Careers in the Public Sector: Benefits of Working as Legal Staff for Uncle Sam Although most paralegals and legal assistants work for private law firms, opportunities abound in other areas of the legal field, including government. District attorneys' and local prosecutors' offices, courts, and government organizations offer rewarding careers to diligent legal professionals. (1653 views)
Corporate Lawyer Michael J. Mais Provides Insight on Being a Municipal Attorney | LawCrossing On any given day, Long Beach (CA) Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais might find himself advising the Airport Advisory Commission on open meetings law, explaining an intricate zoning regulation to city council members, or interviewing applicants for a summer internship position. (69 views)
Kristen Comer + Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Legal Action Project: Profile of an Influential Legal Assistant Kristen Comer has been with the Brady Center since October. LawCrossing speaks with the legal assistant about her first legal job and her plans to become an attorney. (215 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)
The Successful Career of Vicki Ellen Behringer | LawCrossing Witnessing history and documenting it—fast Vicki Ellen Behringer has worked on many of the biggest trials of the last decade: from the Unabomber to Michael Jackson to Enron. LawCrossing speaks with the sketch artist about her role as a documentarian of courtroom history. (629 views)
How Paralegals Can Recover Unpaid Fees for Professional Legal Services Attorneys are not the only legal professionals who should keep accurate time sheets: in most jurisdictions, courts have allowed firms to recover for reasonable use of a paralegal or legal assistant's time as well. (3295 views)
Lois Boyd: Founding Member of Fenwick West and LAMA, Past President of LAMA Thinking of becoming a Chief Administrative Officer at a law firm? Ever wondered how one becomes a CAO? LawCrossing speaks with Lois Boyd about her serendipitous career path from paralegal to top administrator at a high-tech, Silicon Valley firm. (497 views)
How to Break into the Freelance Paralegal Market: Tips for Going Solo For paralegals who strive to be their own bosses, freelance or independent paralegal work is a lucrative option. (3573 views)
Aurora Josephson: A Successful Lawyer's Experience and Profile Paralegal, accountant, janitor, staff artist, secretary: working as a paralegal for the small nonprofit company Lawyers For One America means Aurora Josephson wears many hats. LawCrossing talks with the artist and trained opera singer about her role at the nonprofit and her thoughts on attending law school. (110 views)
Find Intellectual Property Legal Staffing Opportunities with LawCrossing In the past decade, intellectual property (IP) has experienced one of the greatest booms in the legal field—and don't expect a slow-down anytime soon. This area continues to offer plenty of opportunities for legal staff. (157 views)
Reflections of nonprofit lawyer Melissa S. Norden on her Dog-Eat-Dog Professional World Melissa S. Norden's clients bark at her all day long. But she doesn't mind. In fact, she loves it. Norden is Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at the New York-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She was recently promoted to the position after four years as staff counsel. (493 views)
Nick De Dishman: Paralegal at Schroeder Law Offices and Director of Operations for Western Water Fight in Portland, OR While world attention focuses on various battles for oil, people have been fighting over water for decades, and fights for water rights are likely to increase as demand for the precious commodity increases. LawCrossing speaks to De Dishman, a paralegal who works on water rights and acts as Secretary and Director of Operations for the National Federation of Paralegal... (93 views)
Paralegals & Mergers and Acquisitions: How to Handle Complex Business Deals & Transactions The joining of two companies is a joyous event, and paralegals and legal assistants can be instrumental in aiding a smooth transition during mergers and acquisitions. (2165 views)
A Closer Look at the Benefits of Flexible Work Arrangements: Balancing Work and Life as a Part-Time Lawyer The struggle to balance career and family is not a new problem, but one that many employers have recently started to address. For lawyers, a group notorious for being unhappy with their jobs and finding little to no time for a family or personal life, the problem looms large. As such, these changes are no longer an administrative annoyance, but are being recognized as... (243 views)
Susan Ippoliti: Litigation Paralegal and NFPA VP & Director of Membership at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Network, network, network! LawCrossing talks with NFPA Vice President and Director of Membership Susan Ippoliti about the art of networking in the legal profession and the importance of finding a mentor. (53 views)
Understanding Paralegal Licensing Regulations in the US: Part II - The Cons Ask any paralegal what the most controversial and sensitive issues surrounding the profession are, and licensing and regulation will undoubtedly be at the top of the list. In this two-part series, LawCrossing takes a look at the ''pros'' and ''cons'' of paralegal licensure and regulation. (8675 views)
Essential Tips for Job Hunting from Elizabeth K. Peck: Networking and Writing a Winning Cover Letter Elizabeth K. Peck can't stress it enough: cover letters matter. As proof, Ms. Peck, Director of Career Services at Cornell Law School, recalled a first-year student who applied for a summer associate position at a large firm. He did his homework, researched the firm and crafted a memorable cover letter. In fact, although the firm didn't hire first-years, the recruiting... (441 views)
Meet the Executive Director of Contra Costa County Bar Association: Lisa Reep | LawCrossing Many bar associations are run by non-attorneys. LawCrossing speaks with Lisa Reep, executive director of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, about her unique legal career and how she carved a niche in the profession knowing she didn't want to be an attorney or a paralegal. (203 views)
Licensing Requirements for Paralegals: Pros & Cons (Part I) - An Overview Ask any paralegal what the most controversial and sensitive issues surrounding the profession are, and licensing and regulation will undoubtedly be at the top of the list. In this two-part series, LawCrossing takes a look at the ''pros'' and ''cons'' of paralegal licensure and regulation. (16610 views)
Become a NALA Member: Get to Know Deb Monke, President of CLAS & Member Benefits Do you have CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) after your name? How about a touch of CLAS? LawCrossing speaks with Deb Monke, the President of the National Association of Legal Assistants about how with online classes it is easier than ever to get certification. (101 views)
International Business Law Jobs Abroad: Global Opportunities for Legal Staff In the midst of globalization, many paralegals and legal assistants are finding challenging and rewarding positions in the field of international business law. American companies are increasingly interested in doing business abroad, and foreign corporations are also bringing their products and services here. (34 views)
Accepting a Job Offer in a Legal Firm: What to Know After You Say 'Yes' If you are like most people, you will be excited when a law firm or other legal employer extends you an offer for a job. Especially if it's your first offer, your only offer, or the offer you were hoping for the most, the inclination is to accept immediately. Even if you are not that excited about the opportunity, you might be inclined to accept on the spot because you are... (21 views)
Legal Investigators: Expertise and Ethics for a Better Private Investigation Process When attorneys need the facts, and nothing but the facts, they often don't go hunting for those facts alone: they hire legal investigators, choice experts who specialize in gathering information and interviewing witnesses in connection with pending or possible suits. (4075 views)
Enhance Paralegal Efficiency: Step-by-Step Guide to Streamline Business Filings with Corporate Research Tools In a complex and ever-changing corporate world, it is essential for paralegals to master corporate research tasks and tools. ''There are so many corporate research resources available,'' said Cheryl Tindle, in-house corporate paralegal at Skyworks, Inc. ''Paralegals must understand where to get these resources and how to apply them.'' (80 views)
5 Tips to Becoming a Successful Law Librarian Law librarians are well organized, research-savvy individuals who know the intricate ins and outs of their libraries like no one else. As masters of their massive shelves of books, they are the most resourceful individuals one can come across in the legal field. (2202 views)
E. Duane Smith: A Profile of the President of the National Court Reporters Association Ever considered becoming a court reporter? LawCrossing speaks with the president of the National Court Reporters' Association about the varied careers in stenography. (1209 views)
Legal Research for Non-Lawyers: How to Find and Understand the Law, 12th Edition Navigating through the United States legal system and translating legalese into layman's terms can be a daunting task. Fortunately, attorneys Stephen Elias and Susan Levinkind have a knack for explaining it all, and their book is especially useful whether you are trying to understand the offline world of the law library or the myriad legal resources available online. (494 views)
Paralegal Mary Theroux - Bingham McCutchen LLC President of Los Angeles Paralegal Association Profile Mary Theroux says the future looks good for niche paralegals. Like attorneys, paralegals are specializing in specific areas of law, and she thinks the trend will continue. LawCrossing speaks with the president of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association about her decision to specialize her practice in real estate and her advice for paralegals entering the profession. (168 views)
Paralegals & Legal Assistants: How Going to Law School Can Help Advance Your Career Whether law school is a lifelong dream, seems like the next logical step, or is recommended by an employer, paralegals and legal assistants are increasingly taking to pounding the casebooks. (2405 views)
How to Handle a Poor Performance Review: Proven Strategies (Part 2) Part I of this piece examined the growth of performance reviews at law firms and detailed the rationale behind them. In Part II, LawCrossing gives advice on how to handle the review process. (916 views)