We’ve spent a lot of time talking about various skills that benefit paralegals. This month, we’re going back to basics for those who are just starting out. We’re going to discuss how to become a paralegal. It’s something we all wondered at some point before we started in the legal industry. In this post, we’re going to explain a few of your options. Choose a Paralegal Program One of the best ways to become a paralegal is to enroll in a specialized program. A good program won’t just send you through basic educational courses (like business math and English). It will also offer substantive legal ..read more

Strong writing skills are essential to your job as a paralegal. The legal industry relies on good communication; and written communication is one of the most commonly relied upon modes. Between emails and letters to clients, opposing counsel, and court officers and various pleadings and responses, paralegals play an important role in helping ensure that the law firm clearly transmits its message. Yet, it’s not easy to learn to write well (particularly in the legal industry where getting your exact message across is important). Since I’ve taught Legal Research and Writing for paralegals, worked ..read more

I work with a lot of lawyers. Primarily, I provide web content and social media management. Yet, I’ve also provided virtual paralegal services and worked in a traditional law office. Recently, I sat down (virtually!) with one of my clients, Megan Zavieh, to discuss what she looks for when she needs to hire a paralegal. Megan Zavieh runs Zavieh Law. She’s licensed to practice law in several states, including California and Georgia. Megan’s practice focuses on helping lawyers who are facing an ethical investigation by their state bar. Here are the five things she expects out of her paralegal. Be ..read more

If you’re enrolled in a paralegal studies program or if you’re considering it, you probably have some questions about what you’ll learn in your classes. Of course, you could also have some inaccurate beliefs. Let’s face it – television shows that focus on legal matters are interesting and they can be fun to watch. Yet, they’re not always accurate. In this post, you’re going to learn a little bit about what you can expect to learn in your paralegal studies classes.  Introduction to Civil Procedure This may also be called a civil law class. In this class, you’re going to learn the basics of ..read more

We’ve all done it: used social media to find out what we can about someone for personal reasons. Yet, the paralegal profession is subject to certain ethical rules. Is it ethical for paralegals to use social medial to get information on parties involved in an active case? Ultimately, the ethical rules for lawyers in your jurisdiction and exactly what you’re doing on social media will determine how you go about using social media as a means to get information. Below, you’ll find some guiding principles to help you during your search. First, Read the Rules in Your Jurisdiction Although you’re a p ..read more

One of the most frustrating parts for paralegal students is finding that first job. There’s a lot of information out there online about finding a professional job in an industry. The problem is that not all of the information available is written from the perspective of someone who went through the process of finding that first job in the legal field. Because of that, we’ve put together this list of the top 5 paralegal job search questions and answers! When Should I Start Looking for My First Paralegal Job? The sooner, the better. At first you might not feel that you’re ready to make the switc ..read more

If you’re thinking about going to school to become a paralegal, I have great news for you! There are more career options for paralegals than ever before. In this article, we’re going to discuss some exciting career options and you’ll learn how to tell if that career option is right for you. One more note before we dive in. You don’t have to stick with one career option for paralegals for your entire professional life. You can change as you discover what you like and what you don’t like. Work in a Traditional Law Office One of the most obvious career options for paralegals is working in a tradi ..read more

As 2017 draws to a close, many people are thinking about what they’d like to accomplish in 2018. Goal setting is a wonderful way to prioritize what you’d like to accomplish. Yet, many people find the process of goal setting an overwhelming proposition. In addition to following the SMART method for goal setting, which will be explained below, there are some questions you should ask yourself. A Quick Refresher on SMART Goal Setting SMART is an acronym that stands for: The SMART process can be used for short-term or long-term goals. It can be used for personal or professional goals. A specific go ..read more

A new reality show emerged, and it centers around one of the world’s scariest occurrences: being interviewed for a job. The Job Interview brings the interview process live to your television. It involves real employers interviewing real people for real jobs. And job interviews? They are nerve-wracking. You’re being judged for your merits, your education, and your experience in a very short amount of time. In honor of The Job Interview, here are tips new paralegals can use for their interviews. Do a little research on the law firm, law office, attorney, or business. A few days before you go to ..read more

When you’re a new paralegal or even as a paralegal student, it can be hard to find primary authorities during the research phase of a case. Yet, that’s not always easy to do in some areas of law; and even if you find some things that you think might be primary authority, how do you know for sure? Computer-assisted legal research platforms, such as LexisNexis or WestLaw, aren’t cheap. The free resources may not always be up-to-date. So, how can you find primary authorities in a way that is time and cost efficient? Start with Secondary Authorities It may sound like I’m crazy, but if you want to ..read more