Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

Sunday LOL: Jane Austen Parody Packs a Punch

Posted on July 25, 2010
I love Jane Austen. In fact, I often re-read her novels in times of great stress - maybe it's the long, polite conversations that slowly (but slyly and with great wit) move her character-driven plots forward. As a college English Literature major, I admit I found them a little boring...

New Medicare Reporting Rules for Personal Injury Claims

Posted on July 22, 2010
Or, You Snooze, You Lose 'Cause Medicare Don't Play DatIf you have clients with pending personal injury claims, you likely have already run across the new Medicare reporting rules. But in today's article, "Many lawyers aren't aware of new rules," the Wisconsin Law Journal is reporting that many legal professionals still aren't up to speed...

Legal Assistant to Compete for Master Chef Title

Posted on July 22, 2010
50 amateur home cooks, including one legal assistant, will compete to become the next legendary culinary master on MasterChef, a new Fox reality series, which starts Tuesday. The winner will also have her own cookbook published and receive a $250,000 cash prize...

Today's Quote: Are You Disconnected from the Outside World at Work?

Posted on July 21, 2010
And so, as social media and the Web in general become increasingly crucial tools for New York's ruling class, analysts at banks, paralegals at law firms, even employees of some news organizations and publishing houses must endure Web restrictions that are shaping their lives, isolating them from friends and generally disconnecting them from the outside world...

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

Forbes Includes Paralegals on List of Fastest-Growing Jobs for Women

Posted on July 21, 2010
Forbes has published a list of "The 20 Fastest-Growing Jobs for Women," based on employment statistics compiled by researcher Laurence Shatkin, author of Best Jobs for the 21st Century. Paralegals and legal assistants are represented well at number 12...

Paralegal Profile: Tracey L. Young, RP, NFPA Vice President & Director of Positions & Issues

Posted on July 21, 2010
Job Title: ParalegalEmployer: E. Stewart Jones PLLC, Troy, New York (http://www.esjlaw.com/)Years of Legal Experience: More than 25 - I stopped counting when I hit the quarter century mark!Specialty Areas: Plaintiffs' personal injury and medical malpracticeCareer Highlight: Several years ago I had the opportunity to assist at trial as second chair and run the PowerPoint exhibit presentation which I had also prepared...

This Was My Day

Posted on July 20, 2010
All I had in me was a long whiny post about what an awful Monday it was, until I realized it's Tuesday, and then I was flat out of inspiration.But I think this video's worth at least 1,000 words:She could definitely be a paralegal. I've been attacked by those humongous rogue rubber bands before.

What Not to Wear...Really

Posted on July 19, 2010
This post will tie together several recurring themes at Practical Paralegalism:Paralegals have to embrace the future and become a little geeky - or nerdy - to keep up with today's ever-changing technology and its effect on the practice of law;There are some things you can't wear to work, or on a job interview;My perfect career dress is modern, has more than a touch of spandex in the weave, is machine-washable and costs under $50; andWhen I was in the 6th grade, I was dead set on marrying Mr...

Legal Team 101: Being Appreciative Is a Two-Way Street

Posted on July 19, 2010
At first glance, I thought John Cord's post, "Be nice, and other ways to strengthen your legal team," at the blog Generation J.D., was only going to yield a short quote with some timeless advice for new lawyers, "1. Don't run up the Westlaw/Lexis research bill, and 2...

Practical Paralegalism's Recommended Reading This Week

Posted on July 18, 2010
I blog for paralegals, legal assistants, legal secretaries, and all the other legal staffers essential to the practice of law today, as well as the attorneys who want to get to know us better. Once a week, I share links to a half dozen or so articles focusing on legal news and humor, practice tips and technology...

Legal Assistant Auditions for Idol and Glee

Posted on July 18, 2010
I can't sing a lick, but I admire folks who can. I'm also an unabashed Glee fan, although I stopped watching American Idol several seasons ago. USA Today is reporting that one of our own, legal assistant Kelly Dutton, successfully auditioned for the 10th season of American Idol in Nashville this weekend - no mean feat with an estimated 10,000 hopefuls showing up...

Saturday LOL: Studying in Library More Effective than Studying in Shower

Posted on July 17, 2010
Since so many of Practical Paralegalism's readers are paralegal students, I had to share Brigham Young University's brilliant comedic effort to promote studying in its library, "Study like a scholar, scholar," a very funny spoof of the wildly popular Old Spice "Man Your Man Could Smell Like" ads:Source: YouTube

Eating Lunch at Your Desk Ain't Pretty

Posted on July 15, 2010
Or, No Wonder I Have GERDWhenever I'm invited to speak to a group of legal professionals about using social media, I always encourage them to use an RSS feed reader to keep up with their favorite blogs. But one of the features I like best about Google Reader, a popular and easy to use feed reader, is the "Explore" feature, which recommends posts from blogs I don't normally subscribe to...

Practical Paralegalism Talks to Carolina Paralegal News About Paralegal Blogs

Posted on July 15, 2010
Kimberly "Kay" Johnson, a paralegal and freelance writer for Carolina Paralegal News, recently interviewed me for an article about paralegal blogs, which appeared in the June 2010 issue, available online here. I'm honored to be included with the other terrific bloggers, and Kay kindly gave me permission to share the written portion of my interview as follows:1...

Today's Quote: A Paralegal Tells the Truth, and Nothing But the Truth

Posted on July 14, 2010
I thought Practical Paralegalism's readers would enjoy this honest exchange between a prosecutor, Charles Coulson, and his former paralegal student, Cynthia Barth, during voir dire. Barth, a paralegal, was seated as a juror for this Ohio murder trial, which resulted in a conviction and a death sentence:Coulson: Mrs...

There's No Free Parking in Downtown Aberdeen

Posted on July 14, 2010
"I can't afford parking - I can't afford anything." ~ Scottish paralegal Claire WilliamsThe Scotsman is reporting that a paralegal, owner of a black Volkswagon Beetle, has incurred parking fees in excess of £18,000 for parking illegally in downtown Aberdeen - on a daily basis for almost a year...

Today's Quote: You Can't Touch a Paralegal for Poise

Posted on July 13, 2010
However, between hysterical sobbing fits, Danielle mustered the preternatural poise of a paralegal to speak with the police: ?My hair was pulled and they accosted me.? Ashley laid down her own law: ?Technically, I didn?t pull her hair. I pulled her extensions, which isn?t really part of her...

Paralegal Profile: Georgette M. Lovelace, RP, NFPA President

Posted on July 13, 2010
Job Title: ParalegalEmployer: Susman, Duffy & Segaloff, P.C., New Haven, CTYears of Legal Experience: 30Specialty Areas: Litigation ? medical and legal malpractice defense, municipal defense, and plaintiff?s personal injuryCareer Highlight: Being able to make a contribution to the paralegal profession by serving on the NFPA board of directorsParalegal Practice Tip: Calendar EVERYTHING! And never put a file back on the shelf without setting a date to look at it again...

With This USB Drive, I Thee Wed

Posted on July 13, 2010
On a recent episode of the monthly podcast The Paralegal Voice, "Digital Evidence for Paralegals," digital forensics expert Giovanni Masucci discussed hidden thumb drives which are easy for most people to miss in a search for digital evidence.Pretty soon we'll have to check out the personal bling, too...

Today's Quote: Attorney Gives Props to Staff

Posted on July 12, 2010
Q: How is your law firm doing?A: My partners, staff and I enjoy the law practice every day. We have a great team of experienced paralegals and assistants that have been together a long time, making our law practice a real joy! The firm consists of eight attorneys and 10 paralegal assistants...

A Disclaimer You'd Be Proud To Claim

Posted on July 12, 2010
Props to one of my supervising attorneys, Helen L. Parsonage, for catching the very funny fine print in Winston-Salem, North Carolina attorney Richard J. Rutledge, Jr.'s e-mail disclaimer notice (for listserv use only - he has an official "real" disclaimer, complete with IRS language, that he uses for business...

Regulation of the Paralegal Profession - NFPA Says "Yes"

Posted on July 12, 2010
The latest edition of The Paralegal Voice, "Regulation of the Paralegal Profession - NFPA Says "Yes," co-hosted by Vicki Voisin and me, is available at Legal Talk Network.We welcome National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) leaders, Georgette Lovelace, RP and Tracey L...

Today's Quote: Dude, There Is No Equity in Crime

Posted on July 10, 2010
"There are no two people that are exactly alike. We don't do a comparative analysis. It's foolish to listen to someone who fancies himself a paralegal and is wearing an orange jumpsuit." ~ New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan explained to John Morano, who may withdraw a prior guilty plea to bank robbery, why his argument at his sentencing hearing - that he should get less time than another bank robber who netted more money from his exploits - is an epic fail...

Rocky Mount Paralegal Receives Academic Award

Posted on July 10, 2010
Congratulations to Melissa Solomon, a paralegal employed by attorney C. Ray Joyner in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, for receiving the first Dovey E. "Kim" Watson, Jr. Award from Wilson Community College. Solomon is a 2010 graduate of the Paralegal Technology program, who maintained a 4...

Drive To Work Needs Volunteer Legal Professionals

Posted on July 10, 2010
In many parts of the United States, there is no public transportation available. If you can't drive to work because you've lost your license, you can't hold down a job or provide the most basic essentials for your family - much less pay someone to help you obtain driving privileges...

Saturday LOL: That Will Have To Do, Missy

Posted on July 10, 2010
"...I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window." ~ Excerpt from "Missing Missy" (27b/6)Not that any legal support staffers (or attorneys) we know do those things during the work day...Check out a hilarious email exchange started by an oblivious secretary doggedly seeking an unsympathetic co-worker's help to find her missing cat in "Missing Missy," from the hysterically funny Internet personality and writer, David Thorne...

Hold That Thought...

Posted on July 08, 2010
...Before You Email ItToday my supervising attorney and I shared a good laugh over an email sent by an opposing party, obviously fired off in a fit of pique. The next email from the opposing party was a recall notice of the previous email, but that horse had already left the stable...

Today's Quote: Oh, So Now We're "Unsexy"?

Posted on July 08, 2010
I asked why Frink-Hamlett omitted another obvious alternative: paralegal. But she says firms have no interest in people with law degrees for those positions. "We've been told by big firms, 'No lawyers [for paralegal spots].'" The reason, she adds, is that it's awkward to have someone who just spent large amounts of money on their legal education working in the same pit with a recent college graduate...

Paralegal Profile: Charlene M. Healy, RP, Paralegals (Yahoo!) Listserv Moderator

Posted on July 07, 2010
Job Title: PACE Registered ParalegalEmployer: Sattin & Ronca LLC, Blue Bell, PAYears of Paralegal Experience: 21Specialty Areas: Family law currently but spent 16 years in litigation and personal injuryCareer Highlight: I am the co-founder of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association...

Beat the Heat with Five Career Dresses Under $50

Posted on July 07, 2010
The inspiration for this post came as I dithered over what to wear to a speaking engagement tomorrow. Today was supposed to be the hottest day of this year, but it's July in central North Carolina, so tomorrow definitely has potential to beat it. I'm already wilting just thinking about having to venture outside midday...

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.