Best Alternative Careers for Paralegals: What Other Jobs Can Paralegals Do in 2024? Summary: This article details the various careers outside of the legal profession that are within the reach of a paralegal. (39055 views)
Difference Between a Paralegal and Lawyer Embarking on a journey in the legal industry holds the promise of immense gratification, but the quest to discover the most fitting role or specialization within this complex profession is not always immediate. For those contemplating whether to tread the path of a paralegal or aspire to become a lawyer, discerning the distinctions between these two professions is crucial.... (32 views)
The Role and Importance of Paralegals in Law Firms Paralegals hold a vital position within law firms and are indispensable to the smooth functioning of legal practices. Their contributions are invaluable, as they provide essential support and expertise to attorneys. Recognizing the importance of paralegals allows us to appreciate their role in enhancing the overall efficiency and success of law firms. (127 views)
Types of Available Legal Jobs There are a number of different legal jobs for interested parties to look into, as this field is about much more than lawyers and attorneys. In fact, many of these jobs are perfect for those who would eventually like to have one of these high paying law careers, but have not yet finished their schooling. These jobs are also a good fit for anyone who is looking for a highly... (452 views)
Choosing Among Today's Law Careers Are you interested in a law career, including attorney employment? If so, then you have numerous options. As long as laws exist in a country, there will be numerous options for those seeking employment in the law field. The key is to know what to look for, where to look for it, and how to look for it. (18 views)
Preparing for Success: Common Legal Staff Interview Questions and Sample Answers Legal staff interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, you can ace your next interview and land your dream job. In this article, we'll cover some common legal staff interview questions and provide sample answers to help you prepare for success. (102 views)
How to Achieve Your Goals as an Attorney: No-Nonsense Advice From Deborah Schneider Too often, people commit to law school without the foggiest notion of what it means to be an attorney, said Deborah Schneider, co-author of Should You Really Be a Lawyer?(Decision Books, 2004) (74 views)
Tips from Top Process Servers to Ensure You're Being Properly Served From the time he served his first document in the 1950s, Alan Crowe made it a point to be polite: he would dress nicely, knock on doors, never take a foot across a threshold, and always give his name. Now administrator of the National Association of Private Process Servers and owner of his own company, Crowe still believes that servers should remain professional. ''Act... (1332 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)
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)
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. (490 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. (372 views)
Legal Writing Skills: The Key to Getting Recruited in Top Law Firms Michael Charlson understands the challenge of finding a law firm that's a good fit. He recalls his own job search as a 1985 graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. (82 views)
How Elder Law Paralegals Contribute to the Industry's Success - A Comprehensive Guide According to the U.S. Census Bureau's World Population Profile, the elderly population (categorized as age 65 and older) will more than double between 1998 and 2025. To accommodate the legal needs of this ever-increasing group, a fairly new field has developed. Elder law offers legal staff opportunities that are sure to continue growing along with the elderly population. (2149 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. (377 views)
Nicole Kreidler Paralegal: A Profile of the Gerlach Beaumier Law Firm in Duluth, MN Ever since a high school class in civil and criminal law, Nicole Kreidler wanted to enter the legal profession. LawCrossing speaks with the general practice paralegal about the advantages of a small firm and her volunteering spirit. (131 views)
How Pro Paralegal Alicia Ashley Achieved World Champion Status Through Dedication Alicia ''Slick'' Ashley is a world-champion paralegal. By day, she works on corporate litigation cases at Sullivan & Cromwell in Manhattan. Last month, she knocked out Elena ''Baby Doll'' Reid in front of more than 1,000 people at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, NV. LawCrossing talks with the pugilist paralegal about juggling her two careers. (92 views)
Nidia Moscotte, Professional Litigation Paralegal at Baum Hedlund Law in Los Angeles As a litigation paralegal for plaintiffs' firm Baum Hedlund, Nidia Moscotte often meets her clients at their worst. Most have either been injured or lost a loved one in an accident. It's the extreme emotion of the job that Moscotte loves. When people come to you in pain after losing a loved one, she said, they become more than a client. They become part of your life. (99 views)
Family Law Legal Staff: What to Know About Working in a Personal Field Clients often seek the help of a firm during a time of emotional upheaval, and that is most apparent in the field of family law. Encompassing divorce and custody issues, paternity and support actions, adoption law, and pre-marital and marital legal issues, family law offers legal staff a uniquely personal way to help and interact with clients. (97 views)
Increase Your Earning Potential as a Legal Staff with a Job in Collections Law Most paralegal courses teach extensive research, interviewing, and investigative methods. One area where paralegals and legal assistants put those skills to good use is that of collections and creditor law. (49 views)
Natural Resources Jobs for Legal Professionals: How To Find Opportunities Embracing several legal areas, the law behind oil, gas, and natural resources offers a challenging and multifaceted field for paralegals and legal assistants. Natural resources law encompasses oil, gas, and energy litigation; water discharge; and water rights. It also covers business transactions, labor and employment issues, various government regulations, and tax law.... (49 views)
Mary Jo Denman: Legal Assistant at Smith, Bassett, Purcell & Koenig & 2004-2005 President-Elect of NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals Mary Jo Denman takes over the presidency of NALS this month. LawCrossing speaks with Ms. Denman about the organization and her career in the legal profession. (48 views)
Paralegal Peter Nater Celebrates Grammy Award Win - An Inspirational Profile We all like to trumpet our successes, but when Peter Nater came to work at the New York City Law Department on a recent Monday morning and told his colleagues he had won a Grammy over the weekend, many presumed he was delusional. (418 views)
Lucrative Legal Staff Opportunities in Real Estate Law: From Contract to Closing In states where real estate passes hands through the aid of an attorney, paralegals and legal assistants often play major roles in real estate transactions. ''The real estate paralegal is actually in most firms the one responsible for overseeing the file,'' said Dorothy Secol, CLA, Partner at Paralegal Services, LLP, and past co-chair of the Paralegal Committee of the New... (286 views)
Mary Burns, Executive Legal Assistant for the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club and NALS President: A Profile Hey sports fans, how about a legal career with a ball club? Most ball clubs—baseball, basketball, football—have in-house counsel these days. LawCrossing speaks with Mary Burns about the business of sports and sports law. (642 views)
Lee A Paige, CLA: Senior Legal Assistant at Morrison Foerster LLP in San Francisco, CA For many, becoming a paralegal is a second career. While other areas of the economy stagnate, the paralegal profession has been booming over the last few decades, attracting hordes of professionals looking for a second career. LawCrossing talks with star paralegal Lee A. Paige about the challenges of retraining yourself and the importance of getting an education—well... (633 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. (355 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)
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. (2142 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. (3287 views)