The Paralegal Voice

John and Patsy Ramsey, Richard Jewell, and Gary Condit are names everyone has heard as they were all on trial in the court of public opinion. These cases were spread throughout the media and, even though there was never an arrest made in any, the public had judged the accused. L. Lin Wood was the lawyer representing these individuals as they fought for their reputations. An expert in First Amendment litigation and management of the media in high-profile cases, Wood has been referred to as "the attorney for the damned."

On this episode of The Paralegal Voice, Vicki Voisin has the opportunity to interview L. Lin Wood about the benefits and difficulties in representing high-profile individuals and how a paralegal can be most effective in these cases. Wood began his career in defamation cases when he represented Richard Jewell in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing case and has since represented the Ramseys, Gary Condit, attorney Howard Stern, and many others in whom the media took a particular interest. He describes how fighting against the media can be different than a regular plaintiff and how he protects his clients from public accusations. He explains that there are additional issues when dealing with a public figure including when to sue for slander and how to control what his clients say to the media. In terms of paralegals working in libel cases, there are three qualities Wood expects: acute knowledge about the case, understanding of the situation, and ability to keep track of a wealth of information coming from the media.

L. Lin Wood is an Atlanta attorney who has developed a national reputation during his more than 36 years as a trial lawyer focusing on civil litigation, representing individuals and corporations as plaintiffs or defendants in tort and business cases involving claims of significant damage. He can be found at www.whetriallaw.com.

Special thanks to our sponsors. NALA is a professional association for paralegals providing continuing education and professional certification programs for paralegals at nala.org. Also, visit ServeNow.com for a nationwide network of trusted, prescreened process servers.

Despite US notions of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, many innocent people have been sent to prison for lengthy to life sentences. Common reasons for these wrongful convictions are faulty eyewitness accounts, use of "junk" science as evidence, and informants with conflicts of interest. On this episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin interviews Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon from the Cooley Innocence Project at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Together they discuss the Innocence Project and the Post Conviction DNA Testing Statutes that opened the door for exoneration of the innocent around the country. Furthermore, we discover how the convicted innocent have less help than guilty parolees upon their release. Tune in to learn more about coerced confessions, bad actors who cause false convictions, and what remedies the wrongfully convicted have.

Professor Marla Mitchell-Cichon began her teaching career in 1986, following service as a public defender. Her clinical teaching includes post-conviction, criminal defense, general civil practice, elder law and externship. Professor Mitchell began teaching in Cooley's Innocence Project in 2002. She serves as the project's co-director. In 2006, Professor Mitchell received the Justice For All award from the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan for her Innocence Project work. Professor Mitchell's litigation experience includes practicing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Ohio Supreme Court, and trial and appellate courts in Ohio and Michigan. Professor Mitchell's publications are in the areas of criminal law, elder law, ethics, and clinical teaching.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA and ServeNow.

In reaction to rising legal costs and decreased access to legal services, Washington State has authorized paralegals to practice law on a limited basis through its new Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) program. Soon paralegals will be able to practice in specific areas of law. To learn more about this developing field, tune into this episode of the Paralegal Voice, where host Vicki Voisin interviews NALA President Ann Atkinson, ACP, as well as attorneys Steve Crossland and Thea Jennings of the Washington State Bar Association. Together, they review the licensing, permissible scope of practice, and continuing education requirements for these new LLLT Paralegals.

Ann Atkinson is the current President of the National Association of Legal Assistants and Senior public finance paralegal at Kutak Rock, LLP. Ann has also served on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Paralegal Association and is a former adjunct professor for Metro Community College in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a prominent author and presenter in matters paralegal.

Steve Crossland has been a practicing attorney for nearly 40 years. He is the former President of the Washington State Bar Association and has been dealing with the unauthorized practice of law and access to justice for 21 years. He is also the recipient of WSBA's Award of Merit and the current Chair for the Limited License Legal Technician Board.

Thea Jennings is the LLLT Program Lead and Staff Liaison to the LLLT Board at the WSBA. She began her career at the WSBA in 2008 as a paralegal in the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the disciplinary body that prosecutes ethical violations by Washington attorneys. In 2006, she received her post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies from the University of Washington, where she also received her undergraduate degree in English and French studies.

Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA and ServeNow.

Today's economy can be challenging for paralegals. Make sure you're taking the right steps to advance your career. On this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin interviews future President of NALS Karen McElroy. Together they discuss what you should be doing as a paralegal to get ahead and stay ahead in this job market.

Karen McElroy will become the President of NALS at the end of February 2014. She has been working in law since 1981 in a multitude of capacities including legal secretary, legal assistant, and paralegal. Karen is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard. Special thanks to our sponsor, NALA.