If you’re like many paralegal graduates, you might have had to take any position you could just to get your foot in the door after completing your paralegal certificate program. I’m seeing this first-hand inside my Litigation Boot Camp, more so in the recent enrollments when we were open in January. In fact, I was a little surprised at how many this time around were working as legal assistants or receptionists at a law firm, and they joined the Litigation Boot Camp to better prepare them for when they do get the promotion. They don’t realize that by taking the course, they’re already giving ..read more

4 Quick Paralegal Resume Tips   1: Keep the file name of the resume simple.   Use first name, last name, dot paralegal, dot pdf. That’s it. That’s all you need. What you don’t want for resume file names are:   JaneDoe Resume v1   DoeJ Resume(2) (in other words, the file was copied two times). With the first name missing, it could be more difficult to find you.   Jane Doe Resume 2023 Make it easy for them to find you when they’re searching for you. It looks like this: Jane.Doe.Paralegal.pdf. 2: Keep the format of the resume simple. Don’t do the two-column format. Colu ..read more

Can you make any money as a freelance paralegal? In this video interview for the podcast, I asked Jaclyn Foster that question and other questions about what it’s like to be a freelance paralegal. She was the perfect person to ask because, as a former paralegal turned multiple six-figure entrepreneur, Jaclyn’s journey from subcontracting to founding her own successful freelancing venture has equipped her with invaluable insights. As the CEO of Freelance Paralegals USA, she provides a revolutionary platform connecting law firms with skilled freelance professionals. Through her signature cour ..read more

I had an interesting inquiry from a paralegal student as part of her class where she asked if she could interview me. Kristy Medo is a paralegal student at Madison Area Technical College in the ABA-approved fast-track program.  This interview was part of an assignment for her career-building class. She and I dive into my career path from student to business owner, finding balance, alternative career options for paralegals, and AI tools. Dive in below! Prefer Audio Instead of Reading? My Start as a Paralegal Q.  How did you get started in this field? A. Good question! There are ..read more

If you have a paralegal certificate or a college degree, you should not be working for $15 an hour, even if you are right out of school. When I make that statement, many will say, “But, Ann, if we start demanding too much money, those lay-paying jobs will be done by overseas virtual assistants for $8 per hour. Do you really want a paralegal job that could just as easily be done by someone in the Philippines for $8 per hour?  In this video blog, I will share some ways to build up your paralegal “career armor,” to increase your job security and navigate the impact of overseas virtual lega ..read more

Are you feeling like an underpaid paralegal? As paralegals, it’s our job to provide support to attorneys and clients, dedicating countless hours to research, investigation, drafting, and client engagement. You serve as the point of contact when the attorney is not available. You also put in just as much dedication and effort into every case as the attorney. How often have we heard someone say, “You’re the one leading this whole operation behind the attorney…” Throughout your career as a paralegal, you may find yourself telling yourself the same thing, leading to intrusive thoughts, such as ..read more

WHAT IS A LITIGATION PARALEGAL?   A litigation paralegal is someone who works under the supervision of an attorney who practices in criminal or civil litigation. A litigation paralegal assists the attorney with many case management duties, from the complaint through the trial and the appeal.  Three primary areas of case management responsibility include: Draft pleadings and discovery. Prepare for depositions, mediations, and arbitrations. Assist at trial. Those job responsibilities can sound vague to someone who does not already work in the legal profession, so let’s take a closer ..read more

Below are 5 paralegal mistakes (and a bonus one) to avoid early on in your career. I’m going to share some of the biggest pitfalls that I see new paralegals make early in their careers that could be holding you back. And if you’re making any of them, what you can do to self-correct now so that it isn’t detrimental to your paralegal career. 1. Stay in Your Lane Paralegal mistake number one – being afraid to step outside your lane. This will stunt your career growth and your earning potential. So what does it mean to stay in your lane? It means you do exactly what they ask of you, exact ..read more

These were the top 7 actionable strategies and tips for litigation paralegals to accelerate their paralegal career in 2024. 1. How to Get Up to Speed Fast on Your Cases I think one of the tips for litigation paralegals that could help here is what I had recommended in our three-step roadmap for new litigation paralegals. Even if you’re not new to the litigation practice area, this would help because it can also be a method that you use to get up to speed fast on any new cases. Start by reviewing all of the motions, briefs, discovery responses, and pleadings. Instead of doing the typical th ..read more

We are hosting a 5-day challenge for new litigation paralegals designed to help them accelerate their careers. In this challenge, we’ll share a 5-step plan to get a jump on 2024 and change things up for the new year. Watch a Quick Intro to the Challenge Below! We’ve been getting emails with questions about the 5-Day Challenge that we announced last week so we decided to put out this special blog to answer them. When is the challenge and how do I participate? The challenge kicks off on Saturday, January 20th at 1:00 pm Eastern when I go live with a quick training session and talk about ea ..read more