Well-known Paralegal Paula Christensen Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career

Professional Overview

Paula Christensen is a Certified Paralegal and has been a member of Christensen & Jensen in Salt Lake City, UT, for more than thirty-five years. She specializes in plaintiff's personal injury, appellate work, and construction defect cases. Ms. Christensen is also involved in helping with some civil rights cases and other work trying to reign in government agencies. In addition, she served in the Utah Paralegal Association (UPA) for several years in the capacity of Job Bank Coordinator. The Utah Paralegal Association presented Ms. Christensen with the 2013 Distinguished Paralegal Of The Year Award. She holds an associate degree and she passed the NALA Certified Paralegal Exam in 2010, a two-day comprehensive test on the law.

Prior to joining Christensen & Jensen, Ms. Christensen worked at Garlington Lohn& Robinson in Missoula, MT. She also served Bob Sykes & Associates and Jones Waldo Holbrook & McDonough in Salt Lake City.

Ms. Christensen was raised in Southern California and her family moved to Stevensville, MT when she was fourteen. She has four children and five grandchildren. Her grandchildren range in age from three months to seven years. Ms. Christensen is proud that all four of her children have earned bachelor's degrees. One will receive a master's degree in May 2014.

When the paralegal isn't working, she enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, sports, and spending time with family and friends. Ms. Christensen roots for the Utah Jazz, Real Salt Lake, all teams at BYU, and the Denver Broncos. She also enjoys historical fiction and autobiographies/biographies about interesting people. Ms. Christensen is a frequent visitor of Bountiful's Mandarin.

Ms. Christensen's Successful Career

Does Ms. Christensen have a most memorable educational experience? "Actually, studying for and taking the NALA exam was probably the most memorable, and I learned more from it that I can ever remember learning from any college class. It was a lot of work and very rewarding to pass it."

Why did she decide to become a paralegal?Ms. Christensen explained:

"It kind of fell into my lap. I came home from spending a year-and-a-half abroad and one of my ex-employer's wives had just graduated from law school and held a job as a legal secretary open for me. I was a secretary for several years, then worked as an office manager in a law firm, and have been a paralegal since 1999. I count that experience as one of my life-changing events. I would never have picked the law, but am glad that's where I ended up."

Does Ms. Christensen have prior experience in different areas before she transitioned into law? "I had part-time jobs in college and high school assisting teachers in correcting and reading papers. I also worked as a clerk in a sporting goods store and then as a secretary for a realtor. It was the realtor's wife who held the job open for me."

It is noted that she has served the Utah Paralegal Association for many years in the capacity of Job Bank Coordinator. What motivated Ms. Christensen to work as a Bank Coordinator? "I like being involved. It is a position where I can help out in a small way."

What advice would she give to someone who's brand-new to her position? "Do your best to know the law. Make sure you ask questions if you aren't sure about something. Don't be afraid of making a mistake - learn from them."

What information does Ms. Christensen wish she had when she was starting out? "Better defined roles as a paralegal - what attorneys expect. Our office is much better organized at training and helping paralegals know what is expected of them now than they were 15 years ago."

What does she think are the keys to becoming a successful paralegal? "Being willing to work hard and be open to learning from various experiences. I think it's important to not think you are above any job - because you can learn a lot from doing things that you may think are beneath you."

What does Ms. Christensen think makes the difference between a good paralegal and a great paralegal? "Caring what happens with the cases and to clients. A paralegal's name does not go on the final product, but we should care just as much as the attorney about the work we are putting out and the outcome for our clients."

What's one of the things that she found most challenging about her job?"I dislike billing, it's so easy to get distracted and forget to bill for the little things you did all day. I also find it hard to interview witnesses or other involved persons in a case."

What would Ms. Christensen say is the most important thing she has learned as a paralegal? "Working through to the end - not reducing the quality of something because you are tired of the 'project.'"

What is the difference between her and all the other paralegals doing the same thing that she does? "Probably not a lot. We all work hard."

What is the best part of Ms. Christensen's job? She asserted:

"I love feeling like I am making a difference in people's lives. We recently received an email from a client who said, 'thanks for believing in us - you give us hope.' I also love being part of a team that puts out good work product. I like helping people find their way through the maze of legal/government/business regulations and rules. Life can be pretty intimidating at times and I enjoy making it slightly easier for people."

What's the favorite part of her day as a paralegal? "Working with clients (some of them) and co-workers."
What is Ms. Christensen known for professionally? "Document management and control. I think I'm good at identifying critical information and putting it in a format that makes it quickly understandable for attorneys to use. I am proactive and follow through on what needs to be done. I am also fairly easy to work with."

What would she change about her field in Utah today? "I think certification would help every paralegal in the field, so I am supportive of requiring licensed paralegals."

What top attribute does Ms. Christensen appreciate about her employer? "They care about staff. My son says Christensen & Jensen are like a socialist government - they take care of their employees."

If she were not in this profession, what would she most probably be doing? "Teaching math in high school."

Where does Ms. Christensen see herself in five years time? "Retired and traveling - probably more like 10 years though!"

What motivates her to be a paralegal every day? "People, fairness, and doing a good job."

Ms. Christensen's Mentors and Mentoring Others, Volunteer Activities, Admiring Organizations and What's Impossible for Her to Give Up?

Does Ms. Christensen have a mentor? Is she somebody's mentor? "The attorneys I work for have been my mentors more than anything. I try to help new paralegals in our office as they become more familiar with the environment."

Is she involved with any volunteer activities? "Yes, I am the job bank coordinator for the Utah Paralegal Association (I disseminate information about available jobs.) I also volunteer to assist in programs helping with Wills and Trusts for seniors, firefighters and police officers."

Are there any organizations that Ms. Christensen admires? "The Road Home helps people to help themselves. Community Co-op provides inexpensive fresh produce and other foods from local farmers."

What is impossible for her to give up? "My family, sports, and religious beliefs (not necessarily in that order)."

Winning Awards, Receiving Complements and Ms. Christensen's Goal

On May 16, 2013, the Utah Paralegal Association presented Ms. Christensen with the 2013 Distinguished Paralegal Of The Year Award. How does she feel about this award? "Obviously, it was a great honor and I feel privileged to be grouped with some of the others who have received this award. I feel humbled because I know there are numerous paralegals who work just as hard as I do every day." Ms. Christensen also noted that she was awarded a medallion for donating a kidney to her uncle in 2006.

Danielle Davis, who was Past Chair of the Utah Paralegal Division, described Ms. Christensen as:

"A woman of great courage and integrity. Her work ethic exemplary. She is intelligent, dedicated and determined. Her work product is first-rate. She has a genuine ability to connect with people. She was wonderful communication skills and real empathy for our clients who are in difficult circumstances. We can ask Paula to handle the trickiest of communications under the most difficult of circumstances and she will know just what to do."

How does it feel to be recognized by her work? "My work is important to me and I feel like I work hard, so it is rewarding to have others recognize that. At the same time, as I said before, it is humbling because I make mistakes like everyone else."

Ms. Christensen has accomplished a lot in her career. What's next for her? "Retirement."