Professional Profile: Rebecca J. Buttoroff, RP, Pa.C.P.

Rebecca J. Buttorff, RP, PaCP, of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, answers my Thirteen Questions this week. She is a senior civil litigation paralegal who work for Douglas N. Engelman, Esq. at the law firm of Lepley, Engelman & Yaw, LLC. in Williamsport, Pa.

You'll want to read Rebecca's list of 5 questions to determine if a person can be an exceptional paralegal. Thanks, Rebecca!

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1. Where do you work and what is your job title? I work for Douglas N. Engelman, Esq. at the law firm of Lepley, Engelman & Yaw, LLC. in Williamsport, Pa. My job title is Senior Civil Litigation Paralegal.

2. What prompted you to choose a paralegal career? I had always been interested in law and law enforcement. I had considered becoming a Pennsylvania State Trooper. When I went back to college after all my children were in school, I felt a paralegal career would be safer than law enforcement.

3. What is your favorite part of your job? I enjoy researching and writing. To me, it is fun to research an issue and creatively argue it in a persuasive way.

4. What professional associations do you belong to? I have been a member of the Lycoming County Paralegal Association (LCPA) for over sixteen years. During that time, I have served as President, Vice President, and Editor of the Gavel as well as chaired a number of committees.

The LCPA is a member of the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. I served as the LCPA's Primary and Secondary Representative to the Keystone Alliance for a number of years. During that time, I served 2 terms as Chair of the Keystone Alliance, and sat on the Regulation Ad Hoc Committee. I am currently the Co-Chair of the Standing Committee on Paralegal Certification.

I have also been a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) for over fifteen years. I am a member of the Pennsylvania College of Technology's Paralegal Advisory Board as well.

5. How has your membership benefited you? I believe it is important to belong to professional associations on the local, state, and national levels. These memberships provide me with continuing legal education opportunities, allow me to network with other paralegals, participate in community service projects, and help me keep abreast of the trends in the profession. Through these associations, I have met many colleagues who have turned out to be lifelong friends.

6. Do you have any professional certifications? Yes. I have been a PACE - Registered Paralegal (RP®) since 2000. I also am a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P) through the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations.

7. What has been the highlight of your career? In 2007 the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations established the Regulation Ad Hoc Committee and commissioned them to research the issue of regulation in Pa. I had the opportunity to be a member of that three person committee.

The purpose of our committee was to research paralegal regulation and to make a recommendation to the Keystone Alliance as to whether or not the PA paralegal wanted to be regulated and if so, what form of regulation would best serve Pennsylvania paralegals. The Committee presented to the Keystone Alliance a framework for the Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal credentialing program.

In April 2008, while I was Chair of the Keystone Alliance, the members of the Alliance ratified the Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal credentialing program. This certification program established by the Keystone Alliance was a significant advancement for paralegal in Pennsylvania. I feel very fortunate to have been closely involved in this process.

8. What do you see as hot trends in the paralegal industry? Paralegals throughout the United States are recognizing the importance of regulation. I believe we will continue to see programs such as the Keystone Alliance's Pa.C.P. credentialing program being established in other states.

9. Have you dipped your toes in the social media waters? I have a Facebook page and enjoy keeping connected with family and friends. I also manage the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations' Facebook page. Facebook is a great way for me to keep connected with other paralegals and paralegal organizations.

10. If someone contemplating a paralegal career asked you for career advice, what would your answer be? I would start by asking the person five questions.

1) Are you detail oriented?
2) Are you organized?
3) Are you able to manage your time well?
4) Do you have good writing and oral communication skills? and
5) Are you able to work in stressful situations?

I strongly believe that in order to be an exceptional paralegal, you must be organized, detail oriented, know how to manage time, and have good writing and oral communication skills as well as be able to handle stress.

If the person's response was "yes" to these questions, I would recommend the individual look carefully at paralegal programs and preferably seek out an American Bar Association approved paralegal educational program.

11. Is there a quote that inspires you? "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow."

12. You've enjoyed a successful paralegal career. To what single event or person do you attribute that success? At the start of my paralegal career, I was fortunate to have a wonderful attorney to learn from and to provide guidance. After fourteen years, I still work for Douglas Engelman, Esq. He and his law firm have supported and encouraged my participation in professional organizations and attendance at continuing legal education events. He has played a significant role in the success of my career.

13. What is the most important step a paralegal can take to keep his or her career interesting? Every opportunity you have you should attend continuing legal educational seminars and lunch and learns even if they aren't in your area of practice. You will be amazed at what you might take from the event. CLE events are a great opportunity to network as well.

Bonus...just for fun fact: I tend to be a risk taker. I believe that if you do not take risks in life you will never grow. I have always encouraged my children and others to do things that may be outside their comfort zone as well. If we don't try new things, we will never be able to master anything new. My risk taking exceeds my professional career. A few years ago I challenged myself further. I went skydiving! It was awesome. So, the next time you find yourself outside your comfort zone, don't be afraid to jump!

Job Security? Take your cues from Santa Claus!

Santa Claus must hold the record for job longevity. After all, he's held the same job for years and years, through good times and bad, with nary a lay-off and, certainly, no downsizing. Really, Santa is indispensable because absolutely no one can do his job as well as he can.

In this time of employment uncertainty, paralegals should take a few cues from Santa:

Santa appreciates the importance of his team. Santa understands that he can't do his job without the support of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen, as well as Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.

He also recognizes that certain team members are uniquely qualified to do certain types of work. For instance, Rudolph with his nose so bright was invaluable on that foggy Christmas Eve when he was called upon to guide the Santa's sleigh.

Santa multi-tasks. When he barely has time to sit down for Thanksgiving dinner before the holiday rush begins and he's expected to be everywhere all at once, Santa makes a list and checks it twice to find out who's been naughty and nice and also to be sure he's got everyone covered. He's practically guaranteed no detail will slip through the cracks.

Santa dresses appropriately. Granted he gets to wear a uniform (I suppose that's what you'd call his red velour suit) but even if he doesn't like it, he wears it like a true professional because he knows he needs to look the part. After all, it just wouldn't be right if Santa showed up in jeans and flip-flops.

Santa doesn't waste time. Remember how Santa slid down the chimney and said not a word but went straight to his work? He knows that the only way to finish a project on time is to stay focused and minimize interruptions.

Santa delegates. Knowing he should do only what only he can do, Santa delegates a bunch of the work to his elves. He also utilizes plenty of "stand-in" Santa's to cover all the malls and Christmas Parties. This frees him up to do only what he personally has to do to be sure deadlines are met and an excellent job is done.

Santa does even the dirtiest parts of his job with a smile. Who else would slide down a sooty chimney and land with twinkling eyes and dimples so merry? Santa's not a slacker...he gets the job done regardless of what he has to do to make it happen.

Santa fulfills wishes, often without being asked. Anticipating what someone wants or what needs to be done is just part of his job description. Johnny wants a pair of skates? Suzy wants a doll? Nelly wants a story book? He's all over it! Two front teeth? You got it! Elephants, boats and kiddie cars, too? Done!

Santa uses appropriate language. There's only one permissible 4-letter word for Santa: Hoho! Other than that, Santa speaks in complete sentences without the need for foul language to make his point.

Granted, Santa enjoys a lot of perks: he flies around the world without a passport or airport pat downs and he gets oodles of f'ree cookies. When things do get stressful between Thanksgiving and Christmas, though, Santa doesn't complain, he just does his job...and does it well...and then hunkers down at the North Pole to get ready for the next year. Things may slow down but he never quits working toward his December 24-25th deadline.

Your challenge? Think about Santa's practices and work ethic. Which can you apply to your own job to not only make your work more challenging and interesting (without sliding down any chimneys!) but also make yourself indispensible to your employer?

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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 http://www.paralegalmentor.com.

The Paralegal Voice: Talking Murder and Mayhem with Sue Ann Jaffarian

The latest editionof The Paralegal Voice, "Talking Murder and Mayhem with Sue Ann Jaffarian: Paralegal & Fiction Writer," co-hosted by Lynne DeVenny and me, is now available at Legal Talk Network.

In this episode, we welcome Sue Ann Jaffarian, a paralegal for Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC in Los Angeles, and author of the best-selling series, The Odelia Grey Mysteries.

Sue Ann talks about balancing dual careers as a very busy corporate paralegal and successful fiction writer; her "large and in charge" fictional paralegal, Odelia Patience Grey; and what's next for both Sue Ann and Odelia. Throw in vampires, writing advice, and dealing with weight prejudice - this is a lively discussion you won't want to miss!

Also in this episode, Sue Ann reveals:

* Her tips for getting into or making the change to corporate or health law

* How she got her start as a fiction writer

* How she balances working as a full-time paralegal with writing several novels a year

* Her tips for would-be writers

* Information re Book No. 6 in The Odelia Grey Mysteries due June 2011

Page URL: http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/paralegal-voice/2010/11/talking-murder-and-mayhem-with-sue-ann-jaffarian-paralegal-fiction-writer/

MP3 Link: http://websrvr82il.audiovideoweb.com/ny60web16519/LTN/PLV/PLV_111810_Jaffarian.mp3

Internet resources referenced in the podcast:

* Hooper Lundy & Bookman, PC - Health Care Lawyers: http://health-law.com/

* Sue Ann's website: http://sueannjaffarian.com/

* Babble 'n Blog (Sue Ann's blog): http://sueannjaffarian.blogspot.com/

* "To Maura Kelly and Marie Claire: I'm Fat. Deal With It!" (Babble 'n Blog)

* Sue Ann's books, The Odelia Grey Mysteries, Ghost of Granny Apples Mysteries, and Madison Rose Vampire Mysteries are available at bookstores, as well as http://amazon.com/

* Websites for some of Sue Ann's favorite authors: http://www.naomihirahara.com/; http://www.kellistanley.com/; http://www.jeriwesterson.com/; http://www.kathleenernst.com/

The Paralegal Voice also thanks its sponsors: Westlaw Deposition Services and NALA...The Association of Paralegals and Legal Assistants.

Please share the links to this episode of The Paralegal Voice with your friends and colleagues. If you have a request for a future show, or a question for us, you are welcome to contact us at TheParalegalVoice@gmail.com.

Also, you can be sure you never miss a podcast by subscribing to any Legal Talk Network show, including The Paralegal Voice, by using the RSS Feed links or iTunes links at http://legaltalknetwork.com/rss-feeds/.

Paralegal Profile: Carl H. Morrison II, PP, AAPI

Carl H. Morrison II, PP, AAPI, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, answers my Thirteen Questions this week. He is a senior certified paralegal who has been employed by Rhodes, Hieronymus, Jones, Tucker & Gable in Tulsa for over 15 years.

Carl admits to being an "adrenaline junkie" who loves the fast pace of trial. You'll enjoy reading his career tips, his favorite quotes, what he sees as hot trends in the industry, as well as what sports team he is passionate about. Thanks, Carl!

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1. Where do you work and what is your job title? I am employed by Rhodes, Hieronymus, Jones, Tucker & Gable in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a senior certified paralegal and have been with this firm for over 15 years.

2. What prompted you to choose a paralegal career? My legal career began over 18 years ago when I started back to school to become a court reporter. I was going to school part time and working full time as a runner at another firm in Tulsa.
When I realized just how much I enjoyed working in a law firm, I started making bold changes to get to where I am today. With education, hard work and dedication I went from runner, to legal assistant to ultimately paralegal.

3. What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of the job is when a case goes to trial, whether it is a mock trial or the "real" deal. I guess you could say that I am an "adrenaline junkie" and love the fast pace of trial!
I am truly blessed to work with such fine attorneys that respect my input that goes into every aspect of trial, from preparing witnesses and selecting jurors, to assisting with the development of a trial "game plan", to ultimately observing and reporting jurors' reactions during the course of trial.

4. What professional associations do you belong to? I am an active member of NALS...the association of legal professionals where I serve as a board member for our state chapter, NALS of OK, and currently serve as co-chairman for the Future Leaders Development Committee at the national level. I was recently elected to serve as secretary for the Tulsa County Bar Association Paralegal Section. I am also a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and Tulsa Areas Paralegal Association (TAPA).

5. How has your membership benefited you? NALS is an exceptional organization and has benefited me tremendously. From education to leadership to networking, belonging to a great organization such as NALS has given me the tools and resources to take my career to the next level.
I highly recommend to anyone that does not belong to a legal professional organization to consider joining and getting involved in one. The opportunities that a great organization can provide are almost limitless.

6. Do you have any professional certifications? I am certified through the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc.

7. What has been the highlight of your career? That is kind of a hard question, as I have many different highlights of my career. One highlight that comes to mind was the first time I was asked to present a seminar to a group of my peers. From that moment on I was hooked. Since 2005, I have presented numerous seminars and webinars at the local and national level and love getting up to speak before an audience. I guess my biggest highlight was when I published my first article in a national paralegal magazine. It was concerning the little known area of vaccine litigation and the paralegal's role.

8. What do you see as hot trends in the paralegal industry? I have seen many different articles and profiles on "virtual paralegals" within the past year. However, I am not sure that this will be the hottest trend in the industry. Only time will tell if this becomes a new facet of our industry or whether it becomes a passing fad.

9. Have you dipped your toes in the social media waters? If not, do you see that in your future? More like I dove head first into the social media waters! I use Facebook on a professional versus personal basis and am active on LinkedIn and Twitter. I believe that Twitter is a great branding tool to market yourself to other professionals across the world. It is also a great way to network with other like-minded individuals.

10. If someone contemplating a paralegal career asked you for career advice, what would your answer be? Like the old Nike commercial, Just do it! With the current state of the economy, I believe that we will see the legal industry become more and more cost conscious. I believe firms and corporations will utilize paralegals for tasks that once were completed by an attorney in order to cut costs to their clients, thereby creating a demand for qualified paralegals.

11. Is there a quote that inspires you? I just returned from the NALS National Education Conference where our keynote speaker, Erick Burton, said "There is no word 'try'; commit to it or don't."
It reminded me of a quote from the movie 'The Empire Strikes Back". The character, Luke, did not believe that the Force could lift a massive object. He told his instructor, Yoda, that he'd try. Yoda replied "Do...or do not. There is no try." This has become my mantra when approaching any obstacle in life.

12. You've enjoyed a successful paralegal career. To what single event or person do you attribute that success? There are so many events and people in my life that have shaped and influenced me that I cannot list one single event or person. I truly owe all my success to my family and friends that have supported me over the years and have encouraged me to take my career to the next level and continue to do so.

13. What is the most important step a paralegal can take to keep his or her career interesting? Learn something new! I am big on education. I recommend that if there is an area of law or subject matter that you don't work in on a daily basis, take a course at your local community college or attend seminars and webinars on that subject. Learning is a forever thing and you are never too old to learn something new.

Bonus...just for question: What sports team are you passionate about? I love college football and am a huge University of Florida Gators fan! Go Gators!

What do paralegals and Jim Croce have in common?

If you've already registered for The Big Billable Hour Breakthrough: Turn Your Time into a Billable Hour Gold Mine this coming Thursday, you may want to disregard this message...then again, maybe not...
because I've got some interesting info for you!

Unless you're one of those lucky paralegals who doesn't have to account for your time, you'll want to go here to read more and to reserve your spot now.

Now...on to my message about what paralegals and Jim Croce
have in common...it's that elusive creature: TIME!

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You've got to admit...Jim Croce had a good handle on the meaning of time when he wrote:

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go through time with.

Paralegals know all about wanting to save time and there never being enough time!

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Paralegals also know what it's like to...

...start working on one thing...and then getting
interrupted...and then going back to the original
work, only to be interrupted again...all day long!

...see it's quitting time and feeling like you've done
nothing worth billing for!

...rush out of the office to take care of all the other
responsibilities you've got and thinking 'I'll just enter
my time tomorrow!' Ha!!

...sitting in front of your computer for hours at the end
of the month, trying to recreate your time so bills
can go out!

Sound familiar? Can you relate?

What would you say if I told you the key to keeping your billable hour goals on track is almost as simple as brushing your teeth?

It's true!

That's why I'm inviting you to join me for The Big Billable Hour Breakthrough: How to Turn Your Time into a Billable Hour Gold Mine Thursday, December 9th 1 pm ET / 10 am PT

If you've already signed up for the call...thanks! You don't have to do anything. I'll be sending you a separate message with call in information and your link to the handout
soon! I do think you'll want to read 'The Rest Of the Story' below, though. Sound familiar?

----->This is where your register your Big Billable Hour Breakthrough<-----

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The Rest of the Story: I know your pain! I'm a working paralegal...I'm in the trenches with you and I know how difficult it is to get those billable hours entered...to have that billable hour goal hanging over your head...to feel like you're not doing a good job because you have zero hours on the books and it's time to send bills.

Now, while I admit to being fascinated with time organization,I'm NOT a time management guru who's going to give you 'pie in the sky' ways to solve this problem. Instead, I have common sense ideas for you...strategies that you'll be able to put in place as soon as you're off the call.

You see, keeping accurate records of your time is perhapsthe most important thing you do!

Regardless of your experience or expertise, this may also bethe most difficult thing you do.

While there is no 'magic formula' for this process, there are simple steps you can follow...simple habits you can form...that will help you so that you...

Do not have to work harder!
Do not have to work longer hours!
Do not have to sacrifice your quality of life!

Instead, you make time work for you, not against you. I call that The Big Billable Hour Breakthrough!

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Join Vicki Voisin, The Paralegal Mentor, nationally recognized paralegal author and speaker, as she shares valuable 'How To's' for reaching your billable
hour goals.

The Big Billable Hour Breakthrough: How to Turn Your
Time into a Billable Hour Gold Mine.
THURSDAY, December 9th, 2010
1 pm ET / 12 noon CT / 11 am MT / 10 am PT

REGISTER HERE
=========================
Whether you are new to the paralegal field...or havebeen a paralegal for a long time...it's never too late or too early to work on those billable hour habits.

Now you can make the billable hour process as easy on yourself as possible with Vicki's ideas and techniques.

During this webinar (you can attend either by phone or via your computer) you will discover the strategies for determining...

What's stopping you from reaching your goals...
Why you aren't getting your hours entered...
Why it takes planning to reach those goals...
Why you may be 'losing' time...

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IMPORTANT NOTE: This call is for you no matter how much experience you have or where you are with your billable hour goals.

Why? Well as renowned motivational speaker Brian Tracy put it:

Your key result area is the careful entry of your billable hours so you get out of stress and overwhelm. Your hours are entered by the end of the month and at theend of the year your goals have been met.

Let's work to increase your competence in this key result area! You need to have these steps and strategies in place NOW so you get the results you want LATER!

Bottom line: It's never too early --- or too late --- to get control of your billable hours.

So join me for this information-packed call:

THURSDAY November 9th
1 pm ET / 12 noon CT / 11 am MT / 10 am PT

----->REGISTER HERE<----- Reaching your billable hour goals doesn't have to be difficult. By applying some of these easy strategies, you can get yourself on track and stay on track. I can't wait to share these ideas with you! ========================= "See" you there...and remember...I'm dedicated to your extraordinary success!

A Tale of 3 Paralegals and the Big Bad Wolf of Billable Hours

Once upon a time, there were three paralegals who had billable hour goals to meet by the end of each year. This may sound familiar to you.

The First Paralegal adopted a strategy of 'hope' when it came to meeting her billable hour goals. She did her work and hoped she'd meet her goals at the end of the year.

The problem was that she disliked entering her time so she never did that until the end of the month ... and then she couldn't remember what she'd done during the month. She'd spend hours searching her computer and her files to come up with time entries but she never got everything. At the end of the year, she had not met her billable hour goals.

Then the Big Bad Wolf of Billable Hours came to her office and started knocking on her door.

"No, no, no, this can't happen! I'm here to be a successful paralegal!" said the First Paralegal as she continued to 'hope' she'd have enough billable hours to meet her goals...without adopting any new habits to make that happen.

Then "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll see you get no bonus this year! said the wolf.

So the wolf huffed and puffed until it became clear that even though the paralegal had worked very hard all year, sometimes staying late and coming in on weekends, she didn't have enough billable hours entered in the system to demonstrate her hard work. The First Paralegal would get no year-end bonus.

The Second Paralegal adopted a strategy of 'ignore' when it came to meeting his billable hour goals. He did his work and ignored the billable hour issue.

The problem was that he was frequently interrupted by his co-workers (and even by himself) and he constantly stopped his work to answer e-mails and take phone calls. He had trouble keeping track of all the 'tiny time' he spent on those tasks. He ignored the fact that 'tiny time' can add up to 'big time'

Then the Big Bad Wolf of Billable Hours came to his office and started knocking on his door.

"No, no, no, this can't happen! I'm here to be a successful paralegal!" said the Second Paralegal. But he continued to ignore all of the small tasks he handled each day and didn't enter them in the system....and when his email notification sounded, he stopped everything to check it.

Then "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll see you get no raise this year!" said the wolf.

So the wolf huffed and puffed until it became clear that even though the Second Paralegal had worked very hard all year, he didn't have enough billable hours entered in the system to demonstrate his hard work. He would get no year-end bonus.

The Third Paralegal had writer's block. When she tried to enter her time, she couldn't decide what to write. The process was laborious and took too long.

Her time entries didn't demonstrate the value of her work. Much of her time was written down or written off by the billing attorney. Often clients refused to pay for the work she did because it sounded 'clerical' and not important to their case.

You can guess what happen! The Big Bad Wolf of Billable Hours came to her office and started knocking on her door.

"No, no, no, this can't happen! I'm here to be a successful paralegal!" said the Third Paralegal. But she continued writing pitiful time entries, not knowing that there were formulas and phrases she could use that would demonstrate the value of her work. Her billable hour totals continued to dwindle.
.
Then "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll see you lose your job!" said the wolf.

So the wolf huffed and puffed until it became clear that the Third Paralegal could not draft time entries that confirmed value and demonstrated her hard work. She lost her job.

What about you? While this may sound like a fable, it happens all too often and to paralegals you know...maybe even to you.

Falling short of billable hour goals is usually the result of at least one of the following:

1. Lack of planning for billable hour goals and devising a strategy to meet them.
2. Forgetting that 'tiny time' must be entered...it adds up to 'big time'.
3. Drafting time entries that do not demonstrate valuable.
4. Neglecting to enter billable time until the end of the week or the end of the month.
5. Spending too much time on non-billable work.

And there are many more reasons. They can all be traced back to not establishing a clear plan for your time. A plan that keeps the Big Bad Wolf far away as you move steadily toward your billable hour goals.

Are you worried that the Big Bad Wolf of Billable Hours is going to come knocking on your office door? Be sure to check out my new Billable Hour Breakthrough: Turn Your Time into a Billable Hour Gold Mine TODAY.

Join me on December 9th to learn how to keep the Big Bad Wolf of Billable Hours away in 2011!

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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 http://paralegalmentor.com/.

Are You Thinking 'Hooray!!' or 'OH NO!'???

It's that time of year -- time to sit down and take stock. Yes, it's time to talk about billable hours!

When you look at your total billable hours for 2010, will you be shouting "Hooray!" or "OH NO!"?

Many paralegals avoid thinking about their total billable hours, preferring instead to focus on getting their work done. Sometimes they're too busy to think about their billable hours, let alone enter them.

If you're a paralegal who's expected to meet billable hour goals, your value to the firm is most likely determined by the number of hours you bill in a year. This also determines your year-end bonus, raises,and perhaps whether or not you'll keep your your job. You must focus on your billable hours as they relate to the money and profits you generate for your employer. After all, law firms are businesses designed to, hopefully, be profitable.

When I ask paralegals I'm mentoring about the state of their billable hours, they're often unclear about how much they've billed and uncertain if they're a profit center for the firm. Some are even resistant to talking about billable hours at all.

These paralegals operate on what I call the "Hooray! or OH NO! Billable Hour Strategy". It looks like this:

If they've reached their billable hour goals at the end of the year, they shout "Hooray! I'm good and I'm safe...bring on the bonus and the raise!"

If they've fallen short of those goals, they cry "OH NO! What happened? What do I do now?"

This isn't an effective strategy if you plan to be a successful paralegal. It results in a rollercoaster of ups and downs -- with the downs including heavy doses of desperation, frustration and overwhelm, as well as burnout, low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence...and probably no bonus or raise.

It keeps you on a treadmill: working harder to make up the losses, just to find yourself falling further and further behind. After all, there are only so many hours in the day and only so many hours you can bill for.

I've noticed that many paralegals have a million excuses for falling short of their goals: they don't get enough work; they have too much administrative work to do; their work is non-billable; they have too many interruptions; they have no time to enter their time; the firm has an inefficient billing system; clients won't pay for the work they do, blah blah blah.

Another strategy is to just do their work and hope for the best at the end of the year. And still another is to act "as if" everything is OK, thank you very much.

Excuses, hope and acting "as if" won't cut it. You have to take action so you no longer have those "OH NO!" moments.

If you want more "Hooray!" moments, here are 5 billable hour strategies you can adopt to get past "hope" and get off the roller coaster so you're on the path to reaching your billable hour goals.

1. Break down your billable hour goals so you know what you have to do each month. It's essential that you know how many hours you'll be billing each day, each week and each month throughout the year. Then review the totals at the end of each month to be sure you are on track to reach your goals.

2. Learn to turn tiny time into big time. All of those small bits of time may seem unimportant but they can add up to big billable hours. You just have to learn when to do those "small tasks" and how to capture them each day.

3. Eliminate the things that hold you back from getting your work done. Do you have too many interruptions? Co-workers stopping by your office to chat? Telephone calls? E-mail? Clutter on your desk? Piles of paper and files all over your office? Do you spend hours every day searching for misplaced files and documents? There are ways to minimize, even eliminate, these interruptions and plug the holes that are sabotaging your billable hour goals.

3. Get over thinking your work is not valuable or the client shouldn't be billed. No, you're not an attorney...but the income you generate for the firm is very important. All of the work you do is essential to the bottom line of the firm's budget. As for the client, it's up to the billing attorney to determine what the client should be charged for services.

5. Draft time entries that demonstrate the value of your work. There are simple formulas you can use to (a) make entering your time a snap and (b) demonstrate to the client the importance of your contribution to his or her case. When you do this, you reduce the amount of time that's written down or, worse, written off.

If you're shouting "Hooray!" congratulations! Enjoy your raise and your big bonus.

If you're saying "OH NO" join me on December 9th for The Big Billable Hour Breakthrough: How to Turn Your Time into a Billable Hour Gold Mine where you'll learn all the things you need to do to get off the rollercoaster, reach your goals, and shout "Hooray!"

You won't regret this investment. Follow this link to take action now.

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If you have questions or there's anything else I can do for you, please let me know. As always, I'm...

Dedicated to your success!

10 Travel Tips: Be Prepared When Things Go Wrong

As many of you know, I just completed what I jokingly call my "2010 World Tour". That included lots of air travel...from Traverse City to Bismarck to Rapid City to Missoula to Tulsa to Los Angeles to Atlanta (a couple of times) and finally back home to Northern Michigan.

Fortunately for me, except for a couple of minor delays, everything went well.

Now it's the season when you'll be traveling over the river and through the wood to Grandmother's house for the upcoming holidays. Since traveling can sometimes be dicey, I have 10 tips that will help you if anything goes wrong:

1. Be sure your name on your ticket and your ID match. TSA is now strictly enforcing the requirement that the name on your ID (your driver's license or passport) must exactly match the name on your ticket. For instance, 'Vicki Voisin' on my ticket will not work because that's not the full name on my driver's license. I learned this the hard way!

Your ticket will have to be reissued with the correct name and usually for a later flight. In addition, you will have to pay all the fees involved. When you buy tickets, always be sure the ticket is issued to match your ID.

Another tip: When you renew your driver's license, get a separate photo ID card (the cost is $10 in my state). Keep it in a different place from your driver's license when you travel so you have a backup ID in case you lose your license. You'll be able to get through security to fly home if you lose your wallet on the road.

2. Carry with you the toll-f'ree numbers of all the airlines you fly. If a flight is cancelled or you realize you won't make a connecting flight, make a call from your cell phone to the airline instead of standing in line behind all the irate passengers. You will usually be rebooked immediately.

More numbers to have with you: passport, frequent flyer, hotel frequent guest and rental car numbers should be printed on one sheet of paper with a color copy of your passport key pages on the other side of the page. Hide them inside every bag you carry. Send a copy to yourself on your Google account and never delete it. This gives you access to your documents from any computer in the world.

3. Be patient. The people at the desk are doing the best they can. They're more willing to help you if you remain upbeat, calm and cheerful. Think how you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes. The delay is certainly not their fault.

4. Ask for anything you can get. This includes as f'ree meals, hotel rooms, ground transportation, and upgraded seats. You may get them...or you may not. For sure you won't if you don't ask.

5. Take names. If someone makes a promise to you (such as there is a room available at the hotel or you can return the rental call late without penalty) be sure to get the person's name.

6. Keep your daily planner with you at all times. You will need to make notes of new flights and also cancel or reschedule any appointments on your calendar. This is where you can make notes of the person making promises as above.

7. Never check luggage if you don't have to. When you have your bag with you, it will be easier to change planes (and even airlines) at the last minute.

8. Keep necessities with you. Never put anything in checked luggage that you absolutely must have at your destination, such as medicines and personal essentials. Those go in your carry on and are kept with you at all times. I always pack a change of undies, something to sleep in, and a fresh shirt in my carry on.

9. Keep your cell phone and laptop with you. Recharge them whenever you have an opportunity because you can never be sure when you'll find your next working electrical outlet. Also keep all electronics (including flash drives, external hard drive, chargers, and camera) with you, as well as materials for any presentations you'll be making.

10. Take some nice-to-have extras in your carry on. Never leave home without something to occupy your time if you're delayed. A book, magazine, needlework, iPod, crossword puzzle...anything to make the time go faster. It's also a good idea to pack some granola bars or trail mix in case you get caught with no time for a meal.

So, let me ask you. . .do you have any favorite travel tips so you're prepared when things go wrong? I'd love to hear them...please share them below. And best wishes for a happy, safe, hassle-f'ree holiday season!

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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 http://www.paralegalmentor.com/.

Professional Profile: Debbie Arbuckle, Pa.C.P.

Debbie Arbuckle, Pa.C.P. answers my Thirteen Questions this week. Debbie is employed by Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, PC in Blue Bell Pennsylvania. She is a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) and a member of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association, as well as the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

You'll enjoy reading how association membership has benefited her. Thanks, Debbie, for taking the time to share!

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1. Where do you work and what is your job title? I work at Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, PC, Blue Bell, PA as a paralegal in the Land Use, Zoning and Development Department

2. What prompted you to choose a paralegal career? One of my first jobs out of high school was working for a sole practitioner in Philadelphia. I had basic secretarial skills and was placed through an agency.

Those who have worked for sole practitioners know that you do everything! I typed pleadings (back in the days of carbon paper), made copies, figured out the required forms and filings fees, and then took the document across the street to City Hall to file it.

Because it was such a "hands on" position, I really got to see a case from beginning to end and became curious as to the WHY's of the practice of law and went back to school, obtaining my paralegal certification from Penn State in 1994.

3. What is your favorite part of your job? Being a part of a team in accomplishing a goal for a client.

4. What professional associations do you belong to? I have been a member of the Montgomery County Paralegal Association (MCPA) for approximately 7 years. I have been on the Board for 3 years, currently as First Vice President. I am also a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) and serve as MCPA's primary representative to NFPA.

5. How has your membership benefited you? The obvious, most quoted answer is, of course, "networking". Another benefit has been the personal friendships that have developed. I take great pride in being part of these organizations that are comprised of other professionals in my field.

6. Do you have any professional certifications? I am a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal.

7. What has been the highlight of your career? Up until this point, I think obtaining my Paralegal Certificate has been one of the highlights. I went back to school at night after being out of school for 15 years. My ex-husband told me that the night before my first mid-term I was talking Latin in my sleep! Of course, I was also still working full time and raising a daughter. The process, due to various reasons, took almost 10 years.

8. What do you see as hot trends in the paralegal industry? Keeping up to date with new and expanding technology is not only a trend, but sometimes a challenge in this day and age .I truly believe, however, if you stop learning, you stop growing!

9. Have you dipped your toes in the social media waters? I did finally start a Facebook page earlier this year. I was home after knee replacement surgery and my recuperation period encompassed 3 major snow storms this past winter. I could not get out to drive and finally got curious about Facebook; now I'm hooked.

10. If someone contemplating a paralegal career asked you for career advice, what would your answer be? Find someone who is passionate about their paralegal career to take you under their wing. Make sure you really want this to be your profession, don't go into it unless fully engaged.

11. Is there a quote that inspires you? "I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." This quote is attributed to Ettiene De Grellet. I found it on a card in an eclectic shop many years ago, framed it and it has inspired me ever since.

12. You've enjoyed a successful paralegal career. To what single event or person do you attribute that success? I would have to say my first employer, Robert Rosin, Esq. Learning from the ground up working for a sole practitioner was an invaluable experience...one that I did not fully appreciate until many years later.

13. What is the most important step a paralegal can take to keep his or her career interesting? Never stop learning.

Bonus...just for fun question: I understand you make a mean Pomegranate Martini. What's your secret? This recipe goes to the grave with me!

Survey Results: Paralegal Practice Area Experience Tops Technological Proficiency

According to the results of a survey conducted by Robert Half Legal, a premier legal staffing firm specializing in lawyers, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals, when lawyers hire paralegals, they place the most value on knowledge of a specific practice area. Technological proficience ranked second.

"When hiring for paralegal roles, prior practice area expertise will bring a job seeker's resume to the top of the stack, particularly if that experience is in a high-demand specialty such as bankruptcy or litigation," said Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal.

Mr. Volkert also pointed out that the current market favors specialists over generalists. He recommends that job applicants highlight the specific skills and expertise that make them the ideal fit for a specific job opening so that employers know they have the experience necessary to hit the ground running if hired.

In the survey 200 lawyers at the largest law firms and corporations in the United States were asked, "In a competitive job market, which one of the following attributes makes paralegals the most marketable?"

Their responses:

Practice area expertise - 66%
Technological proficiency - 13%
Length of employment/tenure - 7%
Associate or bachelor's degree - 7%
Paralegal certification or bar association accreditation - 4%
Other/don't know - 3%

It is interesting that level of education, as well as certification, have the lowest percentage of value. However, a paralegal with practice area expertise + certification + a degree will definitely demonstrate the best skills for the job over a paralegal with only practice area experience.

To read the full article, as well as Mr. Volkert’s five tips for job seekers to improve their marketability, follow this link: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/144878#ixzz14MMj0zS9

Paralegal Profile: Cindy J. Geib, Pa.C.P., ACP

Cindy J. Geib, Pa.C.P., ACP answers my Thirteen Questions this week. Cindy is employed by David A. Peiffer in Manheim, PA.

She is both a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) through the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations and an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

You'll enjoy reading Cindy's advice for anyone contemplating a paralegal career. Also, can you guess what Cindy's passion is in her 'spare' time? Thanks, Cindy, for taking the time to share!

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1. Where do you work and what is your job title? I work for Attorney David A. Peiffer in Manheim, Pennsylvania which is in Lancaster County. My title is Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal.

2. What prompted you to choose a paralegal career? I was working in Management for General Mills in their Restaurant Division (they owned Red Lobster and Olive Garden at the time). One of the cashiers I knew started going to school and was taking an introduction to paralegal studies class. She would bring her book to work and study when it wasn't busy and told me how interesting it was. I decided to take one class to see if I liked it and the rest, as they say, is history!

3. What is your favorite part of your job? The attorney I work for is amazing! He is super nice and polite and so pleasant to work with. Having such a great atmosphere makes all the difference when working is such a stressful profession.

4. What professional associations do you belong to? I am a proud member of the Lancaster Area Paralegal Association (LAPA). I served as LAPA's President for 3 years and as a Director for over a decade. I also served as the Chair of the Student Liaison Committee for about 6 years.

LAPA is a member association of the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations and I served as the Chair of the Alliance for 3 years and as LAPA's Primary Representative to the Alliance for 6 years. I have also been a proud member of NALA for about 15 years! I served on NALA's Professional Development Committee for several years.

5. How has your membership benefited you? Wow! I could write a novel on how many ways membership in LAPA and NALA have benefited me both personally and professionally. Quickly though, networking, leadership opportunities, continuing education, lifelong friendships, job leads and the list goes on and on!

6. Do you have any professional certifications? I am a Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal (Pa.C.P.) through the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations and an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) through NALA.

7. What has been the highlight of your career? Bringing the Wills for Heroes program to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and being the first Paralegal to serve as the Wills for Heroes Certified Coordinator ... a position that was previously held only by attorneys.

8. What do you see as hot trends in the paralegal industry? Certification without a doubt! I think we will see more and more certification programs initiated at the state level in the next couple of years.

9. Have you dipped your toes in the social media waters? I am definitely a FaceBook Groupie! I love FaceBook! In addition to having my own personal FaceBook page, I manage the FaceBook page for LAPA.

10. If someone contemplating a paralegal career asked you for career advice, what would your answer be? I would encourage them to do several things:

#1 Speak to multiple paralegals in the profession in multiple areas of law

#2 Look very, very carefully at the programs offered by the colleges in their areas to make sure they are high quality programs

#3 Obtain the highest level of degree in paralegal studies that they can financially afford and have the time to pursue and

#4 Look very carefully at the job market for paralegals in your area

11. Is there a quote that inspires you? "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." ~Unknown

12. You've enjoyed a successful paralegal career. To what single event or person do you attribute that success? There have been so many paralegals, attorneys and events that have brought me to the place where I am today. I have met so many inspiring paralegals along the way in NALA and LAPA and many who are very dear friends of mine to this day. It's been an incredible journey and it's not over yet!

13. What is the most important step a paralegal can take to keep his or her career interesting? Participate in as many continuing legal education opportunities as possible. Even it they are not in the particular area of law you are working in or are interested in, go! You just never know who you might meet or what area of law you might end up working in. Trust me -- YOU NEVER KNOW! CLE events are great places for networking!

Bonus...just for fun question: What sports team are you passionate about? Take me out to the Ballpark! I am a huge fan of the Lancaster Barnstormers, a professional minor league baseball team in the Atlantic League. We've been a host family for 6 years and we have players living with us for 6 to 8 months out of the year. Sometimes we even have 2 players at the same time. We've hosted several famous MLB players too! It's been a great experience for our family! My picture is me at my "Happy Place" ... The Lancaster Barnstormers stadium.

10 Ideas For Getting Your Next Paralegal Job

Thanks to Justin Davis, Staff Writer for Criminal Justice Degree Schools for submitting this guest article with great tips for you when you look for your next paralegal job.

The Paralegal Mentor was honored to be named to the Top 25 Paralegal Blogs by Criminal Justice Degree Schools. To see the full list, just follow this link.

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10 Ideas for Getting Your Next Paralegal Job
By Justin Davis

Whether you are a new graduate or just looking for a change, finding your next paralegal job is more difficult today in the current economic environment where employers are still cautious about adding new staff.

The following 10 ideas can help you acquire the ideal paralegal position.

1) Follow the press releases: firms that are handling class action lawsuits or personal injury cases based on recalls often announce them. If you see news about a class action that has thousands of potential defendants, call the office and offer your services on a short-term basis. Your performance could make it a long-term position.

2) Call up the career services department at the school where you got your degree or certificate. Rather than asking for help in job placement, ask for the three to five firms that have most recently worked with the school to find applicants. You're more likely to find work with firms that are actively looking for help.

3) Make friends with the court clerks. Since these local, state and federal employees deal with lawyers and lawsuits each day, they often have a better sense of how firms are doing than almost any other source.

4) Watch an hour of evening television, or call your local cable company. Finding attorneys who have the money to advertise on television can open up doorways and ease the process for cold-calling - a difficult task for many.

5) Move outside the standard paralegal job description. After all, you can provide assistance in nearly any legal aspect outside of presenting a case or giving legal advice. So, expand your search to jobs that can include legal expertise. This can include working in insurance or human resources departments at medium and large corporations, or similar positions. Change your search to include keywords based on your skill set, rather than just "paralegal".

6) Contact legal professionals and buy them lunch. Reach out to people that currently have a position that you would like to someday reach and invite them to lunch so you can learn how they got to their current position. Often they will share useful advice and do what they can to help you succeed.

7) Set up Google News alerts for "Smallville law firm" and "Smallville paralegal job" or related terms so that you can receive email notifications when an online article or job posting with specific keywords is published. This could provide you with the latest information about who is hiring before anyone else.

8) Start a paralegal blog. There are numerous blogs written by paralegals that attract a strong following (see the Top 25 Paralegal Blogs http://criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/top-paralegal-blogs/). Blogging can help you get found in search engines and also shows potential employers how you think and demonstrates your writing skills.

9) Attend networking events. Keep your eye out for events put on by local law firms or legal organizations. Meeting people at events can help you develop relationships with legal professionals who can help you find a job or tell you about positions that haven't been advertised yet.

10) Seek out pro-bono work opportunities. Volunteer legal work can help you meet attorneys who may be hiring or know someone who is hiring. Do a great job and legal professionals that you work with might recommend you to someone they know.

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Justin Davis is a staff writer at Criminal Justice Degree Schools, a resource site providing information on paralegal degrees and schools.

The Importance of Technology in the Paralegal World

The latest edition of The Paralegal Voice, “The Importance of Technology in the Paralegal World" co-hosted by Lynne DeVenny and me, is now available at Legal Talk Network.

In this episode, we welcome Kim Plonsky, a frequent contributor to Paralegal Today, who works as a paralegal at Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David, Meunier & Warshauer, L.L.C., in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Kim knows her technology inside and out! She shares the kinds of technology to use on the job, the minimum technology and software skills that today’s paralegals should have, and her favorite online resources for keeping up with today’s legal technology. Also In this episode:

• How Kim became a technology expert and columnist
  
• Kim’s favorite electronic gadgets
  
• Kim’s favorite legal software
  
• Technology resources for paralegals on a budget
  
• Common legal software utilized by law firms
  
• Practice and social media tips from Vicki and Lynne

Page URL: http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/paralegal-voice/2010/10/the-importance-of-technology-in-the-paralegal-world/

MP3Link: http://websrvr82il.audiovideoweb.com/ny60web16519/LTN/PLV/PLV_100610_ParalegalTechnology.mp3
Internet resources referenced in the podcast:

www.litireviews.lexbe.com

www.blog.technolawyer.com

www.sctriallaw.co

www.law.com

www.ernietheattorney.net

www.pdfforlawyers.com

www.denniskennedy.com

http://www.iphonejd.com/

http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/

The Paralegal Voice also thanks its sponsors: Westlaw Deposition Services and NALA...The Association for Paralegals and Legal Assistants.

Please share the links to this episode of The Paralegal Voice with your friends and colleagues. If you have a request for a future show or a question for us, you are welcome to contact us at TheParalegalVoice@gmail.com

Professional Profile: Tina M. Keller, ACP

Tina M. Keller, ACP, of Sacramento, CA answers my Thirteen Questions this week. Tina is employed by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. She is a member of NALA.

You'll enjoy reading Tina's profile, particularly what she would tell someone contemplating a paralegal career. Thanks, Tina!

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1. Where do you work and what is your job title? I am employed by the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office as a paralegal for CEPD (Consumer and Environmental Protection Division).

2. What prompted you to choose a paralegal career? I was in the process of earning a degree as an Industrial Engineer when I realized that although I could do the work and understood the theories, I simply hated it.

Once that realization hit home, I took the aptitude test at the college learning center and the results indicated I should work in the legal field. Attorney was a possibility, yet the 'new profession' at that time -- paralegal -- had a job description that felt more like me. I burned the Engineering Calculus book and switched majors the next week.

3. What is your favorite part of your job? I have a sense of purpose with my current position. I am in a unique position in that I help protect this little part of the world for my grandson and his future grandchildren. I am as my husband says a 'tree hugger' and proud to say I am paid to do what I believe is important.

4. What professional associations do you belong to? I am an active member of NALA. I joined long ago while serving as an officer for the ILA in Indiana. I have also had the privilege of membership with the APA when I lived near Phoenix for a few years.

5. How has your membership benefited you? I have met some of my dearest friends through NALA and its affiliates. I have also relied upon my NALA friends to help me with my many job searches as I move from place to place. I always know I'll find work as a paralegal. Membership with NALA provides me with the contacts necessary to know where the best positions are in each state.

6. Do you have any professional certifications? I am a NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal. I achieved my CLA in 1996 and my CLAS (now ACP) in 1998.

7. What has been the highlight of your career? Hopefully it is still to come. I have worked as a PI, family law, banking law, and social security paralegal in both large and small firms. I owned SOS Paralegal Services for four years, and now work in the public sector. I have served on boards, held offices, and am an active member in my professional associations. At the time, each new position was the highlight of my career, so I personally can't wait to see what the REAL highlight is.

8. What do you see as hot trends in the paralegal industry? Technology in general. In order to stay on top in our field, you must naturally keep up with the latest rulings and the decisions that will change every form in your system. That part is assumed. It is the technology that makes it possible to perform all of our job duties, skills and handle our deadlines efficiently. The key is to use the technology to assist you with your tasks rather than create additional work for yourself.

9. Have you dipped your toes in the social media waters? I finally joined Facebook last December, after researching and checking the privacy settings available. I enjoy keeping up with friends, family and peers on the site. I thought I didn't like interactive games. It turns out I just don't like gore and gloom. I love farming! So if you want to be my 'friend' you'll need to be ready to either game or hide/block games from your wall. The brain drain aspect of the games relieves stress for me, and socializing, having fun and joking around are important to me.

10. If someone contemplating a paralegal career asked you for career advice, what would your answer be? I would suggest a pros and cons list of the reasons and expectations she/he has regarding the career. I would also suggest that this decision not be made after watching Erin Brockovich (which I loved, but it does not truly portray our profession).

Do a little soul searching and research before making any career decisions. It is a choice I would make over and over for myself personally, but it is a lot of work without a lot of kudos. A person who has a personality that requires attention and validation should avoid this profession. Perhaps others have found great warmth and appreciation with spotlights and a large office. I haven't seen any of that myself. Know yourself and what type of environment brings you happiness.

11. Is there a quote that inspires you? Yes, I love quotes! I have quotes for all occasions from Poe to Twain; movies to TV; and lyrics from songs. Currently, my choice quote is "Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there; with open arms and open eyes." (Incubus from Drive).

12. You've enjoyed a successful paralegal career. To what single event or person do you attribute that success? There is no single event or person. I attribute any and all success in my career and life in general to so many good and wonderfully supportive people. One I will name is my husband of 32 plus years, Steven. He has stood by me through the education process, the job searches, the sole practitioner years, and the soul searching. I was fortunate to have instructors with passion for the legal profession, and then later to be hired by 'bosses' who became my dearest friends. It's not fair to name any one person for fear of leaving out others.

13. What is the most important step a paralegal can take to keep his or her career interesting? Make a conscious decision to learn something new every day of your career. It works for life too of course. Keeping an open mind to new ideas, technology, and other opinions than your own will keep your career interesting.

Bonus - just for fun question: What sports team are you passionate about? I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. I respect all teams and love football in general. However, Steelers' fans blend to form a very large family that is spread all across our nation. I have been a proud member of that family since I was 7 years old. On any Steelers game day, I'm the one wearing a Steelers T-shirt, with a terrible towel tucked in my jeans, and my logo ball cap. All accessorized with the socks and earrings to match naturally. My black car has a Steelers plate holder, and my office at work would make Hines, Troy and all the 'kids' proud.

Speaking at Tulsa Area Paralegal Association Fall Conference

This Saturday, October 16th, I'll be in Oklahoma speaking at the Fall Conference of the Tulsa Area Paralegal Association (TAPA). The conference takes place in at the Holiday Inn - Tulsa Center.

This 90 minute presentation will cover ethics issues related to the law firm’s technology system. The mystery will focus on issues of confidentiality and privilege and take you through the tangled web of electronic equipment, blogs, email, metadata, social media...and more.

My goal is to talk about ethics for 90 minutes and keep attendees awake at the same time. I’ve come up with a good way to do that…we’ll be solving a mystery! Oh, dear…the Senior Partner has been murdered! Carolyn, a litigation paralegal with the firm, believes there are clues within the firms technology system that will point to the murderer. She enlists the help of the firm’s IT guru, McTechie…and they’re off.

If you’re in Tulsa and want to help figure out who murdered the Senior Partner...as well as learn a lot about law firm ethics...just click on this link for more information and to register. See you there!

Certification: Is it the path for you?

The issue of certification has long been debated. Here a few questions I'm frequently asked:

* I graduated from a paralegal program, why should I sit for a certification exam?

* I have a paralegal certificate from a university, doesn't that make me 'certified'?

* I have a good job and several years of experience, how will being certified make a difference?

* What will those letters after my name really do for me?

* My boss doesn't care if I'm certified so why should I bother?

I wholeheartedly support the certification process for paralegals and believe that it is an important professional goal. Please consider the following points:

Having a certificate does not mean you are certified. A certificate is issued upon completion of an educational program, at which time you are certificated. Certification involves passing an examination established by a sponsoring organization that usually has specific requirements of education and experience for persons taking the exam. Upon completion of the examination, you are certified.

The American Bar Association defines certification as: 'a process by which a non-governmental agency or association grants recognition to an individual who has met certain predetermined qualifications specified by that agency or association.'

I'm certainly not minimizing the importance of completing a paralegal program and obtaining your certificate or your degree. In fact, I view paralegal education as essential. I am merely pointing out that there is an additional step you can take that will increase your professional profile. That step is certification.

Benefits of Certification

Credential = credibility.Certification is a voluntary process and is not a prerequisite for paralegal employment. However, certification gives you credibility. It demonstrates that you have the knowledge base and the skill required to pass the examination. It may also make you more marketable and may increase your income potential.

Certification takes you off the level playing field. Graduation from a paralegal program (and, thus, being certificated) is the primary avenue by which people enter the paralegal profession. If everyone has a certificate, how is a potential employer to judge the best candidate for the job? Think about the following:

Two paralegals standing side by side with the same certificate from the same school and the same amount of experience. How can one be distinguished from the other? The answer is certification. The certified paralegal demonstrates that he or she is a multi-skilled professional with diverse knowledge and effective communication skills.

Certification provides paralegals an avenue for self-regulation. The issue of licensure for paralegals is old news...it's been discussed ad nauseum for more than a quarter century. Paralegals work under the supervision of a licensed attorney and do not provide their services directly to the public. For this reason, licensure of paralegals is not required.

Further, licensure says a person is 'qualified' to do work. It does not demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills. An example is a hair dresser (and I have the highest regard for my hair dresser, believe me!). Hair dressers are allowed to enter the profession when they are licensed by a state agency. The license does not say they have fantastic skills, it only says that they can perform the services. The certification credential is awarded to people who prove their advanced knowledge and skills by meeting the standards of the credentialing organization.

Certification will do much for you personally. Ask anyone who has a credential and they will tell you that the achievement made them walk a little taller, made them feel stronger professionally, gave them incredible personal satisfaction and increased their level of professional confidence. They set a goal and they achieved it. They took a risk and they survived it. They have the credibility that the credential provides. They literally stand out above the crowd. Their accomplishment gave them great pride. You, too, can have all that with professional certification.

One additional benefit you will reap from the certification exam: the learning that takes place in the preparation for the examination. Even the most experienced paralegal will learn something new and benefit from the intense review.

You will usually be required to participate in continuing education programs to maintain your certification. This requirement will help you keep up to date with changes in the profession and in the legal arena. Also, the credentialing organization will usually set high ethical standards for those using the credential. Unethical behavior will result in the loss of the credential.

Certification may give you a 'leg up' when you're searching for a job. In today's economy, you need all the ammunition you can muster to prove that you are the person for the job. Having the certification credential behind you exhibits not only the advanced knowledge I mentioned earlier, it also shows discipline, ambition, motivation and willingness to accept a challenge.

Choosing a Certification Program

Which certification examination/credential is right for you? That's a personal decision. Many paralegal associations provide certification examinations (ie NALA, NFPA, NALS, and AAPI). There are also voluntary certification programs offered by some states...examples are North Carolina and Florida, but there are others. All have different structure and eligibility requirements, as well as different continuing education and re-certification requirements.

What is important is that the credentialing organization you choose is a bona fide entity, that the exam is administered under rules and regulations in accordance with governmental acts and in accordance with such issues as anti-trust and fairness.

It is essential that the organization agrees to keep applications and records confidential. It is crucial that the organization prepares an examination under the guidance of professional testing consultants, that the exam be continually reviewed for accuracy, and that it be updated on a regular basis.

Usually the certification designation is a certification mark duly registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Claims of certified status must be verifiable...in other words, if a paralegal claims to be certified, he or she must have the credential to prove it.

Using the Certification Credential

Can you ethically use the credential after your name? Yes! Whether it is CLA, CP, PP, RP, AACP, ACP, PLS, AVA, ALS, NCCP etc. you can use it. The U.S. Supreme Court has addressed the issue concerning the utilization of credentials awarded by private organizations. In Peal v Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Committee of Illinois, 110 S.Ct. 2281 (1990), the Court suggested that a claim of certification is truthful and not misleading if:

* The claim itself is true

* The bases on which certification was awarded are factual and verifiable

* The certification in question is available to all professionals in the field who meet relevant, objective and consistently applied standards

* The certification claim does not suggest any greater degree of professional qualification than reasonably may be inferred from an evaluation of the certification program's requirements.

* There is a qualified organization behind the certification process

Of course, the credential cannot be used to mislead the public and represent something you are not.

Preparing for the Certification Exam

How do you prepare for a certification examination? The thought of all that study may sound overwhelming. The idea of taking such a critical examination may be frightening. The key to success is in the preparation and planning. The best thing to do is to break the process into steps:

* Decide which examination you will take.

* Decide when you will take the examination

* Working backward from the examination date, block a period of time for study and determine a study schedule (I recommend three months but that is an individual decision)

* Plan how you will study and what reference materials you will need (these may be available from the credentialing organization)

* Join a study group and enlist 'study buddies' to hold you accountable

* Take advantage of preparation and educational opportunities offered by the credentialing organization, as well as your professional association. For instance, NALA offers a three-day intense CLA review course, as well as CLA preparation courses at its convention.

Your Challenge

If you already have a professional credential, congratulations! If you don't, please put that at the top of your list. Follow the steps above and begin planning for the examination. You will never regret the time and effort it takes. You will always feel immense professional pride when you put those initials after your name!

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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.

Paralegals - Beware of the Curse of the Eternally Urgent

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, an evil person placed a curse on every lawyer and law firm in the land. The curse extended to all who worked for the lawyer, especially paralegals.

No one knows who did this dreadful deed. Perhaps it was Shakespeare when he reportedly said 'The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers'. Perhaps it happened when the first yellow legal pad was produced or maybe it was bred among stacks of red rope files. Whatever its origin, this curse will forever plague attorneys and paralegals.

It is called The Curse of the Eternally Urgent.

What is The Curse of the Eternally Urgent? It is a malicious jinx that gives everything in the law firm critical status --- critical deadlines, critical documents, critical meetings, critical issues. Everything has to be done at once.

No one can escape The Curse of the Eternally Urgent! It infects everyone in the law office, especially paralegals who are not only cursed themselves but also have to deal with cursed attorneys. It causes stress, anxiety, tension, pressure and overwhelm. It renders everyone senseless, causing them to spin their wheels, getting nothing finished. Or if they do finish something, another even more time critical issue or deadline raises its ugly head. Add to that the feeling that everything must be done perfectly and you're doomed!

The Curse of the Eternally Urgent may also result in the failure to meet ethical responsibilities. The ABA's Model Rules of Professional Conduct (at Rule 1.1 and 1.3) state that attorneys owe their clients the duty of competence and diligence. This requires possession of the legal knowledge and skill necessary for representation, as well as acting with reasonable promptness and thoroughness while representing a client. This, of course, includes meeting deadlines.

There are dire consequences associated with The Curse of the Eternally Urgent! Missed deadlines may result in cases being dismissed, placing the client in an undesirable position, and a terrible reputation for the firm. There is also the possibility of disciplinary proceedings for the attorney, ranging from a reprimand to suspension to disbarment. There may be civil law suits brought against the attorney, as well as the paralegal. Paralegals risk losing their hard-earned professional certifications
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Why does The Curse of the Eternally Urgent continue? That's totally due to the lack of perspective and planning, by procrastination and perfectionism.

Can the cycle of The Curse of the Eternally Urgent be broken? Yes! Just take the following steps:

Change your perspective. Instead of continuing the bad habit of always putting out fires, adopt the habit of looking at the deadline and what has to be done to meet it. Also, recognize when something is really time critical -- when it absolutely has to be done right that minute -- and when you can safely save it for another day.

Meeting deadlines is only the end goal. Acting competently and diligently on the client's behalf doesn't mean meeting deadlines by flying by the seat of your pants at trial, dropping off a brief at the Clerk's office at 4:55 pm on the day it's due, or frantically completing an answer to a complaint at the very last minute to avoid being defaulted.

Instead, competence and diligence on the client's behalf means planning for the deadline by determining steps necessary to complete the work by the deadline...taking the time to do the job that is required instead of throwing something together willy nilly just to get by.

Break your work into chunks. Once you determine what has to be done to meet the deadline, you have broken your work down into chunks. Looking at the main deadline (such as 'complete discovery') can be overwhelming. This overwhelm may stop you from even starting the work.

Taken one step at a time, knowing when each one will be finished, will allow you to meet your goal of finishing the entire project by the due date. You must take further, though, and determine when each step should be taken. Each step is then put on your calendar as an appointment. Each time you have an 'appointment' to get something done, you focus on that step until completion. You will reach your deadline before it becomes time critical.

Forget perfectionism. Quality work should always be your goal...just remember that done is good enough. You can make endless revisions but is that really a good use of your time? Do what is absolutely necessary and do it well (notice I didn't say 'do it perfectly') but stop when the product is good enough to get the job done. Never do work just to be doing work. That's a total waste of time. Instead, do only what really has to be done to finish the project.

Determine who will do the work. Never think you are absolutely the only one in the office who can do a job. Look at the individual steps that must be taken to reach a deadline and decide who is best suited to do it. This may be the attorney, the paralegal, the secretary...each person has specific skills so be sure to utilize those skills.

Your challenge: Don't let The Curse of the Eternally Urgent rule your life. Break the curse by getting your work in perspective. Ask yourself if it is really time critical. Then follow up with planning what has to be done and when, setting up 'appointments' with yourself to do the work, and delegating whenever possible. Last, do quality work but only to the point where what you've done is good enough...avoid perfectionism.

I'd love to hear what you think about The Curse of the Eternally Urgent. Leave your comment here.

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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.