Online Paralegal Schools—the Future An Overview The paralegal profession is booming as many people are trying to venture into this profession. Even new courses are brought up for college students to make them aware of the paralegal profession. (382 views)
Paralegal Positions at Law Firms Law firms offer a variety of career options for nonlawyers as well as for practicing attorneys. These positions utilize the talents of graduates from trade schools, colleges, and business schools, as well as law schools. While these jobs may not offer the upward mobility and variety often found in large corporations, they satisfy the needs of many individuals interested in... (379 views)
Paralegal Jan Ezell Achieves Great Success at Alston Bird in Atlanta Who says big firms are staid? LawCrossing speaks with paralegal Jan Ezell about her ever-changing career at Alston & Bird in Atlanta and why the firm is considered one of the best places to work. (378 views)
Profile: Siobhan Smith; Corporate Paralegal; Steptoe & Johnson, LLP Corporate paralegal Siobhan Smith comes from a long line of legal professionals and says there was never any doubt that she would pursue a career in the law. LawCrossing speaks to Smith about her career and the secrets to her success; she was recently named one of the top paralegals in the nation by legal author Carole Bruno. (378 views)
First Male Legal Assistant Elected to Head National Legal Assistants Associatio In many firms, attorneys administer the work of legal assistants. Gary Melhuish would like to see more firms hire Legal Assistant Managers. LawCrossing speaks with Mr. Melhuish about the niche profession and his role as the new president of the Legal Assistant Management Association - the first man to head the organization. (375 views)
Elaine Mowcomber’s Affordable Document Preparation Services Elaine Mowcomber has been running her own successful paralegal practice, Affordable Document Preparation Services, since 1994. She was born and raised in Long Beach, California. The paralegal has four siblings and enjoys running, swimming, tennis, softball, and riding a bike. Although Elaine loves sports, she believes golf “is too boring.” She stated she really has a... (374 views)
How to Transition Your Legal Career From Administrative to Artistic: A Guide by Elena M. Paul Growing up in a family that valued the arts, Elena M. Paul envisioned herself working in some capacity within the world of arts and entertainment. Today she is executive director of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA), an organization in New York City that provides free legal services to low-income artists and nonprofit arts groups. (373 views)
Paralegal Nurses, a Unique Career Profile Paralegal nurses are those who practice law in the medical field. The nurse paralegal is expected to be familiar with healthcare law and equally proficient with legal research and other litigation procedures. (372 views)
Legal Job Alternatives for those who don't want to Practice This article discusses a few alternative legal careers apart from lawyer jobs. Law professionals who do not wish to practice law can opt for any other legal jobs. There are many legal careers that require basic knowledge about legal industry and documentation, etc. (369 views)
The Effective Paralegal Interview Most paralegal applicants have a good array of skills and wonderful personalities. The interview is just the place where some are more effective than others at getting their skills and their personalities across. (369 views)
1st Day Introductions At Your New Legal Job Today is your first day on the job and you’re prepared: You have your outfit picked out, you packed your lunch last night, and you’ve plotted out the best route on Waze. Suddenly you break out in a cold sweat as flashbacks of being the new kid in school all those years ago sets off memories of awkward introductions and curious eyes flashing in your direction. (369 views)
Paralegal Schools and Where to Find Them Although accredited degrees are not required to obtain a paralegal certificate, many professionals agree the extra credentials can help when beginning a job search. (368 views)
Some Types Of Professional Networking Groups In recent year’s specific groups, clubs, and associations have been formed for the express purpose of helping their members’ network with each other. Some of the groups have been formed to develop networks of business contacts. Others exist as self-help groups or support groups using networking techniques to accomplish their goals. Still others meet in a structured way... (366 views)
Detailed Paralegal Services, LLC Kathryn Dicken owns and manages Detailed Paralegal Services, LLC, in Tucson Arizona. She specializes in divorces, legal separation, custody, parenting time, paternity, child support, last wills, living wills, power of attorney, and parental power of attorney. As a certified legal document preparer, Kathryn’s goal is to “provide quality legal documents to the public at... (365 views)
The Suffolk University Paralegal Program At its Beacon Hill campus next to the government center in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, Suffolk University recently celebrated the centennial anniversary of its law school. For the last 20 of those 100 years, the school has offered a selection of paralegal programs within the department. (364 views)
Career or Transitory...Which Road is the Best? Ever wondered where a certain paralegal path will take you? Why not ask someone who has explored both options? Jeffrey Lais, who grew up north of Boston and in Nashville, Tennessee, gave us the inside scoop on how to decide which route to pursue. (364 views)
What Should a Paralegal Know before Being Hired? We asked two paralegals in the United States what a paralegal should know before being hired. Both paralegals have extensive experience and provided useful advice for paralegals and students thinking about entering their profession. We hope you enjoy their responses. (364 views)
Profile: Negar Ashtari When women call the Tahirih Justice Center for help, paralegal Negar Ahstari is generally their first point of contact. LawCrossing talks with Ms. Ashtari about her work at the center and the desperate women who call there for help. (361 views)
Paralegal Dana Fortier Discusses Her Virtual Legal Support for Small Law Firms and Solo Attorneys Professional Overview Dana Fortier owns and operates Your Branch Office in Novi, Michigan. She provides virtual legal support for small law firms and solo attorneys who need the benefits of having a large staff, but don't have a budget for that staff. Ms. Fortier specializes in document production, management, e-discovery, file management, mediation, arbitration, and... (361 views)
Paralegal and Legal Assistants help in cases of Personal Injury When Robert Hrouda left a large defense firm to join a smaller plaintiffs' firm, his former co-workers joked that he was crossing over to ''the dark side.'' But the move proved to be rewarding. The plaintiffs' personal injury paralegal says he greatly enjoys ''working for the individual, especially when you're able to do right by them and get them an award for damages... (359 views)
Pioneering Paralegal Shelley Widoff on Lower Standards for Paralegals | Founder of the Boston Paralegal Resource Center Fiercely independent and proud of the paralegal profession, Shelley Widoff is worried that it's too easy to become a paralegal these days and that the reputation of the profession is eroding as a result. (358 views)
Remember that Counselor is Another Word for Lawyer: Get to Know Melinda Sarafa As a white-collar crime litigator and a former public defender, Melinda Sarafa has represented clients ranging from low-income immigrants to a Miami nightclub owner suspected of organized crime activity. While the stakes in such cases might be vastly different, Sarafa, a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder in New York, says attorneys must never forget their ultimate roles as... (356 views)
How to Become a Notary Public: Steps and Requirements for Making it Official What do property transactions, estate planning devices, and affidavits have in common? The signing of these official documents is likely to require the presence of a notary public. (353 views)
Plan Your Career as a Freelance Paralegal There are certain important issues to consider when planning your career as a freelance paralegal. (351 views)
Woman executive is not shy when opportunities knock Patricia Woertz is a female and a chief executive officer, and very determined that people not view her as a female chief executive officer. (349 views)
The Art of Doing Effective Legal Research The ability to do effective legal research is like any other learned skill; it takes effort and hands-on practice to get good at it. Whether you do your research in the local law library, at an on-campus law school library, or inside your own firm, you need to have a plan before you begin. Without a clear idea of where to start, what to look for, where to look for it and... (347 views)
How to Become a Foreclosure Paralegal There are many ways that you can achieve the life that you would like to have. For many people, having the right type of life can be easy, as long as they know what they are doing, and as long as they are ready and willing to celebrate the choices that they have made. For you, you might decide that you would like to become a foreclosure paralegal, and there are several... (347 views)
How to Become a Certified Paralegal: A Step-by-Step Guide The field of law is exciting, demanding, and rewarding, but you don't have to be a lawyer to get in on the action. The paralegal profession offers challenges and opportunities, allows you to be an integral member of a legal team, and gives you the opportunity to choose from a variety of specialties, as well as being able to practice in different settings. Whether you are... (346 views)
Law Librarian and Actor: Mary Dryden At age three Mary Dryden began training as a ballet dancer. A ski accident 14 years later, however, forced her to look elsewhere for artistic expression. So Dryden instead invested her time in acting. (345 views)
Land Your Dream Job at a Top Law Firm: Tips & Advice for Finding Success Ever wanted to work as a paralegal or legal assistant for one of the top law firms in the country? Landing that dream job is not as tough as you may think. (345 views)