The Paralegal Coach

In this episode, Ann reflects on her experience as a paralegal manager and shares valuable lessons she wish she knew as a paralegal. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the business aspect of law, finding a work-life balance, mastering the art of delegation, knowing your numbers and key performance indicators, and recognizing that management is aware of underperformers.

Key Takeaways:

1. Remember that while you may love your work, it's not your business. Find a balance between work and personal life and don't let work override your personal life.
2. Work-life integration is a more realistic approach than work-life balance. With technology, you can work anytime, anywhere, but make sure to prioritize your personal life.
3. Management knows who the underperformers are. Even if it seems like they're getting away with it, they are not rewarded like high-performing individuals. Others in the office notice their behavior too.
4. Time entry is crucial. Make sure to prioritize entering your billable hours and other necessary data on time to avoid unnecessary issues and misunderstandings.
5. Be proactive in seeking feedback from your superiors and seeking clarification on tasks. This helps ensure that you're meeting expectations and delivering work that aligns with their vision.
6. Don't compare your workload or contributions to others. Focus on doing your best and continuously improving your skills and knowledge.
7. Remember that success is a journey. Strive for continuous improvement, set goals for yourself, and adapt to new challenges and opportunities that come your way.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our podcast page and blog.

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/

In this episode, Ann emphasizes the dangers of "fake it till you make it" mentality in the legal profession, highlighting a story of a paralegal who was fired for refusing help. She advises paralegals to admit when they need assistance and pursue additional training when necessary.

The episode concludes with actionable strategies for litigation and non-litigation paralegals to improve their skills and career prospects.

Key Takeaways:

1. Sometimes asking for help or additional training can benefit your career and prevent mistakes.
2. Actively seeking help and admitting when you don't know something is better than pretending to know it all.
3. It's important to be honest with yourself when assessing your current skillset and areas for improvement.
4. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses in different areas of litigation can guide your professional development

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our podcast page and blog.

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/

In this guest episode of the Paralegals on Fire! Podcast Show, Ann Pearson has a very special guest and this episode is going to inspire you, whether you're a new paralegal, struggling to break into the field or an experienced paralegal who thinks there's no such thing as a career ladder for a paralegal.

Kim Barrett is the Director of Paralegals and Legal Professionals at a Global Law Firm and her story is important for you to hear. Kim started her paralegal career as a part-time night receptionist at a law firm. She shares her amazing journey and career along with some great tips for paralegals.

In all of our podcast episodes, we try to give paralegals an actionable strategy that they can take away from the show because we know your time is valuable.

In this podcast episode, Kim Barrett suggested that paralegals connect with their colleagues. Join your paralegal organization. Speak to colleagues at other firms. Ask questions and don't take No, for an answer. Keep moving forward. Remember: If you don't ask the answer will always be No!

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our podcast page and blog.

In today's episode, Sarah Riley Mohr, Associate Corporate Counsel at Amazon, talks about her journey from being a paralegal to becoming a lawyer. Sarah discusses the challenges and rewards of her path and provides insights on whether it is worth it for others to pursue the same route.

Sarah also discusses the best traits and skills that a paralegal can learn, such as the ability to take initiative, think critically, and demonstrate a willingness to do substantive work. Additionally, Sarah emphasizes the importance of recognizing when to delegate tasks and focus on higher-level work. Today's podcast episode provides valuable insights for both paralegals and attorneys on how to succeed in the legal profession.

Key Takeaways:

• One of the most important traits of a paralegal is being able to spot issues and ask the right questions.

• The ability to take initiative and think critically is an important trait for paralegals to demonstrate to attorneys that they are capable of more substantive work.

• No task is beneath anyone, but it is also necessary to understand when to delegate to others in order to focus on higher-level work.

• Attending law school while working as a paralegal requires a significant amount of dedication and time management.

• Becoming a lawyer after working as a paralegal is possible but requires careful consideration of the costs and benefits.

Please visit our podcast page for the full show notes and any resources mentioned in the show.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our blog.

Did you hear about our upcoming live workshop?

Ann Pearson is going live on May 16th and May 18th for the 7 Habits of Indispensable Paralegals! Get your seat here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com/courses/seven-habits-of-indispensable-paralegals 

In this episode, Ann and Michael Quartararo discuss e-Discovery. The growing area of e-Discovery has become a mandatory skill for paralegals in the industry, and it's encouraged that all paralegals learn e-Discovery to increase their career security and job potential.

Key Takeaways:

• Integrating project management with e-Discovery can be a good next step in understanding the e-Discovery lifecycle.

• Paralegals already have a legal foundation that makes it easier to transition into e-Discovery careers.

• A way to get to that six-figure salary mark is to become an e-Discovery project manager.

Did you hear about our upcoming live workshop? Ann Pearson is going live on May 16th and May 18th for the 7 Habits of Indispensable Paralegals! Learn more here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com/courses/seven-habits-of-indispensable-paralegals

Please visit our podcast page for the full show notes and any resources mentioned in the show.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The E-discovery Boot Camp takes all of the guesswork out of managing an e-discovery project. This online course gives you a step-by-step guide to use from start to finish (with 40+ pages of a written plan, templates, and e-discovery checklists for every phase!).

We walk you through each step and give you the training and the tools to master every phase of your e-discovery project.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mike Quartararo is the President of the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), the world's leading organization for training and certification in e-discovery. For more than 10 years, ACEDS has trained lawyers, paralegals and other legal support professionals at law firms, corporate legal departments, the government, and in academia. He is also the author of the 2016 book Project Management in Electronic Discovery, now in its second edition.

Michael has been consulting in e-discovery, information governance, project management and legal technology for 25 years, including 10-year stints at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP. He also operates a successful consulting practice that provides guidance to corporate legal departments and law firms.

A graduate of the State University of New York, he also attended law school in London. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS). He frequently writes and speaks on e-discovery, legal operations, project management and technology topics.

In this episode, Amy discusses the difference between a legal secretary/assistant and a paralegal. Amy is the chair of the paralegal section of the San Francisco Bar Association and has written several articles about the differences between the two roles. Ann and Amy also discuss how legal secretaries should not be referred to as paralegals and how paralegals have some tasks that legal secretaries cannot do.

Key Takeaways:

• Paralegals have some tasks that legal secretaries cannot do, and paralegals can bill for certain tasks.

• It is important to understand the differences between a legal secretary/assistant and a paralegal.

• It's important to take a step back and assess why you are staying in a job that makes you unhappy.

• Sometimes you have to put your ego aside and do what is right for yourself.

• Presentations and articles are available to help attorneys understand the differences between legal secretaries and paralegals, and it is important for job postings to accurately reflect the requirements of the position being advertised.

Please visit our podcast page for the full show notes and any resources mentioned in the show.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our blog.

This conversation between Ann Pearson and Jessie Foss emphasizes the importance to be curious, ask questions, and research the law on your own in order to advance in the field. Through Jessies' curiosity and interest in learning more about the legal profession, she was able to advance and transition into a paralegal role.

Key Takeaways:

• Organization and task prioritization are crucial skills for a trial paralegal who may be assisting multiple attorneys and handling urgent tasks during a trial.
• Hands-on experience was more valuable than the paralegal certificate when it came to landing a position at the firm.
• You can seek help from recruiters and research how to improve your interview skills in preparation for your job search.
• It's important to have practical experience over theoretical knowledge in the legal field.
• Effective communication and delegation skills are necessary for a paralegal to manage tasks efficiently during a trial.

Please visit our podcast page for the full show notes and any resources mentioned in the show.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our blog.

Are you a personal injury paralegal (or want to be one)? Here's the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE 8-Step Guide to a Rockstar Personal Injury Paralegal.

Key Takeaways:

• Don't waste the investment of time and money you've put into obtaining a paralegal certificate.

• Be proactive and take ownership of your work.

• Manage your priorities, not just your time.

• Develop systems, checklists, and procedures (SOPs) to streamline your work.

• Invest in your career by continuously improving and updating your skills.

• Reflect on your performance annually and set goals for improvement.

Please visit our podcast page for the full show notes and any resources mentioned in the show.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our blog.

Are you a personal injury paralegal (or want to be one)? Here's the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE 8-Step Guide to a Rockstar Personal Injury Paralegal.

In our monthly paralegal inspiration episode series of #RockstarParalegals who truly enjoy what they do, I talked with Heidi Semkovich. Heidi is a paralegal in Alberta, Canada, and has worked in Oil & Gas, Criminal, Regulatory, and most recently in labor and employment law.

Heidi discusses her insights and tips for paralegals in areas such as:

• How to handle an "attorney's bad day"
• Your professional integrity is your currency
• How to know your worth and show your worth

Please visit our podcast page for the full show notes and any resources mentioned in the show.

Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career?

The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career, including a course on how to master your attention to detail. View our course offerings.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com.

For more resources, visit our blog.