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Catching up with Cathy Ribble

published October 07, 2013

By Follow Me on
Published By
( 7 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Personal Life

Catching up with Cathy Ribble
Cathy Ribble owns and runs Digital Paralegal Services, LLC, which is based in Guthrie, OK. In 2010, we featured her on LawCrossing as our legal staff member of the week. We are glad we had a chance to catch up with Cathy and talk to her about her practice. She is an Advanced Certified Paralegal who specializes in civil litigation. Cathy's virtual paralegal practice has centered on Texas cases, but she also frequently has the opportunity to work with attorneys from other states.

Prior to establishing her company, Cathy began working in a law office as a receptionist-bookkeeper right out of high school. The senior partner at that firm was an early believer in the tremendous value of a "well-groomed" paralegal. The attorney and his paralegal became Cathy's first mentors as she took on legal secretary tasks. She claimed:
"They nurtured my skills and my passion long after a relocation took me to a larger firm. While I attended some seminars, those opportunities were not frequent. Passing the paralegal certification exam offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants became my goal. I literally began reading every piece of paper that came across my desk. I created my own focused study plan, and I began asking attorneys and paralegals 'why' things were done a certain way. After many hours of self study, I finally reached that goal in 1984."
Cathy was born and raised in Graham, TX, a small town ninety miles northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. She is blessed to have been married to her high school sweetheart and best friend for thirty-seven years. Cathy said, "While our family started with 3 children, I just recently welcomed my 4th grandchild. Having my own paralegal business allows me some scheduling flexibility to keep my family first, while building special relationships with my children and grandchildren."

When she isn't working, Cathy loves spending time with her family. They enjoy Oklahoma Sooner football, and they are proud to call themselves fans of the OKC Thunder NBA basketball team! Cathy likes to read books, particularly on her Nook and she utilizes the apps on her tablet or iPhone. She enjoys reading inspirational true-life stories of victory as well as romance novels for stress relief. "I am about to tackle some business planning material, starting with Tina Marie Hilton's No Bullshit Guide to Virtual Assistants for Businesses." Cathy also loves eating a variety of Mexican food.

Cathy's Successful Business and Tips for Paralegals

Does Cathy have a most memorable educational experience? "My most memorable educational experiences have been the situations which placed me in the teacher/leader role. The teacher/leader is often the one who has the most to learn."

Why and when did she decide to become a paralegal? Cathy stated:
"I decided to become a paralegal while working at my first real job as a receptionist-bookkeeper for a small town 4-attorney law firm. One of my responsibilities was maintaining the law library. While updating the law books the old-fashioned way with pocket parts, I traced a paralegal's steps in completing her assignments and even anticipating the attorney's next move. Somehow I began to grasp the vision that in time I could follow in her footsteps."
Did Cathy transition into law? Does she have prior experience in different areas? "No, virtually all of my career has been in law. I did take a hiatus from paralegal work to stay home with my family for a season, and I also served a short time as a church secretary. I think both of those were at times more stressful than working in law. Ultimately, my initial passion for the law won out, and it looks like this is where I'll stay!"

What is the number one reason why people get a divorce? "I have not worked in family law very much over the years, but I sometimes I wonder if the number one reason people divorce is because they lose hope for lasting change and compromise which will allow their needs to be met."

The businesswoman discussed the best part about her job. "I have always hated going to work on Mondays after a busy family weekend. Now, I have the freedom to slow down when I need to, and sometimes just because I want to."

Cathy also discussed why she appreciates working for herself. "Working for myself is the only place I have found which truly puts ME in charge of my destiny. I have the power and authority to change that which I find unacceptable. Yes, it comes with a boatload of responsibility, but the rewards are so worth it!"

What is the paralegal known for professionally? "I hope that I have established a reputation for excellence, attention to detail and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. I receive frequent requests for reprints of my blog material. I will be dedicating more time to blog writing in the coming months."

When asked what she thinks about the paralegal field in Oklahoma, Cathy replied:
"The paralegal profession continues to grow and develop by leaps and bounds as technology grows. While a paralegal was once limited to working in the geographical area in which she lives, the paralegal can develop very specialized skills to offer throughout the nation. Virtual paralegal practice is here to stay. Virtual law practice is here to stay. Those who are slow at adapting to change may find themselves left behind if they do not become more accepting of changing practices."
Since Cathy owns and runs Digital Paralegal Services, many readers may be wondering what advice she has for new legal staff members. "Dream big, but take one baby step at a time. Find a local mentor, someone you can meet face to face, but if you want to stay abreast of growing trends in the paralegal profession, become social media savvy and find a virtual mentor."

What advice would the businesswoman give to students who are thinking about becoming a legal staff member? Cathy noted:
"For various reasons, a college degree is not always a realistic possibility for a paralegal-want-to-be. There are many paths which lead to becoming a recognized and accepted professional paralegal. Don't let the cost of a high dollar program stop you from achieving your career dream. Outline a plan which YOU can see yourself being able to achieve, and then find a paralegal mentor who made it into the profession by a similar path."
Where does Cathy see herself in five years? "As Digital Paralegal Services continues to grow its network of e-paralegals, I believe that my professional time will probably become more devoted to managing the business side of the paralegal network."

If she weren't a legal staff member, what would Cathy be doing? "I think my attention to detail could be utilized in the field of accounting."

Volunteer Activities, Cathy's Mentors and Mentoring Others

Is she involved with any volunteer activities? "My current family and business obligations do not permit me to schedule many volunteer activities. I have personal interest in the March of Dimes, as well as several other health related charities."

Does Cathy have a mentor? Is she a mentor? Cathy acknowledged:
"Quite often I find myself with several mentors, different mentors for different areas of life. I have found such relationships to be a source of great encouragement when life or work gets me down. I believe my most important mentoring relationships are with my children. As opportunities present themselves and time permits, I like to pay it forward by mentoring other paralegals who dream of a paralegal career outside the box."
A Rewarding Position and Cathy's Goals

Why does Cathy find her position rewarding? "My work as a virtual paralegal is rewarding because it helps me achieve a flexible work-life balance."

Is there a downside to her position? "Working with new technology can be fun, but it means constantly learning new tools and tricks. Sometimes I wish I was an IT Specialist!"

Does Cathy have goals? "Personally, I need to re-establish some healthy eating and exercise habits. Self-discipline in these areas has to become a priority in the days ahead. Professionally, I will be tackling the huge job of a new design and content for the Digital Paralegal and e-Paralegals websites. Personally and professionally, I need to remember my own advice: baby steps."
*** Cathy is not an attorney and can't give legal advice. ***

published October 07, 2013

By Follow Me on
( 7 votes, average: 4.4 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.