In the rapidly advancing world of legal tech, grit matters. You’ve got to keep up. Pushing yourself through even the toughest challenges builds the professional you are destined to become. Perkins is a paralegal professional, educator, and legal industry recruiter who has driven herself forward for more than 20 years. She brings the lessons she learned to every aspect of her life and strives to share each one with every student and every job seeker.

Plus, learn insider tips for when you’re applying for a new position: Don’t include photos on your resume, learn to professionally format everything. Time is money, so get to the bullet points and focus on clear, concise communication. No fluff, no fillers. (And please, no silly email addresses, keep it professional). Hear Perkins’ golden rules for building professional relationships and her pro tips for your LinkedIn page. Get fired up and get hired.

File, case, and data management has come a long way, from physically moving boxes of paper filings to electronic management, and Lear has done it all, from moving paper files to his current position legal tech. Along the way, Lear advanced from a file clerk position to a career as a paralegal professional, then earning his law degree. Now he’s exploring and embracing AI capabilities.

Having worked as a paralegal, Lear understands how vital the profession is to the practice of law, at times even “training” newly minted attorneys as they transition from learning the principles of the law to actually getting the job done. 

As Lear explains, lifelong learning, networking, and building strong connections will become increasingly important moving forward, whether you’re a newcomer to the field or an experienced veteran. 

She is currently the program coordinator and a full-time faculty member in the paralegal program at St. Johns River State College in Florida, a hands-on, real-life program that helps students get jobs and then get the job done. She is also the founder and leader of the social media program Perfectly Paralegal, a community that offers resources, support, and continuing education to paralegal professionals nationwide.

We all need NALA continuing ed credits, but why not make it a family vacation on a cruise ship? Courses on the Perilous Waters cruise are arranged to provide both credits but also leave time for networking, sharing tips, and having fun. Make it a family trip, a friends group outing, or a company event. Learn while you sail. 

Whether it’s in the classroom or on the high seas, McGrath-Cruz is dedicated to sharing what she’s learned with practical teachings that make you better and advance your career. Get excited and get involved.

It’s an exciting time for the IPMA as members consider international expansion, the “elephant in the room” of artificial intelligence, and the evolution of a constantly changing profession. AI may shake up the game, but Matos reminds us the legal profession is never static, enduring the shift from paper to e-discovering, the addition of computer capabilities, and other technologies. 

Paralegals, Matos says, will adjust and adapt as they always have. Being part of an organization such as IPMA helps paralegals understand new trends and learn new skills. Robots are not going to take over your job, but AI could help you do it better. 

Hear about Matos’ own career path and the advice he has for those new to the profession. Stepping up, volunteering for new duties, and learning as you go will build your career and get you noticed. Don’t put yourself in a box. Be a “legal MacGyver.” 

2025 is no ordinary year for NALA as the paralegal association celebrates 50 years. Start with the latest on the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo, July 10-12 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Earn continuing education credits, network, learn new skills, and hear about NALA’s plans for the future. Early bird registration ends May 7. 

Plus, dig into NALA’s newest national survey on utilization compensation and learn about trends in pay, billing, and benefits. You’ll also hear about new limited licensing programs, AI, and trends across the field.

And we’ll talk about NALA’s new Resource Navigator, pulling together vendor information and the newest in tech, and a new collection of relevant articles and updates on NALA’s free Paralegal Brief page. Even more? How about a review of NALA’s work with affiliates and students nationwide and an upcoming free webinar on billable hours. This special episode has it all.

Leon shares his struggles and ultimate triumph as motivation and inspiration. No matter where you are in life, you are important, you can overcome. We are all warriors.

If you’re struggling, if you’re hurting, there is help. People do care about you. There is help out there. 

Hear about the typical day of a busy paralegal serving a litigation team. She travels extensively as part of her job, mentoring new paralegal groups for her firm around the country. “My day is like a box of chocolates,” she says. “I never know what I’m going to get.” 

As she worked through the ranks, Athas took advantage of every opportunity to take on new tasks, from making herself an “essential employee” during the COVID pandemic, coming into the office while others worked from home (even doing the “COVID Cleaning” of door handles and keyboards) to learning Zoom trials and filling in when other branches of the firm are short staffed. 

This episode is a great guide to self-propelled career advancement and becoming so essential to your firm’s operations they wouldn’t even think of leaving you behind if they downsize. Stay visible, put in the hours, and build your skills. These are tips for success you don’t want to miss. 

Guest John Sammons is an author and professor teaching digital forensics at Marshall University and is the associate director of the Marshall Institute for Cyber Security. He explains how vital paralegal professionals have become in the struggle to gather, understand, decipher, explain, and protect today’s digital evidence. 

More than ever, well-educated and up-to-date paralegal professionals become indispensable as they help their legal teams understand what to ask for, where digital evidence might be hiding, and how to clearly explain these complex clues to a judge and jury. 

Sammons explains how advancing technologies, AI, digital duplicates, and speech replication tech are making tech-savvy paralegal professionals irreplaceable components inside their organizations. Get inspired to get out there and learn something new today. 

Guest Lori Young is a full-time faculty member at the College of the Canyons in California and a part-time instructor at the University of California Santa Barbara. She has been a paralegal professional for more than 25 years and specializes in legal tech, contract law, estate planning, and helping students just like you prepare for and pass the CP exam. 

Young knows firsthand the ins and outs of the CP exam. She freely admits she failed it the first time, so she’s been there, done that, and knows what it takes. She buckled down and passed, then helped develop a curriculum to help others pass the exam the first time. She offers tips and inspiration for anyone considering taking the plunge. (Spoiler: Taking a prep course can give you the confidence you need). 

In California, CP Exam test prep programs are free at community colleges, but they’re also available at a very low cost online for those outside the state. Certification can boost your career, elevate your performance, increase your confidence, and make you more valuable to your team. Bottom line: the CP designation opens new doors. No more putting it off. 

Lori also offers her first hand experience with the recent California wildfires. The College of the Canyons became an evacuation center for the community and served as a center for the Incident Command team. She urges paralegal students to become more involved in their communities via volunteer opportunities and working with legal clinics to assist those impacted by disaster. 

Hear how Dang started out looking for direction, found his way, learned from mentors, and finally became a leader in his field. If you’re new to the field and want to take on a leadership role, start with being a “servant leader,” go above and beyond and accept new challenges and volunteer for unexpected tasks. Learn something new every day. Yes, it’s hard. But it’s also fun. 

Dang’s openness to new experiences, his networking and involvement in his local Paralegal Association, and his journey from mentee to mentor continues to fuel his career. You can do this. Break out of your shell and be excited. 

Guest Stephanie Clerkin is the Director of Litigation Support at Korein Tillery and a 2024 recipient of the Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award, which celebrates e-discovery and legal technology leaders who make noteworthy contributions to the fields of e-discovery, legal tech, information governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy. The award is named for the late Gayle O’Connor. 

Hear some of the secrets of bringing people together around technology (even dragging along some of the stragglers who have “always done it this way”). You’ll learn to adapt to different styles, demonstrate the value of efficient data management, and sometimes do more with less. Legal tech and data management never sleeps. Helping everyone – from support staff to senior attorneys – keep up is a challenge. 

Finding a mentor, establishing a work life balance, and mastering technology test us all, but Clerkin has tips you can put to work now. 

Tuschak believes every paralegal professional can be their firm’s technology champion and driver. Technology continues to push the legal profession forward. E-discovery, data visualization, and case management are getting faster and better. 

Tuschak doesn’t worry about an AI systems taking over a paralegal’s job. Today’s latest tech actually helps paralegal professionals do better work, faster. Don’t be afraid of the latest and greatest. Instead, master it. 

The paralegal profession never stands still, and Tuschak sees endless opportunities for paralegal professionals. Project management, wrangling details, managing billing, and driving the adoption of legal tech create new roles seemingly daily. Hear how Tuschak nudges firms to invest in staff development, education, and tech and how you can get ahead in your own career through technology.

NALA’s relationship with affiliated associations takes a spot at the top of Nodarse’s agenda, as well as developing the relationships between paralegal educators and students. Plus, 2025 marks NALA’s 50th anniversary and the first National Paralegal Day. 

Nodarse and hosts Jill Francisco and Tony Sipp also discuss a new era of “breakaway careers” for paralegal professionals and how the skill set and education positions them well in an increasingly complex and digital world. Doesn’t matter what the job title is, a foundation in paralegal work applies to so many interesting career paths. Your skills are in demand. 

As the profession changes, as opportunities arise and evolve, Nodarse has her sights set on helping NALA stay involved and help guide the profession forward. This is a great time to be a part of NALA.

When it comes to neurodivergence, the legal system has a particular interest. It has been estimated about 12.5% of lawyers report having ADHD, attention deficit disorders, nearly triple the rate of the general population. And that’s just the beginning.

Law is a stressful profession, and many may not know they have a neurodivergence issue – issues that may only reveal themselves under extreme stress. That’s why awareness is so important as we learn to account for our own differences and others’ and make sure we are communicating with and understanding coworkers and even opposing counsel and witnesses.

It all starts with being aware and giving thought to how the person across the desk processes information and communicates. As the great (fictional) attorney Atticus Finch taught us in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Burnout is real. It’s an emotionally grinding field with physically grueling time demands. If you’re feeling the stress, understand what your body is telling you. Understand that you are not alone and know that it’s OK to talk about it. 

Bridal and Hoff explain how to recognize burnout and how to put a name on what you feel. Of course, there are times when you’ll work hard, there are periods of stress in any job. But when you find that you can’t turn it off, that every stressful day leads to another stressful day, when you can’t let yourself take a break, it may be time to examine what’s going on in your life. 

Legal professionals are by nature competitive, driven people. It can be hard to turn that off or accept that you’ve simply reached your limit and don’t have another gear. But there is more to life, take care of yourself. 

Guest Nikki Mehrpoo speaks from a lengthy career in law focusing on Workers’ Compensation and immigration law. In Workers’ Comp cases, the ability of a judge, mediator, and arbitrator to listen without bias and weigh cases solely on the facts and the law is crucial. 

And as a legal professional, when representing a Workers’ Comp complainant, it can be especially vital to sift facts from biases and prepare a case that clearly presents the facts in a manner a deciding party can follow. 

Mehrpoo also shares some excellent career advice on the importance of legal technology, keeping up with the latest developments in tech and the law, and finding a mentor. Your education is never complete. Embrace every opportunity to pick up a new skill and new information, whether that’s from an industry newsletter, a quick tutorial, or in a classroom. Take the time to invest in yourself.

If you have insights you’d like to share or a topic you’d like us to take on, please send us a note at Jfrancisco@lawgical.com and HaveASipp@gmail.com.

Walker took advantage of every chance to learn and advance. The paralegal profession never stands still, and Walker explains how seizing opportunities to build skills advanced her career. One example is how she recognized the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and helped her firm create a DEI committee, which she went on to lead. 

She encourages today’s up and coming paralegals to understand their worth and show initiative. Speak up with confidence at your organization and demonstrate your value with everything you do. If you’re looking for advice on advancing your career, this episode offers valuable tips. Step up, stand out, and succeed.

If you have insights you’d like to share or a topic you’d like us to take on, please send us a note at Jfrancisco@lawgical.com and HaveASipp@gmail.com.

Enjoy both fun and serious sessions, including keynote speaker Iliana Oris Valiente, CPA, CA, as she shares insights into the role of AI and the paralegal profession, while you earn valuable CLE credits. And if you attend in person, you also get the chance to watch recordings of any sessions you miss and pick up those extra CLE hours. Plus, our own Jill Francisco will be a featured speaker, and you can meet co-host Tony Sipp in person as well. Stop by and say hello. 

Hear all the conference has to offer, how to register, how to attend in person or online, one day or all, and even learn about early bird and group discounts. Don’t be left out. 

It’s a big year for NALA. Hear about the upcoming member survey (including a salary survey, are you being paid fairly?) Watch your inbox for a link to the survey. More? How about the latest on NALA core competencies and the expanding role of paralegals! This is a jam-packed episode.  

If you have insights you’d like to share or a topic you’d like us to take on, please send us a note at Jfrancisco@lawgical.com and HaveASipp@gmail.com.

Maybe you’ll even find the motivation and courage to sign up for a course and learn new skills in the coming year. Technology isn’t something mystical or even unusual in the legal field. It’s as vital as a paper and pen. Make this the year you overcome any lingering fears and learn to use the myriad tools available to you, from eDiscovery to AI. 

Don’t underestimate what you’ve learned in the past, don’t overestimate the learning curve as you get accustomed to new tools, and never underestimate yourself. Get inspired. 

If you have insights you’d like to share or a topic you’d like us to take on, please send us a note at Jfrancisco@lawgical.com and HaveASipp@gmail.com. 

There’s a lot to go through, but you can start with a moment to remember to take care of yourself this holiday season. There’s a natural tendency to put yourself last, behind career, family, and so many other things. Be good to yourself. Mental health is important.

Looking ahead, make 2024 the year you get up to speed on the latest legal tech and take advantage of educational opportunities through NALA.org. Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t going away, and while it won’t steal your job, it will change how you do it. Ethics, research, e-discovery, and many other tasks are changing thanks to AI. You may as well embrace it and become the expert in your firm.

We’re also looking ahead to lots of programming from NALA, The Paralegal Association, in the coming year. The national conference takes place in Louisville, KY, this year, packed again with valuable information.

Thanks for a great 2023, and we look forward to making the coming year even better. If you have insights you’d like to share or a topic you’d like us to take on, please send us a note at Jfrancisco@lawgical.com and HaveASipp@gmail.com .

Guest Sonya Sigler is an accomplished attorney who now devotes herself to executive coaching and consulting as well as speaking and writing. Her focus is on work/life balance, understanding your own goals and needs, and focusing on personal development and growth. Mental health and managing burnout in the legal field is crucial. 

Sigler’s story started as a busy mom and attorney and volunteer. She was juggling as many roles as she could when she wound up in an emergency room with heart attack-like symptoms. It wasn’t a heart attack, but it was a wakeup call. Sometimes you need to put yourself first and say “no.” 

During the holidays, we may feel obligated to do too much. Listen to yourself, and if we need to decline an invitation or a volunteer request, it’s OK. As Sigler says, we all deserve a life we don’t need a vacation from.

Successful paralegals are comfortable with technology and embrace every opportunity to learn. Today’s top litigation paralegals are eDiscovery pros. 

Negotiating with vendors, establishing rates, managing operations, and freeing up attorneys to focus on legal strategy with the assurance that the foundations are strong are all part of a paralegal’s role in litigated cases. 

The skills and demands are always changing and evolving. Preservation, data collecting, and presenting evidence at trial have changed as the legal world shifts from boxes of paper records to electronic documents, emails, and eDiscovery. Tech skills and expertise with digital review platforms are table stakes in this new environment. Learn to uncover opportunities to advance your skills and career.

Guest Tara Kim Eberhart shares how the International Practice Management Association (IPMA) is leading the way with its four pillars: people, process, profits, and progress. Paralegal professionals more than ever are driving the operation of successful firms and organizations creating management opportunities for paralegals.

 What are the best practices and standards of care in management, and how do organizations incorporate these into their own operations and prioritize goals? Practice management and practice support may be two different fields, but they share the goal of driving an organization in orderly, focused manner.   

Moving from daily paralegal duties to practice management and oversight can be an exciting career development opportunity for experienced paralegals seeking new challenges. 

And don’t forget IMPA’s 2023 conference, Building Today For A Successful Tomorrow, Oct. 11-13 (pre and post conference events begin Oct. 9 and wrap up Oct. 15). 

We’ve all seen professionally staged “trials” on television shows. So have the jurors. There’s an expectation firms will present a compelling story digitally in the courtroom. What story is your firm telling and how? 

As Bales says, “Basic legal technology skills are foundational for today’s legal market.” Understanding the use of legal technology in the courtroom is no longer an option. Keep up or fall behind. The skills you learned 10 years ago aren’t today’s skills.

Hear how to actively pursue the tech skills you need to add to your resume as a modern paralegal professional. 

From ethics classes to the latest technology and trends, you’ll hear how paralegal professionals learn from each other and network with organizations and firms across the country. Paralegals have such transferable skills, and the opportunities never fail to surprise. This year’s conference included classes on the newest developments in real estate law, social media evidence, Roe v. Wade, and more. 

Learning can be fun. NALA makes sure of it. Meet your CLE requirements in an engaging, supportive environment. Review, refresh, and recharge. 

Guest Al De La Cruz leads the litigation department for the San Diego office of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP and examines how our own internal biases affect our daily decisions, even if we don’t realize it. 

When legal cases touch on discrimination or other issues in employment law, start with understanding how the decision was made. What was going on? It’s complicated.

To overcome bias, start by being intentional. Learn to reflect on your decisions and understand your own starting point and thought process. It’s not just race, ethnicity, or gender. Think about being tall, short, older, younger, etc.

Bias has consequences across our daily lives, from education to business to economics and the law. Take this opportunity to make the best, most equitable, decisions you can. Start with the Harvard University’s implicit bias test.

Murao turned her background as a paralegal professional into helping legal teams incorporate technology and available resources to streamline casework, manage projects, incorporate e-discovery techniques, and maximize efficiencies and outcomes.

In this podcast:

• High tech tools aren’t just for big trials anymore. Learn to incorporate the latest tech for depositions and even smaller hearings and trials.
• Keep track of every detail and hold every bit of data at your fingertips.
• The COVID-19 pandemic opened doors and highlighted technologies that support paralegals and legal teams in the courtroom and online.

Don’t get passed by. Take action today to become comfortable – even expert – with the latest technology. Sounds intimidating? It doesn’t have to be. Murao offers simple steps to set achievable goals and get started today.

NALA in 2023 is also providing the CP (Certified Paralegal) exam review track covering every section of the exam – including the writing section. (Psst, co-host Tony Sipp is taking the exam and will be participating!)

And the new NALA Compensation Survey Report is out. These are good times for paralegal professionals, we are in demand. The profession is growing by about 12% and salaries are up. Log in to your NALA account and see if you’re getting paid what you’re worth after the COVID pandemic shook things up across the profession.

Plus, the new NALA YouTube Channel. See what you’ve been missing and subscribe today for the latest videos. Advocacy, information, community. NALA works for paralegals. “Be in the now, be in the know, be NALA.”

You aren’t alone. Everybody hates billing. Tracking your time and entering it into your system isn’t natural, and maybe it’s not even taught. But you can get better at this, make it part of your daily routine.

Guest Karen Tuschak is an experienced consultant who runs her own firm, Spider Silk Solutions. She provides not only coaching and practice management development to law firms worldwide, but she also encourages firms to adopt the latest technologies. She dedicates much of her time helping paralegals understand billable hours and the importance of time capture.

Tuschak says a lot of paralegals “self-monitor” their work, they shave time from a task if they feel it could’ve been done faster. Don’t double check yourself, simply mark down the actual time you spend on a task. If you don’t, not only does it take money from the firm, it makes it hard for managers to spot areas of inefficiency where better tech could help.

This is a great reminder and could change the way you think about your job. Your “time capture” tells your story and demonstrates your value.

Across the country, states are looking for ways to grant special licenses so paralegal professionals can handle some issues that have traditionally required an attorney. New programs with names including “allied legal professionals, “limited licensing,” and “legal paraprofessionals” are opening ways to offer access to justice and, at the same time, opening pathways for paralegals to expand their roles and embrace new opportunities.

This is important stuff that affects us all, even if the stereotype is that “legal aid” projects are for indigent cases, studies find up to 40% of the legal needs of middle-class people go unaddressed due to high demand and costs. There has to be a better way. The medical community developed new ways to provide care (nurse practitioners instead of an M.D.), so why can’t we build a new tier of legal service providers?

It’s been a long slog as states individually decide how tiers of limited licensures can ensure access to justice. And it’s been contentious, maybe because the issue isn’t fully understood. Get educated and get involved with this informative episode of the Paralegal Voice.

• NALA Conference and Expo, July 12, in Boston.
• New continuing education requirements are coming. Are you ready?
• NALA’s six-part series on real estate education, coming soon (and why you need this)
• Black History Month and how diversity and inclusion makes you better and helps you support your firm.

We’ll also take a look at the current state of paralegal work with the NALA jobs report. How has the profession changed in recent years? You’d be surprised at how technology affects the tasks we all do and why it’s so important to stay current. You never know when you’ll be asked to step up to something new. The paralegal profession is never dull.

The pandemic showed us we can work from home if that’s what we want. Firms requiring workers to come back to the office risk losing valuable paralegals. It’s a job seeker’s market.

If your firm is looking for paralegal help, you can poach from employers who aren’t adapting to the new reality. And if you’re a paralegal professional, polish your resume and be ready when an opportunity knocks. Start the new year by writing down your goals, personal and professional, and ask yourself, what’s holding you back? (But be careful, not all jobs are created equal. Know what you really want). New laws in some states require “pay transparency.” Job listings must list pay ranges. Even if you’re not looking, look. Know where your salary stands in the market.

Let 2023 be your reward for making it through the Great Pandemic. You’ve earned this.

We’re watching so many changes to the role of paralegal professionals: more responsibilities, better tools, improved processes, and more options than ever.

How can we make the legal profession more efficient and deliver more value? Think of paralegal professionals as “revenue protectors” not a “cost center.” By adding value, paralegals let firms keep more of what they earn. Process management remains key.

Carl also revisits “DEI,” diversity, equity, and inclusion. How are we doing in the legal profession? And then there’s ALSP, alternative legal service providers. Did that turn out well for paralegals? The creativity of paralegal professionals continues to improve the process and drive the profession.

Guest Cathy L. Davis is an assistant professor and department chair of the criminal justice and legal studies programs at Alabama’s Faulkner University. She’s a champion of continuing education and the lifelong pursuit of new skills.

Make your job your passion, and make learning your passion. Lexus, Clio, Mycase, Microsoft Office, local paralegal associations, and others all offer opportunities to learn and demonstrate competencies. Get every certification you can.

For those new to the business, start with:

• Professionalism: Be organized, manage time, and listen.
•  Writing matters: Hone your skills. Really work on your writing.
• Research skills: Go beyond traditional sources, even social media counts.
• Preserve and protect data: Evidence and research are crucial.

Offer to attend hearings or assist at the courthouse, even if some tasks are outside your scope. Consider volunteering at a legal aid office, neighborhood associations, and community causes. Ever thought about teaching or speaking at a local college? Never stand still.

Paralegal work is stressful and at times emotional. There are deadlines, complicated problems, and even difficult people and situations. It’s OK to feel frustrated, sad, even angry. But as Curry explains, the key is to acknowledge those feelings and work through them with the help of the positive, supportive people you surround yourself with.

Curry was a standout college player and enjoys a productive, rewarding career at the highest level of the most popular league in the country. But even a star goes through rough patches. Hear how Curry faced down a scary health issue that threatened his career by thinking positively.

The paralegal profession takes a special kind of person. Take a moment to step back and recognize your contributions, abilities, and expertise. Feel good about yourself and your work. Take a breath, get some rest, and be thankful a 300-pound lineman isn’t going to try to knock you to the ground on your next trip to the copier.

Be sure to visit Curry’s foundation,Rush2Victory, dedicated to helping economically challenged students through motivation, mentorship, and empowerment.

This doesn’t mean corporate paralegals will lose their jobs, instead Onwudiwe expects they’ll be more valuable than ever, applying their expertise more productively. Imagine, no more “fire drills” when someone needs a specific data point buried deep inside complex language.

Automated content extraction is only one use. Consider automated reviews, language management, and datapoint classification, freeing paralegals to apply their expertise to the highest-level tasks. Imagine legal turning the corporate library of contracts and all that information into tools that help the bottom line, prioritizing customers during supply chain snarls or spotting opportunities to boost profit. With AI, legal turns from a cost center to a revenue center.

Hear how to integrate AI into your workspace and how to avoid missteps. For corporate paralegal professionals, this changes everything.

Now is a great time to be in the paralegal field. Jobs abound, and the field is transforming with new options for flexibility, including working from home. But every new step requires a willingness to embrace change. The field is never going back.

What’s new for NALA? Overstreet vows to continue national outreach to affiliates, working with colleges to supporting students, and looks for NALA to reach out to government-affiliated paralegal professionals who need national support in a niche that can get lost.

Don’t miss the upcoming conference, chances to network, meet vendors, and earn continuing education credits. Hot topics include the legal side of social media, modern policing, climate change, ethics, and motions in limine.

But as host Carl Morrison hears, even beating a problem so overwhelming can be done with the right tool, one bite at a time, like eating the proverbial elephant. 

Where can firms get the data they need? Where to start? Guests Mark Harris and Emmanuel Smith of JusticeBid explain how data from JusticeBid analytics helps the legal community progress, build diversity, and leverage available talent by expanding opportunities to all. 

And because one of our guests is an NFL Super Bowl Champion (hint: Smith), we hear what the legal community can learn from the NFL’s struggles with DEI and the so-called “Rooney Rule” that’s been in the news.

Rimas follows the latest trends in legal tech and procedure and leans on his ever-growing network of paralegal professional colleagues to boost his team with resources that span state lines and jurisdictions. Even the most introverted can learn something from his experiences. Start small, join a local paralegal organization, attend the meetings and conferences, gobble up those CLE opportunities as they arise, and soon you’ll find yourself not only learning, but also sharing what you’ve learned with the next generation of paralegal professionals. 

• Check the websites of organizations you might be interested in. It doesn’t have to be just legal-related organizations. Civic groups, charities, youth organizations, and schools all need your help.
• Ask local colleges or universities if they need help teaching a class or reviewing materials. Share real-world experience in the classroom. You have valuable skills, share them.
• It’s all about the tech. You must stay up to date and embrace change for the sake of your legal team.
•  Keep current on new laws and procedures. Change was always coming, but the Pandemic juiced the entire system. What are your state courts and legislature up to?

 Build your network and take advantage of the “hive mind” around you. Your colleagues are a rich resource to draw from. Don’t know? Ask.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and Infotrack.

With so many moving parts, taking proper stock of every component – from email and cloud systems to legacy on-site servers – is crucial. So is working with providers who understand how each piece works with the other. 

Recognize early warning signs of common problems, mistakes that find their way into the process and grow. Avoid inefficiencies and costly snafus. 

E-discovery and data management are not static processes. Technological advances continue yearly. Learn to collect, produce, and preserve the data you need to keep up with a busy caseload. 

Plus, “The Listener’s Voice.” Your content, comments, and questions matter. In this episode, tips and tricks on making the leap from paralegal to legal operations careers. What’s on your mind? Drop us a line at Devoted2Law@Gmail.com

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and Infotrack.

Agile project management has been around in other business sectors for 20 years, but the legal field has been cautious and slow to adopt. 

Guest Alicia Mitchell-Mercer is an expert in applying the modern Agile project management philosophy to legal cases and how the Scrum processes fit. Scrum team? Product owner? ScrumMaster? If you’ve been curious, even baffled, by these terms, you won’t get a better 30-minute introduction. Learn how modern project management fits today’s legal needs. 

From start to finish, Agile project management can help track legal projects and review results, then apply lessons learned to future projects. Mitchell-Mercer explains how applying these principles could help your firm work more efficiently, improve outcomes, and better serve clients. As a bonus, there isn’t a high barrier to entry for ScrumMaster certification (and it could add to your personal market value). 

Plus, some insights on how COVID’s push to remote meetings has changed, perhaps forever, legal project management.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack.

Host Carl Morrison looks at a dozen developing trends for the coming year and beyond. Everything from the evolution of the Limited Licensed Practitioner field (looking at you Arizona and Utah) to the breakneck acceleration in legal tech, artificial intelligence, workflow automation, and process improvements. 

The post-pandemic “Great Resignation” is creating more opportunities than ever for paralegal professionals. Make 2022 the year you truly understand your value, embrace change, advance your skills, and take charge of your career.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack.

Guest Tony Sipp, a paralegal manager for a national law firm, says it’s more important now than ever for paralegal professionals to know their worth, highlight their skills, and pursue their dreams. Firms are hiring now. 

Hear what hiring managers are looking for today – from soft skills to tech, including e-filing and e-discovery and Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Listen to Sipp’s valuable job seeking and interviewing tips as we head into a promising year for paralegals. Even if you’re happy where you are, it doesn’t hurt to look around or ask for what you want.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack.

Hear how today’s paralegals can leverage their project management and technology skills to advance their careers and focus on meaningful, rewarding work. It’s a whole new world, and paralegal professionals are at the center of it. 

And in the Listener’s Voice segment, Carl takes a question about getting into the field of legal operations and offers tips on making the leap. Is this the next step in your own career? If you’ve got a comment or question, reach out at Devoted2Law@gmail.com

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Alert Communications and Smokeball.

Learn how to get started, find opportunities, and create the content professionals want (and need). Hear how to spot opportunities to serve on paralegal education advisory boards and even teach the next generation of paralegals. 

Not only are you giving back, but you’ll keep up with the latest developments in your field, guide student curriculum, and build your network (you might even make a little extra money). You can do this. Learn how.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack.

Our guest, Toni Marsh, JD, is a professor and director at the George Washington University School of Law Paralegal Studies program and a fierce advocate for the role of paralegals. 

The paralegal profession is in flux. As Americans struggle to access their legal system, constitutional rights are becoming out of reach. Marsh believes paralegals can fill that gap as states explore expanding their role. Legal navigators, legal document preparers, and licensed legal professionals are stepping up. How can paralegals prepare for tomorrow’s legal profession? 

Also, in the “Listener’s Voice” segment, host Carl Morrison answers a listener’s questions about seeking new challenges, perfecting a resume, and finding new opportunities. Got a question for Carl? Email him today at Devoted2Law@Gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors CourtFiling.Net, InfoTrack,  NALA, and ServeNow.

Are you up to speed? 

Host Jill Francisco – a veteran paralegal and classroom instructor – interviews attorney and longtime professor Todd Richardson about today’s classroom experience. It’s more than lectures and books. Today’s learning includes new technology, working collaboratively online and in person, and leveraging digital tools to expedite cases, gather information, and navigate the modern legal jungle.

Richardson explores how legal education is changing and how vital learning today’s tech keeps a paralegal valued and vital in the workplace.

He also touches on areas where soft skills still play an important role. Knowing how to integrate tech with interpersonal skills can build and maintain relationships so important in the legal community.

Special thanks to our sponsors CourtFiling.net, NALA, and ServeNow.

Tom Stephenson, legal operations manager at Teladoc Health, shares his career trajectory from paralegal in private practice, legal tech consultant to the head of legal operations. 

Stephenson and Morrison discuss the increasing value of legal operations in helping legal teams run more efficiently and make better decisions.

Tom Stephenson is head of legal operations at Teladoc Health.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, and CourtFiling.net.

NALA CEO Vanessa Finley joins host Jill Francisco to preview this year’s catalog of hot topics, standards, and certification courses. And Finley explains how to register to attend public events for free. 

At its July meeting, courses cover a range of trending issues – qualified immunity and immigration law – to practical skills, such as case planning with Agile or Scrum, how to write appellate briefs, and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law.

On the topic of UPL, Finley and Fransisco discuss how the regulatory landscape is changing when it comes to who can deliver legal services. Opening markets in as many as 17 states is leading to increased demand and expanded roles for paralegals. This is especially the case for limited licensed legal technicians and document preparers, Finley explains. 

Vanessa Finley is chief executive officer of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

William L. Murphy is an Assistant Professor at St. John’s University.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Host Christopher Anderson interviews Foster about her journey from rural Minnesota and Wisconsin to running a team of contract paralegals to support modern law practices.

Foster explains how, in her experience, contract paralegals not only save money but bring a level of expertise and consistency that many full-time approaches lack. 

Anderson and Foster discuss lessons learned from the pandemic, including how quickly a sidelined paralegal could be picked up by a different firm in a competitive market.

Jaclyn Foster is the founder and principal of Jaclyn Foster Paralegal Services.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Scorpion, Lawclerk, Alert Communications and LawYaw.

In her interview with host Jill Francisco, Johnson details her path to entrepreneurship, shares war stories about life as a paralegal, and offers tips and strategies for paralegals looking to improve and advance.

She offers practical advice, from the basics of double-checking work to strategies for cultivating curiosity in approaches to tasks and assignments.

The two discuss the changing paralegal landscape, alternative career paths, and challenges facing the next generation.

Short Bio for Notes: Amy Johnson is the founder of The Angle Solutions LLC.

Questions tackled:
Why get certified?
Do certificate paralegals make more money?
What’s the difference between a certificate and a certification?
Which certification program is best?
Is getting a state certification advisable?
Will certification help obtain limited licensing?
Can CLE courses be applied to multiple certification bodies?
What’s the time commitment for certifications?

In this episode, find answers to these questions and hear why Carl decided to pursue so many certifications.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Forced to manage a team in a tense and remote environment, Williams learned to embrace the uninvited reality.

Williams and host Jill Francisco discuss the shift and realization that law practice wouldn’t return to a pre-pandemic normal even with vaccines.

One example: Williams tells Francisco he expects expensive travel for depositions that can be handled remotely will be difficult to justify to clients. And as he’s already experienced, the search for talented paralegals doesn’t have to be limited by geography. Williams notes he hired a veteran litigation paralegal based in South Carolina to work on his team, based in West Virginia. No moves necessary.

The two also discussed how paralegals could distinguish themselves and become invaluable members of legal teams.

Marc Williams is the managing partner of the West Virginia office of Nelson Mullins.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

The two also explore relaxed privacy protections, leave eligibility, spikes in COVID-19 related employment cases, and employer-mandated vaccines. A common issue Moore sees: Former employees claiming COVID-19 is a pretext for wrongful termination.

Brian Moore is a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl in Charleston, West Virginia

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Perez Oyola and Morrison speak about the differences between being a paralegal in the civilian justice system and under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including Miranda warnings vs. Article 31 rights.

Perez Oyola explains the career path of a military paralegal, the core tasks and levels of progress, and the mandatory continuing legal education at the highest levels.

Master Sgt. Albert Perez Oyola serves as a U.S. Air Force law office superintendent at Whiteman, AFB.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Wheeler shares what young professionals and their employers should be looking for to make the right career choice and be sure they’re creating an inviting, inclusive culture.

What’s coming in 2021? Wheeler predicts an emphasis and microscope on written and unwritten policies that create barriers to diversity. She also explains why firms and companies will need to pay attention to new platforms grading employers on diversity and inclusion.

Sheri Crosby Wheeler is VP, Corporate Social Responsibility for Mr. Cooper.

Morrison, who is working on a certification from the Legal Lean Sigma Institute, shared with listeners what he’s learned so far about applying process improvement concepts to the delivery of legal services. From planning to performance metrics, Morrison highlights the value of finding efficiencies and eliminating wasted time.

Morrison also responds to a timely listener question about securing confidential client documents when working from home. Morrison talks through the ethical responsibilities of paralegals and how to raise issues with employers.

The onus is on the paralegal to secure confidential materials through, among other things, encrypted wifi, password protections, and locked storage.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

If you still need to register, click here!

Brian Moore is a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

2020 NALA Conference@Home will be held July 9-11. Register before June 12 and receive a conference care package loaded with great goodies.

Jillian Kuehl is the director of legal recruiting at Xcentri Legal.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

If you would like to have a question answered on Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or comments from listeners, email him at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Nicole Clark is the Co-Founder and CEO at Trellis Research, Inc.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Debbie Hrytzay is a paralegal at Rumberger, Kirk, & Caldwell, PA, in Orlando, Florida.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Stay tuned to the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or comments from a listener. To send in your own question, email Carl at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Kristine Custodio Suero is an Advanced Certified Paralegal, a paralegal educator, and a highly sought after speaker.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Christopher Jennison is an Attorney Advisor with the Federal Aviation Administration in the Office of Employment and Labor Law and Chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Paralegals.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Stay tuned to the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or comments from a listener. To send in your own question, or to let Carl know how your goals are progressing, email him at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Keith Shannon is a lawyer and paralegal faculty member at Central Piedmont Community College in North Carolina.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Stay tuned to the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring questions or comments from a listener. To send in your own question, email Carl at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Melissa Hamilton is vice president of NALA and a paralegal at North Dakota’s Office of the Attorney General.

Sherron Brightharp is the in-house paralegal to the general counsel for the Charleston County School District.

Vicki Kunz recently retired from her role as insurance risk manager of MDU Resources Group, Inc.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Greta Zeimetz, CAE is the Executive Director of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Keith Shannon is an instructor in the paralegal technology training program at Central Piedmont Community College in North Carolina.

Special thanks to our sponsors Scorpion, Answer1, and TimeSolv.

Stick around for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring questions and comments from listeners like you. Send in your own question by emailing Carl at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Jill Francisco is an advanced certified paralegal, a paralegal for Dinsmore & Shohl in Huntington, West Virginia, and the president of NALA.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc.

Stay tuned to the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or comments from a listener. To send in your own question, email Carl at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Maddy Martin is head of growth and education at Smith.ai.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, Thomson Reuters Firm Central and CourtFiling.net.

Stay tuned to the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or comments from a listener. To send in your own question, email Carl at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, Thomson Reuters Firm Central and CourtFiling.net.

Sandy Lavender is a certified Human Resources specialist and office manager with Clark Hill PLC.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, Thomson Reuters Firm Central and CourtFiling.net.

Stay tuned to the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or comments from a listener. To send in your own question, email Carl at devoted2law@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, Thomson Reuters Firm Central and CourtFiling.net.

Tara Hughes, PP-SC, ACP is employed as a paralegal at Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PC, in Phoenix, Arizona where she specializes in family law.

Lauren Rentz is a paralegal in Greenville, South Carolina.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Linda McGrath-Cruz has been a litigation paralegal from Miami, Florida since 1997.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

April Ferguson is the chief executive officer of Opveon Litigation Services and is the head of Opveon’s jury consulting practice.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, and Thomson Reuters Firm Central.

Tiffany Haas works at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Professional Education where she developed the Paralegal Certificate Program.

Johanna Schroeder is the director of executive search at F-O-R-T-U-N-E Personnel Consultants of Houston.

Lisa Vessels lives in Miami, Florida, and is employed by Duane Morris LLP as manager of the rules-based docketing software program utilized by her firm’s U.S. offices.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, Thomson Reuters Firm Central, and ServeNow.

Andrea Grabow is a certified paralegal stationed at the Consumer Protection Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, Thomson Reuters Firm Central, and ServeNow.

Patrick Palace is a plaintiff’s trial lawyer with an emphasis on workers’ compensation, personal injury, civil rights and social security matters.

Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, Thomson Reuters Firm Central, and ServeNow.

Lisa Myers is the legal studies program director for Northwest Career College in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Special thanks to our sponsors Boston University, NALA, Thomson Reuters Firm Central, and ServeNow.

Conni Hebert is a paralegal at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and currently serves as the chair of the State Bar of Nevada Paralegal Division and is the NALA Liaison to the Las Vegas Valley Paralegal Association.

Special thanks to our sponsors Boston University, NALA, Thomson Reuters Firm Central, and ServeNow.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.

Tracy Mosz, ACP is a certified eDiscovery project manager with Brewster & De Angelis where she has been since March 2011.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.

Aspiring paralegals can get caught on a job carousel. You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin talks to Julia Dunlap, president of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), about how paralegal education has changed, trends in the profession, and what employers are looking for when hiring a paralegal. They also discuss ways for young paralegals to get off the job carousel, including investing in certification and which school to choose.

Julia Dunlap is the American Association for Paralegal Education’s president for 2017 and the director of legal education for UC San Diego Extension.

Carl H. Morrison is a Senior Certified Paralegal for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, working in the areas of litigation, gaming, employment and corporate law.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.

Adam Camras is the co-founder and CEO of Lawgical, a company that owns and operates leading legal brands including Legal Talk Network, Serve Now, and Serve Manager.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.

Vicki Kunz is the Insurance Risk Manager of MDU Resources Group, Inc. and has attained the Competent Toastmaster designation (CTM) and the Competent Leader designation (CL) from International Toastmasters. She has over 20 years experience as a paralegal which includes managing two law firms and establishing a paralegal department.

Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston University, NALA, and ServeNow.