Over-the-Top Brownies

My friend Cheri dropped off a plate of these brownies at our house on Sunday. They are OMG out-of-this-world delicious. She was given the recipe by a co-worker, Amy, for publication in the upcoming Hospice of Northwest Michigan cookbook...which I'll certainly be purchasing for holiday gifts.

Not only are these brownies tasty, I like it that the recipe makes a 9x13" pan of goodies that, in turn, must be cut in very small pieces because it's so rich...so the result will feed a gang. Be sure to store them in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

1 batch brownies (boxed mix or your favorite recipe)

1/2 cup salted peanuts

1 cup chopped Reese's peanut butter cups

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 Tablespoon butter

1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies Cereal

Mix brownies according to directions. Bake for 20-25 minutes in a 9 x 13" baking dish (prepared according to the directions on your brownie recipe).

Remove from oven and top with peanuts and chopped peanut butter cups. Bake an additional 4-6 minutes.

While they finish baking, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Stir in cereal (do not skip the cereal, it does add a lot to the recipe). Remove brownies from the oven and spread chocolate mixture over top.

Refrigerate at least two hours until set. You will probably need to keep these refrigerated.

Enjoy!

Paralegal Profile: Kris L. Canaday

Kris L. Canaday, who recently relocated to Slidell, LA from Dequim, WA, answers my Thirteen Questions this week. Kris is a virtual freelance paralegal who works with attorneys across the country from her home office.

You'll enjoy reading the answers Kris submitted, particularly her opinion about the latest trends in the industry. Thanks, Kris!

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1. Where do you work and what is your job title? I work as a [virtual] freelance paralegal from my home office providing support to attorneys (and their paralegals) around the country.

2. What prompted you to choose a paralegal career? My career as a paralegal was quite unexpected. My first taste of the legal field occurred when I was [unwillingly] thrust into a two-week legal secretary position after a lot of coaxing by my temporary agency and the attorney. I fell in love with the job the very first day ... the fast pace, the necessity for detail and organization, analytical skills, and what I then dubbed "organized chaos."

I immediately knew I had found my calling and that the legal field provided a way for me to fulfill my need to analyze everything and desire to draft formal documentation. After I completed my temporary assignment, I immediately sought full-time employment at a law firm. I obtained a legal transcription position and worked myself into a paralegal position within a couple of months. The rest, as they say, is history.

3. What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is the work itself ... the review, analysis, document preparation ... I love it all. Knowing I am helping attorneys regain a work-life balance and move their practices forward is a close second though!

4. What professional associations do you belong to? I am currently a member of the Washington State Paralegal Association, National Federation of Paralegal Associations, and the National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals.

5. How has your membership benefited you? Membership has expanded my network, introducing me to attorneys and paralegals I would not have otherwise met. As a result, I have had the opportunity to lead association meetings and contribute articles relating to freelance legal professionals and military spouses. These opportunities have helped me develop new ideas for reaching out to both attorneys and military spouses to help educate them on the opportunities available to them.

6. Do you have any professional certifications? When I decided to make paralegalism my career, I went back to school and earned a bachelor's degree in legal studies and a paralegal certificate to back up my experience. I have not yet decided whether to pursue specific certifications since I have already received a degree and certificate in the field.

7. What has been the highlight of your career? Working in the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) for the University of California has, by far, been the highlight of my career. I believe job satisfaction is a direct consequence of one's colleagues.

I've had jobs where I loved the work but the people made the job miserable and I've had jobs where the work wasn't great but the people were and I loved the job as a result. Working in OGC offered both great people, including my mentor, and work with plenty of opportunity to advance my career and knowledge. I grew significantly as a person and a paralegal during my tenure there. I will always hold dear that time of my life and career.

8. What do you see as hot trends in the paralegal industry? I think the paralegal industry will continue to expand and grow. I believe that regulation of the profession will be a hot trend for many years to come.

Several driving factors in technology and the economy may also push the prevalence of virtual work. For example, the ability to connect to anyone anywhere anytime is changing the way firms practice ... more and more firms are adding a virtual law practice to their brick and mortar practice or leaving the brick and mortar behind completely for the virtual world. Similarly, paralegals have the ability to connect with their attorneys from any location; a very lucrative idea for small firms and solo practitioners who have been hit hard by the economy and do not have the financial ability or overhead to hire employees.

9. Have you dipped your toes in the social media waters? I've touched a bit on social media. Although I'm not heavily involved, I do find it a means for interacting and networking with other legal professionals, which is very important to me as a [virtual] freelance paralegal ... it serves as my "office communications" and provides a connection to other professionals who share my interest in law.

I am most involved with LinkedIn and am also connecting with people through ParalegalGateway. I recently opened a Twitter account, as well, but it is still foreign to me; I have not yet had the time to delve into it to figure out how it works.

10. If someone contemplating a paralegal career asked you for career advice, what would your answer be? For two reasons, the number one advice I give is to go back to school. I worked as a paralegal for almost seven years before earning my paralegal degree and certificate and, although the career came first, my studies were concurrent with my work for much of that time. However, core law classes taught me things you don't learn from on-the-job training ... things every person working as a paralegal should know. Although I worked as a paralegal and did my job well, I no longer feel like I was qualified to do so prior to my schooling.

Moreover, our profession is on track to be regulated. Several states, such as California, already have statutes regulating paralegals. In these instances, one cannot hold oneself out as or work as a paralegal without meeting specific requirements. Anyone contemplating a new career as a paralegal will be ineligible for a paralegal position without meeting those requirements, which usually require some sort of formal education. Thus, in states that regulate paralegals, education is a prerequisite to landing a paralegal job.

11. Is there a quote that inspires you? My favorite thing to say is, "Perseverance pays." It is analogous to the phrase, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

This concept is applicable in so many ways. When life gets tough, it's important not to give up. The same goes for being overwhelmed with work or school. And, if you look at successful individuals, the key to their success is most often perseverance; there is no success without failure. Successful people don't stop when they fail ... they learn from their errors and keep trying until they succeed.

12. You've enjoyed a successful paralegal career. To what single event or person do you attribute that success? I attribute my success as a paralegal to my long-time mentor and friend Vanessa Adams. She helped me take my career to the level it is now. She taught me how to do my job and she taught me what it takes to be not just a paralegal but a great paralegal. She taught, listened, understood, mentored both professionally and personally, and led by example. Without her I would not be where I am now.

13. What is the most important step a paralegal can take to keep his or her career interesting? I think perhaps the best way to keep your paralegal career interesting is to stay involved. There are many ways and opportunities to stay involved, whether by continuing to expand your knowledge-base through CLE or law classes, taking on new tasks and responsibilities at work, or by becoming more involved outside of work through membership opportunities or pro bono work.

Bonus...just for fun question: If you had to be in any other profession other than a paralegal, what would it be? If I had to be in any other profession, I would be a psychologist. Although law is my passion, psychology has always been my love. I believe the two complement each other. When I went back to school to get a bachelor's degree in legal studies, I also obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology.

My dream would be to go through another dual degree program and earn a J.D./Ph.D. in Psychology and focus my research on eyewitness testimony and false confessions in the hope of someday implementing a nationwide training program for jurors and improving interrogation techniques.

Congratulations To New OSBA Certified Paralegals

The Ohio State Bar Association recently recognized 26 paralegals who met the requirements necessary to earn the designation of “OSBA Certified Paralegal.”

The Association celebrated their hard work and dedication to excellence in the profession at a ceremony held at OSBA Headquarters on July 23, 2010.

“It’s not easy to become a specialist,” said OSBA President Carmen V. Roberto during the ceremony. “It takes a lot of work. Paralegals serve a purpose within the legal community that I don’t think is appreciated to the extent it should be. It fills a void that existed in this profession.”

By definition, a paralegal eligible for OSBA certification is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.

The OSBA held a ceremony to formally recognize all 26, and even published a video to commemorate the event. Follow this link to view pictures of the event. The video is available on YouTube by following this link.

Congratulations to the following new OSBA Certified Paralegals!

Akron:
J. Michele Banner, Brouse McDowell LPA
Natalie E. Smith, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Bedford:
Cheryl A. Conroy, Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc.

Cincinnati: Theresa L. Combs, Waite Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co. LPA;
Kisha L. Dosa, Montgomery, Rennie, and Johnson;
Erik B. Lutson, The Kroger Co.;
Stephanie S. Morris, Freund, Freeze & Arnold;
Venessa C. Wickline, Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP

Cleveland:
Carol S. Taylor, Allstate Staff Counsel;
Carmen M. Verhosek, Hickman & Lowder Co. LPA

Columbus:
Linda T. Brown, State of Ohio - Auditor of State;
Nellie B. Chambers, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP;
Kristen L. Dell, Marshall & Morrow LLC;
Jennifer L. Early, Bricker & Eckler LLP;
Michelle L. Lacy, Weltman Weinberg & Reis Co., LPA;
Christina J. Miller, Bricker & Eckler LLP;
Rebecca A. Pace, Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease LLP;
Mindi L. Schaefer, Reminger Co. LPA

Dayton:
Patricia R. Niswonger, Gudorf Law Group, LLC
Erica M. Smith-Forth, Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz

Hilliard:
Jennifer L. Hayhurst, Ohio State Medical Association

Lancaster:
Elizabeth J. Nelson, Stebelton, Aranda & Snider

Troy:
Cassandra S. Potts, Utrecht & Young, LLC

Westlake:
Tracey L. Antognazzi, John J. Ready & Associates

Wickliffe:
Mary P. Giulivo, The Lubrizol Corporation

Paper or Paperless: Who's doing the filing?

There is a saying that goes like this: If you want to know if the person you are hiring is truthful, ask if they like to file.

If the answer is "Yes!" do not hire her because she's not truthful. NO ONE likes to file! Like it or not, though, filing accurately and regularly is crucial in the legal industry.

A filing system is really a finding system. This is your method for storing information today and finding it quickly and easily tomorrow. This applies whether you deal with paper or you've 'gone paperless'.

Searching for a misplaced document or file is not only a waste of time and energy, it's also a waste of money. Assuming you work 48 weeks in a year and spend just five minutes of each hour of an eight-hour workday looking for lost documents or files, you will waste 160 hours per year. Using a billing rate of $95 per hour (insert yours here), the annual loss is $15,200.

Usually this search involves several people and it delays getting your work done, so the cost increases proportionately. You also lose credibility and appear unprepared when you do not have information at your fingertips.A good filing system can remedy all of this.

Here are some tips to help you create a system that will minimize the time you spend (waste) looking for lost files and documents.

Begin by making some decisions. You need a clear plan that is understood by everyone in the office.

First decide who is responsible for the filing. This may be delegated to one or more employees or it may be that the person doing the work on the file is responsible for putting their work away and cleaning up any loose ends. Unless this is clear, papers will be thrown haphazardly into the file, if they make it there at all, creating a continuing nightmare.

Second, decide when the filing will be done. Again, doing this as the work is done is really the most efficient and results in fewer errors. If that can't happen, establish a policy that filing is to be done by the end of every day or at the beginning of the next. Don't allow papers to disappear into a filing tray, never to surface again.

Establish a filing system that is easy and flexible. Your mantra should be 'store it where you can retrieve it...file it where you can easily access it.' Visualize how you use files and set up a system that is both flexible and matches your situation. This system should include a policy on where the files will be stored (a central area or in the office of the person working on the file?) with an explicit rule that the floor is not a filing cabinet.

Also, how do you want the files set up in the first place? How will the documents be put in the file? What kind of file folder will be used? How do you want them labeled? Even if all the filing is done perfectly, if the label is not visible, you won't be able to find the file.

Remember that bloated files are a waste of money and space. Statistics reflect that you will only refer to about 20% of what you file. The remaining 80% just takes up space. Generally waaaaaay too much paper is being filed in the first place. Aim to keep your files lean and mean. Don't save anything you will not need. Condense and purge whatever you can before filing. You don't need five copies of the same document. This is true even in a paperless environment.

Before you put documents away, ask these questions:

• Is this relevant?
• Will I need this again? Can I get this again if I need it?
• What are the consequences of getting rid of this?
• What is the worst case scenario if I don't have this?

Depending on the answers to your questions, you may be able to get rid of the paper altogether.

Are you done? Move it out! Do the math: if you keep adding files to the filing cabinet and never move any out, the cabinet will soon be overflowing. When you are done with a matter, move the file to closed storage immediately. This is the only way to make room for new files.

If more comes in than goes out, you have a problem. Your file drawers should have a minimum of two inches of free space or it will be too difficult to put anything away. Where will the files go? Probably on your desk, on the floor, on the chair...and the piles mount.

What about those files on your desk? A vertical step file organizer is your solution to the piles of files on the corner of your desk (or on the floor!) that become part of the landscape and soon forgotten. When the files are upright, they are easier to see and easier to locate.

In a paperless environment, you would apply many of the same principles. If you've gone paperless, good for you! You will still need resources and a system. Decide who will scan and 'file' incoming documents in the system and where they will be placed for easy retrieval. You'll also have to determine responsibility for 'filing' email and outgoing documents. Again, simplicity is key. If your system is too difficult, you're just asking for trouble.

Your challenge: Visualize your office: consider the flow of work and the best location for your files. Then design a policy for setting up the files, doing the actual filing, and moving the closed files to storage. This policy will include who will actually do the work, when they will do it, and how it will be done. Be very clear and concise. Remember that this is a lot like home: if everyone understands their responsibilities, does their fair share and picks up after themselves, the problem will be solved.

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©2010 Vicki Voisin, Inc.

Do you want to use this article in your newsletter, ezine or Web site? You can so long as you include this entire blurb with it: Vicki Voisin, "The Paralegal Mentor", delivers simple strategies for paralegals and other professionals to create success and satisfaction by achieving goals and determining the direction they will take their careers. Vicki spotlights resources, organizational tips, ethics issues, and other areas of continuing education to help paralegals and others reach their full potential. She publishes a weekly ezine titled Paralegal Strategies and co-hosts The Paralegal Voice, a monthly podcast produced by Legal Talk Network. More information is available at www.paralegalmentor.com.

The Paralegal Voice: Intellectual Properties Paralegals

The latest edition of The Paralegal Voice, Intellectual Property Paralegals,co-hosted by Lynne DeVenny and me, is now available at Legal Talk Network.

We welcome paralegals, Colleen Sarenpa, Director of Trademarks for Polaroid Corporation at PLR Brand Services, LLC, and Gwen Spurrier, a paralegal at the Minneapolis law firm of Gray Plant Mooty, to talk about one of the fastest-growing specialty areas today: intellectual property.

Colleen and Gwen discuss how they entered this highly specialized area of the law, their biggest challenges on the job, and what it takes to become an intellectual property paralegal. Also in this episode:

•Our guests’ career paths to IP work
•The definition of IP and its sub-specialties
•The responsibilities of an IP paralegal
•How to get into the IP specialty area
•Online IP resources
•Practice and social media tips from Vicki and Lynne

Page URL: http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/paralegal-voice/2010/08/ip-paralegals/

MP3 link: http://websrvr82il.audiovideoweb.com/ny60web16519/LTN/PLV/PLV_081810_IntellectualProperty.mp3
Internet resources referenced in the podcast:

• International Trademark Association, http://www.inta.org/


• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, http://www.uspto.gov/


• Careers in Intellectual Property Law, ABA, http://www.abanet.org/intelprop/careers.html
  
• Appendix to Careers in Intellectual Property Law, ABA, http://www.abanet.org/intelprop/appendix.html
  
• Intellectual Property Today Magazine, http://www.iptoday.com/


• Patently O blog (Dennis Crouch), http://www.patentlyo.com/


• IPWatchdog blog (Gene Quinn), http://ipwatchdog.com/


• How to Become an Intellectual Property Paralegal, http://www.ehow.com/how_5858706_become-intellectual-property-paralegal.html


• National Association of Legal Assistants Advanced Paralegal Certification - Trademarks http://www.nala.org/APC-trademarks.aspx

The Paralegal Voice also thanks its sponsors: Westlaw Deposition Services and the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

If you enjoyed The Paralegal Voice, please share the link to the podcast with your friends and colleagues.

Do you have a request for a future show or a question for us? You are welcome to contact us at http://www.blogger.com/TheParalegalVoice@gmail.com

Janice Linker: Metrolina Paralegal Association 2010 Paralegal of the Year

The Metrolina Paralegal Association (MPA) has announced that Janice D. Linker, CLA, NCCP has been named its 2010 Paralegal of the Year Award
winner.

The MPA Paralegal of the Year Award is given to a paralegal
who exhibits a commitment to professionalism and to the advancement
of the legal community. The paralegal must also be a member in good
standing of the MPA.

Ms. Linker has been a senior paralegal at Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A.
in Charlotte, NC for thirty-seven years. She was nominated by James
W. Allison, the managing partner of the firm along with two of the firm’s
long-standing clients, who described her as a paralegal with a “wonderful personality” and “unsurpassed” work ethic. Ms. Linker is also “efficient” and held in “high regard by many long-term clients.”

In addition, to her work at Johnson, Allison & Hord, Ms. Linker has served in several leadership roles in MPA including Third Vice President, NALA Liaison, and Historian.

Ms. Linker received a commemorative plaque, a cash gift, and a complimentary year of general membership in the MPA.

The Metrolina Paralegal Association serves paralegals in the Charlotte, NC area and is an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

Congratulations, Janice!!

Take These 3 Steps for Career Success

Throughout my career, I have immersed myself in learning. Because I have always worked as a paralegal, I have primarily attended and spoken at law-related seminars. Lately I've become interested in time and space organization, so I've been learning a lot about that, too.

I've discovered, though, that it is also important to take ample time to focus on personal development . Why? Because it's essential that you work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you do this, the job will take care of itself and your life will be successful.

Over the years, I have learned 3 steps for success that I want to share with you. I refer to these as my "a-ha's" because they have helped me focus on very important areas of my life and they have also helped me create a successful career.

1. You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around the most. This is a principle taught by Jim Rohn, whom some call the father of personal development. A light bulb went off when I heard this. It made me realize that it's necessary to surround myself with people I want to be like....people who are success oriented, who have vision, who have spirit and dedication.

The key is to make a concerted effort to be with people who think big and talk about great ideas, instead of the headlines of People Magazine, the price of gas (how depressing!), or how much they hate their jobs and their bosses. Attitudes and levels of thinking are contagious. Beware!

There are tons of great seminars offered both where you live and all around the country. You have no excuse not to get out there and surround yourself with people who have positive attitudes and like-minded goals.

2. Your ENVIRONMENT must support your goals. Your success depends more on your environment than you may realize so it's imperative that you give yourself an environment that supports you at the level you want to attain, not the level you are at now. There are three areas of your environment that you should give your utmost attention:

• Your physical environment. Do you love your work space? Do you have enough room to work comfortably? Does this space encourage you to think? Are you surrounded by things that are beautiful and bring good memories, such an eye-catching piece of art?
  
  We can't all have a gorgeous view from our offices, or even a window, but we can create an environment that brings us peace and tranquility without spending a lot of money. Little touches like flowers, photos of friends, family or your recent vacation, even an interesting paperweight, can make you feel good.
  
• Your emotional environment. Do you get the support you need from your friends, family and co-workers? These people are not mind readers. It's up to you to ask for what you need from them.

I have a great group of friends that I can bounce ideas off, ask for help with problem solving, and share my successes. Of course, sometimes I just need to vent! If your friends, family and co-workers can't provide this, you may need to find a career coach or a support group that will.


• Your intellectual environment. It's crucial that you feed your brain with new ideas and up-to-the-minute knowledge. Are you stimulating your brain every day? If not, you need to find a way to make this happen...to expose yourself to creative and innovative thinking that will stretch and increase your brain power. Again, seminars, teleclasses and books/audio programs are helpful.
  
  I really enjoy listening to these on my iPod so I can learn while I take a walk or when I travel...this makes a long drive, a lengthy wait in an airport, or my time on an airplane zip by. My personal favorite is downloading books to my iPod from my membership at http://www.audible.com/. iTunes also has many podcasts and other programs available at little or no cost.

3. Your future is created by your habits. It only makes sense that your daily habits will create long-lasting effects in your life. The habits you establish today will determine the results you have tomorrow.

If you want to be healthy and in shape, you must have the habits of a person who is healthy and in shape. If you want to be a successful paralegal, you must have the habits of a successful paralegal. If you want to be a leader, you must have the habits of a leader. None of these things will happen tomorrow unless you establish habits today that will lead to the results you want.

Your challenge: Visualize YOUR tomorrow. What kind of person do you want to be? Where do you want your career to take you? Then decide: What new habit can you put into place now that will make your tomorrow what you want it to be? What can you do today to create a work environment that gives you joy? What will you do to surround yourself with people who will support you and who will be a positive influence? Ask yourself these questions now so that you can create habits for yourself today that will result in the tomorrow you want.

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©2010 Vicki Voisin, Inc.

Do you want to use this article in your newsletter, ezine or Web site? You can so long as you include this entire blurb with it: Vicki Voisin, "The Paralegal Mentor", delivers simple strategies for paralegals and other professionals to create success and satisfaction by achieving goals and determining the direction they will take their careers. Vicki spotlights resources, organizational tips, ethics issues, and other areas of continuing education to help paralegals and others reach their full potential. She publishes a weekly ezine titled Paralegal Strategies and co-hosts The Paralegal Voice, a monthly podcast produced by Legal Talk Network. More information is available at www.paralegalmentor.com