Julia’s Legal Services

Personal Life

Julia Covey owns and manages Julia's Legal Services, which is based in Chicago, IL. She is a legal document preparer and public notary who specializes in bankruptcy, family law, civil litigation, and business development. Most of Julia's experience is in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and family law. In addition, she provides any type of legal services for attorneys. Julia's Legal Services also provides mobile notary services for individuals who reside in Cook County, IL. She has fourteen years experience as a legal document preparer, and two of those years have been devoted to successfully running her business.

Prior to starting her company, Julia served as a paralegal for the Arizona Division of a Child Support Enforcement, where she primarily handled interstate cases. She provided family law services to a non-profit agency and worked for a marketing company, which served a few law offices that specialized in debt settlement issues and bankruptcy. Julia also served as a paralegal for an attorney where she settled client legal accounts and/or prepared their Chapter 7 Bankruptcy filings. She went on to become Vice President of Operations and was still able to assist individuals that needed help with preparing legal documents on the side.

Julia was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She attended Kaplan University's subsidiary Long Technical College, where she earned her Associates of Arts degree in Paralegal Studies.

When Julia isn't working, she enjoys traveling, reading, spending time outdoors, and shopping. Julia plans on visiting Europe (Ireland, England, and France first). Her favorite book is Jan-Philipp Sendker's The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. Julia is an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. She is a frequent visitor of Nano Sushi, a Japanese restaurant located in Chicago, IL.

Julia's Successful Business and Tips for Paralegals

Does Julia have a most memorable educational experience? She recalled that Secretary of State of Illinois Jesse Clark White's ex-wife, Silvia White, was her eighth grade teacher. Julia said, "Mrs. White was a diva and a very intelligent woman who was personable. She was one of my best teachers."

Why did Julia decide to become a legal document preparer? She explained that she wanted to be an attorney for children's rights. Unfortunately that plan did not work out. One day Julia researched a Pharmaceutical Technician program and when she spoke with the Advisor about her goals, the advisor suggested the Paralegal program instead. Julia also stated that she was influenced in getting in the legal field by a law course she took while in high school, which entailed a mock trial through the Cook County Courts.

The businesswoman discussed the best part about her job. "Meeting new people and knowing I can help them. I enjoy seeing the sign of relief on their face. Filing documents and going to court can be intimidating. I enjoy when my clients thank me. That's the best part of my job."

Julia also discussed why she appreciates working for herself. "I enjoy working my own hours. I don't have to follow somebody's rules and guidelines. I like being my own boss."

What is the legal document preparer known for professionally? "I am known to be very knowledgeable and I go above and beyond for my clients."

Julia gave her opinion about the current assessment of the legal market in Cook County. "I think Cook County Courts can be more advanced than they are [currently]." Julia claimed that other counties in Arizona and California provide individuals with more user friendly online sites. She pointed out that Cook County isn't as user friendly.

She was asked about the paralegal field in Chicago. "It's a hard field to be in."

What would Julia change about the paralegal field? "There needs to be more networking going on between attorneys, legal staff members, and the courts. There needs to be more communication and I am all about networking."

Since Julia has fourteen years experience as a legal document preparer, many readers may be wondering what advice she has for new legal staff members. She advised, "Learn as much as you can. Sit back and observe. You can learn from attorneys even though they are not always the most friendly people, they are extremely knowledgeable."

What advice would the businesswoman give to students who are thinking about becoming a paralegal? She asserted:

"I would tell students to make sure that this is really what they want to do. Don't think becoming a paralegal is the easy way to get into the law. Make sure that wherever you live there is an available position making what you are expecting. You just want to make sure this is what you want to do because your classes are expensive. You also want to make sure your school is approved by the American Bar Association."

Where does Julia see herself in five years? "I hope I will be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). I also plan to expand my services by networking."

If Julia wasn't a legal document preparer, what would she be doing? "I would be a registered nurse."

Why is Julia motivated every day to do her job? "My family."

Is there a downside to her position? "It's really hard to see people stressful when I can't help them."

Being a Mentor, Volunteer Activities and Julia's Goals

Is Julia a mentor? "Some of my clients have told me that I encouraged them to go into the legal field. I also encourage girls who live in a group home. I tell them that they can create their own destiny no matter what field they are entering, their past doesn't determine their future."

Does Julia have any volunteer activities? Julia volunteers at a private group home and provides her legal services for a women's domestic violence shelter.

Does the Chicagoan have goals? She said she wants to travel to Europe and she wants to become a CASA. Julia started to laugh and added another goal: "I might want to have another child."

What to Expect When Working with Julia

A.F.L.A.N. Nationwide organization acknowledged:

"Julia recently assisted us with document preparation for a couple clients. She did everything she said she would do and more. She contacted our clients on time, and was thorough in the process of gathering all the information to necessary to complete the projects. Everything was completed with quality and in a timely fashion. We appreciate her work."

JB in San Francisco stated:

"If you're like me and don't have the time or resources to hire an attorney, than Julia is the person you need. She was fast, knowledgeable and affordable in helping me with my lawsuit. She did for me in one day what I could not do for myself in 3 weeks. She emailed me the proper forms so that I could represent myself to the court in a professional manner. She even helped me fill them out via email since I live 600 miles away."

CE in Chicago, IL, admitted:

"I just recently asked Julia for some assistance with expunging my criminal record and unfortunately due to the time frame since my last conviction she was unable to assist me but she gave me all of the information I needed and was even able to point in the right direction for another legal issue I have. Thank you again."

KR in Phoenix, AZ, said:

"Julia was able to assist me in gaining the custody of my son. I was going through an extremely hard time with his mother to gain visitation etc., but with the assistance of Julia that is all over now and we are able to start all over again. Thank you for your continued support and professional assistance. We will always be thankful."

http://www.youtube.com/user/juliaslegalservices

*** Julia Covey is not an attorney and can't give legal advice. ***