Bonus Pointers for Paralegals According to the Center for Legal Studies in Golden, Colorado, the paralegal profession was ranked as one of the top growth professions for 1999 and into the current millennium because of the rise of lawsuits and the increased complexity of the laws. Paralegal salaries vary greatly by location and specialty. Salary data is outdated as soon as it appears in print, but the... (892 views)
Educational Programs for Becoming a Paralegal Although no formal requirements exist to be a paralegal, most attorneys look for experience or participation in a formal education process. Most paralegals have received training in one of the more than 800 paralegal programs currently available. In the early 1970s, community colleges and proprietary schools around the country began offering paralegal programs. Today,... (181 views)
Well-known Paralegal Cheryl J. Nodarse Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Cheryl J. Nodarse serves as a paralegal for The Hubbard Law Firm, P.C., in Lansing, MI. Her current areas of specialization include litigation, environmental, municipal, and drain law. Ms. Nodarse began her legal career in West Palm Beach at Gunster , Yoakley, Criser & Stewart. While working for Gunster, Christine Murray, CP, served as an excellent... (222 views)
How Paralegals Are Utilized In 1998, the American Bar Association published the results of a comprehensive survey of its members engaged in private practice. The survey, which examined the utilization of legal assistants (the term used in this survey rather than paralegal), revealed the following: (119 views)
Introduction to Paralegalism as a Profession Networking Make as many contacts in the legal profession as you can as soon as you can, attend meetings of your local paralegal association (which usually have reduced student fees), join NALA-or NFPA-associated organizations, and subscribe to paralegal newsletters and publications (NALA publishes Facts and Findings and NFPA publishes the National Paralegal Reporter).... (498 views)
Well-known Paralegal Brynne Williamson Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Brynne Williamson PP, PLS, SC, serves as a probate paralegal at Helsell Fetterman LLP, in Seattle, WA. She specializes in taxation, estate, and trust administration issues. Ms. Williamson prepares probate and trust administration documents; prepares estate tax returns; document review; and assists attorneys with estate and trust administrations. (140 views)
Well-known Freelance Paralegal Penelope Long Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Penelope Long, ACP, has worked successfully and exclusively as a freelance paralegal in San Diego since 2006. She became an ABA-approved paralegal in 1992. Ms. Long passed a three-day examination to obtain her professional National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) certification (CP). She then obtained her advanced NALA certification (ACP)... (210 views)
Well-known Missouri Paralegal Lori Robinett Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Lori Robinett serves as a paralegal for the Office of the General Counsel at the University of Missouri. She joined the general counsel’s office in May 2008. Ms. Robinett began her legal career as a receptionist/overflow legal secretary in 1994. After she gained experience, she took a position as a legal secretary and began taking CLEs and... (38 views)
Different Types of Paralegals The American Bar Association (ABA) defines paralegals or legal assistants as persons “qualified by education, training or work experience who are employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity to perform specifically designated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.” (410 views)
Well-known Paralegal Paula Christensen Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Paula Christensen is a Certified Paralegal and has been a member of Christensen & Jensen in Salt Lake City, UT, for more than thirty-five years. She specializes in plaintiff’s personal injury, appellate work, and construction defect cases. Ms. Christensen is also involved in helping with some civil rights cases and other work trying to reign in... (249 views)
Honing Work Skills Can Help Legal Secretaries Succeed in a Tough Job Market The job of legal secretaries that involved only typing and answering phones has evolved with time to include several crucial activities that were once reserved for licensed lawyers and managerial staff. They can now select vendors, manage client relationships and draft legal documents like discovery requests and subpoenas. (111 views)
Nicole Barwick is a Recognized North Carolina Certified Paralegal Professional Overview Nicole Barwick serves as a paralegal for C. Gray Johnsey at North Carolina’s White & Allen, P.A. White & Allen is a full-service law firm with three offices in Snow Hill, Kinston, and New Bern. Ms. Barwick specializes in estate planning, estate administration, and corporate/tax law. She was recently featured in The Daily Reflectorfor becoming a... (147 views)
Well-known Paralegal Kristy Crocker Turner Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Kristy Crocker Turner serves as a legal assistant in the law office of Tekell & Atkins, LLP. She also serves as an instructor at McLennan Community College. Turner also works as an adjunct and she shares her knowledge of legal research and litigation with students in the paralegal program. Over the years, she has achieved several professional... (218 views)
Legal Staff Jobs - 5 Qualities You Must Possess to Be in Demand in This Field Legal staff jobs are widely varied in nature and require highly specialized skills and qualifications. Besides the core qualification, possessing the following fundamental qualities ensures that you are not only in demand in your specialized legal field, but also climb to the pinnacle of success quickly. (76 views)
Well-known Paralegal Diane L. Thompson Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Diane L. Thompson, CP, RP serves as a corporate and complex litigation paralegal with Markowitz, Herbold, Glade &Mehlhaf in Portland, OR. She has more than thirty years of legal experience. Ms. Thompson is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and the Oregon Paralegal Association (OPA). She has chaired and... (278 views)
Well Known Paralegal Christina L. Koch Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Christina L. Koch serves as a paralegal for Inserra & Kelley. She has more than twenty years of legal experience. Ms. Kochholds advanced paralegal certifications in trial practice, products liability, premises liability, automobile accidents, intentional torts, wrongful death, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice – individual, and medical... (148 views)
Well Known Paralegal Debra Hindin-King Reflects on a Long and Rewarding Career Professional Overview Debra Hindin-King serves as a paralegal for Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP. She has twenty-four years of experience as a paralegal in commercial litigation with an emphasis in contract, environmental law, as well as gas and oil. Prior to working at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, Ms. Hindin-King served as a paralegal for Holland & Hart, LLP, and Faegre... (193 views)
Well Known Divorce Strategist Nancy Kay Guides Clients Through Divorces Professional Overview Nancy Kay is a divorce strategist and coach who provides strategic guidance and support for men and women as they navigate through the rocky road of divorce and take back control of their lives. She established her company, Moving Forward Through Divorce, in 2011. Having gone through a complicated divorce, Nancy understands first-hand how valuable... (291 views)
Augusta Virtual Assistants, LLC Professional Overview Lisa Kolb is the co-owner of Augusta Virtual Assistants, LLC, which is based in Augusta, GA. Augusta Virtual Assistants are passionate about supporting attorneys and entrepreneurs by utilizing their resources and time more effectively. This allows the business owner to focus on what’s important while expanding their business. Augusta Virtual... (413 views)
Why Choose to Be a Paralegal? With the persistent decline in the legal market these last few years, many JD's have considered changing their plans to become law firm partners and have gone on to successful careers as paralegals. In fact, while the demand for lawyers has shrunk these recently, the demand for paralegals has only grown, with a sizeable increase in wage each year. (244 views)
Legal Document Services Personal Life Tamara Parker owns and runs Legal Document Services, which is based in Santa Cruz, CA. She is a legal document assistant who specializes in family law. Tamara is the only non-attorney in the County of Santa Cruz who provides legal assistance for those going through Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. She is a member of the California Association of Legal Document... (422 views)
Darlene’s Virtual Services Personal Life Darlene Minter owns and runs Darlene’s Virtual Services, which is based in Georgia. As a virtual paralegal, she provides paralegal services to lawyers throughout the United States with a focus on consumer bankruptcy (chapter 7 and 13). Darlene also specializes in wills and power of attorney, living will, administration of estates, corporations, LLC, and... (108 views)
GNG Document Preparation Services LLC Personal Life Nannette Guillermety owns and runs GNG Document Preparation Services, LLC, which is based in Ocala, FL. She is a legal document preparer who specializes in medical power of attorney, durable power of attorney, Florida living wills, codicils, Florida wills, evictions, small claims, corporations, name changes, step-parent adoptions, modifications of child... (815 views)
Catching up with Cathy Ribble Personal Life 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... (41 views)
North Valley Paralegal Personal Life Nancy Green owns and runs North Valley Paralegal at 501 B Street, Suite 4, Marysville, CA 95901. She is a legal document preparer who specializes in family law, trust and wills, grants, and deeds. Nancy is also a California Notary Public and traveling notary. Sandy Hill works with Nancy as a legal document preparer. Prior to establishing her company in... (432 views)
Alternative Careers in Law If you want a career in law and can't attend law school, you can investigate the options available to paralegal professionals. Paralegals perform skilled legal services (some of which traditionally had been performed only by attorneys) under the supervision of lawyers. They interview clients, analyze documents, investigate, do legal research, prepare letters and other... (154 views)
Freedom Rings Document Preparation Services Personal Life Julie Marie Jefferson owns and runs Freedom Rings Document Preparation Services, which is based in Sarasota, FL. She is a legal document preparer who specializes in bankruptcy, family law, divorce, living trust and will, incorporation, name changes, paternity, immigration, green card/citizenship and other services. Julie is also a Florida Notary Public.... (989 views)
Jacquie’s Mediation & Legal Document Assistance Services Personal Life Jacqueline-Vacher Callagan owns and operates Jacquie's Mediation/Legal Document Assistance Services at 901 H Street, Suite 106 Sacramento, CA 95814. She is a certified Mediator and Legal Document Assistant who specializes in family law and probate. Jacqueline is also a California Notary Public. She is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an... (191 views)
Divorce With Dignity Personal Life Christine Marinkovich is the Owner/CEO of the Broward County, FL, branch of Divorce With Dignity. Divorce With Dignity was established in Alameda, CA, in 1996. The company operates in multiple states and provides their services to individuals who are searching for an amicable divorce. Christine is a certified legal document preparer who specializes in... (84 views)