A paralegal, also commonly known as a legal assistant, is somebody who carries out tasks assigned by their supervising attorney. Paralegals have many duties, some of which include assisting attorneys in their opening and closing arguments for trials, drafting pleadings and motions, and conducting legal research. Because the duties of a paralegal require an extensive working knowledge of the legal field, many firms will only hire individuals who are certified to be paralegals.

Depending on prior education, paralegals can either pursue an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or obtain a paralegal studies certificate. An associate’s degree in paralegal studies is a two-year program, typically, offered at a community or junior college. These programs combine paralegal and elective courses to create a multidimensional education.

A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies is a four-year program that is offered at colleges and universities. The bachelor’s degree programs require you to take paralegal courses, general education, and elective courses. While a bachelor’s requires more time, they normally are very worthwhile in terms of receiving a balanced, thorough education. In addition to your courses, you will also be required to complete an internship at a law firm. The internship is intended to give students real, working experience in order to prepare them in their career. But, for those who already have bachelor’s degrees, a paralegal studies certificate is their most viable option. It strictly consists of paralegal courses without the requirements of completing any general studies or elective courses.

Pursuing a certificate in paralegal studies is a straight-forward, condensed route to becoming certified to work as a paralegal. Universities or community colleges offer these certificate programs, and the course length ranges from a few months to a year. Like the bachelor’s program, a certificate programs requires you to complete an internship as well. You also have three certificate options that you can choose from in your certification program. The three certifications are:

• The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
• The American Alliance of Paralegals Inc. (AAPI)
• The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).

Another step that would help in your journey to becoming a paralegal is speaking to other paralegals. Other working professionals can share valuable insight on the career. You may learn how many hours they typically work or whether where they work is a high-stress, high-paced career. You may also gain insight on what firms are looking for when hiring new paralegals, which can put you at an advantage. Meeting other paralegals, either through internships or networking, can create lasting relationships that could potentially help you find a position. A recommendation from your internship supervisor could result in being hired upon graduation or certification.

While being certified is not required to become a paralegal, it certainly helps. Many law firms would rather hire individuals who have been trained and certified to work in what is usually a fast-paced legal environment with little room for error. While it varies from firm to firm, many paralegals work over-time, with the rest of their colleagues, in order to meet deadlines and to finish large workloads. Working as a paralegal is a demanding position, but many paralegals find their profession rewarding. Individuals with an interest in the legal field, who possess strong writing, verbal, and organizational skills, may discover a career as a paralegal, very suitable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Jones is a court reporter, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

LinkedIn is the fastest growing and most powerful networking tool for professionals. Every year, LinkedIn is getting more powerful as more people begin using it to network. LinkedIn makes sense to business professionals and particularly paralegals as they are using it to network, acquire knowledge, get referrals, and more.  LinkedIn Groups are becoming a powerful place to acquire new connections, meet people with like-minded interests, and share knowledge and information.

Here are a handful of LinkedIn Groups every paralegal should belong to:

1. Paralegal Network, with 20,894 members and counting, was created to expand the paralegal’s “network of people and ideas.” It is a very active group with frequent postings and interactions. The group forbids postings that advertise paralegal schools, blog postings, or any other forms of solicitation. Instead, postings are strictly limited to paralegal-related questions and issues.
2. Paralegal Jobs & Continuing Education is a private group with a membership of 19,618 individuals. In order to join, you must submit a request to join. The purpose of the group is as explained in its title; to post paralegal jobs and continue your education as a paralegal.
3. Paralegal & Legal Support Jobs (a subgroup of Law Jobs Network – #1 Legal Careers Group) is another private group. They boast a membership of 18,885 people. Job postings for temporary or permanent positions are frequently posted, ranging from paralegal, legal secretary assistant, virtual assistant, support staff clerks in corporations, law firms, government in-house banking finance, etc.
4. National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. is the official LinkedIn group of the NFPA with 10,141 members. One must request membership. In their group profile, the NFPA states their core values which are:
   1. Being responsive to member needs
   2. Being committed to honesty and integrity
   3. Supporting unity within the profession
   4. Providing visionary leadership
   5. Being open to the exchange of ideas
   6. Embracing diversity
   7. Being committed to the profession’s Code of Ethics
5. The Paralegal Society is a private group (with 1,691 members) that was created to be a positive movement in exchanging information for new and seasoned paralegals. According to their group profile, members share articles, share information and career tips, ask questions and seek advice from experienced paralegal mentors. Their mission is to help change “the social aspects of education, mentorship and camaraderie for paralegals throughout the country.”
6. Virtual Paralegal, a private group, with 1,040 members was created to serve individuals interested in becoming a virtual paralegal or already are. Here, they discuss trends, career and networking opportunities in order to help aid paralegals in their career.
7. E-LEGAL, another private group with 90,449 members since November 21, 2008. It claims to be the #1 group for lawyers, attorneys, corporate in-house counsel, paralegals, law students, recruiters, etc.  E-Legal is one of the largest groups for professionals involved in the legal field and is a great platform for networking professionals.

Search LinkedIn’s Groups directory to find industry groups and networks to take part in. Once you have found several groups you are interested in, ask to join.  The group’s moderator will approve your request and add you to the group.  Once you have joined the group, you should get involved in discussions on a regular basis.  This will allow you to continue to learn from others and continue to connect to more and more people.  The larger your network is, the more useful it can be in the event you are looking for advice or information from others.

If you liked this article, you might also like “3 Organizations That Could Help You Advance Your Paralegal Career”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan Kay is a Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

The recent STAR convention (for court reporters) in Washington, D.C., had some wonderful seminars.  Co-chairs Lisa DiMonte of Planet Depos and Jan Ballman of Paradigm Reporting, did a fabulous job coming up with some great speakers.  Alan Gregerman, author of the book, “The Necessity of Strangers,” gave a very entertaining and enlightening keynote presentation; however, the one I want to share with you was a session by Steven P. Bucci, Director of the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies.  At the end of this article, I promise I will share with you some VERY IMPORTANT information which some of you may not know.

First, some key points of his speech:

The U.S. faces – and is largely unprepared for – significant cyber security threats that jeopardize America’s critical infrastructure, the freedoms that Americans exercise online, and the economic viability of U.S. business.

Russia, China, and Iran are trying to steal or destroy U.S. digital property to further their power or prestige.  Hamas, Hezbollah, and criminal organizations from around the world have also employed cyber methods.  Cyber espionage is rampant, with U.S. companies losing an estimated $250 billion every year in intellectual property.

Despite the best intentions of those who supported previous cyber legislation, a regulatory basis simply will not work:  It does not improve security and may even lower it by providing a false level of comfort and burdening the private sector with outdated regulations.

Cyberspace’s dynamic nature must be acknowledged and addressed by policies that are equally dynamic.  And, any legislation must provide robust protection for privacy and individual freedoms.

Steven Bucci stressed that no one can totally protect themselves from cybercrime; however, he did share these 6 cybercrime protection tips with the court reporters in attendance:

1. Never do your online banking when using the internet at a public place such as a hotel, Starbuck’s, etc.
2. Passwords:  change them, at a minimum, quarterly.  Use capitals and lower case letters, as well as symbols.  You can also use sentence phrases, such as thecowjumpedoverthemoon.  Never use your private info such as birthdays.
3. When accounts ask for your mother’s maiden name, this is not a test.  Do not use the real maiden name of your mother!  Make something up.  A few court reporters admitted they – and I will confess, the author of this article – have been doing this. 
4. If you travel out of the country, especially to a country such as China, you are better off leaving all of your electronics – computer, iPad, cell phone – at home.  Take none of it with you.
5. If you are ever traveling, especially out of the country, and you are in the bathroom, and the bathroom is all steamed up, but you notice there is a circle area on your mirror which is entirely clear, it means that someone is watching you!  Mr. Bucci was totally serious about this.
6. Legal Shield was mentioned as one form of protection that was thought to be a good product.

Those are my tips of the day.  Make it a great day, and be safe!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Jones is a court reporter, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

This past weekend, I attended the Society for the Technological Advancement of Reporting convention in Washington D.C.  As usual, Stenograph’s John Wenclawski gave an update on what’s happening – both the good and the not so good.

First, the Good:

Let’s talk about the good – the beautiful Diamante!  There have been over 10,000 sold.  John says it’s the most reliable machine they’ve ever made.  What’s new?  They’ve got fabulous new colors, including red and blue.  Also new are Wifi, the depth of the stroke, and raised vowels.  With the Diamante you get cleaner notes, better translation, less fatigue, and have a good image because you’ve got such a cool machine!

It’s also important to note that the room was full of state-of-the-art court reporters, and the consensus was that anyone who had a Diamante loved it.  Some of the reporters also talked about some of the competitive writers on the market and how they did not compare to the Diamante.  Stenograph auctioned off a brand new Diamante, and Sandy Lyons was the lucky winner.  Sad to say, I still do not have a Diamante, but hope that will change in the near future.

Now, the Not So Good:

John talked about some of the concerns about the court reporting industry:  There has been some negative talk about the reduced number of depositions, the seven-hour deposition limit, arbitrations, etc.  However, this is not the real problem.  The real problem is the current supply of court reporters.  56 percent of court reporters are 50+ years old.  Student numbers are down.   In 2011, we had 83 court reporting schools.  In 2013, we are down to 66 schools.  WE NEED NEW COURT REPORTERS!

Please remember that 70% of students who are referred by a working court reporter complete the program.  This is huge.  Working court reporters need to mentor students, talk about the positives in our profession, get involved with your local schools, and adopt a high school.  Every little bit helps.

If you would like to consider becoming a court reporter or know someone who might like to, you may download our complimentary report “Is Court Reporting a Good Career Choice?“

Or, if you would like to check out an court reporting schools, the Prince Institute website has some great info on court reporting schools that Stenograph sponsors.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Jones is a court reporter, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

Are you a member of a paralegal organization? If not, you may want to consider joining one. Being a member can be beneficial as you may find inside tips on job openings, networking opportunities, internship opportunities, and staying up to date on issues in the legal industry. You could join a local paralegal organization as it may help you connect with local professionals. Most paralegal organizations are affiliated with national organizations such as the National Federation of the Paralegal Associations (NFPA), National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), and the American Bar Association (ABA).

National Federation of the Paralegal Associations

The NFPA has 52 paralegal associations. Membership benefits include discounts on NFPA Annual Convention rates, free access to the annual Joint Conference, and a free subscription to the National Paralegal Reporter Magazine. You can find a local member association near you on the NFPA website.

The NFPA encourages individuals and representatives to become involved in the field on a national level. Members can raise issues for studies, research, and reviews through appointed coordinators and an ad hoc committee. At the conventions, members can democratically debate and vote on raised issues. Policy positions have to pass with a two-thirds vote in order to be passed.

There are three types of memberships: individual sustaining membership ($47.50), military membership ($22.50), and student membership ($25). The other three types of memberships are for groups only: associate membership, organizational membership, and paralegal association.

National Association of Legal Assistants

The other national organization to consider joining is NALA.  NALA is a non-profit organization that provides continuing education and professional development programs for paralegals in all stages of their career. NALA represents 18,000 paralegals across the nation and sets professional standards of the profession. NALA even offers a certification program that has been running for 30 years. The organization’s continuing education programs also include publications, live seminars, and online programs. NALA, like NFPA, has a bi-monthly magazine that provides updated news and educational articles concerning various aspects of law.

Membership dues are billed annually. Active member dues are $140 per year (20% discount for active military or active military reserve). Associate members are $150 per year. Student members are $50 for the first two years. And sustaining members are $115 minimum.

American Bar Association

Lastly, the American Bar Association, the third major organization that paralegals should think about joining is the most long-standing and well-known legal organization in the United States. ABA sets the standards for ethics and professionalism for the legal profession as a whole. Paralegals who have graduated with a degree from an ABA-accredited school are generally seen as highly qualified upon graduation.  Joining the ABA can provide you a handful of resources to advance your career. Resources include educational, technology, and career resources.

If you found this article interesting, you may be interested in “A Fast and Easy Way to Schedule Out-of-Town Court Reporters”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan Kay is a Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.