M:DataPACO Citator Newsletter - Paralegal … _2003.pdf · The Citator The official ... 28 29 30 31...

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In This Issue:

PACO Board Members ...... 2

Letter to the Editor ............ 3

PACO Committees ............ 3

Board Reports .................. 4

NFPA News .................. 5

Local News .................... 9

Paralegal Profession ......... 10

Career Coach ................. 13

Events:

December 3PACO Holiday Social

(6:00-8:00 p.m., Hahn Loeser)

DECEMBER 2003

The CitatorThe official newsletter of the Paralegal Association of Central Ohio

PACO • PO Box 15182 • Columbus OH 43215-0182 • (614) 224-9700

Congratulations PACO on your 30th anniversary! And thank you to KarenFinch and her committee for organizing a wonderful luncheon celebration. Youcould tell that the committee worked very hard to make it a memorable event.

The luncheon speakers raised many interesting points. Throughout PACO’shistory, many things remain the same: certification, licensure, regulation, qualityparalegal education, strong affiliation with the OSBA and the CBA, importance ofnetworking, professionalism and adhering to a code of ethics. These topics arestill very much a part of PACO’s current discussions.

When I attended the CBA’s Law Day Luncheon this past May, I wrote down aquote that President David Patterson used. Although I believe he was quotingsomeone else, and unfortunately, I cannot recall the rightful author, it is a veryappropriate quote for wrapping up PACO’s 30th anniversary: “No institution isstatic. It is either improving or declining.” For those of you that heard the speak-ers at the luncheon, hopefully you will agree with me that there is nothing staticabout PACO. However, the organization must continue to improve or else it willdecline.

How can you help improve PACO? We have some Board positions that needto be filled: Second VP (Membership) and PR; committees that need membersand or chairs that can work and continue to promote the interests of paralegals;regular Brown Bag lunches; breakfast in the burbs; CLE’s and new, fresh ideas.Are you up to the task? Are you willing to give an hour or two to help?

What is on the horizon for PACO? I am not sure. Only the membership candecide that. However, as an organization we are going to be addressing a veryimportant issue: a possible stronger membership affiliation with the CBA. I hopethat you save your Citators. For some background information, please refer tothe September issue, page 11, “CBA and PACO Contemplating a Joint Effort” byRebekah Smith. A separate communication will be sent to the membership shortlyregarding the Columbus Bar Association’s Paralegal Section Bylaws. The CBA’sBoard of Governors has approved these Bylaws. Now it is PACO’s turn. As anorganization we need to consider the affiliation. The January General Member-ship meeting will be devoted to an open discussion concerning this topic. The AdHoc Committee and your Board members have been working very closely withthe Bar about this very important issue. Just as previous Boards and PACO mem-bers addressed affiliations with the OSBA and the CBA, it is now our turn.

Happy holidays!

PRESIDENT’S by Katharine Essex

LETTER

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PresidentKatharine “Katie” [email protected]

First Vice President/Committee CoordinatorNell [email protected]

Second Vice President/Membership DirectorVACANTContact: Bridgett [email protected]

NFPA Primary RepresentativeCatherine [email protected]

Statewide Representative/NFPA Secondary RepresentativeEugenia [email protected]

SecretaryBarry [email protected]

TreasurerMary [email protected]

ParliamentarianChristine [email protected]

Public Relations [email protected]

EditorAmjed [email protected]

TALK TO THE EDITOR . . .Send your comments, suggestions or announcements to theEditor of The Citator at:

e-mail: [email protected] • P.O. Box 15182 • Columbus, OH 43215-0182

DisclaimerThe Citator welcomes comments and expressions of views of PACO members and other readers.Such submissions should be marked “Letter to the Editor” and sent to the Editor [email protected]. Also note that any written and electronic materials, documents,letters, e-mails, notes and memos submitted to the Editor of The Citator become the property ofThe Citator and are subject to publication. Names and contact information may be publishedunless the submitter specifically requests anonymity at the time of submission. Articles expressthe authors’ views and are not necessarily those of the Board of Directors or Association.Articles may not be reprinted without the expression permission of the author. Paid advertisementsappearing in The Citator are not an endorsement of products or services.

E-mail Your Citator News to:[email protected]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The deadline for the March issue of The Citator is

February 20

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December 3 — PACO Holiday Social, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Hahn Loeser and Parks

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

DECEMBER 2003

PACOBOARD MEMBERS

2003

Desktop publishing, design, and layout provided by Tram Connors at Vorys, Sater, Seymour andPease LLP.

Christmas Day

Chanukah

PACOHoliday Social

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BylawsChristine [email protected]

Continuing Legal EducationJennie [email protected]

Job BankSonia [email protected]

MembershipVACANTContact: Bridgett [email protected]

Newsletter/PublicationsAmjed [email protected]

Pro [email protected]

Professional DevelopmentCatherine [email protected]

ProgramColleen [email protected]

Public [email protected]

Web [email protected]

PACOCOMMITTEES

UPCOMING ISSUES….

If you would like to contribute to any of the upcoming issues, pleasecontact us.

Advertising Rates for The CitatorThe Citator is distributed to a monthly subscriber base, comprised ofparalegals, legal assistants and other legal professionals.

Rates are for One Issue:1/8 Page (up to 200 words) $35.001/4 Page (up to 350 words) $50.001/2 Page (up to 600 words) $75.00

Full Page (up to 1,200 words) $150.00To submit your ad for The Citator, type your ad copy on a sheet ofpaper (or provide a typeset original for paste-up), include with yourpayment and send to:

PACO • P.O. Box 15182, Columbus OH 43215

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear PACO members,

Thank you for the wonderful “Pearls of Wisdom” luncheon at TheAthletic Club to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Association.The recognition Nancy Crown and I received as founding mem-bers was very special to us.

Thanks to Karen Finch, her Committee, and the Board for plan-ning the luncheon and working out every detail to make it the fineevent it was!

For the luncheon, and the gift certificate for lunch at a CameronMitchell restaurant, thanks.

Keep up the good work of PACO!

Sincerely,Jo Barrett

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BOARD REPORTSBOARD MEETING REPORTby Barry R. Kiser, Board Secretary

Below are some highlights from the November 11, 2003Executive Board meeting, in addition to routine businessdiscussed.

• The Advisory Board is currently being assembled.

• Eugenia Maish and Catherine Hawes attended theLeadership Conference and reported back on potentialfundraising ideas, community involvement and parale-gal awards.

• The Adopt-A-Highway cleanup scheduled for SaturdayNovember 8 was cancelled.

• There was continued discussion about the potential af-filiation with the Columbus Bar Association. There willbe representatives from CBA at the January GeneralMembership meeting to discuss the affiliation and toanswer questions.

• The 30th Anniversary Committee continues to plan theparty to be held on November 17 at the Athletic Club ofColumbus.

• The PACO Holiday Social will be held Wednesday, De-cember 3 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Hahn Loeser & Parks,21 East State Street, 10th Floor.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERSby Bridgett Klingbeil, 2nd VP/Membership Director

PACO would like to welcome the following new members!!

Active: Timothy P. O’HanlinJulie Carmona, Brickler & EcklerErin Linville, Lane, Alton & HorstNicole Rodgers, Big Lots Stores, Inc.James S. Weir, Weir Legal Solutions

Student: Larry France, student at Columbus State Com-munity College

Associate: Jay Canowitz, Project LawyersGerald Cumming, SeaGroup Inc.

The Membership Director would like to thank the Member-ship Committee (Christine Baxter and Kelly Ackley) fortheir participation and hard work.

TREASURER’S REPORTby Mary Barnett, Treasurer

Account Balances (as of 11/14/03):

Checking Account: $7,385.88

PaineWebber Account: $17,026.64

NOTICE:

THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIPMEETING FOR JANUARY

WILL BE HELD ONJANUARY 26TH

AND THE TOPIC OFDISCUSSION WILL BE THEPACO/CBA AFFILIATION.PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND

TO DISCUSS THISIMPORTANT TOPIC!

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NFPA NEWSNFPA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCEby Catherine Hawes, NFPA Primary Representative

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations heldits second annual leadership conference in Indianapolis, In-diana on November 1–2, 2003. The conference was wellattended by representatives from paralegal associations fromall over the country. The focus of the conference was tosharpen the leadership skills of board members and anyonewho may be interested in serving their organization in a lead-ership capacity in the future. This was an outstanding con-ference that was well hosted by our Indiana affiliates andorganized by Linda Hightshue, NFPA Leadership TrainingCoordinator.

The agenda topics for the conference included: RaisingFunds for your Associations, Communication Skills, HighImpact Leadership, Representing, The Art of Making a Pre-sentation, Strategic Marketing, and NFPA — What It’s AllAbout.

The various organizations also took this opportunity tonetwork and share issues and concerns that every organiza-tion appears to be dealing with regardless of their venue. Iwas somewhat surprised to learn that other states were deal-ing with some of the same up-hill battles that PACO faceson an ongoing basis such as; membership participation, CLEtopics, fund raising ideas and the ever constant struggle per-taining to regulations and certification.

One of the highlights of the conference was a presenta-tion that was given on, “How much do you know about NFPA?”Presented were detailed facts as well as the history regard-ing the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, inaddition to helpful information such as, how to bring agendatopics to the floor at the national convention. And how tohave the organizations suggestions formulated into an agendatopic. Over the next several weeks I will take this opportu-nity to share with you in further detail each one of the sub-ject-matters we dealt with at the conference.

And lastly, but certainly not at the least, PACO was atthe center of attention during the conference due to our re-cent discussions with the Columbus Bar Association regard-ing the possible merger. There are a number of paralegalassociations that have discussed making similar moveswithin their states after learning of what we are considering.They believe the possible venture could benefit their localchapter. At the present, the Cleveland Association of Para-legals is the only other paralegal association that has madethis merger successfully.

-- continued on page 6 --

Fellow Paralegals:

The NFPA Roles and Responsibilities Coordinator, alongwith Chairpersons for each of the five NFPA regions, hastaken on as a major project this year the revision of NFPA’spublished list of “Paralegal Responsibilities” which can befound on NFPA’s web site at http://www.paralegals.org/De-velopment/responsibilities.html. In order to accomplishsuch, we very much need the input of paralegals across thecountry to assist us in updating and revising these lists toadd/delete information that more aptly describes the sub-stantive duties and responsibilities of paralegals working invarious legal practice areas. We are seeking informationfrom paralegals working not only for law firms, but for cor-porations, the government, military, etc. We will attempt togather as much information as possible and then revise thecurrent lists appropriately. Any and all input will be mostappreciated, and you may send it to me as your NFPA Pri-mary Representative. My contact information is:

Catherine HawesNFPA Primary Representative

[email protected]

The Region Committee will then review your sugges-tions and incorporate them into our proposed revisions thatwill ultimately be reviewed by a combined working groupcomprised of the NFPA Roles and Responsibilities Coordi-nator and each Regional Chairperson. The final proposedrevisions will, of course, be submitted to the NFPA Boardfor review and approval.

Since we are attempting to do a survey of paralegals withregard to IDEAS, rather than numbers, we are not providingany particular form for you to fill out – unless, of course,you prefer a form, in which case, we’ve attached one foryour convenience. You may send your ideas to us by e-mail,snail mail, fax (or even carrier pigeon) in any format thatyou choose. Sit down and zap out a memo and e-mail us,print out your memo and mail it, take a copy of the currentlist for your practice area and mark it up and fax it, prepareyour own list and/or send us a copy of any information youhave that describes your job as it now exists, or that woulddescribe your job as you would like it to exist if you couldadd more substantive duties (please be realistic based on ob-

SEEKING INPUT ONREVISIONS TO NFPA“PARALEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES”

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NFPA NEWS (continued)

servations of UPL and the limitations of a paralegal’s in-volvement in the provision of legal services in your particu-lar practice area or in your particular position).

Here are some questions you might think about whenresponding to our request:

(1) First, review the lists on NFPA’s web site (seeabove for site) to see if your particular practice area is rep-resented. If so, does that list adequately describe your job?If not, what changes might you make to it that would reflectthe more substantive duties you may be performing? If youhave a written job description and would not mind sharing itwith us, that would be wonderful (anonymously is fine if youfeel you want your identity protected in submitting the in-formation – just redact any identifying info and send it to usin the mail).

(2) If your particular practice area is NOT includedin the current NFPA lists (see above for site), then pleasegive us as much information as possible that will identifyyour practice area and tell us what a paralegal working in thatpractice area does – tell us whether you work for a law firm,a corporation, government, military, etc. We cannot, ofcourse, cover each and every specialized legal practice areain which paralegals are employed, but we will attempt to pullinformation together that provides a more expanded crosssection of practice areas than those included in the currentlists.

-- Seeking Input, continued from page 5 --

(3) Think about the duties you perform daily and theduties that you would like to be given an opportunity to per-form that would give you a more substantive role in the pro-vision of legal services in your practice area.

(4) What skills do you have that aren’t being utilizedthat you could add to your “job description” (whether or notyou have a written one). If you don’t have a written job de-scription and could write your own, what duties and respon-sibilities would it reflect?

(5) If you can separate the duties of an entry-levelparalegal versus a senior-level paralegal in your particularpractice area, please provide us with such information andtell us how many years of experience or what education youfeel a paralegal in your practice area should have to be con-sidered senior-level.

(6) If you have a title other than “paralegal,” what isit?

(7) If you have worked in more than one practice areaand would like to offer input on more than just your currentposition, please feel free to do so.

(8) Feel free to ask your attorney (or other) supervi-sors for their ideas. We welcome their input.

THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PRO-VIDE US WITH OUR PROJECT!!!!!!!!!

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Congratulations to

Donna PrehmRecipient of the

2003 Judge John W. McCormac Awardin recognition of her outstanding leadership

and vision in the paralegal profession.

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The Paralegal Association of Central Ohio extends a hearty thank youto the following generous sponsors, who made November 17th’s

“Pearls of Wisdom” 30th Anniversary Celebration possible:

GOLD SPONSORS:Baker & Hostetler LLP

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLPCapital University Law School-Paralegal Program

Image PlexSchottenstein, Zox & Dunn

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

SILVER SPONSORS:Bricker & Eckler LLP

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLPContract Counsel

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLPRoetzel & Andress, A Legal Professional Association

Veil Investigations Inc.

BRONZE SPONSORS:Cincinnati Paralegal Association

Martha S. Matthews, EA

DOOR PRIZES:The Affiliates

Capital University Law School-Paralegal ProgramImage Plex

Special Counsel

IN-KIND GIFTS:Veil Investigations Inc.

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LOCAL NEWSPACO’S 30TH ANNIVERSARYCELEBRATIONBy Christine Hardin

The setting was elegant. The mood was festive. Thepianist was a delight. Nearly 90 paralegals, attorneys andhonored guests filled the aptly named “Chrystal Room” atthe Athletic Club of Columbus on Monday, November 17for a noon-time luncheon to celebrate PACO’s 30th Anniver-sary. It was a time to reminisce with long-time friends and atime to make new acquaintances. Above all, it was a time tohonor the past as a celebration of the future.

President Katie Essex warmly opened the gathering, andintroduced Karen Finch, Chair of the event. A poignant In-vocation was delivered by Mary Rossi after which time lun-cheon was served. As Karen addressed the gathering, attend-ees enjoyed meals of Raspberry Chicken and Penne Regate.

“Pearls of Wisdom” (evoking 30th anniversaries) was thetheme of the celebration. Several speakers addressed thegroup, each one focusing on the three decades of PACO.

Jo Barrett shared her reflections of the first decadeand shared delightful anecdotes about the “early years”. Jo’sdedication to the profession was evident in her key visionand involvement in developing a professional association forparalegals in central Ohio.

Donna Prehm spoke about PACO’s second decade. Sherecalled with humor the on-going evolution of the profes-sion and the organization. The 80’s were a time when a greatdeal of energy was focused on defining the role of parale-gals, and establishing working relationships with both theOhio State and Columbus Bar Associations.

PACO’s third decade was profiled by Ray Lund and RichDanec. Ray’s address to the group centered on service andthe on-going professional need to actively promote it. Richfocused on the joys of being a paralegal and shared an anec-dote or two about his own experiences. Both Ray and Richexuded lighthearted and heartfelt sentiments of what PACOhas meant to them.

Speaking to the future, Catherine Hawes shared pro-fessional anecdotes as well. She shared her insight and fo-cus on the continued need for paralegals to hold themselvesup as a distinct group of professionals based on educationand legal experience. Catherine’s perceptions of the futurewere evident, and spoke optimistically about the exponen-tial need for qualified paralegals.

Dozens of door prizes were distributed among those whoattended, and centerpieces were awarded at each table.

In closing, Katie Essex presented Karen Finch a dozenarranged red roses as a token of appreciation for all of herefforts in Chairing the committee. Those who could, stayedafter the celebration in the spirit of celebratory homecom-ing and congratulatory praises.

PACO’s Executive Board conveys its sincere thanks tothe entire committee for its dedication in coordinating thisevent!

Keynote Speakers from left to right: Jo Barrett, DonnaPrehm, Ray Lund, Rich Danec and Catherine Hawes

From left to right: Jo Barrett, Hon. John W. McCormac andKatie Essex

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PARALEGAL PROFESSIONTHE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFULINTERVIEW: PREPARE,PRACTICE AND POSITIONby Keisha D. Hudson, Esq., Placement Director,Special Counsel

An interview can be a particularly intimidating andstressful situation. However by following the simple, Pre-pare, Practice and Position strategy you can confidentlyand successfully navigate the difficult waters of the job in-terview.

PREPARATION: The best way to counteract the stressof an impending interview is to prepare. Researching rel-evant information about the specific position, the company/firm, the industry and the interviewer can give you a com-petitive edge over your fellow interviewees. Some key in-formation to gather includes:

• Firm practice areas and clients.

• Company products and/or services. The structureof its legal department

• The firm/company mission statement.

• Know the most visible and current activities of thefirm/company.

• Ask who will be interviewing you for the position.

Informational Resources. Seeking out this informa-tion can be a daunting task. Fortunately, there are many re-sources available to you to make it easier. The most obviousis the Internet. Your first action prior to any interview shouldbe to visit the firm/company website. It is an invaluablesource of information. There you can obtain the missionstatement, press releases and biographical information. Nexttry Martindale Hubbell. This is a great resource for ob-taining information regarding law firms or legal profession-als. Another source are bar association directories, localnewspapers, annual reports and a Yahoo/Google search. Allthese mediums are free and easily accessible over theInternet. Lastly, don’t overlook your network of friends andprofessional references. They can provide great insight intoarea firms and companies.

Sell your accomplishments. Not only must you armyourself with information on the employer, you must alsohave a clear picture of who you are as a legal professionaland your accomplishments. Like your resume the interviewmust focus on your accomplishments. Use specific language

to articulate your contributions to past employers. For ex-ample discuss any increases in sales or improvements in pro-cesses that have resulted as a direct result of your contribu-tions.

Turn your negatives into positives. Do an inventoryof any skills that are important to the position. If there aresome that you just don’t have, draw on related experiencesto illustrate that you have the relevant knowledge to draw onto be successful in the position. This will allow you to com-petently answer any questions an employer may have withlittle stress.

Develop a Sales Statement. Have a concise statementdetailing your accomplishments and what makes you uniquewithout boasting. Be brief and to the point. Do not ramble.Let the interviewer know you have been listening to the prob-lem and have what it takes to get the job done.

Prepare your own Questions: When asked by an inter-viewer, “Do you have any questions of me?” Do not underany circumstances, simply answer, “No.”. Ask relevant ques-tions based on your research. Examples are:

• How does the firm/company utilize its paralegals?

• How many attorneys would I be reporting to?

• Describe the culture and personality of the firm/department

• Will I be responsible for billable hours? If so, howmuch?

• What will be the next step in the interview process/time frame for making a selection?

PRACTICE. Practice is perhaps the most overlookedaspect of the interview process. Most of us walk into theinterview expecting to improvise. This is not only ill ad-vised, it can be costly. Some questions can be anticipated.By practicing you will be ready to deliver your responseswith confidence and greatly improve your chances of get-ting the job.

What are your weaknesses? Remember to minimizeyour weaknesses and emphasize your strengths. Think ofresponses that are truthful, but at the same time show initia-tive and drive.

Why should we hire you? Practice your sales state-ment so that you can deliver it in a confident manner in re-sponse to this question.

Why do you want to work here? Make sure you havegiven some thought to your response. Your answer should


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PARALEGAL PROFESSION (continued)

“LEGAL EAGLES” PACKCOLUMBUS STATE PARALEGALPROGRAM CLASSROOMSby Amanda S. Cochran, Legal Assistant with JonesDay and Adjunct Faculty with Columbus StateCommunity College

With all the hustling and bustling of keeping up withtoday’s technology, along with work and family obligations,chances are you don’t know about the innovative ParalegalProgram at Columbus State Community College. CSCC of-fers a two-year Associate Degree and a Post-Bachelor Cer-tificate in their ABA-approved program. With full-time At-torney instructors and many Attorney and Paralegal AdjunctFaculty, the program is full of professors with diverse back-grounds. That means students are learning about real-life casestudies and experiences. In addition, graduates are walkingout of Columbus State with a degree that says they have aglobal perception of the world and they understand the im-portance of working with a team of people with diverse back-grounds.

Another advantage these students have is a very “aliveand thriving” student network called “Student Organizationof Legal Assistants,” or the SOLA, as they refer to it on cam-pus. SOLA kicked off this past fall quarter with Katie Essex,PACO President, as their featured speaker. Katie spoke tothe students about membership with PACO and many stu-dents asked questions about Katie’s own personal experi-ences too.

In true SOLA fashion, a social event was hosted by “TheAffiliates” on November 6th where Jamy Dickman, The Af-filiates Department Director, spoke with students about op-portunities around the city as well as handing out those everfamous “Salary Guide” brochures. A popular handout, the stu-dents cleaned up the brochures and many stayed afterwardsreading and consuming all the information the brochure pro-vided.

What’s the future look like for CSCC’s Paralegal pro-gram? The ABA just recertified the program in 2002; thedepartment is growing fast. As an instructor myself, I cantestify that the faculty are excited to be a part of CSCC’sprogressive program. Of course qualifications, rules andregulations change in the world of law rather quickly so theadvisory board meets regularly to discuss any changes neededfor the program.

-- The Keys to a Successful Interview... continued from page 10 --

convey to the employer that you are genuinely interested inworking for that specific firm/company in that specific roleand not just sending out resumes because there is an open-ing.

What salary are you seeking? A tricky question if thereever was one. You don’t want to come in too low and seemdesperate, yet you don’t want to be too high and price your-self out of a job. Know the going rate for similar positionsin the same area. One possible answer could be, “I am surewhen the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount.In what range do you typically pay someone with my back-ground?”

The more you practice your responses to these ques-tions and ones like them the less likely an interviewer willbe able to “stump” you. Thereby increasing your changes ofgetting the position.

POSITION: Position yourself as a competent articu-late professional by following these basic interview tips:

• Attire: Wear a well-pressed suit. Jacket included.Conservative colors

• Hair: Neatly groomed. Again err on the side ofconservative

• Be enthusiastic. Think positive and express yourenthusiasm for the firm/company, the position andyour career.

• Avoid Slang

• Be professional. Do not speak negatively about pastemployers. Remember pleasantries and look theinterviewer directly in the eyes when speaking.

By following these straightforward strategies your ex-perience with the interview process should be a comfort-able and a successful one. Good Luck and remember Pre-pare, Practice and Position.


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NON-TRADITIONAL CAREERPATHS FOR PEOPLE WITHPARALEGAL TRAININGby Mary E. Ming, Executive Director, Graduate LawPrograms, Capital University Law School

There are several scenarios…you’re a brand new para-legal program graduate, but you’re not quite sure that a staidlaw firm or traditional corporate environment is really whereyou will flourish. Or…you’re a brand new paralegal gradu-ate coming out into a tough career marketplace in a rockyeconomy and traditional paralegal jobs aren’t quite as easyto find as they once were. Or…you’re an experienced para-legal that just wants something new and challenging.

Well, all of you are in luck, because a paralegal degree/certificate and/or paralegal experience prepares you for awide variety of careers…and in case you think I’m just blow-ing smoke, I can provide you with real-life examples of peoplethat took their paralegal training/experience in a new, non-traditional direction.

Paralegal training/experience provides you with a coreset of skills that are extremely valuable to employers. Theseskills include, but are not limited to,: (1) analytical reason-

ing; (2) writing; (3) research; (4) problem solving; (5) criti-cal thinking; (6) multi-tasking; (7) prioritizing; (8) techno-logical proficiency; and (9) how to do more with less.

It’s up to you to convince an employer that theseskills…which were obtained via paralegal training/experience…make you the BEST person to do their non-paralegal job.

The following are jobs that actual paralegal programgraduates and/or experienced paralegals have obtained WITH-OUT additional academic training:

• Lease Analyst• Real Estate Analyst• Legal Researcher• Librarian• Compliance Analyst• Marketing Director• Research Associate• Operations Coordinator• Realtor• Benefits Specialist• Claims Specialist, Insurance• Office Administrator• Claims Adjustor, Insurance• Closing Agent and Title Researcher• Probate Court Investigator• Credit Counselor• Investigator• Assistant Vice President, Bank• Title Agency Manager• Leasing Specialist• Manager of Contracting• Legal Project Manager• Manager, Trust Real Estate, Bank• Free Lance Paralegal• Owner/Director Document Management Company

The following are non-traditional organizations/environ-ments in which paralegals have obtained non-traditional po-sitions:

• Bureau of Indian Affairs• Financial assistance and service programs• Lobbyist• Consumer product safety• Pharmaceutical corporation• Immigration board• Food stamps department• Law School clinic• Public welfare department• Aid to dependent children services• Department of transportation


As for SOLA, they have a resume and interviewing work-shop scheduled for the winter which will draw in more en-thusiastic students. In the spring, SOLA and the ParalegalDepartment will host “Law Day” on May 3, 2004. This popu-lar event is the largest event sponsored and organized by theParalegal Department. Students will study a case and con-duct a Mock Trial; complete with jurors and a Judge fromthe Columbus area who officiates the proceeding.

As the Holiday season approaches students are busystudying for finals. The course curriculum requires that stu-dents finish 56 hours of legal classes; plus they must com-plete an internship that requires two quarters—equal to sixmonths—before they officially complete the program. If yourlaw office is looking for strong, intelligent paralegals pleasecontact the CSCC Paralegal department, or myself. Thesestudents would appreciate an intern experience. Until thenkeep your eyes open for these students, they want to learnfrom you!

For more information, please contact: Daryl Cullison,Department Chair, at 614-287-2592 or Amanda Cochran at614-887-5116.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- “Legal Eagles” Pack Columbus State... continued from page 11 --

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CAREER COACH


LITTLE WHITE LIES AND THERECRUITING GAME©

by Chere B. Estrin, Ph.D.October 26, 2003

When Sally Simon (not her real name, of course), tooka position with a small Los Angeles law firm, she was prom-ised the job of a lifetime: join a prestigious firm, attendtrial, work on important cases attracting media attention, par-ticipate in sophisticated assignments and more.

This fairy tale turned into a scary truth: She spent threemonths in the basement of a downtown hotel, going throughold, dusty boxes from the 1950’s filled with documents cov-ered with spider webs, mold, grime and objects she didn’tcare to investigate. That was just the good part.

Before you’re even on the payroll, many of you encoun-ter your first lies: about advancement, making a difference,billable hours, team work, overtime, travel, work from home,firm resources, training and assignment level. Awestruck, youbelieve your job is to take cases all the way to the SupremeCourt. Perks include a PPO that pays for everything exceptbus fare to the doctor’s office; an office next to the manag-ing partner and inclusion in the firm’s most prestigious events.Play your cards right and you’ll be the only paralegal to haveever made partner in the history of the United States.

When the honeymoon’s over, you find yourself like adeer in headlights, having worked another “no rush — takeall night if necessary” assignment, your spouse ripping mad,the kids wondering who you are and your eyes peering atyour job description, which seems to have omitted the sen-tence, “take on penalty of divorce.”

“It’s the most underestimated, under investigated con-sideration when accepting a position,” says Allen Brody, aLos Angeles based attorney, “and that is, what’s your job.”He recalls a conversation with a senior litigation paralegalrecently who told him about accepting a position in a majorfirm only to find out the type of assignments she thoughtshe was undertaking were actually few and far between. Herprimary duties consisted of one routine and repetitious as-signment: sending out audit letters.

“Realistic job descriptions lead to more organizationalcommitment from employees, less turnover and higher jobsatisfaction,” says Gloria Herrera, who heads her own LosAngeles legal staffing firm, Professional Careers Unlimited.“Over promising by employers,” she warns, “leads to em-ployee dissatisfaction and turnover, and creates a reputationfor the firm as a bad place to work.”


-- Non-Traditional Career Paths... continued from page 12 --

• School board• Interstate commerce department• Credit Unions• Environmental protection agency• Unemployment office• Internal revenue service• ADR/mediation/arbitration• Bureau of child support• Architectural firm• Credit counseling organizations• Title company• Universities/colleges• Disciplinary counsel’s office• Supreme Court of Ohio• Police departments

These lists are by no means all-inclusive. Your opportu-nities are limited only by your own imagination and/or yourwillingness to try something new. Go beyond your “comfortzone.” Remember, however…it’s up to you to make your case.

Show that employer how your skills fill his or her needsand how you will be an asset to their organization. Do yourhomework, research the company and find out as much aspossible about the position you wish to obtain. Show howyour skills/training/experience meet or exceed each one ofthe job requirements. You have about 3-5 seconds in yourcover letter to catch the employer’s attention, so lead withyour strengths!

As a paralegal, or someone with paralegal training, youare well-equipped for a wide variety of careers. Don’t letlabels or pre-conceived notions keep you from pursuing anexciting career option. Carpe Diem!

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CAREER COACH (continued)

-- Little White Lies and the Recruiting Game, continued from page 13 --

Part of the problem is that job descriptions are writtenwith the slipperiness of classifieds and personals. Firmscan jazz up ads to attract the brightest and most qualifiedcandidates. Unscrupulous recruiters can enhance the jobdescription to send clients the most favorable applicants.Most employers in search of qualified employees want theirorganizations to sound as if candidates have found corporatenirvana.

What else can they do? No one, to my knowledge any-way, has ever responded favorably to an ad that said, “Wanted– paralegal to toil relentlessly for three years on boring case,reviewing thousands of uninteresting documents while sit-ting in a 3 foot by 6 foot felt-walled cubicle.”

Another part of the problem is we want to believe. Formost people, the job search process is not easy, particularlyin this tough market. Many people are just relieved to find ajob, let alone be lucky enough to accept one that fits theirevery hope, want, wish and desire. The actual job descrip-tion is often brushed over, particularly by overworked staffeager to fill a position. Many times, the person recruitingfor the firm has stressed-out, overworked attorneys breath-ing down their necks in an effort to speed up the often lengthyand careful recruiting process. And while most interviewerssend potential candidates off to talk with future coworkers,it’s rare that a candidate receives a job description so de-tailed that they will know precisely what is expected of themthe moment they start.

So how can you avoid the crushed expectations? “In-vestigate the position as closely as you can,” advises Brody.“During the interview process, ask if someone in the firmhas had this position before you. Talk with them. Get asdetailed a job description as you can. Ask what a typical dayis like, specifics of assignments, who you will be reportingto, what resources are available and what is the depth of train-ing from the firm.”

Here are just a few steps you can take to hopefully, avoidbeing misled:

1. Delve into your network. Find out from formeremployees what kinds of assignments they performed at thefirm. Ask the right questions. Although things may havechanged since the former employee was with the firm, youmay still get a fresh or different viewpoint of what it’s like.

2. If you are utilizing the services of a recruiter, askthem to give you what inside information they may have.Good recruiters want to make placements that will last. Theirreputation is on the line with the firm and they don’t want thearduous task of replacing you.

3. Does a written job description exist? If not, canyou write one? You might not be able to write your own untilafter you’ve been with the firm for a while but at least youcan get clear communication as to what your job duties willentail.

4. Consider the source of your questioning. If youare questioning a former employee who was fired for in-competence, for example, their viewpoint may well betainted. If you are questioning an employee with the firmwho only has a peripheral idea of what the job is, don’t takeeverything they say to heart.

5. If you’ve been with the firm for a while and thingsjust aren’t working the way you had hoped, go to your super-visor or a conduit to the power. Who can you talk to who canhelp improve your situation?

6. Did you overstate your qualifications? It may bethat your employer feels that you need more training forthis position. If so, find out what you can do to get that train-ing and get on track with your goals and the firm’s expecta-tions.

Despite taking the proper precautions, it just may be thatyou ended up in a situation where the employer actually mis-led you during the hiring process. If that’s the case, and youcannot remedy the situation, you have a couple of choices:wait it out so you don’t appear as if you are job-hopping;look for another job; or cut your losses. It’s always better tohave a job while you are seeking another one, particularly inthis market, so don’t make any impetuous decisions. How-ever, it’s my opinion (and I have very strong opinions) thatyou have the right to be happy – that’s called job satisfaction- and that includes being in a position you love to go to in themorning and are delighted to return to the very next day.

Chere B. Estrin, Ph.D., CEO of Estrin ProfessionalCareers, a Los Angeles-based career coaching andtraining company specializing in paralegals and legalprofessionals. She is the author of 8 books includingThe Paralegal Career Guide 3rd Edition and The SuccessfulParalegal’s Job Search Guide. Chere has been interviewedby Newsweek, The Los Angeles Times, Latina, The ChicagoTribune and more. She is a co-founding member of theLegal Assistant Management Association and a livelyseminar speaker. She is a recipient of the Los Angeles/Century City Chamber of Commerce “Women of Achieve-ment” award and the Los Angeles Paralegal Association’sLifetime Achievement award. She can be reached atC a r e e r C o a c h e s @ a o l . c o m ;www.CareerCoachesInternational.com.

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