in the current law practice," she said. "Midwest has continued to provide CLE opportunities for attorneys and paralegals in the field of technology and the advancements of those systems. It can be a full-time job just keeping current on the product lines that are in place—and evolving. Making sure that we choose the right products—and invest in the correct equipment—is a constant point of concentration." Olley thinks technology has created a greater need for paralegals and urges paralegal students to gain exposure to technology while they are in school because it will help them later in their careers. She also said having a successful career is all about having the right attitude and understanding that every experience teaches you things and gets you ready for the next experience. "If you are willing and eager and take notes when provided job assignments, the attorneys and senior paralegals are more apt to give you an assignment again," she said. "It's a process of building experience." She also advises students to understand the fact that no two paralegal jobs are the same and to consider the characteristics and personality of the firms when looking for a job. "Since every paralegal job is different from every other paralegal job, it is a matter of finding the law practice and law firm style that fits the individual," she said.

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Article ID: 1644     Article Title: Shawn R. Olley: Owner, Midwest Paralegal Services, Oak Creek, WI Comments: I am a paralegal with over 10 years of experience working in Portland, Maine. I am very interested in starting a business like this but are not even sure where to begin. I've sent letters out to various law firms but the idea hasn't yet caught on. Posted by: Nicole Botts   |   Date: 01-03-2008 Comment

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