Jamie Collins: One Litigation Paralegal, Writer & Blogger Extraordinaire Professional Overview Jamie L. Collins assumes her role each day as a litigation paralegal for the small, reputable, personal injury firm of Yosha Cook Shartzer & Tisch in Indianapolis, Indiana; a firm founded by trial legend, Louis “Buddy” Yosha. Working alongside several high-profile trial lawyers early on in her career, Ms. Collins honed her legal skills,... (694 views)
What is the Difference between a Traditional Paralegal and a Virtual Paralegal? We asked Barbara L. Liss what the difference is between a traditional paralegal and a virtual paralegal? We hope you enjoy her response. Share your own thoughts in the comments below the article. (786 views)
What is an Average Day Like for a Paralegal? We asked two paralegals in the U.S. what an average day is like for a paralegal? They both descried what they routinely accomplished at the law firms they work for. Their insight should give people in the legal industry an idea of how valuable a paralegal is. We hope you enjoy their responses. (2294 views)
Paralegals: What’s The Toughest Question You Answered During a Job Interview? We asked paralegal Kimberli A. Taylor who is employed by Los Angeles’ Conover & Grebe, LLP, what’s the toughest question she answered during a job interview. We hope you enjoy her response. (334 views)
Well-known New York Paralegal Ana Pierro Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Ana Pierro serves as an expert in regulatory change management for a large financial company in New York City. She is responsible for regulatory change development and management of systems and programs to advise the business on procedures and policies. Ms. Pierro works with line of business to update and develop procedures and policies concerning... (395 views)
Paralegals: Would You Rather Work in a Small or Large Law Firm? Why? We asked two paralegals if they would rather work in a small or large law firm. They both had different opinions. We hope you enjoy their responses. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below the article. (1885 views)
Can Paralegals Represent Their Clients in the Courtroom? We asked eleven attorneys from across the nation if paralegals can represent their clients in the courtroom. All of the attorneys said a legal staff member cannot represent their clients in the courtroom. In some countries they have made recent strides in allowing paralegals to represent clients in court, however, they are not currently permitted to represent their clients... (10092 views)
Senior Litigation Paralegal Beth King Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Beth L. King, RP, serves as a senior litigation paralegal at Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of Vestas Wind Systems A/S, which leads the world in delivering modern energy. She has more than thirty years experience in litigation and trials. (413 views)
What Questions Should a Paralegal Ask before Being Hired at a Law Firm? We asked attorneys and paralegals throughout the country what questions a paralegal should ask before being hired at a law firm. They provided straightforward and useful advice that a potential paralegal should ask their employers. We hope you enjoy their responses. (4078 views)
What Can a Paralegal Do to Increase Their Chances of Being Hired at a Law Firm? We asked four attorneys what a paralegal could do to increase their chances of being hired at a law firm. Each attorney shared their opinion on what a paralegal could do to increase their chances of being hired at a law firm. What would be your answer? Feel free to share it in the comments below the article. (438 views)
Well-known Paralegal Tina Keller Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career with Sacramento County District Attorney's Office Professional Overview Tina M. Keller, ACP, serves as a litigation paralegal for Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office Consumer and Environmental Protection Division (CEPD). She joined the office in 2004. (212 views)
Are More Paralegals Being Hired Than Attorneys at Law Firms? We asked attorneys in the U.S. if more paralegals are being hired than attorneys at law firms. Two attorneys said no while another attorney said yes. We hope you enjoy their responses as much as we did. (80 views)
Senior Corporate Paralegal Brian Haberly Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Brian Haberly, RP®, serves as a senior corporate paralegal for Infoblox Inc. in Santa Clara, CA. He is responsible for preparing Board and Committee minutes for the publicly traded parent company, maintains the various subsidiaries of the company, and prepares Section 16 filings (Forms 3, 4, & 5). Mr. Haberly also manages the Proxy Process and the... (272 views)
Chere Estrin, CEO of Paralegal Knowledge Institute, has the “Midas Touch” in the Legal Field Professional Overview Chere B. Estrin is president and co-founding member of the Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP), CEO and Founder of Paralegal Knowledge Institute and Editor-in-Chief of KNOW, the Magazine for Paralegals. She is also a co-founding member of the International Paralegal Management Association and is a member of Women in e-discovery. Ms. Estrin... (518 views)
Well-known Pennsylvania Paralegal Robert S. Hrouda Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Robert S. Hrouda, RP, serves as a litigation paralegal for Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller in Philadelphia, PA. Since joining the firm in 2006, he has worked in several areas of litigation including antitrust, legal malpractice, insurance defense and many complex litigation cases. Mr. Hrouda also handles a lot of e-discovery and trial... (201 views)
Well-known Tennessee Paralegal Andrea Schultz Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Andrea Schultz, CP, serves as a paralegal at Rice, Amundsen, & Caperton, PLLC, in Tennessee. She joined RAC in 2006 as a paralegal intern and she currently specializes in family law. (53 views)
Well-known Pennsylvania Paralegal Rebecca J. Buttorff Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Rebecca J. Buttorff, RP, Pa.C.P., serves as a senior civil litigation paralegal for Lepley, Engelman & Yaw, LLC, in Williamsport, PA. Since graduating from college, she has worked for attorney Douglas N. Engelman, Esq. at the firm, where she specializes in civil litigation and personal injury law. (109 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)
How Hard is it for a Paralegal to Land a Job at a Good Law Firm? We asked attorneys and legal staff members throughout the country how hard it is for a paralegal to land a job at a good law firm. Several individuals weighed in on our question and provided excellent advice. We hope you enjoy their responses as much as we did. (3285 views)
The New Jersey Licensing Experience New Jersey’s recent consideration of licensing requirements for paralegals illustrates the arguments made on both sides of this issue. Paralegals, attorneys, and court systems around the country watched the developments in New Jersey closely because it was the most wide-ranging licensing plan yet proposed by any state. In addition to licensure, the proposal included... (17 views)
Getting a Paralegal Job Getting a paralegal job typically requires advance planning. Begin now, in your first semester, by taking steps so that when you graduate you are prepared to actively seek employment. (23 views)
Paralegals and Unauthorized Practice of Law Paralegals are prohibited from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, and, if they do so, can be fined or even imprisoned. The purpose of this prohibition is presumably to protect consumers from being advised by unqualified individuals. The courts are also concerned about lay people engaging in legal practices when they are not governed by the same ethical... (8207 views)
Paralegal Associations and How They Function The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) is an association that has been active in the political and educational arenas regarding the promotion of paralegalism. Individuals can join NALA or one of the state and local paralegal organizations affiliated with it. NALA has an entry-level certification exam, known as the CLA or Certified Legal Assistant exam, for... (1376 views)
Frivolous Lawsuits — Rule 11 Although lawyers should consider all possible claims when preparing a complaint, they are forbidden from bringing "frivolous" or unmeritorious claims. Such claims can arise if an attorney fails to confirm information supplied by a client and prepares a complaint based on erroneous information. An attorney that assists a party in bringing a lawsuit simply to generate fees... (700 views)
Well-known Paralegal Barbara Haubrich-Hass Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Barbara Haubrich-Hass, ACP/CAS, serves as an administrative legal assistant with the law firm of Chain | Cohn | Stiles in Bakersfield, CA. In 1980, she began her legal career working for civil defense firms in Bakersfield. Since 1995, Mrs. Hass has worked for David K. Cohn, who is the managing senior partner at Chain | Cohn | Stiles. She is Mr.... (388 views)
Catching Up With Mianne L. Besser, A Well-known Paralegal in Denver Professional Overview Mianne L. Besser serves as a senior paralegal with Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti, PC, in Denver, CO. We previously profiled Ms. Besser and wanted to catch up with her two years later to see where her career has taken her. She works with the firm’s litigation group as they represent real estate and business clients in litigation,... (217 views)
Well-known Paralegal Nancy L. Jordahl Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Nancy L. Jordahl ACP, FRP, FCP, serves as a paralegal at Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, PA, in Orlando, FL. The firm specializes in commercial litigation and the defense of civil lawsuits. Ms. Jordahl has assisted primarily regarding breach of warranty/lemon law cases against automobile manufacturers, products liability cases, and insurance defense... (176 views)
What is the Most Important Thing You Have Learned about Leadership? We asked paralegals and other professionals in the United States what the most important thing they have learned about leadership is. Although their answers varied, they all explained what they have learned from leadership and what qualities define leadership. We hope you enjoy their answers. (569 views)
Drafting a Complaint or a Civil Lawsuit A civil lawsuit begins when the plaintiff files a complaint with an appropriate court. A complaint is a formal, written statement in which the plaintiff describes, in summary fashion, what the dispute is about, and what the plaintiff wants the court do. The plaintiff spells out her version of what happened to cause the dispute statements called allegations, which are... (3602 views)
Certification and Licensure for Paralegals Certification is a voluntary process undertaken by two national organizations (NALA and NFPA) and four state organizations to recognize those individuals who have met specified qualifications set forth by those organizations. NALA has established the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam, which can be taken by anyone regardless of whether they have paralegal experience.... (944 views)