Paralegals & Legal Secretaries

The Paralegal Picture: Best Internet Quotes for the Week Ending 06/14/09

Posted on June 14, 2009
Are you seriously considering law school? Try working in a law office first.?I sure wish I had been a paralegal before I signed my life away for law school. Then I'd know how much I hated the legal environment.? ~ Anonymous comment during Carolyn Hax?s June 12, 2009 online live advice chat...

Paralegals in the News

Posted on June 14, 2009
Immigration paralegal Kelly Fisk and attorney Dan Alcorn of Alcorn Karlin, LLC in Galesburg, Illinois, recently attended the American Immigration Lawyers Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas. (Galesburg Register-Mail)Montana resident Suzanne M. Damjanovich, a paralegal and office manager for Dalton Law Firm, P...

Is the Internet Hurting Your Client's Case?

Posted on June 13, 2009
All legal professionals should read InjuryBoard.com's June 10, 2009 article, "How to Wreck, Ruin, and Terminate Your Personal Injury Case" by Texas attorney Jeff Rasansky, who warns that Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter may keep clients from recovering monies that they deserve after an injury...

Vermont Mom Enlists to Become National Guard Paralegal

Posted on June 13, 2009
Vermont resident Paula Hawkins is 40 years old and barely made the age cut-off, but this didn't stop her from enlisting for an eight-year stint in the Vermont National Guard, simultaneously with her 18-year old son's enlistment. Soon they will both head out for basic training...

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How to Avoid Stress Eating

Posted on June 13, 2009
As legal professionals, I bet we've all "been there and done THAT," i.e. eaten to relieve stress. We're not supposed to consume alcohol at work, so that leaves, well, chocolate and chips. In fact, I know some legal professionals whose daily lunch (and sometimes breakfast) consists only of chocolate and chips, washed down by a giant soda - or 16 cups of coffee...

Connecticut Resident Moves Closer to Paralegal Career Goal

Posted on June 13, 2009
I love these news stories. We're never too old to set new goals, obtain more education and follow our dreams.Having always worked in jobs she didn't enjoy to provide for her family, Janet Rose wanted to be able to support them while working somewhere she loved...

Indiana Paralegal Student Receives College Award for Excellence

Posted on June 10, 2009
Samantha Friedman, a 2009 graduate of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, was named the 2008-09 recipient of the Excellence in Paralegal Studies Award. The award was given by the Paralegal Studies Advisory Board at its semiannual meeting on April 20.In giving this award, committee chairwoman Cathy Canny, senior paralegal for Dann, Pecar, Newman & Kleiman, P...

Indiana Law Firm Sanctioned for Discovery Violations

Posted on June 10, 2009
In an unusual ruling, Bose McKinney & Evans (BME), an Indianapolis law firm, was sanctioned on June 5, 2009 by the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, for conduct that violated the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: purposely withholding documents responsive to discovery requests...

Twitterbox Update: Why I Won?t Follow You Back on Twitter

Posted on June 09, 2009
I?m not a Twitter elitist, and I have a weakness for people whose tweets make me laugh, or who frequently tweet Twitpics of their dogs or their dinner (the human dinner, not the canine).But I?ve got my standards for not following Twitterers, and here they are in no particular order:Your profile picture is the ubiquitous Twitter default "owl", the Twitter equivalent of wearing a paper bag over your head...

Paralegal Posting of the Week: Work in Brussels

Posted on June 09, 2009
Ever since I saw the movie In Bruges, any city in Belgium has moved to my top travel destination. Sometimes I watch this little gem of a hapless hitman comedy just for its awe-inspiring travelogue qualities (and not for Colin Farrell, well maybe a little for Colin)...

Rochester Paralegal Association Announces Paralegal of the Year & Board of Directors

Posted on June 09, 2009
New York paralegal DeAnna Martelle received the 2009 Paralegal of the Year Award from The Paralegal Association of Rochester Inc. Ms. Martelle is employed by Hiscock & Barclay LLP.2009-2010 board of directors for The Paralegal Association of Rochester Inc...

Ramstein Paralegal Named Best in Air Force

Posted on June 09, 2009
435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Story by Tech. Sgt. Michael VossMaster Sgt. Kristen Orcutt, 435th Air Base Wing Legal office, non-commissioned officer in charge for legal operations was recently selected as the Yates-Popwell Award winner for 2008...

Paralegals Can Help Raise Law Firm Revenue

Posted on June 08, 2009
In the Wisconsin Law Journal?s June 8, 2009 article ?Experts offer 5 ways to raise law-firm revenue?, utilizing paralegals is included as a way for firms to economically provide client service and survive these difficult economic times.No. 3: Leverage expertise...

NC Paralegal Earns NALA Certification

Posted on June 08, 2009
Jennifer Williams, a paralegal at White & Allen, P.A., has successfully completed the two-day examination that entitles her to use the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal credential.Williams is among 446 paralegals in the state of North Carolina and 15,378 nationwide who have attained this goal and can carry the CLA/CP designation...

Top 10 Tips for Brand New Paralegals

Posted on June 07, 2009
Even though I?ve only been blogging since October 2008, I hoard ideas for posts like a magpie hoards food and shiny items. Come to think of it, I also hoard food and shiny items...But in regard to blog posts which might interest other paralegals, I?m starting to look like a bag lady, with several large piles of legal articles, magazines, pamphlets, newspaper clippings and written notes...

Primo Paralegal Shoutouts

Posted on June 07, 2009
Iowa paralegal Jane Wiggins, employed by Simmons Perrine Moyer & Bergman in Cedar Rapids, has had a photograph published by National Geographic. Her photograph, taken from the 11th floor of a downtown office building in 2006, shows the first new cloud formation, Undulus asperatus, classified by scientists since 1951...

The Paralegal Picture: Best Internet Quotes for the Week Ending 06/07/09

Posted on June 07, 2009
Unfortunately, too many legal staffers have made the national news recently for the wrong reason: unfettered access to firm accounts leading to embezzlement. In a recent National Law Journal article, "Law firms make easy pickings for embezzlers", the disturbing trend is discussed...

Sotomayor?s Intensity Caused Paralegal to Break Out in Hives

Posted on June 07, 2009
President Obama?s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court has subjected her to an in-depth review of her past working relationships. Well aware that she is facing more criticism of her demeanor than male judges, she shares the following story about a former co-worker?s stressful reaction to her...

Legal Assistant and Homeless Advocate Dies After Purse-Snatching

Posted on June 06, 2009
Louisiana native and legal assistant Helen Canafax, employed by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in San Francisco for 19 years, was a passionate advocate for the homeless and needy, volunteering at area non-profit organizations and churches, and befriending and feeding the homeless near her Bay Area office...

Paralegal Posting of the Week: CIA Paralegal

Posted on June 04, 2009
While doing some fun but intensive research for an article on paralegal careers, I am reviewing many interesting paralegal job postings across the country. I think some of them are way too cool to keep to myself. Hence, Practical Paralegalism's "Paralegal Posting of the Week" is born...

Add Corporette.com to Your Faves for Great Career Dressing Tips

Posted on June 03, 2009
It's becoming a challenge to write a post that doesn't include Twitter.com, and this one will be no different. A great source of interesting blogs and articles, someone tweeted the link to Corporette.com, a "fashion and lifestyle blog for overachieving chicks" a few weeks ago, and I've been hooked ever since...

Paralegal Accuses Former Deputy of Pointing Taser at Her

Posted on June 02, 2009
I?ll admit this story is a bit hard to piece together, but I believe the gist of it is as follows:On April 8, 2008, Missouri paralegal Tiffany Adamson was walking into the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield, when she shared an (undisclosed) joke about a former courthouse co-worker with the (then) head of courthouse security, former Greene County deputy Robert Green...

Paralegal Student to Attend Graduation Ceremony via Second Life

Posted on June 02, 2009
I know, if you?re like me, your first thought was something along the lines of ?Isn?t Second Life that place on the Internet where people pretend to be someone they aren?t in reality?? Or maybe you just said, ?What?s ?Second Life???Second Life is ?a free 3D virtual world where users can socialize, connect and create using voice and text chat...

Guest Blogger: The Benefits of Voice Recognition Software by Mary Babic

Posted on June 01, 2009
I'm a member of the national paralegal listserv, Paralegal Gateway, and recently posted the following question:?Hello, everyone. I have a paralegal degree, but because I am not a speedy typist, I don't think anyone will hire me. Are there other areas that I can look into without my typing being strong? Thanks?...

Twitterbox Update: Why Twitter?

Posted on May 31, 2009
I know I?ve blogged at least 14 times about the social and professional benefits of Twitter, but after reading ?all atwitter?, an article which appeared in my local paper this week, and trying to explain Twitter to my mama, I thought I should do a Twitter 101 column for those of you still wondering why anyone would want to do such a newfangled and just plain weird thing as ?twitter?...

The Paralegal Picture: Best Internet Quotes of the Week Ending 05/31/09

Posted on May 31, 2009
A paralegal student reminds us of the importance of being an organ donor:?Everyone pretty much takes their health for granted. I know I did. I still have friends who don?t want to be organ donors and I do understand that everyone has a right to make their own decision...

Primo Paralegal Shoutouts

Posted on May 31, 2009
Massachusetts resident Patricia M. Liessner received a certificate in paralegal studies with high honors from Northern Essex Community College. (Georgetown Record)Texan Kara Frazier, a single working mother, has been awarded the AAUW Tyler Branch Virginia Skeen Clark Scholarship...

Paralegal Charged with Kidnapping Hoax Under Investigation for Theft

Posted on May 30, 2009
Philadelphia paralegal Bonnie Sweeten has made national news headlines for claiming that she and her toddler were carjacked, setting off a ?law enforcement and media frenzy? earlier this week, and now faces further legal woes as accusations surface of alleged thefts in the hundreds of thousands of dollars from her former employer and a children?s charity organization...

Paralegal Wins Award for Child Advocacy

Posted on May 30, 2009
Paralegal and client advocate Jennifer Tlumak, employed by the Tennessee Justice Center, has been given the 2009 Young Leader Award by the Tennessee Alliance for Progress, in recognition for her advocacy for children?s health services.Tlumak has been associated with the Tennessee Justice Center since 2006...

Step Up Your Game - Breaking into Today?s Paralegal Profession

Posted on May 28, 2009
by Christina L. Koch, ACP Layoffs and the down economy seem to be affecting every occupation these days, and the legal profession is no exception. The number of paralegal jobs available has decreased, while the number of qualified applicants has increased...

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