Brenda L. Darkow: From Fields of Green to the Field of Law
by Douglas May
"Since I was not able to attend law school, I have found a profession that allows me to be involved in the legal profession."
Darkow says that life was pretty simple when she was a kid and that she just enjoyed being outside in the sunshine and having the freedom living in the country afforded her. She has since married, and she says that she and her husband lived in several different places (Iowa, Kentucky, and California) before landing in Minnesota.
She remarks, "We've enjoyed the adventure new places offer and now enjoy it a bit more with our two girls."
Darkow attended Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated with a BA in English with minors in history and sociology. After she graduated she worked full-time and went back to school to receive her paralegal certificate from Des Moines Area Community College.
She says, "Law school didn't work out, but I wanted to work in the legal field. I looked into our local community college for classes, and I found I could take just the legal classes to get a certificate since I already had a four-year degree."
After receiving her certificate she continued to work at her full-time job, where she received a promotion. She was responsible for several aspects of her department (probate, title work, credit reporting, and departmental reporting). She also completed two internships while in school. She worked for a small law firm and for the County Attorney's Office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
When asked if she has any major influences on her career or mentors, she replies, "I have two prior bosses that have done a lot for me over the years. While I worked with them, they encouraged me to learn and do more outside of my original job duties and gave me the opportunities to do so. I was able to play to my strengths, and they cheered my successes. Even though I don't work with these wonderful women anymore and we're all in different states, they continue to support me."
Darkow seems to enjoy the paralegal profession and what it has to offer.
"Since I was not able to attend law school, I have found a profession that allows me to be involved in the legal profession. I interact with clients, attorneys, and court staff and can be found spending a fair amount of time reviewing files and drafting letters and pleadings. I enjoy that I am entrusted to manage a case file and help keep it moving forward, offering ideas along the way. In the end, a final product has work that I have contributed. That's a good feeling."
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. I enjoy reading books, playing with my kids, and spending time with friends and family. If I still had horses, I would be spending a lot of time on top of one.
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now, or what is the last song you listened to?
A. I have a CD of KT Tunstall, but I also have an iPod loaded with lots of variety (no rap or country, though).
Q. What's the last magazine you read?
A.Parenting.
Q. What's your favorite TV show/movie?
A.Numb3rs is one of my favorites. Movies? So many great ones — too hard to choose.
Q. Who is your role model?
A. I'm not sure that I had a specific role model. I do remember eagerly doing research projects in high school on Sandra Day O'Connor and Thurgood Marshall, but I think it is personal attributes that I look up to in a person. Is that person honest, have a good work ethic, supportive of others, willing to help, flexible?
When asked about the future, Darkow maintains that the legal field is where she wants to stay.
"I love being in the legal field and have no plans to step away from that. I do my best in my job and work to learn new things."
Darkow is currently a litigation paralegal for Bernick, Lifson, Greenstein, Greene & Liszt, PA. Bernick Lifson represents a wide variety of clients, ranging from large corporations and nonprofit organizations to individuals. She's been at the firm for about two and a half years and says she's enjoying the various cases she works on and the people she works with.
Her advice for others in the legal profession: "Learn and never stop. Always ask questions."
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