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Estrin Legal Staffing Headquarters 1880 Century Park EastSuite 511Los Angeles, CA 90067Phone: 310.846.9040chere@estrinlegalstaffing.com - [Litigation Paralegal for National Law Firm - Los Angeles CBE-38218-CBE](https://estrin.vip/litigation-paralegal-for-national-law-firm-los-angeles-cbe-38218-cbe/) - Litigation Paralegal Onsite positionMust have at least 5 years litigation paralegal experienceMust have expertise in RelativityExplore a fulfilling career as a Litigation Paralegal with our client, a prominent national law firm boasting over 800 attorneys and 25 offices. Join their dynamic downtown Los Angeles team, where a collegial, supportive, and growth-oriented environment awaits you.Our client is - [Estrin Legal Staffing Executives In the News!](https://estrin.vip/estrin-legal-staffing-in-the-news-8-23/) - Our own Legal Staffing Experts, Chere Estrin and Lynda Stevens, were contacted by Law360 regarding this year's bombshell fallout of hate, sexism and antisemitism that blew up Daugherty Lordan LLP and still roils & Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP.Excerpt of Article Below: Daugherty Lordan, Lewis Brisbois Exits JoltRecruiting MarketBy Xiumei DongLaw360 (August 23, 2023, 4:46 - [Will AI help you or harm you?](https://estrin.vip/will-ai-help-you-or-harm-you/) - By Chere B. EstrinThis thing called AI: Will it help you or will it harm you?Goldman Sachs published a white paper claiming that 44% of all legal jobs are going away and roles such as paralegals may be wiped out. What's your take on this?I sat down with Dr. Don Billings, a long-time colleague, who - [Taking a Stand Against Racism](https://estrin.vip/taking-a-stand-against-racism/) - Racism, Hatred and Discrimination are cancers on society and the workplace in any form. It has real consequences for the people who are the subjects of discrimination.Read how after after 15 years of ignoring it from 2 leading attorneys, it finally has destroyed their careers."The exposure of antisemitic remarks in emails exchanged between two former - [Marina Shepelsky: How to Be a Top Lawyer in Your Niche](https://estrin.vip/marina-shepelsky-interview/) - Marina Shepelsky: How to Be a Top Lawyer in Your Niche By Chere Estrin What does it take to become a successful lawyer? In a series of in-depth interviews for the Estrin Report, Chere Estrin profiles top lawyers from all types of practices, and we’re highlighting their top five tips here. This week, the spotlight - [Adding Value to the Firm – Are you in or Out?](https://estrin.vip/adding-value-to-the-firm-are-you-in-or-out/) - We often talk about how to get a job but why don’t we talk enough about keeping a job? “You are going to have to kick me out, because I’m not going anywhere.” I remember saying that to my boss one day. You may think, "What voice do I have? I’m not an attorney." Believe me, our - [Leadership Award](https://estrin.vip/chere-estrin-named-one-of-the-top-50-women-leaders-of-los-angeles/) - Chere Estrin named one of the top 50 Women Leaders in Los Angeles! by Women We Admire - The Top 50 Women Leaders of Los Angeles for 2022. The city, one of the most well-known and second largest in the U.S., was at the forefront of women’s rights. In 1884, the Woman’s Suffrage Association of - [Are You A Corporate Paralegal? You May Just Be In Luck.](https://estrin.vip/are-you-a-corporate-paralegal-you-may-just-be-in-luck/) - Are you happy in your job? Would you like to be happier? I have never witnessed a job market quite like this one. Honest, I haven’t. It’s a circus out there. Law firms and in-house legal departments are coming at us with request upon request upon request (ok, you get it) for corporate paralegals all - [Glenn Hendrix: How To Be A Top Lawyer In Your Field](https://estrin.vip/glenn-hendrix-how-to-be-a-top-lawyer-in-your-field/) - By Chere Estrin What does it take to become a successful lawyer in your particular niche or practice area? In a series of in-depth interviews for the Estrin Report, Chere Estrin profiles top lawyers from all types of practices. In this column, we zero in on their top tips. This week, we feature Glenn Hendrix, chairman of Arnall - [For White-Collar Workers, It’s Prime Time to Get a Big Raise](https://estrin.vip/chere-estrins-expertise-tapped-by-wall-street-journal-for-insight-on-legal-staffing-wage-growth/) - Chere Estrin’s expertise tapped by Wall Street Journal for insight on Legal Staffing wage growth. Wages in almost every industry and job sector are rising. The Wall Street Journal reached out to respected legal staffing legend Chere Estrin to find out what's happening in the legal sector. Here is an excerpt from the article: - [Amber Saunders: How To Be A Top Lawyer In Your Field](https://estrin.vip/amber-saunders-how-to-be-a-top-lawyer-in-your-field/) - Interview by Chere Estrin What does it take to become a successful lawyer in your particular niche or practice area? In a series of in-depth interviews for the Estrin Report, Chere Estrin profiles top lawyers from all types of practices. In this column, we zero in on their top tips. First up: Amber Saunders (@AmberCSanders). Amber Saunders - [Two Unbelievable Reasons Why Paralegal Resumes Get Tossed](https://estrin.vip/two-unbelievable-reasons-why-paralegal-resumes-get-tossed/) - Are You Guilty of This? By Chere B. Estrin Are you sending your paralegal resume out with little or no response? Are you thinking about seeking a new position but not sure whether your resume will meet the test? Let’s talk turkey. I hear over and over from paralegals telling me: They don’t know why - [Do you know if it is time to leave your job?](https://estrin.vip/do-you-know-if-it-is-time-to-leave-your-job/) - Warning! For God’s sake, don’t show this article to your employer! That being said, (as if I had to), there has been no greater time to take advantage of a healthy job market where candidates firmly hold the upper hand – and probably will for some time to come. If you haven’t peaked out from - [How To Ace The Video Interview: Tips For Outrageous Success](https://estrin.vip/11345-2/) - Don’t Make Rookie Mistakes and Blow Your Interview It’s interesting how some people think they are giving a great interview. Sometimes, it is just downright laughable. A couple of months ago, we were searching for a new recruiter for our own organization. We interviewed a number of people but couldn’t seem to find the right - [Here Are 15 Possible Reasons You’re Not Getting Hired—And How To Fix Them](https://estrin.vip/here-are-15-possible-reasons-youre-not-getting-hired-and-how-to-fix-them/) - Job searching is a grind. And the longer you’re at it, the worse it seems to get. It can be so discouraging to put yourself out there and get rejected over and over again or be met with radio silence. But rather than keeping your head down and sending out another flurry of applications, you - [Are You Playing A Good Game? How To Improve Your Career And Move To The Major Leagues](https://estrin.vip/are-you-playing-a-good-game-how-to-improve-your-career-and-move-to-the-major-leagues-2/) - Getting ahead takes more than patience.... Don't wait for success to find you - fast track your career with focused effort. Have you ever participated professionally in a competitive sport? Are you familiar with the approaches in which professionals train for one? If you look deeply, you will see a strong resemblance in principal to - [“Age Discrimination Is A Problem. Botox Isn’t The Solution”](https://estrin.vip/age-discrimination-is-a-problem-botox-isnt-the-solution/) - “Age discrimination is a problem. Botox isn’t the solution” the article’s author Emily Peck jumps right in … “Even as companies struggle to hire amid labor shortages and the so-called Great Resignation, older workers are having trouble finding jobs. Particularly women. Sixty-nine percent of female workers over 40-years-old, who were unemployed in June, were out - [Caila A Coleman: 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Field](https://estrin.vip/caila-a-coleman-5-things-you-need-to-become-a-top-lawyer-in-your-field/) - An Interview With Chere Estrin Have people to bounce ideas off of: those people can be other lawyers, but also make sure you are talking to people who are NOT lawyers as well. Talking through a case with others will help you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your strategy. The feedback they give is - [Rick DeMedeiros: 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Field](https://estrin.vip/rick-demedeiros-5-things-you-need-to-become-a-top-lawyer-in-your-field/) - An Interview With Chere Estrin Be amazingly responsive: This involves having the technology to be able to receive, identify and respond to calls, emails and, nowadays most importantly, text messages incredibly fast. So often, clients and referral partners comment on how quickly I respond to their questions or concerns. People aren’t used to this - [Top Lawyers: Roger Royse of Haynes and Boone On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law](https://estrin.vip/top-lawyers-roger-royse-of-haynes-and-boone-on-the-5-things-you-need-to-become-a-top-lawyer-in-your-specific-field-of-law/) - Top Lawyers: Roger Royse of Haynes and Boone On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law An Interview With Chere Estrin Exposure. It does little good to be a Top Lawyer if nobody knows about it. This can happen organically because word of good legal work - [Game Changing Positions: Are You Ready To Make An Awesome Career Move?](https://estrin.vip/game-changing-positions-are-you-ready-to-make-an-awesome-career-move/) - Game Changing Positions: Are You Ready To Make An Awesome Career Move? Posted on October 25, 2021 by admin by Cher Estrin I have never seen quite a market as this one. For the first time ever, employers are giving high hiring bonuses to paralegals and other legal professionals – previously unheard of. These hiring - [Top Lawyers: Sheila Murphy of Focus Forward Consulting On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law](https://estrin.vip/top-lawyers-sheila-murphy-of-focus-forward-consulting-on-the-5-things-you-need-to-become-a-top-lawyer-in-your-specific-field-of-law/) - Top Lawyers: Sheila Murphy of Focus Forward Consulting On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law An Interview With Chere Estrin Lawyers must be able to be strong advocates for themselves, as well as their clients. It will make a tremendous difference in your career if - [Are You Pretty Enough for Your Job?](https://estrin.vip/are-you-pretty-enough-for-your-job/) - Are You Pretty Enough for Your Job? Your Hidden Weapons By Chere B. Estrin Some time back, I was on the cover of a legal trade publication. I was so excited. The editor wanted to portray me as a fortune teller predicting the future of the legal industry. The photographer dressed me up in a - [Top Lawyers: Randy Zelin Of Cornell University Law School On The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field Of Law](https://estrin.vip/top-lawyers-randy-zelin-of-cornell-university-law-school-on-the-5-things-you-need-to-become-a-top-lawyer-in-your-specific-field-of-law/) - An Interview With Chere Estrin Be empathetic. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. Have you ever been a client? Wouldn’t you want your call returned; your matter attended to? Wouldn’t you want to understand what’s happening in advance of it happening? Wouldn’t you want to feel cared for and secure? Randy Zelin The legal field - [5 Tips for Making Recruiters Your Best Friend and Career Miracle Worker](https://estrin.vip/5-tips-for-making-recruiters-your-best-friend-and-career-miracle-worker/) - "Working with a good recruiter can help make your career. Here’s the inside scoop: Recruiters, and I am talking about the staffing agency kind, hold the keys to literally hundreds of contacts they have built up over the years. They have the ears of the hiring authorities of the very firms you want to get into." - [How Legal Secretarial Roles Are Evolving In Big Law | The Legal Intelligencer](https://estrin.vip/how-legal-secretarial-roles-are-evolving-in-big-law-the-legal-intelligencer/) - Legal Secretaries are being phased out and now look very differently. Is your job next? This article is a great read – Chere Estrin The older, traditional role of a legal secretary is pretty much gone, said one industry observer. The secretary of the future needs to have really strong IT skills … and more - [Are You Riding The Horse In The Direction It Is Going?](https://estrin.vip/are-you-riding-the-horse-in-the-direction-it-is-going/) - How inability to change can bust your career. by Chere B. Estrin COVID 19. It is, or was here, and it may never, or might, go away. It’s the great unknown. To say that this horrendous virus brought significant changes to our work and personal lives is clearly underrating it. Work life changed – working - [Tips For Job Seekers And Employers:](https://estrin.vip/tips-for-job-seekers-and-employers/) - For those of you seeking a dynamic new job: Do not use a resume that is “one size fits all”. Tailor your resume to the job description. Employers will not imagine that you have had the right responsibilities for the job if it is not on the resume. For those of you seeking a top - [Are You Doing Work You Won’t Get Promoted For?](https://estrin.vip/are-you-doing-work-you-wont-get-promoted-for/) - Have you ever noticed that colleagues around you were getting promoted or moving on to higher level positions and you were not? And yet, you know that you are just as qualified, if not more than they are? I read this article and right over my head, a brilliant fluorescent light came on and the dawning - [Has Your Boss Fallen Out Of Love With You?](https://estrin.vip/has-your-boss-fallen-out-of-love-with-you/) - Brutally honest signs there’s trouble in paradise By Chere B. Estrin Does this sound familiar? You landed your dream job at a firm that promotes from within, has given you a salary that surpasses anything you have ever received and has all the same values you have ever sought in a position. Added to that, - [How Bad Is It …..](https://estrin.vip/how-bad-is-it/) - Avoid these common mistakes & increase your chances getting job offer! We all make mistakes. However, there are degrees of mistakes, some very bad, some, well, not so bad. Here are 5 scenarios that might sound familiar to you: How bad is it to…. 1. Agree to a phone interview with a staffing organization - [How One Paralegal Made The Bestseller List And Got On National TV](https://estrin.vip/how-one-paralegal-made-the-bestseller-list-and-got-on-national-tv-2/) - Meet Jamie Collins, award winning best selling author, national TV guest and yes, Senior Paralegal. Unbelievable. Sometimes there are success stories that simply make you fall out of your chair. I have known Jamie Collins for about 10 years. She first contacted me really out of the blue to ask me if I would mentor - [Are Paralegals Meant to Survive This Decade?](https://estrin.vip/are-paralegals-meant-to-survive-this-decade/) - Is there a bright future for Paralegals? The Bureau of Labor Statistics is out with their 2020 Occupational Outlook for Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Bottom line – it’s not a bad time to be in, or to be getting into, a paralegal or legal assistant position*. Consider these findings: o Median annual pay is - [How to Become a Virtual Legal Assistant](https://estrin.vip/how-to-become-a-virtual-legal-assistant-2/) - Is there a brand new career just waiting for you? What exactly is a Virtual Assistant or VA? Simply put, a VA is someone who works remotely, online whether from their home or office. They are independent contractors or employees who work and use technology to deliver services. They provide administrative, technical, social media and - [Is It Time To Steal One Of Those Surprising Job Titles?](https://estrin.vip/is-it-time-to-steal-one-of-those-surprising-job-titles/) - HR Manager, attorney, paralegal, marketing manager, may describe your role but it sure ain’t fun. By Chere B. Estrin COVID-19 has led a lot of people to search for a brand new position. The problem is, those brand new positions may be sporting brand new titles and you haven’t a clue what to look for - [Mom Brings Her Well-Dressed Toddler (And His Resume) To Job Interview In This Viral Video](https://estrin.vip/mom-brings-her-well-dressed-toddler-and-his-resume-to-job-interview-in-this-viral-video/) - Last week Chere Estrin shared this touching story about a Mom who brings her toddler to a job interview after having no childcare. Its a cute a touching story that highlights the challenges of getting a job in this crazy pandemic world - it's definitely worth a few minutes to read this uplifting story! (The - [7 Steps for Turning Uncertainty into Transformative Opportunity](https://estrin.vip/welcome-mark-gorkin-the-stress-doc-our-guest-blogger-this-month-7-steps-for-turning-uncertainty-into-trans/) - "Once there was a young woman who heard that an old wise woman had the secret of wisdom. The young woman was determined to track the old woman down. After traveling many months, the young woman found the old woman in a cave. She entered and addressed the old woman: "Old Wise Woman, I hear you have The Secret of Wisdom. " - [Trusts & Estate Planning Paralegal Position](https://estrin.vip/are-you-seeking-a-new-position-our-client-a-global-law-firm-is-seeking-an-experienced-trusts-estate-planning-paralegal-f/) - Are you seeking a new position? Our client, a global law firm, is seeking an experienced Trusts & Estate Planning Paralegal for its Los Angeles office. You will work with very high-wealth clients in high profile roles. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years experience in a law firm; BA and paralegal certificate. The - [The World is Temporarily Closed: Communication, Onsite Work and Pandemic Productivity](https://estrin.vip/the-world-is-temporarily-closed-communication-onsite-work-and-pandemic-productivity/) - The following is one attorney's view of how the pandemic has affected his work. Not everyone is having the same experience. There are some very scary stories out there, lots of successes, too many halls of shame and finally, acceptance. Here is Ted Wells, litigation attorney in Los Angeles. Communication with Colleagues and Support - [One of my favorite stories ever.....](https://estrin.vip/one-of-my-favorite-stories-ever/) - You just have to appreciate this one. Young people forget that old people had a career before they retired..... Charley, a new retiree-greeter at WalMart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a - [To do list.....](https://estrin.vip/to-do-list/) - Every Legal Professional'sTo Do List Wear mask.Ride the horse in the direction it is going. Social distance.There was too much huggy, kissy stuff anyway. Wash hands over and over and over.Use hand lotion to restore your youthful dewy look. Don't go to big parties or large or even medium gatherings of any - [In the Face of Tragedy](https://estrin.vip/in-the-face-of-tragedy/) - An open letter: I am sure all of you are aware of the terrible fires raging in the West. Normally, when things of this nature occur, we glance at the TV and think, "That's terrible" but honestly, other than following the story on the news, we really do not know how it feels to have - [9 Passive-Aggressive Email Phrases You Are Probably Using](https://estrin.vip/9-passive-aggressive-email-phrases-you-are-probably-using/) - You might have noticed some of your bosses and colleagues and friends getting somewhat, well, downright testy during this Coronavirus time. No wonder! Huge changes, disruption of business and home life, financial woes, uncertainty about the future, little or no social contact and that stay-at-home confinement we are all getting tired of. What I noticed - [](https://estrin.vip/join-us-for-a-dynamic-webinar-learning-vacuum-aug-12-10-am-why-are-associates-paralegals-and-legal-professionals-not-lea/) - Join us for a dynamic webinar: Learning Vacuum Aug. 12 - 10 AM Why are associates, paralegals and legal professionals not learning as effectively during COVID-19? Because the usual way of learning by osmosis has been suspended, while everyone works at home. The ‘incidental’ learning, such as junior lawyers listening in to their senior colleague’s - [](https://estrin.vip/join-us-for-a-dynamic-free-webinar-5-steps-to-avoid-age-discrimination-how-to-get-employers-to-avoid-your-age-and-focus-on/) - Join us for a dynamic free webinar! 5 Steps to Avoid Age Discrimination - How to get employers to avoid your age and focus on your talents and abilities. August 14th @10am Pacific/12pm Central/1pm EST. Don't miss this all important webinar! Register today for this free and informative webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1175343154195461644 What people are saying about - [](https://estrin.vip/join-us-for-this-all-important-free-webinar-how-to-create-a-powerful-linkedin-profile-this-dynamic-webinar-shows-you-the-s/) - Join us for this all important free webinar: "How to Create a Powerful LinkedIn Profile." This dynamic webinar shows you the secrets, tips and tricks to stand out from the competition and gives you a tremendous opportunity to attract potential employers, get promotions, speaking gigs, articles and more. July 23rd. 11:30 Pacific/1:30 Central/2:30 EST Over - [](https://estrin.vip/estrin-legal-staffing-connecting-expert-professionals-and-top-law-firms-across-the-country/) - Estrin Legal Staffing Connecting expert professionals and top law firms across the country. - [It's My Birthday and I'll Cry If I Want To.....Staying positive in the age of Coronaville](https://estrin.vip/its-my-birthday-and-ill-cry-if-i-want-tostaying-positive-in-the-age-of-coronaville/) - Today is my birthday. It’s one of those Big-O numbers. It's the kind where AARP tracks you down. I don’t mind, really. I feel more confident than ever – nothing much shakes me up too much anymore. With things the way they are in this upside- down world, the day has caused me to review - [](https://estrin.vip/job-alert-job-alert-are-you-seeking-a-position-in-los-angeles-it-may-be-a-tough-market-out-there-but-firms-are-still-loo/) - JOB ALERT!! JOB ALERT!! Are you seeking a position in Los Angeles? It may be a tough market out there but firms are still looking! Our clients may have just the job you are looking for. Take a look: Personal Injury Litigation Paralegal - Must have at least 2 yrs. PI exp. Legal Assistant - - [How to Convince Your Firm Working Remotely is the Way to Go](https://estrin.vip/how-to-convince-your-firm-working-remotely-is-the-way-to-go/) - It's finally happened and it took a pandemic to bring it about: Law firms are finally recognizing that allowing employees to work remotely does work. Law firms have always been slow to change. That's a fact. Back in the days when computers were just coming about, lawyers felt they didn't want them because it would - [National Staffing Organization Opens MediSums, Medical Records Summarizing](https://estrin.vip/national-staffing-organization-opens-medisums-medical-records-summarizing/) - PRESS RELEASE National Legal Staffing Organization Announces Formation of MediSums, Medical Records Summarizing, Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic Estrin Legal Staffing Expands to Include Medicolegal Services in New Division LOS ANGELES, CA – Tuesday, May 19, 2020 – Newly-formed MediSums, a division of Estrin Legal Staffing, adds chronologies and medical record summaries prepared by licensed doctors - [](https://estrin.vip/correction-the-stress-seminar-for-attorneys-is-tomorrow-may-15rh-at-10am-pacific12-central1pm-eastern-register-here-htt/) - Correction: The Stress Seminar for Attorneys is tomorrow, May 15rh at 10am Pacific/12 Central/1pm Eastern: Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2523407080072810252 - [](https://estrin.vip/join-estrin-legal-staffing-and-medisums-medical-records-summarizing-for-a-dynamic-free-webinar-how-attorneys-can-deal-with/) - Join Estrin Legal Staffing and MediSums, Medical Records Summarizing for a dynamic free webinar: How Attorneys Can Deal with Stress During Covid-19. Presented by Mark Gorkin, LICSW, The Stress Doc, a renowned speaker and author. Tomorrow, May 14 10am Pacific/12:00 Central/1pm Eastern. Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2523407080072810252 - [Back to Work? 30 Top Tips for Your Firm to Keep You Safe](https://estrin.vip/back-to-work-30-top-tips-for-your-firm-to-keep-you-safe/) - Finally. Some movement. Whether you are anxious that it is too soon to physically return to the office or you are ready, willing and able, it is inevitable. We are going back at some point. It's been a long and difficult haul for most people! Some have adapted nicely to WFH while others are struggling - [](https://estrin.vip/announcing-medisums-medical-records-summarizing-heres-the-most-economical-and-efficient-way-to-get-your-medical-records-sum/) - Announcing MediSums, medical records summarizing. Here's the most economical and efficient way to get your medical records summarized. MediSums medical records summarizing is completed only by licensed doctors and legal nurses. You get a complete and very accurate summary or chronology. Most of all, our doctors can provide medical opinions and design deposition questions. Reserve - [Do you have a Plan B that rocks? How to protect your career in the Covid19 era.](https://estrin.vip/do-you-have-a-plan-b-that-rocks-how-to-protect-your-career-in-the-covid19-era/) - It is incumbent upon you to be flexible. I have had candidates whose jobs are in peril and insist on making a lateral move or improve upon their salaries. One candidate told me he would definitely not move for "less than $100,000, work remotely several days a month and match his vacation of six weeks." Right. Clearly, the message was not filtering up to the penthouse. - [](https://estrin.vip/join-us-for-a-dynamic-webinar-nice-girls-dont-speak-up-or-stand-out-our-speaker-dr-lois-frankel-is-a-best-selling-author/) - Join us for a dynamic webinar: Nice Girls Don't Speak Up or Stand Out. Our speaker, Dr. Lois Frankel, is a best-selling author and noted speaker. This highly important webinar covers 7 communication techniques you need to know now. May 1st 10am Pacific/12:00 Central/1pm Eastern. Register now. It's free. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1320565548406930191 - [How I Spent My Covid Staycation](https://estrin.vip/how-i-spent-my-covid-staycation/) - It's amazing what we can do without. This Covid-19 horrible situation is bringing a lot of things home. Boy, looking back on it, I realize how spoiled I was by taking a lot of things for granted. Take, for example, the fact that you can't get your hair dyed. Now, it's true I'm not exactly going anywhere where people can see me but hey, I still want to be well groomed. We signed up for a toilet tissue club. God forbid, we run out of toilet tissue. - [Are You Willing to Die for Your Firm?](https://estrin.vip/are-you-willing-to-die-for-your-firm/) - Is your firm asking you to periodically go to the office? Among the many and varied serious situations brought about by the Covid-19 world crisis, are the growing number of employees asked by their firm’s partners to periodically and physically go to the office. I have heard from numerous legal professionals that they are expected - [Are You in the Next Round of Lay-offs? Coping in the Time of Covid-19](https://estrin.vip/are-you-in-the-next-round-of-lay-offs-coping-in-the-time-of-covid-19/) - Some people tell me that they are "safe" in their job. Trust me. No one, absolutely, no one is immune to these big bumps in the job market. No one. Unless you have a crystal ball and can predict what is going to happen, you have to act as if the worst will occur. If it doesn't, consider that a windfall. - [How bad is it to....](https://estrin.vip/how-bad-is-it-to/) - We all make mistakes. However, there are degrees of mistakes, some very bad, some, well, not so bad. Here are 5 scenarios that might sound familiar to you: How bad is it to...... 1. Agree to a phone interview with a staffing organization recruiter and ghost or stand them up. Recruiters are professionals. They - [Can the Coronavirus hurt your job?](https://estrin.vip/can-the-coronavirus-hurt-your-job/) - Sometimes, things happen in life that were totally unforeseen. Your job seems to be going well and it looks like there is lots of security. Then, before you know it, you’re thrown off course and your world is turned upside down. Suddenly, everything is in jeopardy - how you go about daily life has changed - [It Must Be Time to Quit My Job When.....](https://estrin.vip/it-must-be-time-to-quit-my-job-when/) - "Sometimes, you just don't know it's time to leave your job and wake up one morning either in a career crisis or in a firm that just sunk. What stops you from leaving?" - [How one paralegal made the Bestseller list and got on national TV](https://estrin.vip/how-one-paralegal-made-the-bestseller-list-and-got-on-national-tv/) - the book is a survivor’s anthem. It’s about Jessi’s struggle during the time she spent crawling through three decades of trauma and tragedy that claimed her life, and her journey trying to find her way to reclaim what was lost or stolen. We told it in an raw and authentic way. And we didn’t sugarcoat a thing. Our souls are on those pages. - [Estrin Legal Staffing launches a new website!](https://estrin.vip/this-is-a-news-example/) - We are excited to announce the launch of Estrin Legal Staffing's newly designed website. Our goal with this new designed website is create a user-friendly browsing experience for our valued clients and business partners. We hope you enjoy our new uncluttered design that is easy to navigate, and more user-friendly. Support There are new job - [What Was I Thinking???? 10 Tips to Avoid Email Disaster](https://estrin.vip/what-was-i-thinking-10-tips-to-avoid-email-disaster/) - By Chere B. Estrin One of the most significant ways we are judged today is how we write e-mails. No longer are we subject to scores of phone calls or face-to-face meetings. Technology has completely revolutionized the way we communicate. It’s an email world out there and how you present yourself can make or break - [Sneaky Ways to Break Into the Legal Technology Career](https://estrin.vip/sneaky-ways-to-break-into-the-legal-technology-career/) - By Chere B. Estrin I can’t tell you how many paralegals have asked me how to break into the legal technology career. Then they tell me all the reasons they can’t get into the field, usually starting with the old “chicken and the egg” story. You know the one: “I can’t get a job because - [Go Down a Different Path - Are You Ready for An Alternative Career?](https://estrin.vip/go-down-a-different-path-are-you-ready-for-an-alternative-career/) - By Chere B. Estrin Working for a smaller company If you're unwilling to completely leave the field of IT, you could step down from that fortune 500 position and join a much smaller company. Having a much smaller network to deal with, few computers, and users who don't have that same attitude toward you will - [Recruiters can be your best ally in developing your career.](https://estrin.vip/recruiters-can-be-your-best-ally-in-developing-your-career/) - By Chere B. Estrin It’s that time again. We struggle as to whether it’s time to change jobs, hang in there or be thankful we’re in the best firm in the world. Well, maybe the best. OK, the best so far. Working with a good recruiter can help make your career. Here’s the inside scoop: - [You Call This Networking?????](https://estrin.vip/you-call-this-networking/) - By Chere Estrin Networking. No matter how you tweet ‘em up, link ‘em out, face ‘em down, or otherwise socially media-ize, if you are not doing it, you are clearly committing career suicide. And let’s not leave out the importance of the old-fashioned, rarely done, one-on-one face-to-face, in-person meeting, where you busted your budget by just - [Has Ghosting Hit Your Career?](https://estrin.vip/has-ghosting-hit-your-career/) - Ghosting: The act of not showing up. It happens all the time in the dating world but a new phenomenon has hit the job market. The new Beige Book from the Federal Reserve Bank now contains this millennial slang to describe a rising trend in the workplace. The mention in the Fed publication, formally known - [How to Answer 25 Tough Interview Questions and Get a Great Job!](https://estrin.vip/how-to-answer-25-tough-interview-questions-and-get-a-great-job/) - [5 Steps to Avoid Age Discrimination](https://estrin.vip/5-steps-to-avoid-age-discrimination/) - [Join the Organization of Legal Professionals. A non-profit dedicated to providing online eDiscovery training.](https://estrin.vip/join-the-organization-of-legal-professionals-a-non-profit-dedicated-to-providing-online-ediscovery-training/) - [Check out the Paralegal Knowledge Institute, an online training organization providing webinars for experienced paralegals nationwide.](https://estrin.vip/check-out-the-paralegal-knowledge-institute-an-online-training-organization-providing-webinars-for-experienced-paralegals-nationwide/) - [5 Networking Tips for Folks Who Hate to Network](https://estrin.vip/5-networking-tips-for-folks-who-hate-to-network/) - Change your attitude!Don't give up! It's worth the extra effort. Really. It's who you know.Networking. No matter how you tweet ‘em up, link ‘em out or face ‘em down, if you are not professionally networking on a regular basis, you are clearly committing career suicide. And, let’s not leave out the importance of the old-fashioned, - [Virtual Legal Assistant - Is This Your Magical Career?](https://estrin.vip/virtual-legal-assistant-is-this-your-magical-career/) - When you work as a Virtual Legal Assistant, you can choose to work as an employee or you can set up your own business. There are pros and cons to each arrangement. When you work as an employee, you don't have to invest any money up front or find your own clients, but your pay - [Are You Playing A Good Game? How to Improve Your Career and Move to the Major Leagues](https://estrin.vip/are-you-playing-a-good-game-how-to-improve-your-career-and-move-to-the-major-leagues/) - There is a major difference between how amateurs and professionals train. An amateur just does more of his sport. For example, Kate plays more soccer or tennis or Brian runs more often. By doing so, they may improve slowly, but will never progress past their amateur level. We call this “victims of empty-loading.” It is the same as saying, “I am going to upgrade my career.” So instead of summarizing six depositions a week, you summarize twelve. More of the same with no improvement or upward movement. - [5 Biggest Networking Mistakes Guaranteed to Stall Your Career](https://estrin.vip/5-biggest-networking-mistakes-guaranteed-to-stall-your-career/) - Networking demands skill, talent and a knack for risk taking. Networking. How many times have we heard it? It’s like saying, “bless you” when you sneeze. It has, in a sense, lost its real meaning. No matter how you tweet, link, face, or gram, you have to succumb these days if you want to avoid - [How to Become a Virtual Legal Assistant](https://estrin.vip/how-to-become-a-virtual-legal-assistant/) - Is there a brand new career just waiting for you? What exactly is a Virtual Assistant or VA? Simply put, a VA is someone who works remotely, online whether from their home or office. They are independent contractors or employees who work and use technology to deliver services. They provide administrative, technical, social media and - [What Was I Thinking? 10 Tips to Avoid eMail Disaster](https://estrin.vip/what-was-i-thinking-10-tips-to-avoid-email-disaster-2/) - One of the most significant ways we are judged today is how we write e-mails. No longer are we subject to scores of phone calls or face-to-face meetings. Technology has completely revolutionized the way we communicate. It’s an email world out there and how you present yourself can make or break your career. While it’s - [Sneaky Ways to Break Into the Legal Technology Career](https://estrin.vip/sneaky-ways-to-break-into-the-legal-technology-career-2/) - I can’t tell you how many legal professionals have asked me how to break into the legal technology career. Then they tell me all the reasons they can’t get into the field, usually starting with the old “chicken and the egg” story. You know the one: “I can’t get a job because I don’t have - [Is it time for an alternative career? Lots of options, lots of choices.](https://estrin.vip/is-it-time-for-an-alternative-career-lots-of-options-lots-of-choices/) - It’s that time of the year. You have received your raise and have politely waited a month or so after receiving your bonus. You have looked grateful and appreciative (all the while thinking, you’re giving me this after I worked that?) and now, frankly, you’ve been circling Indeed and quietly checking out job listings. But - [The Next Illegal Question.....](https://estrin.vip/the-next-ilegal-question/) - Don't Get Asked and Don't Reveal..... As of January, 2018, California employers will no longer be allowed to ask candidates for their salary histories. That’s right. You will no longer be required to disclose your current or past salary to get a job offer. A new law, AB 168, goes into effect designed, in part, - [Are You Calling Me Fat? .....And Other Little Career Mistakes](https://estrin.vip/are-you-calling-me-fat-and-other-little-career-mistakes/) - A few years back, when I was a Paralegal Administrator for a major law firm, the Director of Administration took me to lunch at the Yorkshire Grill. He plied me full of a pastrami sandwich and insisted that I order the potato salad full of creamy, yummy mayonnaise, a big kosher pickle and lots of - ["Girls" Just Wanna Have Funds......](https://estrin.vip/girls-just-wanna-have-funds/) - "What’s your salary?” becomes a no-no in job interviews. By Chere B. Estrin There’s a hot trend sweeping equal-pay legislation right now and some legal field industry leaders are not too happy about it. New York, Massachusetts and Philadelphia have passed the country’s first law that prohibits employers from asking candidates for their current - [How to Change Specialties: Getting It Right the Second Time](https://estrin.vip/how-to-change-specialties-getting-it-right-the-second-time/) - Many paralegals who want to switch practice specialties write their resume with exactly what it is they are doing now, send out a cover letter stating they have lots of experience in their current practice area and are “detail oriented, a team player and a quick learner”. In other words, “here I am, take me - [Fifteen Cent Part](https://estrin.vip/fifteen-cent-part/) - Long before paradigm shifts were in vogue, my dad taught me a good life lesson. I was so young. It was the late 70's and I desperately needed a car. So, Dad and I went down to the local Chevrolet used car lot to pick out the vehicle that was to announce my social status - [Quit Kidding Yourself with Boring Cover Letters. Get One That Works.](https://estrin.vip/quit-kidding-yourself-with-boring-cover-letters-get-one-that-works/) - Cover letters are usually boring, unimaginative or just not taken seriously because there is nothing new in the letter that makes the writer stand out. Typical responses from employers? “Same letter, different sender.” Not exactly the let’s-jump-right-for-the-phone reaction you are seeking. In fact, with all due respect, I'll bet your letter goes something like: “I - [Is Hiring a Virtual Assistant Right for You?](https://estrin.vip/is-hiring-a-virtual-assistant-right-for-you/) - Here is an article that appeared recently in the Progressive Law Practice magazine. Written by Tami Kamin Meyer "Virtual assistants are hot whether you are a solo practitioner or work in a major law firm," says Chere Estrin, president and founder of The Organization of Legal Professionals. Moreover, she adds, the more tech-savvy the attorney, - [5 Best Networking Tips for Paralegals Who Hate to Network](https://estrin.vip/5-best-networking-tips-for-paralegals-who-hate-to-network/) - It's who you know. Networking. No matter how you tweet ‘em up, link ‘em out or face ‘em down, if you are not professionally networking on a regular basis, you are clearly committing career suicide. And, let’s not leave out the importance of the old-fashioned, rarely done, one-on-one, face-to-face, in-person meeting, the one where you busted - [Law Firms Increasingly Using Alternative Legal Service Providers](https://estrin.vip/law-firms-increasingly-using-alternative-legal-service-providers/) - By Tami Kamin Meyers for Progressive Law Practice I was fortunate to be quoted in an article by Tami Kamin-Myers for Progressive Law Practice about ALSPs - Alternative Legal Service Providers. Here is a portion of the article. Please check it out. Thanks! If it seems that ads from businesses offering services supporting the practice - [Meet Joseph Spada: Controversial, Trendsetting Leader, Educator, and Paralegal Career Change Agent](https://estrin.vip/meet-joseph-spada-controversial-trendsetting-leader-educator-and-paralegal-career-change-agent/) - Meet a leader: Joseph Spada, Director of Paralegal Certificate Studies, Boston University. Joe plays a significant role in leading and teaching paralegals who are entering the field. If you think back on significant people who influenced your career path as you entered this field, who might that be? Over the years, hundreds and hundreds of - [Where Do I Go From Here? Alternative Careers for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/where-do-i-go-from-here-alternative-careers-for-paralegals/) - When I ask a paralegal “What's the next step in your career”, they inevitably tell me what they don’t want. “I don’t want a major firm.” “I don’t want litigation.” “I don’t want….” Rarely, can they tell me what they do want other than “a whole lot of money” or “I want to go in-house.” - [10 Steps to Ace Your Performance Review and Get a Mind-Blowing Raise](https://estrin.vip/10-steps-to-ace-your-performance-review-and-get-a-mind-blowing-raise/) - You’re not reading this article because you’ve gotten the raise of your dreams. You’re reading it because a) you want the raise of your dreams b) you didn’t get the raise of your dreams and need corrective action or c) it ain’t gonna happen. To c), I say, maybe not. But hey, at least I'm - [How to Alienate a Recruiter and Bust Your Career](https://estrin.vip/how-to-alienate-a-recruiter-and-bust-your-career/) - It’s that time again. We struggle as to whether it’s time to change jobs, hang in there or be thankful we’re in the best firm in the world. Well, maybe the best. OK, the best so far. Working with a good recruiter can make your career. Here’s the inside scoop: Recruiters, and I am talking - [Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Stress?](https://estrin.vip/whos-afraid-of-the-big-bad-stress/) - Stress doesn't really scare me. It is part and parcel of our lives. Why, might you ask, would anyone say that? Probably because in the second half of my work life, I have found the secrets to a relatively stress free career. Article after article has been written about stress. It’s the same old, same - [The Newest, Latest Trends in the Paralegal World - Are You Riding the Horse in the Direction It's Going?](https://estrin.vip/the-newest-latest-trends-in-the-paralegal-world-are-you-riding-the-horse-in-the-direction-its-going/) - It’s a whole new world out there for paralegals. If you are not riding the horse in the direction it’s going, you are going to be left behind. Why? Because whether you are seeking a new position, looking to expand in your role at your present job or merely suiting up and showing up (let’s - [Refusing to Play Office Politics? You Might Want to Rethink That.](https://estrin.vip/refusing-to-play-office-politics-you-might-want-to-rethink-that/) - It’s a dirty word. I’ll be surprised if it gets printed here so I’ll whisper: office politics…. (Shhhhhhh!) Your mother may have told you that nice professionals don’t do that sort of thing. Anyone who tells me they “avoid office politics” is really telling me that they are heavy into the game. Politics are an - [Highly Paid Successful Workers Compensation Paralegal Tells All - An Interview with Paula Delp, ACP](https://estrin.vip/highly-paid-successful-workers-compensation-paralegal-tells-all-an-interview-with-paula-delp-acp/) - On occasion, you meet an exception to the rule. This is the case with Paula Delp, one of the highest paid Workers Compensation Paralegals in the country, if not the highest. What a breath of fresh air! Great attitude, smart, dedicated....ok, I digress here. It takes a lot to impress me and believe me, I'm - [An American Hero Right Here in the Paralegal Field](https://estrin.vip/an-american-hero-right-here-in-the-paralegal-field/) - American Heroes. They are among us. Look to the right. Look to the left. Looking right in front of us is Conni Hebert, ACP, smack dab in the paralegal field whom I had the privilege of getting to know. What an astounding background. A paralegal for over 23 years, Conni developed an interest in the - [5 Biggest Networking Mistakes Guaranteed to Stall Your Career](https://estrin.vip/5-biggest-networking-mistakes-guaranteed-to-stall-your-career-2/) - Networking is an Art. Networking. How many times have we heard it? It’s like saying, “Bless you” when you sneeze. It has, in a sense, lost its real meaning. How you network can make all the difference in your career success. If you want to get ahead, your networking skills have to be sharp, savvy - [The British are calling.....the British are calling. UK magazine reaches out for interview.](https://estrin.vip/the-british-are-callingthe-british-are-calling-uk-magazine-reaches-out-for-interview/) - "Don’t be afraid to get shot down. I’ll never forget one of my first successes. I had just passed the successful entrepreneurial mark. I went out and bought a Mercedes. Giggling like two girls, we got in. We rubbed the real leather, we moved the seats back and forth. We played with the radio and didn’t understand all the switches. We loved it. I finally said to her, “Well, Mom, what do you think of your girl?” She looked at me for a moment and she said, “I think this is great, honey. Is this a Toyota?” - [Weight! Weight! Are You Sabotaging Your Career? Those Extra Pounds May Be Holding You Back](https://estrin.vip/weight-weight-are-you-sabotaging-your-career-those-extra-pounds-may-be-holding-you-back/) - While many victims of weight bias have suspected their appearance has been hurting their careers, two past studies analyzing decades' worth of research showed just how pervasive the problem is. The bulk of research has shown that the bias tends to be felt most by overweight white women, who are battling both the glass ceiling and the stigma of being heavy. - [Here's How Legal Technology Expertise Can Make or Break Your Career](https://estrin.vip/heres-how-legal-technology-expertise-can-make-or-break-your-career/) - "eDiscovery and Litigation Support Project Management are the hottest areas paying some of the highest salaries and offering challenging and upwardly mobile career opportunities. It is not unusual to see salaries for Senior Litigation Support Project Managers in the upper $150,000 at major law firms or at Top Tier Legal Support Providers." - [Do In-House Paralegals Get More Respect?](https://estrin.vip/do-in-house-paralegals-get-more-respect/) - Aretha Franklin sang to the world about it. The subject is included when employees, girlfriends, wives, husbands, boyfriends, grandmothers and pets are asked how they want to be treated. I’m talking about respect. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as Ms. Franklin would put it. In my travels across the country as a paralegal educator, speaker, author and staffing - [Where Do I Go From Here? Leveraging Your Background Is the Smartest Career Move You Can Make - Just Ask Chuck Smith](https://estrin.vip/where-do-i-go-from-here-leveraging-your-background-is-the-smartest-career-move-you-can-make/) - One of the biggest mistakes you can make in your paralegal career is to not leverage your background. In fact, when faced with either entering the field or changing positions, the words "transferable skills" sometime seem to make a beeline for the exit as candidates get it into their heads that obscure skills in their - [Donald Trump loves me! (Huh?) What You Need to Know Right Now: Ethics and Social Networking](https://estrin.vip/ethics-and-social-networking-donald-trumps-linkedin-invitation/) - LinkedIn With Donald Trump! (Legal Ethics) "Donald Trump loves me! It is certainly clear that he can spot a winner – a leader in the profession, at the top of their game. I'm sure that describes me, and must be why he has requested to join my massive and influential LinkedIn network (of a moderate, real-world scale, of course)." - [Dear Son: Don't Forget to Stand Out](https://estrin.vip/you-may-remember-jamie-collinsone-of-our-top-writers-today-im-pleased-to-feature-one-of-her-posts-on-the-estrin-report-i/) - You may remember Jamie Collins—one of our top writers. Today I'm pleased to feature one of her posts on The Estrin Report. I am excited to announce that Jamie is not only writing in the legal genre these days, but also recently launched a personal blog called: Just Being Jamie. So what is this new - [Mentoring Can Be the Biggest Mistake of Your Career](https://estrin.vip/no-one-goes-through-childhood-saying-when-i-grow-up-i-want-to-be-a-mentor-thats-like-saying-when-i-grow-up-i/) - "No one goes through childhood saying, “When I grow up I want to be a mentor.” That’s like saying, “When I grow up, I want to be an actuary.” When given a chance, believe it or not, not everyone wants the awesome responsibility for someone else's career." - [Should Attending Law School Be Kept a Secret From My Employer?](https://estrin.vip/should-attending-law-school-be-kept-a-secret-from-my-employer/) - Nothing is worse than making a mistake that could be a career buster.” - [The Happiness Avoidance Problem: You sure do know what you don’t want.](https://estrin.vip/the-happiness-avoidance-problem-you-sure-do-know-what-you-dont-want/) - We all want career happiness. So why, for some people, is it so hard to get? It is remarkably sad that so many people end up devoting their careers to jobs that don’t make them happy. They don’t start out that way, of course. It just ends up that as they get further along in - [How to be a successful virtual paralegal - just like Brenda Studebaker](https://estrin.vip/how-to-be-a-successful-virtual-paralegal-just-like-brenda-studebaker/) - When you think about being a paralegal, the general picture that's conjured up is a bunch of attorneys, a paralegal an arm's length from those attorneys, a file clerk frantically looking for the document the attorney swears he never had, phones ringing, computers crashing (well, they do....), chaos, activity, energy, excitement and calm. Calm? Well, - [5 Ways to Talk to the Bully at the WorkPlace](https://estrin.vip/5-ways-to-talk-to-the-bully-at-the-workplace/) - Our guest blogger today is Mark Gorkin, The Stress Doc. How to Talk to the Bully: Five Strategic Tools, Techniques, and Tips Now that we have a definition of bullying and some key psychosocial conditions that encourage this often demeaning, ego- or power-driven, and manipulative process, let's continue with the final segment...How to engage and set - [The Uberization of Legal Services & Why Ignoring It Wipes You Out of the Field](https://estrin.vip/the-uberization-of-legal-services-why-ignoring-it-wipes-you-out-of-the-field/) - Richard Granat, a legal icon in this field, has written a blog piece that whether you are paying attention or not, need to know if you want to continue in today's legal market: http://bit.ly/1Cp5vt0. I exaggerate not. The Uberization of Legal Services By Richard Granat on June 19, 2015 Posted in Law Startups, Limited Scope Legal Services, Unbundled Legal Services - [](https://estrin.vip/the-uberization-of-legal-services-and-why-you-need-to-pay-attention-now-httpbitly1cp5vt0/) - The Uberization of Legal Services and Why You Need to Pay Attention NOW. http://bit.ly/1Cp5vt0 - [My Toughest Assignment - Ever](https://estrin.vip/my-toughest-assignment-ever-that-is-if-you-count-being-a-mentor/) - No one goes through childhood saying, “What I want to be when I grow up is a mentor.” That’s like saying, “When I grow up, I want to be an actuary.” It just doesn’t happen that way. When given a chance, believe it or not, not everyone wants the awesome responsibility of carrying someone’s future - [Thinking of leaving the field? Try this instead.](https://estrin.vip/i-dont-wanna-be-a-paralegal-anymore-but-i-cant-leave-the-field-and-other-recent-whines/) - Recently, I was a speaker at the Los Angeles Paralegal Association's 19th Annual Spring Conference. The theme was the Paralegal Career - What's happening today; alternative careers and the ever-talked about licensing, registration and regulation. What can I say? It was informative, lively and eye-opening. I was invited to be on the alternative careers panel. - [Still Thinking About Licensing Paralegals? Hogwash. Old School Thinking.](https://estrin.vip/still-thinking-about-licensing-paralegals-hogwash-old-school-thinking/) - Just about every week, the question of whether to license paralegals comes up. What never comes up is the real "why". Oh sure, you'll hear ramblings on and on as to the pros and the cons. The reasoning includes how paralegals are supposed to come under the supervision of attorneys anyway (as though this relieves - [The Salary Survey That Can Ruin Your Career](https://estrin.vip/the-salary-survey-that-can-ruin-your-career/) - I got all excited. The NALA salary survey was out. Time to find out what paralegals around the country were making. And then the other shoe dropped. I'm not a statistics expert. I don't claim to be. However, I am an advocate of higher salaries. Frankly, I don't know of advocates for lower salaries. I - [I Quit - In Stilettos. (It was epic)](https://estrin.vip/i-quit-in-stilettos-it-was-epic/) - Today I'm here to tell you about one of the most powerful days in my life. It was transforming. Awe-inspiring. A day filled with tremendous personal freedom. It was the day I quit. I'm pretty sure you're prepared to read some humdrum piece about a colossally awful job, with a dreadful boss, and the day I belted out a song that included the words, "these stilettos were made for walking." This ain't it. - [Where the Big Bucks are for Paralegals - and it can make you leave the field.](https://estrin.vip/show-me-the-money/) - Show me an employee who says the money doesn't matter and I'll show you someone whose nose is growing. Paralegals are now facing a tremendous game changer - the advent of technology plays a significant factor in whether or not you make good money. Statistics show that paralegals without technology know-how earn fewer dollars than - [The Number One Secret Strategy to Get Promoted](https://estrin.vip/the-number-one-secret-strategy-to-get-promoted/) - This hybrid position is an insult to the field. These firms combine the paralegal/legal assistant (or legal secretary) positions. This move pushes the paralegal field down and demotes the paralegal by adding responsibilities that are better delegated to a lower competent level. If you are asked, “How fast do you type?” in an interview, beware! You’re most likely going to be expected to perform secretarial duties. Let me ask you: Have you fought your way through your career to get more sophisticated responsibilities only to be asked to have half your job duties coming from the spot on the org chart below you? I think not. - [How Much of a Career Risk Should You Take Switching Specialties?](https://estrin.vip/how-much-of-a-career-risk-should-you-take-switching-specialties/) - It's a sure-footed, absolute and positive, no mistakin' it gamble. Switching specialties, that is. Bored with what you're doing? Fed up with a paltry salary? Peeking over the fence to see who makes more money? Seeking that enigma: better challenge? Tonya Pierce addresses the topic today. She's making some good points. The main one being: - [An Oh So Different Effective Approach to Strong Cover Letters](https://estrin.vip/cover-letters-are-usually-boring-about-98-of-the-time-its-entirely-possible-that-your-cover-letter-is-just-like-the-last/) - Cover letters are usually boring. About 98% of the time it’s entirely possible that your cover letter is just like the last one that the employer read. In fact, while not word-for-word, I'll bet it goes something like: To whom it may concern: “I noticed your ad for a litigation paralegal. I am - [Ten Top Reasons Midsize Law Firms are Disappearing](https://estrin.vip/ten-top-reasons-midsize-law-firms-are-disappearing/) - Oh, for heaven's sake! First we read for years how the major firms are going to go under, disband or simply disappear and now we're reading out go the midsize firms. What's going to be left? Teeny, tiny little firms or solos? What does this mean for the paralegal?Probably a lot. Already, a new trend - [Paralegal Predictions for 2015: Probable, Paralyzing or Positive?](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-predictions-for-2015-probable-paralyzing-or/) - 2015! Predictions for each new year is a c**pshoot. How can you know? Based on what? I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that most likely, predictions are based upon the previous year's trends. They certainly don't come out of the blue. Really now, predictions shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone. - [What's Hot - What's Not: How To Be Left in the Dust Without Even Trying](https://estrin.vip/whats-hot-whats-not-and-how-it-applies-to-you/) - "Here is what Robert Denny says is slated to happen in 2015. My take on things is that he's probably 95% correct for lawyers. But then again, I'm only concerned with paralegals and sometimes what's hot doesn't always apply to high volumes of paralegals. My best advice? Ride that dang horse the direction it's going." - [When to Say Oh-No-Absolutely-Not to Your Dream Job](https://estrin.vip/when-to-say-oh-no-absolutely-not-to-your-dream-job/) - I order up the snowmobile. I hop on Realtor.com. I find out that for the price of a garage in L.A., I can have a mansion on a lake with my own personal boat dock. I realize I'll need floaties. Not a bad deal - even if I don't know how to sail. - [Facing maniacal, steamrolling, panic pushing bosses - how the heck do you respond?](https://estrin.vip/facing-maniacal-steamrolling-panic-pushing-bosses-how-the-heck-do-you-respond/) - Our guest blogger today is Katherine Giacolone, The Corporate Nanny All too often we have conflicting work priorities. We're all working managers with daily tasks that have to get done and new assignments that come and go. We don't have a whole lot of room for organizational emergencies or pop-up projects! But the emergencies and - [10 Reasons Why I Won't Hire You](https://estrin.vip/10-reasons-why-i-wont-hire-you/) - "The manner in which some candidates were approaching their job search was not going to land them a position with anyone, ever. The funny thing is, none of them thought they're doing anything wrong. After all, they wrote a great resume, cover letter, wore their Sunday Best and gave 'em hell during the interview.". - [What Attorneys Really Think About Paralegals - The Inside Scoop](https://estrin.vip/what-attorneys-really-think-about-paralegals-the-inside-scoop/) - What Attorneys Really Think About Paralegals - Inside Scoop CBE: Let’s talk politics. Why can some attorneys work with paralegals until midnight but wouldn’t be caught dead having lunch with them. What’s with the caste system? ASB: Arrogance. Don’t try to change things. It’s not going to happen. It’s not a reflection on you. It’s all about the attorney’s ego. These are things beyond your power to change. - [So You Think You're So Smart: IQ vs. EQ](https://estrin.vip/so-you-think-youre-so-smart-iq-vs-eq/) - Although IQ plays an important role in personal success, especially in complex disciplines such as the sciences, studies have demonstrated that emotional intelligence—or EQ—can play an even more important role. In fact, experts in this field argue that IQ contributes only 20% to life success. - [Stand Out...Don't Just be Outstanding: Be Out-Rage-Ous](https://estrin.vip/stand-outdont-just-be-outstanding-be-out-rage-ous/) - Be Out-Rage-Ous....Not Just Out of the Box.... Today we have the pleasure of Mark Gorkin, MSW, LICSW, the "Stress Doc" as our guest blogger. Enjoy! Early on in my migration to the Internet, I christened myself AOL’s “Online Psychohumorist” ™. Along with a part-time psychotherapy practice and the moniker “Stress Doc” ™, I was writing short psychological - [You Might Be Stressed Out If.....](https://estrin.vip/you-might-be-stressed-out-if/) - You might be stressed out if.....You have seriously pondered entering the paralegal protection program in an effort to actually step away from that papyrus covered desk, as you flee the legal perimeter to play a fun little game called “Paralegal Evading Esquire Hide-And-Go-Seek,” so you can actually eat a few blissful calories, away from your desk, for a period of at least 30 whopping minutes to an hour without receiving a single verbal, text or e-mailed request for anything at all. (Got that – nothing. We want to hear absolutely nothing from you during this time if you are in possession of a legal badge. Shhhhh.) - [Are you calling yourself certified? Chances are you're mistaken.](https://estrin.vip/are-calling-yourself-certified-chances-are-youre-mistaken/) - Confusing the certified with certificate says you don’t know your career. How sad is that? You need to be able to represent yourself correctly. Saying you are certified when you received a certificate of completion or achievement after completing either a course or even a 3-day workshop is not only a misnomer, it could be construed as misrepresentation. Would a lawyer say he/she is a lawyer if they didn’t take the Bar exam? - [What's a nice Greek like Nikki Karakostas doing in the paralegal field?](https://estrin.vip/whats-a-nice-greek-like-nikki-karakostas-doing-in-the-paralegal-field/) - "Who can truthfully say they absolutely love what they do? Be honest. While most people open with their “don’t like” list, getting Nikki to confess what she does not like was not going to happen. When pressed, she admitted to difficulty dealing with frustration when, after passionately putting forth a great deal of hard effort, the case ends with a thud." - [Will Paralegals End Up with Too Much Power?](https://estrin.vip/will-paralegals-end-up-with-too-much-power/) - Dubois, of course, has to make sure that he cites a paralegal who stole some money as a possible example of why paralegals should not be given more power. Get real, Dubois. Paralegals in that kind of trouble are rare which is why it hits the news. One only has to pick up any monthly magazine such as the California State Bar newsletter and see pages and pages of suspended or disbarred attorneys who have had licenses ripped away for stealing from client's trust accounts. - [Why Paralegals in Traditional Law Firms Won't Stand a Chance in Hell](https://estrin.vip/why-paralegals-in-traditional-law-firms-wont-stand-a-chance-in-hell/) - Will the traditional law firm survive? If " traditional" encompasses the status quo -- incentives that measure and reward billable hours, a pyramid structure where large numbers of associates are hired, weeded out and then promoted to the partnership by doing really good work and putting in excessive hours, where client matters are each approached in a bespoke manner -- the answer to the title question is "no." - [I'm Not a Dinosaur. I'm Just Big for My Age.](https://estrin.vip/im-not-a-dinosaur-im-just-big-for-my-age/) - Let's take this social media thing. You're definitely a dinosaur if you're not social mediaing it. So, I'm twittering, I'm linking, I'm facing, I'm blogging, I am pinning (although with what, god only knows) but I'm no closer to anyone than before. Where are my friends? - [Cliches: The Name of the Game](https://estrin.vip/cliches-the-name-of-the-game/) - Have you taken my class, Brave New Writer: Leadership Through Corporate Storytelling? If so, you know how adverse I am to cliches. When I see certain ones, I just tell myself to keep walking past those open windows. Phrases such as: As you know; if you have any questions, hit the nail on the head; - [](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-knowledge-institute-is-presenting-a-dynamic-online-live-and-interactive-course-on-the-hottest-topic-legal-project/) - Paralegal Knowledge Institute is presenting a dynamic online, live and interactive course on the hottest topic: Legal Project Management. Paralegals: here is a way to become extremely valuable to your firm. Check it out at: http://bit.ly/1lr03Qx - [Coming soon to a law firm near you: Paralegals giving limited legal advice?](https://estrin.vip/coming-soon-to-a-law-firm-near-you-paralegals-giving-limited-legal-advice/) - Do you believe in licensing paralegals to give limited legal advice? There are areas of the law where at present, it is not economically feasible for lawyers to provide services profitably but where lay advocates might if UPL statutes were relaxed or rescinded. Holy, moly! - [Don't give me the same old, same old for stress. Fix it for me!](https://estrin.vip/dont-give-me-the-same-old-same-old-for-stress-fix-it-for-me/) - Stress doesn't really scare me. It is part and parcel of our lives. Why, might you ask, would anyone say that? Probably because in the second half of my work life, I have found the secrets to a relatively stress free career. Article after article has been written about stress. It’s the same old, same - [](https://estrin.vip/first-annual-nycpa-legal-professionals-conference-berkeley-college-12-east-41st-street-new-york-new-york-for-registra/) - FIRST ANNUAL N.Y.C.P.A. LEGAL PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE BERKELEY COLLEGE 12 East 41st Street New York, New York (FOR REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION): www.nyc-pa.org/calendar?eventId=838670&EventViewMode=EventDetails - [The Old Gray Mare - Is She Still What She Used to Be? Ageism and Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/the-old-gray-mare-is-she-what-she-used-to-be-ageism-and-paralegals/) - "My supervisor remarked to me on two separate occasions that I may be "too old" for the type of work I was doing. At the time he said this, I had reached the age of 54. The supervisor was 46. A few of weeks after the second “you’re too old” remark, I was let go - even though my reviews were excellent. It doesn't take a brainard to figure it out." - [Licensing Paralegals? Now? Whoa! Hold down there, Big Fella](https://estrin.vip/licensing-paralegals-now-whoa-hold-down-there-big-fella/) - I have always maintained that the paralegal field did not go about establishing itself correctly. It's been piecemeal, guessing and improvising at best. Why? For years, anyone who wanted to could call themselves a paralegal - and get away with it. - [OLP Launches the First Litigation Support Certification Exam: First of its kind will set industry standards](https://estrin.vip/olp-launches-the-first-litigation-support-certification-exam-first-of-its-kind-will-set-industry-sta/) - LOS ANGELES – The Organization of Legal Professionals, an industry group that includes some of the most respected legal technology thought leaders in the field, announced today that it has finalized preparations for its Litigation Support Certification Exam. The exam, developed in conjunction with Pearson Learning Solutions, a $7 billion company that specializes in certification examinations for - [](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-knowledge-institute-is-offering-the-first-litigation-support-certification-exam-in-the-country-this-sophisticated/) - Paralegal Knowledge Institute is offering the first Litigation Support Certification Exam in the country! This sophisticated exam was designed by 32 OLP technology experts and two Ph.D.s together with Pearson, a $7 billion company that specializes in certification exams such as GMAT, GMRE, LSAT and more. Here's a great way to demonstrate to your firm - [When Bad Things Happen to Good Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/when-bad-things-happen-to-good-paralegals/) - The story of Cinderella is familiar to most of us. Nice girl, horrible living conditions, probably violation of child-labor laws, happy ending. When we are children, we believe this story and for some of us, it sets our expectations for the future. And then, real life happens. When we think of what the bad - [](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-knowledge-institute-is-presenting-4-surefire-steps-to-managing-paralegals-wwwparalegalknowledgecom-register-toda/) - Paralegal Knowledge Institute is presenting 4 Surefire Steps to Managing Paralegals! www.paralegalknowledge.com Register today! - [Weight! Weight! Are you sabotaging your career?](https://estrin.vip/weight-weight-are-you-sabotaging-your-career/) - After lunch, he hit me with “You’re doing a great job.” Wow. I liked that. “However,” he proceeded, “if you’re going to succeed here, you’ll have to lose weight.” To this day, I could tell you exactly where we were standing, what I was wearing and the time he gave me the news. - [The Future of Paralegals: Why Waiting for the Future to Arrive is a Career Buster](https://estrin.vip/the-future-of-paralegals/) - Todays Guest Blogger is Terese Cannon, J.D., We are entering a era of major, perhaps even revolutionary, shifts in law practice, legal education, and the role of both lawyers and nonlawyers who deliver legal services. Already in motion but accelerated by the economic meltdown five years ago, these shifts have already resulted in significant downsizing - [The Paralegal Internet Association Now Forming -](https://estrin.vip/the-paralegal-internet-association-now-forming/) - As the world grows closer, so does the paralegal field. It had to happen. With millions of paralegals around the world, a new association needed to be formed to bring paralegals together for one common purpose. I thought. "What if there were an association where paralegals could share information; develop best practices; raise the awareness of - [Law firms change from lay-offs to compensation and training](https://estrin.vip/law-firms-change-from-lay-offs-to-compensation-and-training/) - Today's market: protect yourself - get the training you need to keep your job and get top salary At least people have stopped crouching behind their desks in an effort to hide from the Pink Slip Lady. That's according to a recent survey from ALM Intelligence, "Turf Wars: Defining New Roles and Competing for New - [](https://estrin.vip/have-you-signed-up-yet-for-the-paralegal-knowledge-institutes-4-night-knowledge-cruise-to-the-bahamas-earn-up-to-12-free-cle/) - Have you signed-up yet for the Paralegal Knowledge Institute's 4-night Knowledge Cruise to the Bahamas? Earn up to 12 free CLE's! Sun and fun and meet paralegals from all over the country. For more info: www.paralegalknowledge.com teresamarco63@gmail.com I'll see you there! - [Can you hear me now? 5 Tips for Effective Client Communication](https://estrin.vip/can-you-hear-me-now-5-tips-for-effective-client-communication/) - "The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place." George Bernard Shaw Those legal professionals who are effective in client communications are those who stop, for just a moment, to reflect upon who their clients are, the client's personal make up and whether they are in the legal field familiar with legal terminology. To - [Stop Using the 37 Most Irritating Words at Work](https://estrin.vip/the-25-most-irritating-words-used-at-work/) - I would love to hear some real work conversation from some real people. I mean people who don't speak current workspeak. You know the type: the ones that desperately want you to think that they are "in the know", "up-to-date", savvy, synchronized but frankly, silly. - [Professional growth: In order to gain it, you have to work the system.](https://estrin.vip/professional-growth-in-order-to-gain-it-you-have-to-work-the-system/) - Whether you want to believe it or not, professional growth is entirely up to the individual. It is not the responsibility of the law firm to ensure that your career and knowledge is extended. Paralegal Managers and paralegals who refuse to take responsibility for their own growth wonder why they are passed - [](https://estrin.vip/check-out-paralegal-knowledge-institutes-new-information-governance-program-a-great-way-to-climb-up-the-ladder-and-become-m/) - Check out Paralegal Knowledge Institute's new Information Governance program - a great way to climb up the ladder and become more valuable to your firm! - [From Communist Russia to U.S. Citizen - A Paralegal's Fight for Freedom](https://estrin.vip/from-communist-russia-to-us-citizen-a-paralegals-fight-for-freedom/) - Walnuts on My Bookshelf: Memories of Living in Communist Russia is a book that I just couldn't put down. This compelling story engrosses the reader from the very first paragraph. Written by an Alabama paralegal, Peter Kirchikov, the book brings a unique and brilliant analysis of life during the USSR from 1952 until 1991. Born and raised - [Shoot for the Curb - Everything Else is Gravy](https://estrin.vip/shoot-for-the-curb-everything-else-is-gravy/) - How many times have you set goals only not to achieve them? Come on. You already know in your gut when you set the goal that you probably won’t reach it. Despite clichés such as “Shoot for the moon” and other psychobabble, you will most likely say to yourself, “Are you kidding? I’ll commit to - [Limited-licensing for Paralegals: It's Finally a Reality](https://estrin.vip/limited-licensing-for-paralegals-its-finally-a-reality/) - Licensing paralegals has been talked about for years. And years. And years. It’s been pushed back as long as I can remember. One objection is that paralegals do not practice law and therefore do not need licensing. They are supervised by attorneys and it is the attorney’s license on the line. Another issue was there - [Paralegal Jobs Are Vanishing According to New AP Analysis](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-jobs-are-vanishing-according-to-new-ap-analysis/) - Bad, Bad News for Paralegals Paralegal jobs are vanishing according to a recent analysis. In fact, out of the top disappearing jobs, paralegal is in the top 7 positions. For years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the paralegal position was one of the fastest growing fields. In fact, as recently as 2011, - [Weight! Weight! Are you sabotaging your career?](https://estrin.vip/weight-weight-are-you-sabotaging-your-career-2/) - Have you ever considered that those extra pounds that sneaked up when you were just “having an extra bite” might be holding your career back? Some years ago when I worked for a major Los Angeles law firm, the Director of Administration asked me to lunch. Since this was rarely done for non-attorneys in those - [Our Ms. Manners Reaches Out Over Wine, Wisdom and Wacky Traditions](https://estrin.vip/our-guest-blogger-today-is-stacey-wagner-when-i-was-eleven-years-old-the-flu-collided-with-christmas-dinner-and-forever-dam/) - Our guest blogger today is Stacey Wagner When I was eleven years old, the flu collided with Christmas dinner and forever dampened my enthusiasm for holiday food. So, every year I sit back with a glass of wine and watch the mayhem unfold as my multigenerational and multicultural family of cooks and foodies barter and - [When Bad Things Happen to Good Legal Professionals](https://estrin.vip/when-bad-things-happen-to-good-legal-professionals/) - The story of Cinderella is familiar to most of us. Nice girl, horrible living conditions, probably violation of child-labor laws, happy ending. When we are children, we believe this story and for some of us, it sets our expectations for the future. And then, real life happens. When we think of what the - [That's Not My Job](https://estrin.vip/thats-not-my-job/) - Our guest blogger today is Ninowtzka Mier. “My boss’ secretary looked up and said the words that may have well been nails scratching a chalk board. “That’s not my job.” I'm sure it has happened to most of us, at one point or another, during our professional lives. For most of us, a normal day - [Managing Effective Relationships with Vendors and the RFP Process](https://estrin.vip/managing-effective-relationships-with-vendors-and-the-rfp-process/) - Our guest blogger today is Joe Kanka. Recently, I had the opportunity to be a guest lecturer as part of the Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP) Paralegal Management Certification Program. As a former paralegal, I always welcome opportunities to speak with today’s paralegals about how they can enhance their management skills. While the topic of - [We're number one...well, almost....](https://estrin.vip/were-number-onewell-almost/) - I received an email today from Charles Sipe http://www.paralegal411.org/. According to paralegal411.org and the sophisticated metrics they use, The Estrin Report is ranked number two (in the world? in the country? on the Internet?) in the Top 25 paralegal blogs. I love that and I genuinely appreciate all of your support and thank you for what - [When to Say "No" to Your Dream Job](https://estrin.vip/when-to-say-no-to-your-dream-job/) - Then, I get THE CALL and not on my cell, either. The offer is coming down. YES!! I order up the snowmobile. I hop on Realtor.com and find out that for the price of a garage in L.A., I can have a mansion on a lake with my own personal boat dock. I realize I'll need floaties. Not a bad deal - even if I don't know how to sail. - [A Shoutout to Paralegals Who Plan.....and Plan.....and Plan](https://estrin.vip/today-were-hearing-from-jamie-collins-our-guest-blogger-who-is-causing-quite-a-stir-with-her-blog-the-paralegal-society-o/) - Today, we're hearing from Jamie Collins, our guest blogger, who is causing quite a stir with her blog, The Paralegal Society. She's opinionated, funny, informative and on point. Jamie speaks from the heart of a paralegal who has weathered the Bates Stamping Wars. I couldn't help but ask her to contribute to The Estrin Report. Have - [Is there tension between paralegal lifers and future lawyers?](https://estrin.vip/is-there-tension-between-paralegal-lifers-and-future-lawyers/) - It is well known that pressure to produce billable hours increases the temptation to keep hours or income up by overworking files, overstating the amount of work actually performed, or failing to complete work in the most efficient manner. Paralegals have created a hierarchy and paralegals without much education don’t tend to get too far. They tend to do routine and repetitious assignments in firms that are not necessarily rated the highest.” - [Tough Negotiating for Tough Times](https://estrin.vip/tough-negotiating-for-tough-times/) - If you’ve ever read the lists for Top Ten Stressors, losing your job or looking for a new one is right up there with life altering events. After finding that dream job, you hold your breath hoping the right amount of money is offered. That little stressor is guaranteed to give you hives, insomnia or - [5 Ways Corporate Paralegals Add Value to GCs](https://estrin.vip/our-guest-blogger-today-is-joe-kanka-five-ways-five-ways-corporate-paralegals-add-value-to-gc-the-recent-article-by-sha/) - Our guest blogger today is Joe Kanka: Five Ways Corporate Paralegals Add Value to GCs The recent article by Shannon Green in Corporate Counsel on Creating a Curriculum for a School for GCs was a very interesting read even with it being fictitious in nature. A couple of key points stuck out in my mind relating - [When do you reveal you're going to law school?](https://estrin.vip/when-do-you-reveal-youre-going-to-law-school/) - A paralegal posted a common question to one of the LinkedIn groups: “Am I absolutely out of my mind trying to find paralegal work, with no experience yet, only certification, and entering law school in the fall? Not exactly the ideal situation for a lot of hiring companies, apparently.” Naturally, I had to put in my - [A Stress Free Career? Are You Living in Dreamland????](https://estrin.vip/stress-doesnt-really-scare-me-it-is-part-and-parcel-of-our-lives-why-might-you-ask-would-anyone-say-that-probably-becau/) - Stress doesn't really scare me. It is part and parcel of our lives. Why, might you ask, would anyone say that? Probably because in the second half of my work life, I have found the secrets to a relatively stress free career. Article after article has been written about stress. It’s the same old, - [A Plan to Develop Your Successful Career](https://estrin.vip/a-plan-to-develop-your-successful-career/) - If you're reading this now, you're probably thinking that I have a magic bullet for you - one that will propel you to paralegal stardom. I'm sorry. I don't happen to have that. What I do have, however, is 20+ years of experience witnessing success stories. And you know what? Each paralegal I witnessed who - [The eDiscovery Salary Survey - Why You Should Take It!](https://estrin.vip/the-ediscovery-salary-survey-why-you-should-take-it/) - The Organization of Legal Professionals is conducting an important eDiscovery Salary Survey that will show you where you are in relationship to others on salary issues. If you are a paralegal and in any way, deal with eDiscovery, you need to take 3 minutes to do this survey. Why? Because the survey can help get - [Holy, Moly! Paralegals are Running for Office](https://estrin.vip/holy-moly-paralegals-are-running-for-office/) - This week's paralegal blog from the Minnesota School of Business had an interesting post about paralegals running for office in 2012. Talk about expanding your career options! Here are some of the candidates running campaigns. I assume that paralegals have an excellent foundation to run for certain offices: Dealing with difficult attorneys, working overtime, tons - [The Win-Win Meeting - How You Can Make a Difference](https://estrin.vip/the-win-win-meeting-how-you-can-make-a-difference/) - "Planning ahead an learning to manage meeting show stoppers plays a huge part in the success or failure of a meeting." - [Change Your Game Plan - Change the Odds of Your Success](https://estrin.vip/change-your-game-plan-change-the-odds-of-your-success/) - It always amazes me that people plan for everything else that is important in their lives: children, buying a house, retirement, vacation but when it comes to planning their career – the very thing that supports those decisions - it’s a roll of the dice. - [Are you a "Certified Paralegal"? Maybe not.](https://estrin.vip/are-you-a-certified-paralegal-maybe-not/) - I'm on my soapbox today with a pet peeve. I noticed that some paralegals are putting "ABA Certified Paralegal" on their resumes, social media or announcing it to friends and employers. Here's a suggestion: Stop now while you still can! Save yourself some embarrassment or even keep yourself from getting rejected from a job!The ABA - [In Search of the Rest of Your Career](https://estrin.vip/in-search-of-the-rest-of-your-career/) - Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen a legal professional get energized about a job in order to put more profit in a partner’s pocket. However, when I suggest a change to an organization where a legal professional makes real difference, faces light up. - [15 Ways to Leave Your Lawyer ...And Set Yourself Free](https://estrin.vip/15-ways-to-leave-your-lawyer-and-set-yourself-free/) - Last Impressions Last impressions are as important as first and doubly important in the paralegal field where “everyone knows your name.” People talk, and when they’re talking about you, it’s important that the conversation remains positive. Ensure that today’s co-workers become tomorrow’s dependable references and contacts. Here are a few suggestions: Time to Get - [Warning: Shift Ahead - Are You Ready?](https://estrin.vip/warning-shift-ahead-are-you-ready/) - A paralegal wrote in with this question:Is it worth it for a paralegal to sit for the eDiscovery Certification Exam?Of course, I jumped right on this question! As Chairperson of the Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP) and a co-founder of the International Paralegal Management Association, author of 10 books on legal careers and Editor-in-Chief of - [What??? Consider a Career with a Legal Support Provider?](https://estrin.vip/what-consider-a-career-with-a-legal-support-provider/) - While some law firm professionals believe that taking a position with a vendor is “going over to the dark side,” careers with legal service providers can be fun and lucrative. If you are through with the billable hour monkey on your back, here’s a whole other avenue you can take and still stay in the legal field. - [Participating in Salary Surveys Can Lead to Big Surprises](https://estrin.vip/participating-in-salary-surveys-can-lead-to-big-surprises/) - Here's what's lacking in this market: Reliable salary surveys that the average law firm employee can get their hands on. Sure, there are lots of surveys out there but they are either a) an informal survey that isn't entirely accurate; b) available only for top executives; c) done by an association without the psychometrics, analytics - [Would you give your Facebook password to a prospective employer?](https://estrin.vip/would-you-give-your-facebook-password-to-a-prospective-employer/) - Years ago, employers would ask women what kind of birth control they used. (I remember being asked during an interview with Pacific Bell telephone when I was 18 years old.) The feeling was that if the candidate used none or used something that wasn't consistent, they would get pregnant and leave the job. Women were often turned down because of what type of birth control they used. It has nothing to do with whether they could do the job. Catholics, in particular, suffered a great deal of discrimination. - [You Coulda Fooled Me.....](https://estrin.vip/you-coulda-fooled-me/) - I read what I thought would be a same old, same old topic today in Paralegal Society but it didn't turn out that way. The guest post, by Stacey Wagner, was about business casual but the piece actually gave me a poke in the old gray matter evoking this lesson: Some years ago, I did - [10 Ways to Sink Your Paralegal Career - Guaranteed](https://estrin.vip/10-ways-to-sink-your-paralegal-career-guaranteed/) - It's a game, really, this business of careers. If you think about it, every move should be strategic, every decision made carefully, and each accidental event acknowledged as it affects your outcome. To top it off, the results are win, lose or draw. Why we make the bad choices we do can sometimes be thrown - [A Mature Paralegal's Story in Today's Legal Market](https://estrin.vip/a-mature-paralegals-story-in-todays-legal-market/) - Today we hear from our guest blogger, Karen George, FRP, from Miami, Florida. I am a paralegal. I am a “mature” paralegal. I rose through the ranks to become a paralegal. I didn’t take a class, get a certificate or any other degree (AS/BS). I am of - [The Paralegal Bill of Rights](https://estrin.vip/the-paralegal-bill-of-rights/) - Here's a great post that I caught from the Paralegal Society blog: In The Paralegal Society’s “social club,” which is hosted on LinkedIn, we decided to have a little fun one day (actually more like a week), and we compiled the following Paralegal Bills of Rights. We wanted to share it with all of - [Informative Articles, Interesting Blogs.....](https://estrin.vip/informative-articles-interesting-blogs/) - Our guest blogger today is Celia Elwell - back with another useful column of Informative Articles and Interesting Blogs: Legal Articles & Blogs:2011 a transformative year” for workplace class action litigation, by Ashley Post, InsideCounselhttp://bit.ly/wE1eT1D.C. Judge Orders Deloitte To Court In Subpoena Dispute, posted by Mike Scarcella, The BLT: The Blog of Legal Timeshttp://bit.ly/ydRSeLPiggybacking on - [About 1/3 of Law Firms Plan to Hire in 2012](https://estrin.vip/about-13-of-law-firms-plan-to-hire-in-2012/) - Well, here's a breath of fresh air. According to the Denver Business Journal, a Robert Half Survey found that 1/3 of law firms surveyed are planning on increasing their attorney and non-attorney staff in 2012. Of course, the Negative Nellies can interpret that to say that two-thirds of law firms surveyed do not plan on increasing - [Paralegals, Mind Your Manners](https://estrin.vip/paralegals-mind-your-manners/) - Stayce Wagner, an intellectual property litigation paralegal with over 15 years of experience, joins us today with a guest blog. Read about Stayce in the January issue of KNOW Magazine for Paralegals. Find out how a former Ms. Black World California turned paralegal leveraged her background into an interesting and exciting new career. Enjoy!The First Rule of Etiquette The - [Paralegal Allegedly Forges $285K Law Firm Check to Put Down Payment on $3M House](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-allegedly-forges-285k-law-firm-check-to-put-down-payment-on-3m-house/) - Boy oh boy. We've heard everything now. And I mean everything. If you're not in California, you may not have heard about the Newport Beach, CA paralegal who allegedly stole a $19,000 check written to her law firm and turned it into a $285,000 check for herself and her pal, an elementary school teacher. After the - [New LitSupport Survey Shows Managers Get Big Bucks](https://estrin.vip/new-litsupport-survey-shows-managers-get-big-bucks/) - The Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP) has been surveying Litigation Support Professionals to uncover interesting insights and valuable facts to help LSPs make the most of their careers. The survey, sponsored by ZyLab and Career Numbers, is unlike traditional salary and utilization surveys. The survey is left open to regularly update the information and release - [Mayo Clinic Legal Dept. Says Paralegals Are Awesome](https://estrin.vip/mayo-clinic-legal-dept-says-paralegals-are-awesome/) - OK, they didn't exactly use the word, "awesome" but they may as well have. In an interview with Corporate Counsel magazine, Jonathan Oviatt , chief legal officer of the Mayo Clinic, revealed that crunching the numbers has led in-house legal departments to rely more and more on legal support staff rather than attorneys. The ratio of - [Explaining your job to your kids - A new book for paralegals](https://estrin.vip/explaining-your-job-to-your-kids-a-new-book-for-paralegals/) - Here's a good question for you: How do you explain to your child what you do during the day at work? It's hard enough to explain the paralegal career to adults. According to parenting.com, until the child is about three years old, "Mommy is going to work" is about all they can understand. However, after that, - [7 Habits of Highly Unsuccessful Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/7-habits-of-highly-unsuccessful-paralegals/) - Today's guest blogger is John Featherstone, author of "Start Hiring Winners". They don’t listen: It isn’t enough to just hear your boss when being addressed. Look at the person talking, and focus on what is being said so you can understand the message.They don’t follow instructions: When receiving an assignment, write down the instructions. Carry - [Thinking about leaving your job? It may be time for a reality check.](https://estrin.vip/thinking-about-leaving-your-job-it-may-be-time-for-a-reality-check/) - Two of the greatest attributes most paralegals possess are dedication and loyalty to the profession. Many come to this field as career changers, having had successful jobs in totally unrelated fields. Making the decision to leave your current position is a tough one that cannot be made lightly. It can be a joyous decision or - [Are Good Manners A Requirement for Business Success?](https://estrin.vip/are-good-manners-a-requirement-for-business-success/) - Guest Blogger: Stacey Wagner “Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners.” Laurence Sterne As I sat down to write this business etiquette blog for The Estrin Report, I wondered, are good manners a requirement for business success? Not surprisingly, the answer is an unequivocal no. Anyone who has worked in - [Can You Say Millennial? Law Firm employees learn to all get along.](https://estrin.vip/can-you-say-millennial-law-firm-employees-learn-to-all-get-along/) - At a dinner the other night, I realized (possibly for the first time) that generational differences in communication absolutely existed. It started when a group of Millennials at the far end of the table were discussing Kardashian’s spilt from her husband of 72 days, the reported $17 million earned working up towards the $10 million wedding (netting an assumed profit of $7 mil to get dressed up and have a little fun) and whether the whole thing was fake or real. In the meantime, at the other end of the table, a group of Baby Boomer friends began to chat about issues of the day that were important to them: Zantac, Phazyme and Breathe Right Strips. - [Fired at Fifty: It Can Happen to You](https://estrin.vip/fired-at-fifty-it-can-happen-to-you/) - FIRED AT FIFTY by Tucker Mays and Bob Sloane This article is written for you and the thousands of others across America who are age fifty or over. The unemployment rate for this age group is now higher than that of any other and at the highest rate since the depression. Why is it that - [The Game Changer for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/the-game-changer-for-paralegals/) - Anyone continuing their legal education encounters opened doors to new adventures and opportunities that are closed to those without the same benefits. The value of continuing legal education increases every year. Without a college degree, including a degree from two-year program, the prospects of finding a high-quality job with excellent earnings is difficult at best. Without - [How to Handle a Group Interview and Live to Tell the Tale](https://estrin.vip/how-to-handle-a-group-interview-and-live-to-tell-the-tale/) - Get real about your qualifications. Understand precisely why you are the right person for this particular position so you can effectively present yourself as the best candidate. When researching interviewers, LinkedIn can be a great resource. If your interviewers have public profiles, check them out. Your goal is to gather information to help you develop rapport, so you should look for aspects of their backgrounds that align with your own. Your network can also be a great resource; if you know anyone who has worked with your interviewers, hit them up for information, too. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t want to come across like a stalker. - [Wanna Buy a Watch? Legal discount deals space gets bigger](https://estrin.vip/wanna-buy-a-watch-legal-discount-deals-space-gets-bigger/) - The discount deals space just got a little more crowded with a niche site that offers deals specifically geared to lawyers. MyLegal.com, LLC, has introduced the world’s first Legal Vendor Deals Program where service providers from over 100 verticals offer deals to lawyers and other legal professionals. The Legal Vendor Deals program is - [Forbes Rates Paralegals as the #1 Most Underrated Job in the U.S.](https://estrin.vip/forbes-rates-paralegals-as-the-1-most-underrated-job-in-the-us/) - When have you ever heard the paralegal career called "low-stress"? According to Forbes magazine, CareerCast.com has published a list of the 10 most underrated jobs in the U.S. and the paralegal career is #1. The publication goes on to say that the job involves little contact with the public and doesn’t require employees - [Paralegal Knowledge Institute Makes Its Debut](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-knowledge-institute-makes-its-debut/) - Attention experienced paralegals! There's a new outfit in town, the Paralegal Knowledge Institute (www.paralegalknowledge.com) that launches this week. Designed specifically for the paralegal assignment, the Institute is offering gold-standard courses, webinars and publications. The purpose of the Institute is to bring to the paralegal community a new concept: an organization dedicated strictly to the - [There's no such thing as an ABA Certified Paralegal.....](https://estrin.vip/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-aba-certified-paralegal/) - I'm on my soapbox today with a pet peeve. I noticed that some paralegals are putting "ABA Certified Paralegal" on their resumes, social media or announcing it to friends and employers. Here's a suggestion: Stop now while you still can! Save yourself some embarrassment or even keep yourself from getting rejected from a job!The ABA - [](https://estrin.vip/to-anyone-who-is-experiencing-hurricane-irene-we-are-thinking-of-all-of-you-and-keeping-our-fingers-crossed-for-you-stay-sa/) - To anyone who is experiencing Hurricane Irene: We are thinking of all of you and keeping our fingers crossed for you. Stay safe. - [Stressed out and going nowhere](https://estrin.vip/stressed-out-and-going-nowhere/) - Being a tad stressed out lately, I decided to research the topic and unfortunately, came up with the same old boring routine run-of-the-mill suggestions. There's nothing worse than for stressed out paralegals and legal professionals to read another article on stress that tells you to:a. Take a break. (Right. With that pile of work on - [The Entitled Opinion - A New Blog Column for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/the-entitled-opinion-a-new-blog-column-for-paralegals/) - Over here at The Estrin Report, we love new ideas. That's why we are launching The Entitled Opinion - a new sporadic column featuring guest bloggers with definite opinions. We encourage you to write in. Tell us what's on your mind; what peeves you have; what success stories you've witnessed; changes you'd like to see - [What Happens When a Legal Publication tries for Sensationalism? Sorry, Couldn't hear you over that loud thud.](https://estrin.vip/what-happens-when-a-legal-publication-tries-for-sensationalism-sorry-couldnt-hear-you-over-that-loud/) - On occasion, a publication will go to print with an article that had Murphy's law written all over it from the beginning. Such is the case of LTN's article last week on certification exams. Trying to create (and I quote) "a huge controversy" where there was really nothing more than a bit of wheezing, LTN decided to - [UNITIZATION: The Process of Separating Logical Boundaries from Physical Boundaries](https://estrin.vip/unitization-the-process-of-separating-logical-boundaries-from-physical-boundaries/) - Bob Sweat, a talented writer and eDiscovery expert is back today with another guest blog. Bob, as most of you know, hails from the Great State of Texas where everything there is bigger - even the cases. In the previous issue, I wrote about scanning as most cases still include a paper component; lots of - [SCANNING - Low Tech Highly Misunderstood](https://estrin.vip/scanning-low-tech-highly-misunderstood/) - Our guest blogger today is Bob Sweat who has quite an impressive background in the litigation wars. Today, Bob writes about scanning..... In paper collections you usually find documents in folders and some loose in between folders. The pages are bound by various elements, such as staples, paper clips, binder clips and rubber bands. In - [Are you doing all you can taking a witness statement?](https://estrin.vip/are-you-doing-all-you-can-taking-a-witness-statement/) - One of our favorite guest bloggers is back!Barbara Haubrich-Hass, ACP/CAS on: WITNESS STATEMENTS It is important to memorialize the sequence of events in any given incident. One way to accomplish this is to obtain statements from the percipient witnesses. Nailing down a witness’ version of how an incident occurred early in a case can be - [7 Steps to Overcoming Public Speaking Humiliation](https://estrin.vip/fear-of-public-speaking-is-really-fear-of-humiliation-how-to-cope/) - The other day, I wrote the big reveal about public speaking. Essentially, I wrote that fear of public speaking is not about public speaking. It’s a fear of being humiliated. I offered up 5 reasons why fear manifests itself. As a speaker for the past 20 some odd years, I like to think that - [5 Good Reasons Public Speaking May Not Be Working For You](https://estrin.vip/is-your-fear-of-public-speaking-really-about-public-speaking-maybe-not/) - According to public polls, the number of people suffering from a fear of public speakingtrumps fear of death. This has always been hard for me to understand as I have always enjoyed the experience – public speaking that is, not death. In this day and age when getting heard is so important, public speaking has - [Going On's.....This 'n Thats.....](https://estrin.vip/going-onsthis-n-thats/) - Tough week? Take a few moments to enjoy our guest blogger, Celia Elwell, RP and senior paralegal, who sends us interesting links and articles. Enjoy! Judge Throws Out RICO Claims Against Johnson & Johnson, by Shannon P. Duffy, The Legal Intelligencerhttp://www.law.com/jsp/pa/PubArticlePA.jsp?id=1202504306265Federal Judge Dismisses BP Oil Spill Fraud Lawsuit, by Maureen Cosgrove, JURISThttp://bit.ly/odVde4Jury Awards $900 Thousand - [](https://estrin.vip/heres-the-correct-link-for-the-new-blog-legal-market-today-providing-job-leads-career-trends-success-stories-and-more-ht/) - Here's the correct link for the new blog, Legal Market Today, providing job leads, career trends, success stories and more! http://estrinlegaled.typepad.com/legal_market_today/ Our new recruiting service gives candidates personalized service. We only accept 10 top candidates per month. - [](https://estrin.vip/legal-market-today-a-new-informative-blog-for-job-seekers-debuts-today-the-blog-highlights-new-jobs-every-day-lmt-is-conne/) - Legal Market Today, a new informative blog for job seekers debuts today. The blog highlights new jobs every day. LMT is connected to a top quality recruiting service that only accepts 10 new candidates per month. For more information: www.legalmarkettoday.typepad.com - [](https://estrin.vip/our-client-a-major-law-firm-is-seeking-a-litigation-paralegal-for-portland-or-office-excellent-opportunity-for-sophisticat/) - Our client, a major law firm is seeking a litigation paralegal for Portland, OR office. Excellent opportunity for sophisticated assignments. Work directly w/managing partner on exciting employment law cases. Send resume to chere.estrin@theolp.org. - [If You License, Will They Come? Licensing issue debuts in New York](https://estrin.vip/if-you-license-will-they-come-licensing-issue-debuts-in-new-york/) - The other day, a paralegal sent me a panic email. OMG! Licensing of paralegals had been introduced as a bill in the state of New York. Her reaction about the bill was pretty standard. In a nutshell, she was saying, "What?????"In short the bill: a) Requires mandatory licensing b) States that paralegals "practiced" (an ethical question, to be sure) c) States that mandatory - [Paralegals Dealing With Stress - Cause for Crazymaking?](https://estrin.vip/paralegalsdealing-with-stress-cause-for-crazymaking/) - Guest Blogger:Jamie Collins Do you have a reservation made for “Crazy Paralegal - Party of One?” Do you ever find yourself completely overwhelmed by the daunting multitude of tasks you need to accomplish within a short span of time? Ever find yourself wondering how in the world it is even possible to get it all - [Have bad references? A gap in employment? New service gives you fake background](https://estrin.vip/have-bad-references-a-gap-in-employment-new-service-gives-you-fake-background/) - That's right. I was sure it would happen eventually. And sure enough! According to a CNN Living article, William Schmidt of CareerExcuse.com can phony up a past for you to cover gaps, bad references, getting fired and more. How does he do it? He fabricates job references to cover up a candidate's sordid past. He's even been - [New Concordance course worth the investment](https://estrin.vip/new-concordance-course-worth-the-investment/) - Emerging Litigation Technologies, LLC and Spectrum Consultants are pleased to announce a joint venture in providing legal professionals with a series of E-Learning Modules on Concordance® document management software from LexisNexis®. Colette Perkins and Sara Youngers are certified professionals with over fifteen years of combined, hands-on experience applying and educating on nationally recognized litigation technology - [Casey Anthony: The Next Paralegal Wannabee?](https://estrin.vip/casey-anthony-the-next-paralegal-wannabee/) - Casey Anthony on the Paralegal Wannabe list? Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her daughter. Whether you believe the verdict, have doubts about her innocence or feel there was no other way for the jury to vote, the fact remains that Casey Anthony is a free woman albeit with criminal convictions for lesser - [Excellent Course You've Just Got to Take: EDiscovery for Techies](https://estrin.vip/excellent-course-youve-just-got-to-take-ediscovery-for-techies/) - There's not much out there in the way of specific eDiscovery training for those with expert litigation support, technology or IT skills. That is, until OLP came up with a fantastic course: EDiscovery for Techies. I am most impressed by the lead instructor, Bill Gallivan, of Digital War Room. Bill and his colleagues have come - [How Boring is Your Bio?](https://estrin.vip/a-bio-can-be-one-of-the-most-important-career-tools-you-have-how-its-written-however-can-position-you-as-a-stellar-pla/) - A bio can open amazing career doors. It’s not your resume and shouldn’t read like one. When you’re using a bio, it has to get people excited. A bio is not a generic name tag that says, “Hello, My Name is…..” It’s used on your firm’s website, for speaking engagements, articles, association information, to land new colleagues and contacts, in social media and to sell your current skills and abilities as an authority in the field. Why people spend more time deciding on what new outfit to buy than time writing a bio is a good question. - [New Survey Says Paralegal Position Perfect for Introverts - Huh????](https://estrin.vip/new-survey-says-paralegal-position-perfect-for-introverts-huh/) - I've heard everything now. According to an aol article (yes, aol.com), about the top ten positions perfect for introverts, the paralegal position is right up there with graphic artist and civil engineer. Huh???? Here is what the article states: "As an introvert, finding a position where you can really shine while working on individual projects - [OLP offers new online course: EDiscovery for Techies Starts July 19th](https://estrin.vip/olp-offers-new-online-course-ediscovery-for-techies-starts-july-19th/) - Training is so important in this marketplace. I'm on my educator's soap box today.Here's a course you might want to check out: eDiscovery for Techies. If you are are a techie with little or no eDiscovery training, OLP has developed a course that can bring you up to speed. I haven't found another course like - [If You're Not Getting Paid Overtime, Are You Owed a Ton of Money?](https://estrin.vip/if-youre-not-getting-paid-overtime-are-you-owed-a-ton-of-money/) - "While there are some paralegals who argue that they prefer to have a professional status, I do not know of any paralegal who, once they were getting an additional $300 a week or $1200 a month in salary beyond their base compensation, said, "You know, Forget all this. I want to be called a professional. Take the money away, keep me working 60 hours a week, give me a professional status and reduce my income by 20%." - [](https://estrin.vip/gentle-reminder-sign-up-now-to-take-the-ediscovery-certification-exam-from-olp-get-the-cedp-designation-that-ensures-your-c/) - Gentle reminder! Sign up now to take the eDiscovery Certification Exam from OLP. Get the CeDP designation that ensures your clients, employers, colleagues you are certified in ediscovery core competencies. Don't get left out! - [Research, 'Riting & Resources (Ok, it's a stretch - I agree)](https://estrin.vip/research-riting-resources-ok-its-a-stretch-i-agree/) - Celia Elwell, RP, is a very experienced paralegal in Oklahoma. An avid researcher and writer, Celia sends me these wonderful listings filled with interesting articles, posts and valuable tidbits. The light finally went on inside my head (where else?). I thought, "Why am I not sharing these our readers?" Enjoy! SCOTUS Justices on the Language of - [LitSupport Salary Survey: Do Paralegals With Tech Skills Earn More?](https://estrin.vip/litsupport-salary-survey-do-paralegals-with-tech-skills-earn-more/) - “In this field, you can get more information on a book to read, a car to buy or food you eat than you can on the very career that pays for everything you have or do.” OLP invites you to participate in the first Litigation Support Survey to provide legal professionals with unparalleled insight into salary and career performance information. We’re committed to helping people make the most of their careers, so we will provide a free salary survey to give you inside information about your market value, directly from your peers. This same set of data is used to help legal professionals make more informed career decisions. - [Ring the Bell! Above the Law Posts Postive, Non-Caustic, Straight-Forward, Article About the Value of a Paralegal Degree](https://estrin.vip/ring-the-bell-above-the-law-posts-postive-non-caustic-straight-forward-article-about-the-value-of-a/) - Above the Law contacted me about 10 days ago with some very good questions about the paralegal field. And, interestingly enough, they were not looking to do a sarcastic piece nor make offensive remarks about the paralegal career. In fact, I have to hand it to David Lat who was most interested in the reaction - [](https://estrin.vip/see-the-article-from-above-the-law-re-the-value-of-a-paralegal-degree-its-favorable/) - See the article from Above the Law re The Value of a Paralegal Degree. It's favorable! - [Oops! Firm hires contract attnys & gets sued for allegedly producing privileged docs. Would paralegals make the same mistake?](https://estrin.vip/oops-firm-hires-contract-attnys-gets-sued-for-allegedly-producing-privileged-docs-would-paralegals-m/) - According to a post today in Ryley Carlton's blog, J-M Manufacturing Company, Inc. ("JM") alleges that the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery ("MWE") breached its fiduciary duty and committed legal malpractice by failing to sufficiently supervise a document review, and more specifically failing to adequately review documents for privilege prior to production. JM's allegations claim - [Why Did I Become a Paralegal?](https://estrin.vip/why-did-i-become-a-paralegal/) - Guest Blogger: Jamie Collins is a senior level paralegal working in a small firm in Indiana. I currently work as a Litigation Paralegal in arguably one of the most renowned personal injury firms in the State of Indiana. Our firm’s founder, Louis "Buddy" Yosha has earned legendary status during his impressive career as a trial lawyer, - [Show me the money! Paralegal salaries on the rise](https://estrin.vip/show-me-the-money-paralegal-salaries-on-the-rise/) - NEW YORK - June 6, 2011 - After a year of generally flat compensation, paralegals' pay is rising, according to the Annual Compensation Survey for Paralegals/Legal Assistants and Managers, 2011 Edition, released today.The survey by ALM Legal Intelligence, a source of business intelligence for the legal profession, in partnership with the International Paralegal Management Association - [Lawyer Says Overly Busty Paralegal Assisting at Trial is a Distraction](https://estrin.vip/lawyer-says-overly-busty-paralegal-assisting-at-trial-is-a-distraction/) - I've heard everything now. At least I think I have. The New York Daily News ran an article this morning about an attorney who objected to opposing counsel's use of a rather buxom paralegal sitting at counsel's table as a distraction for the jury.From the article: "Lawyer accused of distracting his opponent with a sexy paralegal - [Legal Tech West Coast: A Wealth of Information](https://estrin.vip/legal-tech-west-coast-a-wealth-of-information/) - Risk & Responsibility vs. Cost Control:Managing eDiscovery’s Great Balancing ActA Session Presented by Bill Speros LegalTech West Coast 2011Guest Blogger: Raul Estravit Legal Tech West Coast – what a wealth of information! On Wednesday, May 18, I attended the session given by Bill Speros, lead counsel handling all of the e-discovery and litigation processing matters related - [Q&A: Do I list my salary history if asked? What's the right thing to do?](https://estrin.vip/qa-do-i-list-my-salary-history-if-asked-whats-the-right-thing-to-do/) - Ms. Estrin, I hope I am finding you well. I wanted to get your opinion on what to do when an ad requests your salary history. Do you send a salary history or not? I recently read that you should circumvent this by adding a sentence to the last paragraph of your cover letter that states: - [](https://estrin.vip/youre-invited-come-to-olps-meet-n-greet-may-18th-730-am-to-845-am-at-milbank-tweed-601-s-figueroa-30th-fl-los-angeles/) - You're invited! Come to OLP's Meet N Greet May 18th 7:30 am to 8:45 am at Milbank Tweed, 601 S. Figueroa, 30th Fl. Los Angeles before LegalTech. Meet Board of Governors, new friends & old. Hear abt new eDiscovery certification exam, litigation support salary survey & more. Great networking & wonderful breakfast! RSVP info@theolp.org. - [OLP eDiscovery Certification Exam & Courses - More Information](https://estrin.vip/olp-ediscovery-certification-exam-courses-more-information/) - The Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP), a non-profit organization, will roll out its eDiscovery certification exam the second week in July. This certification exam has been in development for 18 months. It is a combined effort with some of the top eDiscovery experts throughout the U.S, Canada, U.K. and Taiwan. OLP has partnered with Pearson - [Successful on Purpose: Keith Slyter and His Mobile War Room Command Center](https://estrin.vip/successful-on-purpose-keith-slyter-and-his-mobile-war-room-command-center/) - Hard work is not new to Keith Slyter, a litigation paralegal living in Dallas, Texas. A native of Minnesota, Slyter grew up on a dairy farm in a small town called Rose Creek, somewhere near the Mayo Clinic. If it weren’t for the bitter winters and exhausting cold weather, he - [10 Unknown Google Tips](https://estrin.vip/10-unknown-google-tips/) - Someone sent me the following list of neat Google tricks. I wish I could give credit to the writer, so forgive me about that. If anyone knows, let me know. However, here are new ways to use Google that we all can use:1. DefinitionsPull up the definition of the word by typing define followed by the - [Licensing: Putting the cart before the horse? Whoa! Down big feller, down!](https://estrin.vip/licensing-putting-the-cart-before-the-horse-whoa-down-big-feller-down/) - This business of licensing paralegals is a hot topic. I wrote about this the other day and interestingly, received a number of comments but not to The Estrin Report. The e-mails came to my business e-mail address. Why? I think because it may be such a touchy area for some, that a number of paralegals - [Florida Makes a Move to License Paralegals: Coming to your state soon?](https://estrin.vip/florida-makes-a-move-to-license-paralegals-coming-to-your-state-soon/) - FLORIDA BILLS PUSH FOR LICENSING, DEFINITION OF PARALEGALS Companion bills in the Florida Legislature are currently under consideration to make Florida the first state in the country to require licenses for paralegals. The bills require the Florida Supreme Court to develop a licensing and continuing education scheme and make it a felony for - [National Association of Freelance Legal Professionals Doubles in Size](https://estrin.vip/national-association-of-freelance-legal-professionals-doubles-in-size/) - Have you heard about the NAFLP? (www.naflp.com) It's not a new organization, it's just been a little bit quiet in the 3 years since it started. No more! Finally, there's an active, sensible, fun, proactive organization designed specifially for freelance attorneys, paralegals, interpreters, consultants, and others making a pretty darn good living working for - [There's No Tellin' - Can't Find a Job and Can't Figure Out Why?](https://estrin.vip/theres-no-tellin-cant-find-a-job-and-cant-figure-out-why/) - If you are not connected to LinkedIn, you are missing one of the most important career tools you can possibly get. KNOW has a group on LinkedIn called, KNOW Paralegals. We have almost 1500 members throughout the U.S.. Canada, Belgium and other countries who share their experiences, thoughts, hopes, wants, dreams and desires. - [Legal Project Management - The Next New Area for Paralegals to Conquer?](https://estrin.vip/legal-project-management-the-next-new-area-for-paralegals-to-conquer/) - It seems that suddenly, law firms have woken to the fact that the corporate world has a whole new technique out there to manage projects. Simply called Project Management, the area is booming. And, as always, the legal field tends to be the last to get in on the bandwagon. But for argument's sake, let's just say it arrived. - [eDiscovery Paralegals Network Merges with KNOW](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery-paralegals-network-merges-with-know/) - Los Angeles: Dec. 5 2010: Estrin Education, Inc., the parent company of KNOW Magazine for Paralegals is pleased to announce that eDiscovery Paralegals Network (EDPN) has merged with KNOW Paralegal and given memberships in The Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP). eDiscovery Paralegal is a website and blog designed specifically for paralegals specializing in the eDiscovery arena. - [Comfy? Not so fast, sister. Another round of staff layoffs will be here shortly.](https://estrin.vip/comfy-not-so-fast-sister-another-round-of-staff-layoffs-will-be-here-shortly/) - Despite the fact that we keep hearing rumors that the recession is over and that things are picking up, there are analysts in the banking field who believe, according to a new survey, that the legal field is in for another round of layoffs. According to the ABA Journal, lower yearly average billables are leading to more layoffs, particularly for - [My Dog Ate My Homework and Other Best Excuses](https://estrin.vip/my-dog-ate-my-homework-and-other-best-excuses/) - Honest to Pete. You read about this stuff, you hear about this stuff. Books are written about this stuff. But you don't believe it until it happens to you. Our business is growing faster than I can blink. That's a good thing. The not so good thing is that I am overwhelmed with work. Between - [Senior Litigation Support & eDiscovery Jobs Can Pay Up to $200k](https://estrin.vip/perfect-for-paralegals-new-online-interactive-ediscovery-litsupport-courses/) - According to a new publication, How to Land a Great Job in Litigation Support, LitSupport Professionals and eDiscovery Managers can earn up to $200,00 per year. Now, I understand that you have to be pretty senior to earn that. However, I am not sure that I know too many paralegals who can climb a vertical ladder in a law firm to those kind of dollars. (If you're out there, please speak up!) Here's a natural career path for paralegals that you an create for yourself. Since the market has a dearth of technologically savvy-professionals who also possess expertise in the discovery process, now is the time to get more training. - [10 Top Tips for Maximizing a Stress-Free Labor Day Weekend - Read Now or Forever Hold Your Peace](https://estrin.vip/10-top-tips-for-maximizing-a-stress-free-labor-day-weekend-read-now-or-forever-hold-your-peace/) - Vivien Chen's post today on corporatecounsel.com brought about some reminders for me. Vivien simply addressed things Labor Day signifies and what lawyers should and shouldn't be doing over the holiday. I thought that paralegals, the busiest cog that makes the wheel turn, should probably take a look at a similar checklist. After all, it's three or - [Hiring Is Up for Litigation Support & eDiscovery Positions: Are You Ready?](https://estrin.vip/hiring-is-up-for-litigation-support-ediscovery-positions-are-you-ready/) - It seems that we're right on track with our predictions and insights about the growing need for qualified professionals in the Litigation Support and eDiscovery fields. In months past, we reported that there simply are not enough experienced professionals to go around according to the most recent Socha-Gelbmann Report. Recently, The Cowan Group has published a recent survey - [Uh, Oh....Alleged Jury Tampering Involves Two Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/uh-ohalleged-jury-tampering-involves-two-paralegals/) - Uh,Oh Column........ A trial appearing to be high-profile only in Long Island has suddenly taken an interesting twist. Two paralegals along with the defendant's brother, have been subpoenaed and fingerprinted for allegedly tampering with the jury in a case involving David Brooks, a military arms contractor, according to several sources including the New York Times.Brooks, who has been - [Fewer Paralegals & Lawyers Receive Pink Slips in July - BUT: How Are Your Skills?](https://estrin.vip/fewer-paralegals-lawyers-receive-pink-slips-in-july-but-are-you-prepared-to-work-in-this-market/) - Are Happy Times here again? According to a recent report in Crain's Business Report, fewer lawyers and paralegals received lay-off notices in July. The battered legal market seems to be coming back. Crain's noted, " Fewer attorneys and paralegals lost their jobs in July than in June, inspiring some optimism among members of the legal profession. - [](https://estrin.vip/fewer-lawyers-paralegals-receive-pink-slips-in-july/) - Fewer lawyers & paralegals receive pink slips in July! - [OLP eDiscovery Certification Scheduled for October 15: First of its kind will set standard for industry](https://estrin.vip/olp-ediscovery-certification-scheduled-for-october-15-first-of-its-kind-will-set-standard-for-indust/) - LOS ANGELES, August 10, 2010 –The Organization of Legal Professionals, an industry group that includes some of the most respected eDiscovery thought leaders in the field, announced today that it has finalized preparations for its eDiscovery certification exam scheduled for October 15. The exam, developed in conjunction with Pearson Learning Solutions, a $7 billion company - [eDiscovery for Techies & Geeks Starts Aug. 31st](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery-for-techies-geeks-starts-on-august-31-2010-interact-with-other-students-instructor-learn-from-seasoned-pros/) - eDiscovery for Techies & Geeks starts on August 31, 2010. Interact with other students & instructor. Learn from seasoned pros. 3 courses offered including: Lit Support 101A; Advanced LitSupport; Project Management for Litigation Support Professionals. Contact chere.estrin@theolp.org. Thanks! - [The Empowered Paralegal: Working with the Elder Client Book Review](https://estrin.vip/the-empowered-paralegal-working-with-the-elder-client-book-review/) - I don't know what it was that I expected when I picked up a copy of Robert Mongue's latest book, "The Empowered Paralegal: Working with the Elder Client" but that wasn't as important as the fact that I just couldn't put it down. This is a book for everyone. While it is written specifically for paralegals, just substitute any - [](https://estrin.vip/i-dont-know-what-i-expected-to-find-when-i-picked-up-robert-mongues-latest-book-the-empowered-paralegal-working-with-elder/) - I don't know what I expected to find when I picked up Robert Mongue's latest book, "The Empowered Paralegal: Working with Elder Clients. One thing is clear: I sure as heck couldn't put it down. - [The Paralegal World According to Sara Youngers](https://estrin.vip/the-paralegal-world-according-to-sara-youngers/) - Sara Youngers has a unique position. In addition to working in litigation, Youngers also works on legal billing fee analyses. In other words, she may be auditing the time your law firm bills to its clients. In an exclusive Q&A, Youngers talks about her career, her duties, her future. How long have you been - [Paralegal: The Only Legal Job Creating Its Own Positions & Making Lots of Mula](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-the-only-legal-job-creating-its-own-positions-making-lots-of-mula/) - The eDiscovery Paralegal: Salaries are excellent: $60 - over 100K plus overtime. You are not locked in as a pralegal with only a junior or senior level designation for the rest of your career. You can move up. You don't hit a hard salary ceiling becaue you'll never make partner. You actually get off a sticky floor. Why wouldn't you do it? - [Who Put the Voo in the Vuvuzelahs? and Other Questions Your Boss Might Ask](https://estrin.vip/who-put-the-voo-in-the-vuvuzelahs-and-other-questions-your-boss-might-ask-1/) - Establishing a good relationship with your boss is critical for success. And frankly, it's sometimes hard to talk with these folks. If you have a distant relationship with him or her, you probably have no idea what to informally chit-chat about. You don't want to cross any boundaries but when your boss starts small talk with - [Who Put the Voo in the Vuvuzelahs? and Other Questions Your Boss Might Ask](https://estrin.vip/who-put-the-voo-in-the-vuvuzelahs-and-other-questions-your-boss-might-ask/) - Establishing a good relationship with your boss is critical for success. And frankly, it's sometimes hard to talk with these folks. If you have a distant relationship with him or her, you probably have no idea what to informally chit-chat about. You don't want to cross any boundaries but when your boss starts small talk with - [The Florida Paralegal by Wm Statsky, Robert Diotalevi and Pam McCoy Linquist](https://estrin.vip/the-florida-paralegal-by-wm-statsky-robert-diotalevi-and-pam-mccoy-linquist/) - They send me books. Lots and lots of books. Who??? you're asking? The publishers, that's who. They seem to think that we're going to review every book that's come our way. I haven't gotten to Ludicrous Laws & Mindless Misdemeanors yet. The Inspiration Factor was uninspiring and Fame 101 was content -free. What the heck did - [The Florida Paralegal by Wm Statsky, Robert Diotalevi and Pam McCoy Linquist](https://estrin.vip/the-florida-paralegal-by-wm-statsky-robert-diotalevi/) - They send me books. Lots and lots of books. Who??? you're asking? The publishers, that's who. They seem to think that we're going to review every book that's come our way. I haven't gotten to Ludicrous Laws & Mindless Misdemeanors yet. The Inspiration Factor was uninspiring and Fame 101 was content -free. What the heck did - [Virtual Paralegal's Gutsy Message: "BigFirm, Listen Up"](https://estrin.vip/virtual-paralegals-gutsy-message-bigfirm-listen-up/) - Pamela Starr, a virtual paralegal who says she is located anywhere her laptop is, had a strong response to my post this weekend about Jones Day's decision to lay-off non-attorney staff. The 2500 lawyer firm announced last week that it was letting go an unspecified number of legal staff because the jobs can be done - [Are You Ripe for a Lay-Off?](https://estrin.vip/george-jetson-was-right-the-robot-finally-takes-your-job/) - Are you in line for a lay-off? You just might be, what with the new trend Jones Day is setting for paralegals and legal staffers. - [](https://estrin.vip/weve-outsmarted-ourselves-jones-day-4-firm-in-the-us-reports-staff-cuts-due-to-emerging-technology-voicemail-email-iph/) - We've outsmarted ourselves. Jones Day, #4 firm in the US reports staff cuts due to emerging technology - voicemail, email, iphones. So, if I interpret that correctly, George Jetson was right. The robot finally takes your job. - [Why Would You Get Hit By a Bus? (And other uses of cliches)](https://estrin.vip/why-would-you-get-hit-by-a-bus/) - Today must have been the day for buses. On at least three occasions, I read the phrase, "In case I get hit by a bus." My mother used to tell me that. Only she added that I had to be sure to be wearing clean underwear just in case. I commented to my husband that I was reading a lot of cliches lately. He asked me, "Why do people think they would get hit by a bus? Why not get hit by a bicycle? Or a food truck? Why a bus?" I didn't have the answer. I did think it was a good question. But I really didn't have an answer. Which got me to thinking: why do people use so many cliches? A cliche, for example, is saying, "bless you" every time someone sneezes. Do you really mean God should jump off that comfy couch in the sky and personally bless you? Do you pay any attention deep down inside when someone says "bless you" in response to your sneeze? No. You don't. You say, "Thank you" to be polite. The exchange is done and frankly, immediately forgotten. It's the same when using cliches as you write. In business communications, readers do not pay attention to cliches. The mind, having seen the phrase so many times, is desensitized. It skips right over the phrase, sometimes ignoring it completely. If you want people in your firm to pay attention and think that you are a leader, you're going to have to change the way you write. - [](https://estrin.vip/the-olps-first-meet-n-greet-is-tomorrow-at-milbank-tweed-downtown-los-angeles-700-am-come-and-meet-well-greet-well-eve/) - The OLP's first Meet 'N Greet is tomorrow at Milbank Tweed, downtown Los Angeles, 7:00 a.m. Come and meet! We'll greet! We'll even feed you. Really. We will. - [Ah, geez. Give me a break. I just got here.](https://estrin.vip/ah-geez-give-me-a-break-i-just-got-here/) - Just when I thought that the Great Recession was past us, bam! Law.com publishes an article announcing,"Law Firms Predict More Layoffs Among Non-Equity Partners, Support Staff." I mean, a gal can't catch a break over here. According to the article, "A new survey released Tuesday by national consulting firm, Altman Weil shows that law firms - [](https://estrin.vip/george-socha-joins-with-the-olp-as-special-edrm-advisor-to-the-board-advisory-council/) - George Socha joins with The OLP as Special EDRM Advisor to the Board & Advisory Council. - [Ride the Horse in the Direction It's Going](https://estrin.vip/ride-the-horse-in-the-direction-its-going/) - When we accept a position,m we are accepting the dream: that life will somehow be better with the upward mobilit this job is sure to bring. Rarely do we attribute disappointment or growing frustration with our own lack of personal resonsibility for planning our career. - [](https://estrin.vip/the-first-olp-live-meeting-on-june-24th-at-7-am-to-830-am-at-milbank-tweed-la-you-are-invited-to-attend-meet-n-greet-h/) - The First OLP Live Meeting on June 24th at 7 am to 8:30 am at Milbank Tweed, L.A. You are invited to attend. Meet 'n greet & have a great time. RSVP info@theolp.org. Seating limited. - [You Can't Get Stuck If You're Going Nowhere](https://estrin.vip/you-cant-get-stuck-if-youre-going-nowhere/) - Let's face it. Who has a successful career without reaching a point of been there, done that, need more? Few people, I suspect. Otherwise, we'd all be going nowhere. Self-motivation is not innate. It's not inherited and it certainly is not granted by the paralegal fairy. It is, in fact, a characteristic that we either - [](https://estrin.vip/laura-a-zubulake-has-joined-the-board-of-governors-of-the-olp-wwwtheolporg-please-take-a-moment-to-welcome-her/) - Laura A. Zubulake has joined the Board of Governors of The OLP (www.theolp.org). Please take a moment to welcome her! - [Hey, Mister! Where Are My 110,000 Legal Jobs?](https://estrin.vip/hey-mister-where-are-my-110000-legal-jobs/) - The press release claims that since the economy started mending, there are 110,00 new jobs available in the legal field right now! Wow! I thought, holy, moly......we're in the money! But - hold on there, lil fella..... - [Legal Translation – Why Faster Isn't Better](https://estrin.vip/legal-translation-why-faster-isnt-better/) - I noticed in this faster-paced-get-it-done-now-instant-gratification-let's-all-be-friends-world, though, that paralegals in today's market have to more than just get by. Success in this field depends upon having some great talents. And, if you don't have that talent, you are forced to do the only thing a good paralegal can do - hire someone. - [New Paralegal Blog Gives You Something to Laugh About](https://estrin.vip/new-paralegal-blog-gives-you-something-to-laugh-about/) - "This blog is just what the field needs. Even it if only gives you a hiccup, there's always time for a smile." - [](https://estrin.vip/exciting-news-three-new-online-interactive-8-week-courses-on-ediscovery-sign-up-now-taught-by-seasoned-pros-these-course/) - Exciting news! Three new online, interactive 8 week courses on eDiscovery. Sign up now. Taught by seasoned pros, these courses are co-sponsored by the Center for Advanced Legal Studies, an ABA approved paralegal program. www.knowparalegal.com (education). - [](https://estrin.vip/first-online-interactive-8-week-ediscovery-courses-hit-the-market-designed-for-attorneys-lit-support-paralegals-and-more/) - First Online, Interactive 8 Week eDiscovery Courses hit the market. Designed for attorneys, lit. support, paralegals and more. Exceptionally dedicated seasoned pros tech the course that meets 2x per week. Designed for professionals on-the-go who want to boost their careers. www.theolp.org . - [First Online, Interactive 8 Week eDiscovery Courses Hit the Market](https://estrin.vip/first-online-interactive-8-week-ediscovery-courses-hit-the-market/) - The OLP together with the Center for Advanced Legal Studies, an ABA approved paralegal program, is launching 3 groundbreaking, online, interactive 8 week eDiscovery courses for experienced legal professionals. - [Paralegal Sentenced to 3 Years for Mortgage Fraud](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-sentenced-to-3-years-for-mortgage-fraud/) - This isn't the kind of thing we want to hear. The New York Law Journal reports that a paralegal who took part in a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud and foreclosure scam was sentenced to three years in prison. Apparently, from 2004 to 2007, the paralegal, 33, and 26 others including mortgage brokers and loan processors at the - [](https://estrin.vip/dont-miss-the-know-paralegal-webinar-series-the-brave-new-business-writer-10-pointers-to-better-legal-writing-trial-prep/) - Don't miss the KNOW Paralegal webinar series! The Brave New Business Writer; 10 Pointers to Better Legal Writing; Trial Prep; e-Discovery Questionnaire; Paralegal's Role in Corporate Maintenance and much more! www.knowparalegal.com - [Is Your State One of the Top Five Worst for Lawsuit Fairness?](https://estrin.vip/is-your-state-one-of-the-top-five-worst-for-lawsuit-fairness/) - Do you know how your firm ranks in terms of lawsuit fairness? The U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) released its survey ranking the states with the best and worst legal climates in the country. According to the survey, the states with the worst legal climates are California (46th), Alabama (47th), Mississippi (48th), Louisiana - [The Job Seeker's Paradigm - You Might Hold the Upper Hand Even in This Market](https://estrin.vip/the-job-seekers-paradigm-you-might-hold-the-upper-hand-even-in-this-market/) - From our guest blogger, Tom Dezell:Be the Answer to the Hiring Managers’ Problemsby Tom DezellToday’s labor market is an employer’s market. Companies can select from arguably the largest candidate [paralegal] pool in history. Discouraged job seekers often complain that the disparity in numbers contributes to an atmosphere of employer arrogance. Their advantage of supply over demand has - [](https://estrin.vip/starting-a-fantastic-series-of-e-discovery-attorney-paralegal-lit-support-webinars-stay-tuned-for-the-247-on-demand-e-l/) - Starting a fantastic series of e-discovery, attorney, paralegal & Lit support webinars. Stay tuned for the 24/7 on demand e-learning modules. www.knowparalegal.com - [They Shoot Paralegals, Don't They?](https://estrin.vip/they-shoot-paralegals-dont-they/) - I was reading The Empowered Paralegal blog the other day and a paralegal was discussing the superior status she thought she had over paralegals who did not have paralegal degrees. In particular, she brought up the Erin Brockovich story and the subsequent movie that was made. Ms. Brockovich, she stated, was not a "real" paralegal because she - [It's Lookin' Good for Real Estate Litigation Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/its-lookin-good-for-real-estate-litigation-paralegals/) - David Netzer of Litigation Support Careers is our guest blogger today: We all read conflicting reports regarding employment – but what is the real story? At present, the market stretches to both ends. At one end, some companies are hiring while others are in the middle of a hiring freeze and at the other - [New Survey Shows Paralegal Salaries Going Down](https://estrin.vip/new-survey-shows-paralegal-salaries-going-down/) - Not so good news out here in the paralegal world. The new 2010 Salary Guide from Robert Half Legal just published, shows that paralegal salaries are dipping. The salary guide is a review of actual starting salaries in 2009 and an extrapolation of these trends into 2010. Salaries have dropped from between .02% and 3.7% - [](https://estrin.vip/new-survery-from-robt-half-salaries-for-2010-expected-to-go-down-for-lawyers-in-small-lrg-firms-by-04-to-54-02/) - New survery from Robt. Half: Salaries for 2010 expected to go down for lawyers in small - lrg firms by -0.4% to -5.4% & -0.2% to -3.7% for paras. - [New Association for Bankruptcy Paralegals Forms](https://estrin.vip/new-association-for-bankruptcy-paralegals-forms/) - We've seen a number of new associations spring up lately. This is a great sign! It means that paralegals are getting much more involved in the profession, are more interested in ever in promoting the field and are developing more leaders. While it's nice to have the old standby's, it's even more exciting to see - [New Organization for Healthcare Paralegals Launches](https://estrin.vip/new-organization-for-healthcare-paralegals-launches/) - Robin Margolis is at it again. This industrious paralegal has started another organization for paralegals that fits the current trends in the field. The Healthcare Paralegal Federation has been formed to meet the needs of healthcare paralegals, paralegals interested in learning more about healthcare law specializations, and legal professionals who are interested in the growth of paralegals in this - [Sex, Secretaries and Audacious Attorneys](https://estrin.vip/sex-secretaries-and-audacious-attorneys/) - Sometimes, you're just plain shocked at behavior. Law.com Legal Blog Watchreported today a bombshell of a complaint over a May 2009 ad on Craigslist under "Adult Gigs" for a secretary/legal assistant. The ad was titled: "Loop lawyers hiring secretary/legal assistant." It read as follows: Loop law firm looking to hire am [sic] energetic woman for their - [When to Say No to Your Dream Job](https://estrin.vip/when-to-say-no-to-your-dream-job-2/) - Have you ever wondered what might have happened in your life if you had chosen one road over another? I mean, what really might have happened? I don’t make a habit of writing about my own experiences but…..a few years ago while minding my own business (literally), I was approached by a major staffing - [The Empowered Paralegal - A New Book for New Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/the-empowered-paralegal-a-new-book-for-new-paralegals/) - For those of us who are "old" hands at this, the information presented in a new book by Robert E. Mongue, The Empowered Paralegal, may seem pretty obvious. However, when I think back to when I was brand new on the job, (and very, very young), my first day was very powerful. The lesson I learned - - [You Call This Networking??](https://estrin.vip/you-call-this-networking-2/) - Networking. No matter how you twitter, tweet, link, face or space, you have to do it these days if you want to avoid career suicide. With all this online socializing, however, your knack for meeting strangers one-on-one (probably the best networking tool of all) gets rusty and pushed into the background of your skills. There's no such thing as accidental networking. - [DOJ Paralegal Whistleblower Dissed & Dismissed - Exclusive Interview!](https://estrin.vip/doj-paralegal-whistleblower-dissed-dismissed-exclusive-interview/) - Exclusive to KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals From Justice Dream Job to Nightmare Tamarah Grimes, Justice Department Paralegal:Why This Whistleblower Was Dissed & Dismissed By Andrew Kreig, J.D., M.S.L. As federal prosecutors prepared in 2006 for the corruption trial of Alabama’s former Gov. Don Siegelman, Justice Department paralegal Tamarah Grimes thought she was progressing - [Critical Need for e-Discovery Certification & The OLP](https://estrin.vip/critical-need-for-ediscovery-certification-the-olp/) - Today’s screaming for qualified e-discovery professionals has reached an unprecedented volume. Recently, Socha-Gelbman published an overview of the results of their annual survey on the Legal Technology News site. One of the most important single observations from it is the shortage of expertise in the market-place with providers, law firms and corporations reported as “fighting - [Why Would the S.C. Bar Stifle Competency Improvement?](https://estrin.vip/why-would-the-sc-bar-stifle-competency-improvement/) - According to the Carolina Paralegal News, South Carolina paralegals won't be seeing voluntary certification and registration any time soon. The South Carolina House of Delegates has tabled a proposal for paralegals to start a voluntary certification program for paralegals. The delegates referred a proposed Certified Paralegal Program back to the Paralegal Task Force which had billed it - [The Organization of Legal Professionals - An association worth joining](https://estrin.vip/the-organization-of-legal-professionals-an-association-worth-joining/) - The Organization of Legal Professionals, a non-profit organization has launched its membership drive. Dedicated to certification of e-Discovery and other areas in the legal field, this association has attracted some of the top lawyers and legal professionals in the country and abroad. Dedicated to certification through education and collaboration, The OLP's goals include e-discovery certification - [WSPA Hits One Out of the Park with Social Media Guide for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/wspa-hits-one-out-of-the-park-with-social-media-guide-for-paralegals/) - The Washington State Paralegal Association sent us their new "Unofficial LinkedIn User Guide" they developed for new paralegal LinkedIn users. This simple guide is fantastic. I wish I had it when I started instead of making the bloopers I made!While you may (or may not) be Linking, Tweating or Facing away, the guide is an indication as to just how far - [Tired of the Same Old Paralegal Job? Positions Exist Where You Least Expect](https://estrin.vip/tired-of-the-same-old-paralegal-job-positions-exist-where-you-least-expect/) - Have you ever found yourself performing an assignment that you know perfectly well, given a different name and a different case, would be the same assignment you have performed over and over ad nauseam? For example, deposition summaries, indexing, boiler plate contracts, subpoenas, and the like. Same assignment, different story. This action, my friends, is - [The Search for America's Favorite Paralegal](https://estrin.vip/the-search-for-americas-favorite-paralegal/) - Somewhere out there are America's Favorite Paralegals. You know who they are. These are colleagues, friends and managers who love their jobs, push the profession forward and always strive for excellence. Not only do you enjoy working with them, they are admired by co-workers, supervisors and clients alike.Know, The Magazine for Paralegals would like to - [Trends: Brand New Resume Writing Tool Is Wave of the Future](https://estrin.vip/trends-brand-new-resume-writing-tool-is-wave-of-the-future/) - Margaret Agius is a rock solid paralegal. But after ten years with a major Detroit law firm, she was laid off from her job as a products liability specialist. Since then, this lively, smart and well-educated paralegal has had difficulty finding another position in a city that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. "Nothing - [Top DOJ Paralegal Fired for Whistleblowing](https://estrin.vip/top-doj-paralegal-fired-for-whistleblowing/) - According to the Huffington Post, new questions are surfacing about political intrigue at the U.S. Justice Department after former White House political strategist Karl Rove provided his long-awaited responses to House Judiciary Committee staff Tuesday about allegations that he pressured prosecutors to target Democrats nationally. Few details have emerged about Rove's questioning on such topics - [15 Warning Signs Your Firm May Be Laying Off Staff](https://estrin.vip/15-warning-signs-your-firm-may-be-laying-off-staff/) - The Wall Street Journal Blog this morning reported that DLA Piper on Wednesday laid off 121 people — 21 lawyers and 100 staffers. The news bring the total number of layoffs at DLA to 440 in the U.S. and U.K. Here is part of the DLA statement to the firm: "During the last year, we - [New Book, eDiscovery Plain & Simple, is Helpful for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/new-book-ediscovery-plain-simple-is-helpful-for-paralegals/) - A new book, "eDiscovery Plain & Simple", has just arrived in bookstores. Written by Shawnna Childress, Executive Director and co-Founder of Women in eDiscovery and Allison Brecher, Senior Litigation Counsel and Director of Information Management and Strategy, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., explains how computers operate and store data in a way that is designed - [Former Paralegal Uses Skills to Become Chief of Police - In Liberia](https://estrin.vip/former-paralegal-uses-skills-to-become-chief-of-police-in-liberia/) - A 41-year old Liberian and former paralegal at a 50-attorney Washington, D.C. law firm has been appointed the Liberian Inspector-General by President Sirleaf.According to allafrica.com, Marc Amblard faced tremendous criticism about questionable skill sets necessary for the position. His background includes a degree in Agriculture in 1992 from the University of Illinois. He also studied at the University - [New 2009 Paralegal Survey Released from IPMA and Incisive Media](https://estrin.vip/new-2009-paralegal-survey-released-from-ipma-and-incisive-media/) - NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Incisive Legal Intelligence, a leading source of business intelligence for the legal profession, in partnership with the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA), today announced the release of the Annual Compensation Survey for Paralegals/Legal Assistants and Managers, 2009 Edition, tracking compensation, billing rates and billable hours for paralegals. More than 250 organizations participated in - [Stealth But Powerful Paralegal Organization Celebrates 25th Birthday](https://estrin.vip/stealth-but-powerful-paralegal-organization-celebrates-25th-birthday/) - This year is the 25th anniversary of the International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA). Surprisingly, not everyone has heard of this influential and powerful association, even after all these years. In fact, compared to associations such as NFPA and NALA, it keeps a comparatively low profile. Yet, the organization is comprised of over 600 paralegal managers in - [Life Gets Easier: Google Introduces The Next Evolution of E-Mail?](https://estrin.vip/life-gets-easier-google-introduces-the-next-evolution-of-email/) - Imagine making e-mail slicker, faster and easier to use. Apparently, Google imagined that too. Today, Google announced Google Wave what will probably become the next new e-mail. Wave is an ambitious new communication platform. It seeks to replace many of the web functions we use everyday; email, instant messaging, blogs, wiki's, and more. Watching the - [Paralegal Buys Law Practice from Elderly Lawyer for $20.00](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-buys-law-practice-from-elderly-lawyer-for-2000/) - This goes right up there in the "Hall of Shame" red file. According to the ABA Journal (quoting from the Orange County Register in Orange County, CA), a paralegal "bought" a law practice valued at $750,000 from an elderly, 84-year-old lawyer for $20.00. The lawyer, suffering from dementia, sold his practice to 42 year-old Mario - [Paralegal Salaries Slashed by 20% at Prestigious Firm](https://estrin.vip/paycuts-for-paralegals-at-major-california-firm/) - Above the Law, the gossip blogloid (that previously has pretty much scoffed, jeered and laughed at paralegals) printed a sobering story today. Apparently, the law firm of Allen Matkins, known for its quality reputation in real estate law, rounded up its paralegals in three offices and presented them with a 20% pay cut. In previous years, - [Paralegal Arrested for Robbing Peter to Pay Paul](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-arrested-for-robbing-peter-to-pay-paul/) - A former paralegal has been arrested for allegedly stealing from one firm to pay another. The paralegal allegedly stole over $100,000 from the Norristown, PA firm of High Schwartz to repay $285,000 to a New York firm. According to the Legal Intelligencer, the paralegal was found guilty for stealing from that firm, she was ordered by the court to make - [Paralegal Denied Permission to Speak at Conference - New Trend?](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-denied-permission-to-speak-at-conference-new-trend/) - Here's an interesting development regarding confidentiality and risk management: A very good friend of mine, let's call him/her Leslie (a unisex name), was asked to speak at the Paralegal Technology Institute at Legal Tech in Los Angeles. Now, Leslie is a very, very experienced, high level litigation paralegal who has written many, many articles, books; - [In Pursuit of Freedom: The Peter Kirchikov Story](https://estrin.vip/in-pursuit-of-freedom-the-peter-kirchikov-story/) - We have never given just bits and pieces in this blog nor teased you with a story in KNOW. However, I wanted to share with you a bit of the upcoming issue. Occasionally, we run across stories that move your heart and open your eyes. There are plenty of stories of paralegals who have had arduous experiences and the Peter Kirchikov - [Associate Job Losses May Mean Paralegal Job Gains](https://estrin.vip/associate-job-losses-may-mean-paralegal-job-gains/) - This is the second time this week I read an article about paralegals gaining jobs in this miserable economy. OK, it's not miserable for absolutely everyone. But if you're watching Katie or Brian on the BigNews channels, you'll have to agree that most of the U.S. is running pretty lean and mean. Law360 reported - [Virtual Paralegal Jobs: This One Pays Up to $100k](https://estrin.vip/virtual-paralegal-jobs-this-one-pays-up-to-100k/) - I must be in the wrong business. Today, I spotted an ad for a "Partial Telecommute Paralegal" who can work from home. The paralegal must be experienced in litigation, contracts, tort and workers compensation. The salary? $35,000 - $100,000 per year for a full-time position. Let me get this straight. I can wake up in - [Survey Points to Increased Use of Paralegals in In-House Legal Depts.](https://estrin.vip/survey-points-to-increase-use-of-paralegals-in-inhouse-legal-depts/) - There's good news out there in LegalLand. According to The Pittsburgh Business Times, the Association for Corporate Counsel conducted its ninth annual survey of in-house legal departments and found that more than half surveyed are feeling the pinch from tough economic times. (Well, that's not the good news, obviously.) The survey polled 5,300+ members with - [Do Something Good During These Tough Times and Pay It Forward](https://estrin.vip/do-something-good-during-these-tough-time-and-pay-it-forward/) - By Loni MorganelliAmerican Paralegal in LondonWhile the loss of a job can leave us feeling down and out, volunteer work in the legal industry can offer us a bit of positive relief. One of the most well-known pro bono volunteer organizations in the world is Reprieve. Founded in the UK, Reprieve also offers volunteer opportunities - [Smart Battles](https://estrin.vip/smart-battles/) - In these tough times, the subject of when to go to battle with your employer has come up several times. People are simply afraid that if they speak up, they will lose their job, lose a client or suffer a loss or reputation. A couple of years ago, I had a beef with an - [Paralegal Tech Institute at LegalTech Offers Free Job Class, Keynote and More](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-tech-institute-at-legaltech-offers-free-job-class-keynote-and-more/) - If you have been merged, purged, fired, laid-off, delayed, sabbaticaled, held off, rescinded, pink slipped, downsized, rightsized or just plain broadsided and lost your job, you may want to hear about a generous offer from the folks at Law Technology News, Legal Tech and the Paralegal Technology Institute at LegalTech West. Monica Bay, Editor-in-Chief at - ["My Mommy is a Paralegal" - New Book for the Kids](https://estrin.vip/my-mommy-is-a-paralegal-new-book-for-the-kids/) - The question of what is a paralegal has been around since the career started. Explaining it to an adult is one thing, but try explaining it to a child who has never seen a court room, judge or even an office building. What does mommy do all day long, anyway? The concept can be hard - [Our Paralegal in London Faces Riots as Protestors Swarm Law Offices](https://estrin.vip/our-paralegal-in-london-faces-riots-as-protestors-swarm-law-offices/) - Loni MorganelliAmerican Paralegal in London As most of our readers know, Loni Morganelli writes for The Estrin Report and contributes international posts. Working at a major firm in London, she gives us a global view of the legal world. Yesterday, she experienced angry, masked protestors aiming their wrath at financial and law office employees. Here is what - [Enough Doom and Gloom- Show me the jobs!](https://estrin.vip/enough-doom-and-gloom-show-me-the-jobs/) - By Loni MorganelliAmerican Paralegal in London After months of dismal news and gloomy job forecasts, I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some good news! So to help lift our spirits and in light of our "pay it forward" job theme (see www.knowparalegal.com), I've dug up some positive pointers. The biggest piece - [Paid Not to Work - Fighting the Recession Takes Interesting Turn](https://estrin.vip/paid-not-to-work-fighting-the-recession-takes-interesting-turn/) - By Loni MorganelliAmerican Paralegal in London Last week, according to Bloomberg News, Latham & Watkins LLP, the fourth-largest U.S. law firm, made an announcement that they would be offering incoming lawyers $75,000 to take the year off. Latham, which fired 190 lawyers and 250 staff last week, said it is pushing back the start date - [New Investigative Techniques for Paralegals Include Social Networks](https://estrin.vip/new-investigative-techniques-for-paralegals-include-social-networks/) - Paralegals investigating witnesses, plaintiffs or defendants for trial often review medical records, financial documents, school records and employment history. Now, add to those avenues, social networking. According to an article in this morning's Legal Intelligencer, it is now standard operating procedure for paralegals to include checking a person's page on MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter and other - [He's Still Stupid, According to Obama](https://estrin.vip/hes-still-stupid-according-to-obama/) - We all get those annoying e-mails. You know, the ones that purport to know our name, recognize that we're "friends" with the sender when in fact, we haven't a clue who they are. Well, Ken Magill is proud to report that he is the first private citizen to have been officially called stupid in an - [From the National Law Journal: 'Domino effect' hits law-related business](https://estrin.vip/from-the-national-law-journal/) - The National Law Journal carried this story and generously mentioned us in the piece. It comes out Monday. It is much more accurate and fair reporting than the throwaway, cheaply done publication, Litigation Support Today who last month openly and blatantly attempted to dissuade advertisers and subscribers from KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals with inaccurate and sleazy reporting about Estrin. (LitSupport - [Help a Colleague Out - Pass Your Job Leads Forward](https://estrin.vip/help-a-colleague-out-pass-your-job-leads-forward/) - Last week, we wrote about how we can help our colleagues who have recently been downsized, merged, purged, laid-off or, god forbid, "rightsized" into oblivion. As you may have heard, yesterday was another Black Monday. The National Law Journal reported that the law firm layoffs haven't let up. Four major firms announced job cuts on Monday, totaling - [It's a bloodbath out there. Here's a way we can help each other.](https://estrin.vip/its-a-bloodbath-out-there-heres-a-way-we-can-help-each-other/) - By Loni MorganelliAmerican Paralegal in Londonand Chere EstrinA couple of months ago, I was talking with a paralegal in Florida. I asked her how the recession was affecting her firm and inquired whether she felt there might be lay-offs coming down the pike. She was unaware that thousands of paralegals were being laid-off across the country. Last - [Slum Dog Millionaires: Paralegal Program Director Wins $16k](https://estrin.vip/slum-dog-millionaires-paralegal-program-director-wins-16k/) - In the aftermath of today''s depressing news (over 2,000 attorneys and paralegals have lost their jobs in the past few weeks and today Latham & Watkins announced it is laying off over 250 paralegals and staff and 190 attorneys), we sure could use some good news. Enter Mary Flaherty, Paralegal Program Studies Director for Suffolk University - [The Hidden Job Market - It's In the Vendors](https://estrin.vip/the-hidden-job-market-its-in-the-vendors/) - I had a terrific opportunity to run into two upbeat, interesting women who have the perfect jobs for paralegals seeking alternative careers. Now, hold your horses here because the first thing I'm going to tell you is that they are located in, well, Fargo, North Dakota. Yep. Unless you've seen the movie Fargo, you probably - [Finally! New TV Series Recognizes Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/finally-new-tv-series-recognizes-paralegals/) - I may be just a little overexcited about what might otherwise be mundane news. But, hey, I live in Hollywood, I'm attached to the paralegal field and well, I've been curious as to why just about every TV series revolving around lawyers and law firms leaves out paralegals. Years ago, I attended a Los Angeles - [Distance Learning - The Way of the Future for Busy Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/distance-learning-the-way-of-the-future-for-busy-paralegals/) - By Loni MorganelliAmerican Paralegal in London In today's busy world with our hectic work schedules, family commitments, and endless pressures, it's hard to find the time to stop and go to school. But whether you're a fully qualified paralegal or working towards your certificate, continuing education is a vital part of our profession. Fortunately today, - [Black Thursday Leads to Blacker Friday - Over 1100 Laid Off in Two Days](https://estrin.vip/black-thursday-leads-to-blacker-friday-over-1100-laid-off-in-two-days/) - I would like to be the bearer of good news. But today, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you about last week. If you haven't heard by now, Valentine's Day weekend was not a happy occasion for over 1,000 attorneys, paralegals and staff. A handful of firms decided in one two-day bloodbath last - [Holy, Moly! We've Been Snoped!](https://estrin.vip/holy-moly-weve-been-snoped/) - Well, it turns out that our story yesterday about technology robbing you blind through your GPS and cell phone is only partially true! Thanks to Phill Signey and a couple of other fact-finding, industrious, on-the-ball paralegals, it turns out that the story is only partly true. Now, while the expert who sent this to - [American Paralegal in London](https://estrin.vip/american-paralegal-in-london/) - Two years ago, an adventurous Boston paralegal named Loni Morganelli, decided to jump the pond. Landing in a prestigious London firm, Morganelli today is enjoying a unique experience in the paralegal field. We are pleased to announce that she has joined us as a co-blogger for The Estrin Report bringing a unique and universal outlook - [](https://estrin.vip/by-loni-morganelli-american-paralegal-in-london-as-2009-ends-its-first-month-of-the-year-a-total-of-1487-staff-layoffs/) - By Loni Morganelli American Paralegal in London As 2009 ends its first month of the year, a total of 1,487 staff layoffs have been reported across some of the country’s biggest law firms. This is only the number that BigFirms are reporting and does not include paralegals or staff who have been reduced to part-time. The - [Short-sighted Politicians "No" On Paralegals Can Cost San Francisco Big Bucks](https://estrin.vip/shortsighted-politicians-no-on-paralegals-can-cost-san-francisco-big-bucks/) - By Loni MorganelliGuest BloggerAmerican Paralegal in London Last week, San Francisco Public Defender, Jeff Adachi, stressed the need for more paralegals on his staff. Without the proper staff, adequate resources, and valuable services of paralegals, he may have to turn away high-profile cases, such as homicides and other major felonies. Such a move will result - [In Charge of Defining Search Terms? You Could Cost Your Client $6 Million](https://estrin.vip/in-charge-of-defining-search-terms-you-could-cost-your-client-6-million/) - A litigation paralegal's job can often include defining many of the search terms used in e-discovery. That can cost your client big, BIG bucks as reported today in Ralph Losey's blog, e-Discovery Team. Apparently, a trial lawyer for the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) agreed to an e-discovery search of backup tapes to - [The Paralegal Technology Institute at LegalTech New York](https://estrin.vip/the-paralegal-technology-institute-at-legaltech-new-york/) - There's a brand new event that's occuring at LegalTech this year: The Paralegal Technology Institute at LegalTech in New York on Feb. 3-4 at the Sheraton Hotel. They are even giving you the first day of LegalTech on Feb. 2nd for free. Why am I mentioning it here? Probably because I am hearing from so - [It's Official! It's Better to Be a Paralegal Instead of A Lawyer!](https://estrin.vip/its-official-its-better-to-be-a-paralegal-instead-of-a-lawyer/) - You knew it. You chose to be a paralegal instead of a lawyer but until now, no one has officially sanctioned your choice. In fact, many people (including old Aunt Minnie and grouchy Uncle Vinnie) still question why you didn't go on to become a lawyer. Well, my little chickadees, you now have an official survey to - [Corporate Bankruptcy Boom Leads to More Jobs](https://estrin.vip/corporate-bankruptcy-boom-leads-to-more-jobs/) - It's the old "good news and bad news" syndrome. The bad news, of course, is that these tough economic times have led to more businesses filing bankruptcy. The good news is, that someone has to handle those bankruptcies and that "someone" is a law firm. According to an article in the New York Lawyer, - [Paralegal Represents Client in Court - Attorney Gets Censured](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-represents-client-in-court-attorney-gets-censured/) - Any paralegal worth his or her salt knows that the first thing you cannot do is to represent yourself as an attorney. Apparently, according to an article in The New York Lawyer, a lawyer and his paralegal thought otherwise. According to the article, Pomper sent his paralegal/secretary Larissa Sufaru to a hearing in Somerset County (New Jersey) Family - [What You Can Do as a Paralegal to Help Your Firm Avoid Malpractice Suits](https://estrin.vip/what-you-can-do-as-a-paralegal-to-help-your-firm-avoid-malpractice-suits/) - Since this is hardly the first recession many of us have weathered, some of the articles we're reading could have been written in 2001 or in any of the other more infamous economically turmoiled times. However, the concerns may be the same but with regulation, more client awareness of what paralegals can do and increased utilization - [Working for a Non-equity Partner? Your Job May Be At Risk](https://estrin.vip/working-for-a-nonequity-partner-your-job-may-be-at-risk/) - Not everything is always public in a law firm. Particularly, whether the partner you are working for is an equity or non-equity partner. Paralegals don't always know or care, for that matter. But this volatile economy has caused new meaning to the word, KNOW. If you are assigned to work for a non-equity partner, you - [Newsflash: Juries Make Decisions Based on Emotion](https://estrin.vip/newsflash-juries-make-decisions-based-on-emotion/) - Something we always suspected now has some scientific research backing it. According to today's National Law Journal, science is now helping us understand how juries make decisions in crime and punishment. The articles states that: "Researchers from Vanderbilt University used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines to chart brain activity as subjects were asked to determine issues of guilt, innocence - [New Paralegal Associations Started Through LinkedIn](https://estrin.vip/new-paralegal-associations-started-through-linkedin/) - Taking advantage of this new era of social networking, a smart paralegal has identified a need and filled it. Robin Elizabeth Margolis, paralegal, realized that IP paralegals and e-discovery paralegals have positions that demand unique knowledge but no specialty associations existed to address their positions. Using LinkedIn, Google Search, and other Internet tools, she formed - [Is Your Firm on the Layoff List?](https://estrin.vip/is-your-firm-on-the-layoff-list/) - It used to be that Corporate America would not do the dastardly deed at holiday time. That is to say, layoffs would be put off until after Christmas. That way, even though you knew it might be coming, you could "act as if" and have a supposed normal holiday. Nowadays, it seems as though firms - [It's a Jungle Out There - More Layoffs for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/its-a-jungle-out-there-more-layoffs-for-paralegals/) - Gloomy news! Brown Rudnick,Mayer Brown, Squire Sanders today all announced layoffs of staff including paralegals in San Francisco, Chicago and cities other than financially devastated New York. On the "good" side of things, Bryan Cave says no layoffs expected but no raises or bonuses either. Yikes! Mayer Brown lays off 55 staff, 33 attorneys; Squire Sanders asks - [Death of the Impromptu Phone Call](https://estrin.vip/death-of-the-impromptu-phone-call/) - Most definitely, e-mail is killing the art of the phone call. But there is a new trend now that simply amuses me - and that is the sending of an e-mail to book an appointment to make a phone call. It used to be that if you needed to call someone, you would simply pick - [How a Paralegal Almost Screwed Up A Very High Profile Trial](https://estrin.vip/how-a-paralegal-almost-screwed-up-a-very-high-profile-trial/) - Oh, I'm almost ashamed to print this. But then again, it's not like it was my fault. However, when someone from the profession screws up so badly that it hits MSNBC, well, that's not good. It seems that a juror who vanished during Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' corruption trial told the judge Monday she lied - [No Santa This Year Means Someone Gets to Eat](https://estrin.vip/no-santa-this-year-means-someone-gets-to-eat/) - The National Law Journal published an article this morning stating that due to the economic crisis, some law firms are deciding to forgo their annual holiday celebrations and donate money instead. When I was with the law firm, I hated those parties. Contrary to what people think is an outgoing personality, I'm really a wallflower. - [Read My Lips......It's In the Technology](https://estrin.vip/read-my-lipsits-in-the-technology/) - Ok, so I admit it. I'm old enough to recall actually seeing the presidential candidate who years ago made history with his sound bite: "read my lips" on the 6:00 news. (No, it wasn't in black and white.) He was obviously trying to make a point abeit a bit, well, sarcastically. But the doom and gloom of the - [Paralegal A Hero In Worst Train Crash in 50 Years](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-a-hero-in-worst-train-crash-in-50-years/) - You've probably already heard about the Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth (Los Angeles County), CA that occurred on Friday killing 25 people and injuring well over 135 others in the worst train crash in So. California in 50 years. One of the injured victims was Jeremy Schneider, a 36-year old litigation paralegal who resides in Simi - [The Legal Field's Dirty Little Secret: Female Paralegals Are Paid Less](https://estrin.vip/the-legal-fields-dirty-little-secret-female-paralegals-are-paid-less/) - The Cenus Bureau issued a report in August with astounding, shocking and disappointing news: Women lawyers made a median of $93,600, a salary that was 77.8 percent of male lawyers’ median salary of $120,400. The fact that women lawyers make less is really not news. We all know or at least suspect that female lawyers lag - [ABA Gives OK for Outsourcing -What Does That Mean for Jobs in the U.S.?](https://estrin.vip/aba-gives-ok-fo/) - For those of you who thought that the fax machine would never dramatically affect messenger and delivery services; that the Internet was a trend and could not affect old-line traditions such as encyclopedias; and that no one in their right mind would want to carry a portable phone with them so they can be reached - [All In the Name of Justice - Layoffs in NY But Good News for Michigan](https://estrin.vip/all-in-the-name/) - It's getting crazy out there. Legal Week, (the British top rag) reports that Fried Frank announced yesterday that it's cutting 73 staffers including paralegals in its New York office and DC offices. That's 10% of its 730 staffer headcount in New York and Washington, D.C. including paralegals, librarians and part-time assistants. A spokesperson told Legal - [Now the U.K. Outsources Paralegal Work to India. Who Is Next?](https://estrin.vip/now-the-uk-outs/) - Outsourcing paralegal work to India is a big, big business in the U.S. Primarily the choice of BigFirms in Legal Land, the idea is to have lower end work performed by competent paralegals for a lot less money and still receive the same quality as you would if a U.S. paralegal completed the task. Now, - [Paralegal in Fiji Fights Corruption](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-in-fi/) - Because the field is so relatively new compared to the practice of law in America - 35 yrs. vs. 225+ years - we rarely look around to see what's going on with paralegal in other countries. Yep. They're out there. Take this fellow Albert Lau, a corruption fighter in Fiji. Here is a guy making - [Litigation Support Vendor Survey Causes Ruckus](https://estrin.vip/litigation-supp/) - For those of you who are not aware of the annual Electronic Discovery Survey, George Socha and Tom Gelbmann have produced this highly valuable ranking of vendors for six years. Now, they have announced that it has become so valuable that clients sometimes choose a vendor based strictly on the survey without regard to doing - [KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals Names 9 Most Influential Contributors to the Paralegal Field](https://estrin.vip/know-the-magazi/) - KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals has published its first issue and names the 9 Most Influential Contributors to the Paralegal Field. This prestigious acknowledgement was based upon contribution over the years to the paralegal community. The receipients are: Tom O'Connor, Consultant, Legal Electronic Documents Institute, New Orleans. Category: e-Discovery. Lori Thompson, Paralegal Specialist, - [Paralegal Gets The Hook For Smoking But Aren't They Missing Something Here?](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-gets/) - I'm not a smoker and I'm not in favor of people who smoke around me. My lungs don't need it, what with living in L.A. and all. However, this story from law.com raises a couple of legal questions. A paralegal who defied a new policy at work that banned smoking breaks for hourly employees was - [Paralegal Hired to Boost Firm's International Relationships](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-hired/) - Lord have mercy on us all!! The inevitable has happened. A law firm has actually hired a paralegal in order to attract new international business. Yes. I know. Miracles do happen in Legal Land. A press release today sent by Goff and Wilson, a comprehensive immigration law firm with offices in New Hampshire and France, - [Arizona Paralegal's Husband Needs Heart](https://estrin.vip/arizona-paraleg/) - Sherry Zimmerman, a paralegal with the Sheriff's Office in Yuma, Arizona is reaching out to the legal community. Married 36 years to Wayne Zimmerman, a retired sergeant from the Arizona Department of Public Service, they await anxiously at the Mayo Clinic for a heart transplant for her husband. According to the YumaSun.com, there's a Wayne - [e-Discovery Creates New Positions in Firms](https://estrin.vip/e-discovery-cre/) - Ropes & Gray has just hired its first e-discovery counsel, according to an article today in The National Law Journal. The firm has hired former Ungaretti & Harris partner Shannon Capone Kirk to lead its electronic discovery litigation practice group. Kirk was previously chairwoman of the electronic discovery litigation practice group and a litigation partner - [New ALM & IPMA Salary Survey Offers Up Good News for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/new-alm-ipma-sa/) - Despite the daily news feedings of the economy's doom and gloom, there's actually good news for paralegals out there in LegalLand. ALM Research and the International Paralegal Management Association together announced the results of the 2008 Compensation Survey. Surveying 285 law firms and 78 law departments, representing a total of 14,216 paralegal positions, the study, - [Paralegal Gambler Sentenced to 16 Months for Stealing $600k](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-gambl/) - Just the kind of news we don't want to hear. A judge sentenced a paralegal to 16 months in prison for embezzling more than $600,000 from a West Hartford law firm, the New York Lawyer reported today. Karen Davis-Jenkins was found guilty of taking more than $600,000 from the Law Offices of Jefferson D. Jelly - [Good News for Technology Positions](https://estrin.vip/good-news-for-t/) - This just in from The Cowen Group: Despite the grim news we posted here in yesterday's Estrin Report regarding the worst legal field layoffs since 2004, The Cowen Group has issued a press release with good news for law firm technology positions: "Despite deep and ongoing layoffs in many other industries and the legal sector - [Legal Field Layoffs: Does Anyone Have the Rolaids?](https://estrin.vip/legal-field-lay/) - It's not looking too good when the Labor Department announces large layoffs in the legal field. Most of the time, the legal field is either not mentioned or is pretty quiet when job sector information is announced. That's all changed. According to The AmLaw Daily, the U.S. legal service sector lost 1,100 jobs in May, - [10 Essential Websites for Litigators (And Paralegals)](https://estrin.vip/10-essential-we/) - I love it when I come across valuable information that someone has taken the time to put together in order to give us the best. Genie Tyburski, law librarian at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll and publisher of the legal-research resource The Virtual Chase, has compiled her list of 10 Essential Web Sites for Litigators. - [Good or Bad Economy, More Layoffs Predicted for Associates & Staff](https://estrin.vip/good-or-bad-eco/) - Some folks just can't catch a break. The New York Lawyer reported that major law firms are expected to layoff more associates and staff whether or not the economy picks up - or so they would like you to believe. Only one firm, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, said it had anything to do with - [Snoopy Lawyer Sent to the Woodshed](https://estrin.vip/snoopy-lawyer-s/) - Talk about nerve! Or addiction? Excitement? Thrill of getting away with something? The ABA Journal.com reported that a West Virginia lawyer has been suspended for e-mail snooping. Apparently, the lawyer accessed his wife's e-mail account at the law firm at which she worked as an associate along with eight other lawyers at her firm at - [Staycation - The Latest in No-Getting-Away Retreats](https://estrin.vip/staycation-th/) - Here is a classic case of "everything old is new again". The Wall Street Journal today reported that the latest in vacations is the "staycation" - staying at home instead of getting away on your personal time off. The ABA Journal picked up the article with a story about a frugal lawyer who chose to - [What's Hot for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/whats-hot-for-p/) - We may be about 4 months late with this report but heck, we just found it. The ABA's Law Practice magazine issued its 19th annual report on what's hot; what's not in the legal field. Here is a refreshing look at some interesting and exciting new developments specifically for paralegals:Hot New Areas for Paralegals: Virtual - [Is the National Law Journal Predicting Doom & Gloom for Paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/is-the-national/) - The National Law Journal published an article the other day entitled "Ecosystem of Legal Services Is Evolving". It was written by Mehul Patel who was previously the Chief Marketing Officer of a major San Francisco law firm who is now the EVP of Axiom Legal, a "new" type of contract attorney provider. Only Axiom Legal - [Paralegal Leads Union Protest of Pilot's Union Employees](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-leads/) - Paralegals in a union???? Yep. According to The Star-Telegram.com, protesters who marched Monday morning in Ft. Worth weren't airline employees, and airline management wasn't the target. This demonstration was conducted by employees of the Allied Pilots Association, and the managers being criticized are union pilots. The Allied Pilots Staff Employee Association represents 23 employees who - [Let's Get This to the Paralegal - In India](https://estrin.vip/lets-get-this-t/) - Outsourcing to paralegals and attorneys in India remains a booming business. In fact, Dupont, the model for progressive paralegal departments, outsourced so much work to LPOs (Legal Process Outsourcing) last year, that it saved the company over $500,000 in legal fees. In an article in Time magazine this morning, Tom Sager, chief litigation counsel for - [Paralegal Positions in Foreclosures Go Wild](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-posit/) - Talk about capitalizing on someone else's misery! According an article in the The Tampa Tribune, law firms are scrambling for more staff, particularly paralegals, in an effort to meet the wave of foreclosures in hard-hit areas of the country. One Tampa law firm, Florida Default Law Group, filed more than 400 foreclosure lawsuits in Hillsborough - [Air Force Identifies Paralegal Field Going Back As Far as 1955](https://estrin.vip/air-force-ident/) - This is one of those trivia facts that you're not too sure what to do with but makes a difference in how you might perceive the paralegal field. Most schools, articles, books, tall tales, and verbal chronologies of the paralegal field identify the field as starting in or around 1978 or so. In fact, the - [The Case of the Pink Poodle](https://estrin.vip/the-case-of-the/) - The Chicago Tribune reported today that there is an unprecedented rise in attorneys practicing animal law. Once an area thought to be only for attorneys with either a heart or frankly, nothing else to do, The Tribune notes that "92 of the 196 ABA approved law schools in the country now offer courses on animal - [What Gives Paralegals a Bad Rap- Lawyer Gets Suspended for Trusting Too Much - Again](https://estrin.vip/what-gives-para/) - This just sent chills down my spine. Made my hair on my neck stand up. Whatever the cliche, I had it. The Maryland Daily Record reported that longtime lawyer Charles Jay Zuckerman said he has had it with private practice after a unanimous Court of Appeals on Monday suspended him a second time for mismanaging - [Five Dumb Office Practices](https://estrin.vip/five-dumb-offic/) - It took forever for law firms to get on the bandwagon to utilize computers back in the day when all of CorporateAmerica was pushing ahead into the world of high-tech. Law firms reluctantly followed suit [sic] when three things happened: Clients pushbacked and protested loudly that law firms were still on a manual system and - [15 Minutes of Podcast Fame](https://estrin.vip/15-minutes-of-p/) - Yesterday, Tita Brewster, President of the National Association of Legal Assistants and I were invited to speak on the topic of paralegals for the Podcast show, Lawyer2Lawyer. This was the first time I've participated in this type of show. (Yes, I've done radio & TV, video, newspaper, magazine articles but nothing so today.) What an - [Oh, Hollywood, Oh Hollywood.....](https://estrin.vip/oh-hollywood-oh/) - A new show on Fox TV starring Julianna Margulies is one of the few shows prominently featuring legal assistants as part of the legal team. The show, Canterbury's Law, has been sent to reviewers for prescreening. Described as a "dark legal drama", the show stars Margulies as a convincing lawyer whose only true solace is - [U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Paralegal Fees Case](https://estrin.vip/us-supreme-cour/) - Paralegal fees are once again up for discussion in the U.S. Supreme Court with the Court's Nov. 12 decision to hear the Richlin v. Chertoff case. This is an important case for law firms and paralegals in promoting the further utilization of paralegals. The issue before the Supreme Court in the Richlin case is pretty - [Where Is That Ethics Class When Ya Need It?](https://estrin.vip/where-is-that-e/) - Here's a twist: While many paralegals aggressively seek to expand their assignments, a New York lawyer gets disbarred for overusing his paralegals and running afoul of ethics violations. According to The New York Law Journal, real estate lawyer Keith G. Rubenstein, eager to bolster his shaky finances, signed an unusual arrangement to serve as a - [Kudos to the DOJ for Acknowledging Paralegal Participation](https://estrin.vip/kudos-to-the-do/) - Halleleujah! Rarely do law firms or corporations acknowledge contribution of paralegals when a major case is won. Paralegals may work until midnight for months giving up weekends, holidays and birthdays but how often do we see their names mentioned when attorneys take bows over a major win? Going against tradition, the DOJ issued a press - [New Magazine for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/new-magazine-fo/) - A new and exciting magazine for paralegals will launch in June, 2008. KNOW, The Magazine for Paralegals is an outside-the-box, informative magazine balancing workstyle and life balance for paralegals. Designed for paralegals in today's highly competitive market, the publication offers tools, tactics and strategies for a successful worklife and lifestyle balance. Written by leaders in - [The Billable Hour: Albatross for Paralegals As Well](https://estrin.vip/the-billable-ho/) - Practically every day, in one legal publication or another, you're going to read about how the billable hour will eventually meet its demise. Whether this occurs in the next 10-20 years is questionable. What we do know, is that CorporateAmerica is pushing back hard against inflated hourly rates including paralegal rates that can go as - [Oops! There Go the Paralegal Jobs?](https://estrin.vip/oops-there-go-t/) - Finally, a firm that is honest about what it's doing. Only, I'm not so sure this is good news for paralegals. It may be good news for graduate students in India and for clients opting for lower cost legal fees. It seems like you can have one or the other but never both. Howrey has - [New Niche for e-Discovery: Special Masters](https://estrin.vip/new-niche-for-e/) - I'm telling you, when a field pops, it really pops. Apparently, the increased use of electronic discovery has resulted in a new set of practitioners: e-discovery special masters.According to The Daily Record, a special master is an officer of the court appointed to help with its proceedings, and may perform functions such as taking testimony - [Paralegal Falsely Posing As Lawyer Wins 50 Cases](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-false/) - Now here's an interesting situation: Brian Valery, a paralegal working for Anderson, Kill, a pretty large firm in Washington, D.C. ups and decides he's going to tell his colleagues and supervisors that he's going to law school. After a time, he decides he's going to let them know he passed the bar. Impressed with his - [Paralegals Helping Women in Bangladesh](https://estrin.vip/paralegals-help/) - Paralegals exist in third world countries and are often the heroes of the villages. A fascinating article in The New Nation, illustrates just how important paralegals are to one village in Bangladesh. Banchte Shekha: Development Program for Women and Children was founded by one woman, Angela Gomes-a tall, vibrant women in her early forties in - [The Economic Crisis: Yes, You May Be Affected](https://estrin.vip/the-economic-cr/) - You can't get away from the news: the legal market is beginning to slow quite dramatically. Especially hard hit have been paralegals and attorneys working in the securities, finance and real estate sectors. Not to mention what's happening out here in Los Angeles with the continuing Writers Guild strike. Companies and law firms have begun - [Litigation Paralegals: Safe from Recession?](https://estrin.vip/litigation-para/) - With the doom and gloom news about slow growth and possible recession swirling around us, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Wait! It's not a train coming at us. It's actually good news. According to a press release from Robert Half issued today, The hiring of paralegals is expected - [Where Were the Paralegals? BigFirm Sues E-Discovery Vendor](https://estrin.vip/where-were-the/) - Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Or, maybe it's happened and we just don't know about it. A dispute between Sullivan & Cromwell and e-discovery vendor, Electronic Evidence Discovery (EED) has escalated into all out war as S&C files a suit in state supreme court in Manhattan while EED countersues in Seattle. - [Paralegal in Middle of Conflict of Interest Controversy](https://estrin.vip/paralegal-in-mi/) - It’s not unusual for a firm to use tough tactics when litigating a case. But tough tactics cost Patricia Dillman, (a litigation support manager who came up through the ranks as a paralegal) her job. This story seems to be everywhere. After working under three bosses in less than a year, Dillman, the director of - [Airlines to Appeal Passenger Bill of Rights](https://estrin.vip/airlines-to-app/) - If you have ever spent more than 3 hours waiting on a tarmac, trapped in a huge metal contraption with screaming babies, no food, overflowing toilets and stale air, you will definitely view the Airlines as the Monster of the Century. Unbelievably, an airline industry trade group has filed a notice of appeal in its - [Nonlawyer Contract Experts: New Wave for Paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/nonlawyer-contr/) - A boutique business law firm for life sciences companies is luring clients with a lower-rate structure that relies on nonlawyer contract experts for template contract work. Waltham, Mass.-based Faber Daeufer & Rosenberg has attracted more than 200 clients since its October 2003 launch. According to an article from law.com, the firm began with two lawyers - [Paralegals in China: Profession Develops from Toy Scandal](https://estrin.vip/paralegals-in-c/) - The toy recalls coming out of China apparently have more consequences than U.S. citizens seem to realize. According to an article written in YaleGlobal online, not often noted in the uproar was that the toys shipped from China are mostly made by Hong Kong firms using cheap labor in China. Their factories in China make - [Secondments: Everything Old is New Again](https://estrin.vip/secondments-eve/) - A brand new term, secondments, the transfer of employees from one organization to another on a temporary basis has sprung up in the corporate world. The reality is, this lending of employees from law firms to in-house legal departments is not anything that's brand new. It's been going on for years. However, recently, secondments are - [Happiness Comes to Firms in Small But Important Perks](https://estrin.vip/happiness-comes/) - Sometimes it's just the small things that matter. When workdays stretch into worknights and the pressure to meet the quota for billable hours grows, lawyers and paralegals at the firm of Perkins Coie can often expect a little bonus. The firm actually has a "Happiness Committee" that surprises lawyers and staff members with lifestyle perks - [Brand New Position: Chief Sustainability Officer](https://estrin.vip/brand-new-posit/) - Law firms may be more in dire need of a Chief De-Stress Officer but Nixon Peabody announced that it has appointed its first Chief Sustainability Officer. This week the firm appointed Carolyn S. Kaplan, an attorney in Nixon Peabody's energy and environmental practice, to the new role of Chief Sustainability Officer. The law firm says - [Florida Enacts Voluntary Registration for Paralegals - Trend Towards Regulation Gets Hotter](https://estrin.vip/florida-enacts/) - For those of you who are dismissing the idea of paralegal regulation, now's the time to sit up and take notice! Recently, Florida enacted a voluntary Registered Paralegal Program that regulates who can be called a paralegal. The program requires 30 hours of continuing legal education requirements every 3 years. To become a Florida Registered - [Paralegal's Failure to Comply with Regulation Results in Serious Consequences](https://estrin.vip/paralegals-fail/) - According to an article in the Los Angeles Paralegal Reporter (originally printed in the Los Angeles Daily Journal) by Stacey Hunt and Michael R. Jencks, attorneys and paralegals need to sit up and take notice of three recent decisions out of the Eastern District of California. These cases are some of the first in the - [New York Paralegal Named Director for Theatre of the Deaf](https://estrin.vip/new-york-parale/) - Aaron Kubey is the new executive director-president of the National Theatre of the Deaf, which has gone through financial crises, leadership changes and relocations in the past few years. Kubey, a paralegal in a New York law firm, is currently artistic director of the New York Deaf Theatre. Kubey takes over the position Nov. 5 - [Can McDermott Will & Emery's Drop in Associate Salaries Cause Ripple in Paralegal Hires?](https://estrin.vip/can-mcdermott-w/) - With soaring associate salaries in BigFirms reaching $160,000 per year for first years, something had to give. McDermott Will & Emery, a 1,000 attorney firm, announced it was creating a new class of associates. Instead of turning to contract attorneys or sending its grunt work overseas, McDermott has decided to bring in 15 lawyers with - [Fulbright & Jaworski's New Litigation Survey Reports Drop in Number of Litigation Matters Against U.S. Corporations](https://estrin.vip/fulbright-jawor/) - Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP, has released its Fourth Annual Litigation Trends Survey of more than 300 corporations within the U.S. and U.K. This report is the largest conducted of business litigation matters. According to the survey, while litigation between employers and employees did not dissolve completely, it did taper off. Seventeen percent of the respondents - [Salaries for Sr. Paralegals Expected to Increase 6.1%](https://estrin.vip/salaries-for-sr/) - Declining law school enrollments have had a positive effect on the paralegal field. A new salary survey issued by Robert Half Legal predicts that the demand for non-lawyers with competent skill levels is in higher demand, forcing salaries to increase in 2008. Executive Director Charles Volkert said some law firms are building up practice areas, - [40 New Women Paralegals in Israel Work on $8 Billion U.S. Deal: Similarities to U.S. Paralegals Uncanny](https://estrin.vip/40-new-women-pa/) - An article today in The Jerusalem Post revealed that 40 new Israeli women paralegals worked long hours on an $8 billion U.S. real estate deal. The training sponsored by the Development Center for the Employment of Haredim, (an Orthodox sect of Judiasm that bypasses modern secular beliefs), a branch of the ministry, and the Joint-Israel, - [Outsourcing to India? Lawyers from India don't like it anymore than lawyers from the U.S.](https://estrin.vip/outsourcing-to/) - Apparently, not all lawyers in India are crazy about the outsourcing trend heating up in India and other lower-cost developing nations. According to Merinews, written from India, Legal Process Outsourcing is the latest and hottest trend. Big corporations are reaping the benefits. New job opportunities are being created. LPOs (Legal Process Outsourcing) seem to have - [Paralegals Leading the Boomer Pack?](https://estrin.vip/paralegals-lead/) - The Maine Biz Daily reported today that Maine will soon be among those states with a shortage in workers as seemingly an overwhelming number of its residents are running with the Baby Boomer pack. Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, director of the Center on Aging and Work/Workplace Flexibility at Boston College cites data from a U.S. Census Bureau - [Possible layoffs for corporate paralegals in the near future?](https://estrin.vip/possible-layoff/) - An article this week by the Legal Intelligencer citing possible associate layoffs in the corporate, mergers & acquisitions and securities arena failed to mention the trickle down effect on paralegals. Surely, anyone with just a few years of experience recalls the nasty era of 2001-2004 or so of deep purges and scourages affecting thousands of - [Fashion Sense? Major Firms Capture Boutique Biz - New Opportunities for Paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/fashion-sense-m/) - Here's a great example of new opportunities opening for paralegals: The Daily Report (Atlanta) ran a story today that talks about Loeb & Loeb (my old alma mater) and other major Los Angeles firms that have opened a new fashion and luxury items practice group. Daily Report While fashion law in Los Angeles isn’t an - [No billables for 1st Year Associates - Why Not Paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/no-billables-fo/) - The billable hour is now dead for Harrison & Ford's 190-attorney firm, according to law.com's blog, Newswire. The full-article from The National Law Journal, states that Harrison & Ford does not expect first-year associates to bill time. Wow. This innovative idea should filter on down to brand-new paralegals. Think about it: Paralegal schools cannot teach - [Best Law Firms for Working Mothers Part II](https://estrin.vip/best-law-firm-1/) - OK, forgive me. I neglected to post the press release to the Working Mothers survey. - [Best Law Firms for Working Mothers](https://estrin.vip/best-law-firms/) - Working mothers still struggle with promotion and partnership issues according to a new survey conducted by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers. While the survey was intended to show how many large law firms are "tolerant" of working mothers, the fact that a survey needed needed to be conducted in the first place seems to indicate - ["Pzizz Offers Help for Power Nappers"](https://estrin.vip/pzizz_offers_he/) - Helpful "be more productive at work" find from the folks at Web Worker Daily. Yeah, actually napping at your firm during the day might not be a good career move. But what about all-night document productions? "We’ve written before about the benefits of an afternoon “power nap” in helping you get through the day and - ["Elevator Rides at Law Firms Call for Delicacy, Tact"](https://estrin.vip/elevator_rides_/) - Good advice from The Snark, of Fulton County Daily Report fame...reprinted in Large Law Firm [note: links added to excerpt]:"The random assortment of people joined together in a small box moving at rapid speed puts you in the close personal space of your co-workers in ways that would otherwise be unacceptable. The unique nature of elevator - ["Keeping Current Can Be Hard to Do for Law Librarians"](https://estrin.vip/keeping_current/) - I bet! In fact, I've often thought that being a law librarian would be a most interesting job. Just think about everything you would learn!"Librarians are curious people. We like to skim magazines and books, we like to surf the Web and we have some interest in a lot of topics. A former co-worker used - ["Job satisfaction is high in the paralegal field"](https://estrin.vip/job_satisfactio/) - Another gem of an article from LawCrossing which reports very good news for paralegals:"Many paralegals entering the workforce these days have high expectations. Steady salary increases, expanded workplace challenges, and broad benefits packages all contribute to robust paralegal employment opportunities and job satisfaction. "The paralegal profession is hailed as being one of the fastest-growing industries - ["How to Avoid a Bad Reputation at Work"](https://estrin.vip/how_to_avoid_a_/) - Very good career advice from LawCrossing, in a series of questions & answers:"Little things that you do every day without thinking could be driving your coworkers crazy. Your bad business habits can give you a bad reputation and make you the topic of water-cooler gossip. Take a deep breath—and a good hard look at yourself—and - [Manatt's 2007 Summer Associates Include Former Legal Assistant](https://estrin.vip/manatts_2007_su/) - How many paralegals or legal assistants do you know who have gone on to work for major law firms? Well, here's news about one:"Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, the national law and consulting firm, announced its 2007 Summer Associate roster today. Twenty-one law students will be located in four of the firm’s eight offices: Los - ["Biglaw Plods Towards Mastodon's Fate"](https://estrin.vip/biglaw_plods_to/) - Goodness, gracious, this is a remarkable discussion about the future of big law firms! Thanks to lawyer, author, & blogger Robert J. Ambrogi for highlighting it in Legal Blog Watch:"When the general counsel of a major corporation says that the current model of the large law firm is heading towards extinction, ears perk up throughout - [District attorney recognizes paralegal for law enforcement assistance](https://estrin.vip/district_attorn/) - Sure like it when everyday citizens find & help solve crimes! Read all about it in this article from California's Auburn Journal:"The message from the Placer County District Attorney's Office was that law enforcement can't go it alone. "'Many ignore the call,' District Attorney Brad Fenocchio said, during a ceremony honoring several who stepped up - ["MySpace Helps Attorneys Find Clients"](https://estrin.vip/myspace_helps_a/) - Smart, very smart! This Legal Technology article describes what kinds of firms & clients might benefit from a page on MySpace:"When Missouri City, Texas, entertainment lawyer Leslie Warren Cross launched a MySpace.com page in 2006, he wanted a way to provide up-and-coming musicians basic information about the legalities of music contracts. "But Cross says that - ["Delegation Day in the Law Firm"](https://estrin.vip/delegation_day_/) - Found this interesting post at the morepartnerincome blog which is sponsored by Juris,Inc.:"Hildebrandt’s Rees Morrison passes along a simple but clever technique for encouraging attorneys to improve efficiency by finding delegable tasks for non-lawyer members of the team. The idea comes from the corporate world but should work to everyone’s benefit in a law firm - [Fort Worth paralegal named Legal Professional of the Year](https://estrin.vip/fort_worth_para/) - Hearty congratulations to Leslie Stokes for receiving this award reported by Pegasus News:"Leslie G. Stokes, Certified PP, PLS, TSC-CL, at the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C., in Fort Worth, has been named Legal Professional of the Year for 2007-2008 by the Texas Association of Legal Professionals. "Ms. Stokes, a native of Fort Worth, - [Womble Carlyle recruits for legal assistance project for veterans](https://estrin.vip/womble_carlyle_/) - This article from the Winston-Salem Journal sure sounds like a very worthy volunteer opportuity for paralegals (& others):"A statewide pro-bono project started by Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC is recruiting licensed North Carolina attorneys, supervised paralegals, legal-support staff and law students to provide free legal assistance for military veterans." - ["Critical Care Without Consent"](https://estrin.vip/critical_care_w/) - This article in today's Washington Post (5-27-2007), both surprised & shocked me. I'd dearly love to hear what med-mal paralegals think about these research studies:"The federal government is undertaking the most ambitious set of studies ever mounted under a controversial arrangement that allows researchers to conduct some kinds of medical experiments without first getting patients' - ["Orrick's Staffing Moves Pay Off -- Will Other Firms Follow?"](https://estrin.vip/orricks_staffin/) - So, would you want to work in Wheeling, West Virginia? Read all about the separation of staff from lawyers in this article from The Recorder:"When Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe announced it would move scores of support staff to a small industrial town in West Virginia, lawyers inside and out were skeptical of the quality of - ["Commentary: A Career Not Measured in Billable Hours"](https://estrin.vip/commentary_a_ca/) - Author Debra Bruno (Special Reports Editor at Legal Times), ponders some interesting questions in this Law.com article:"I grew up the child of teachers. Besides learning the obvious lack-of-privacy lessons ('Does your father know you left the house in that outfit?' my high school history teacher once muttered to me), I also internalized the idea that - [Helen Raschke Pro Bono Award](https://estrin.vip/helen_raschke_p/) - Must read this very inspiring article from the The Black Hills Pioneer (SD)"If you were to talk to Helen Raschke of Lead, she would tell you that the best years of her life were spent doing pro bono work because she was helping people in trouble. "In April of this year, Raschke was honored as - [Paralegals 'Adopt' Military Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_adop/) - This article from the Richmond (KY) Register -- "Showing you care may be easier than you think" -- shows how you can help support US troops:"Receiving a package from someone special is always exciting, but for troops serving overseas, it’s a little piece of home. "Many people may think it’s a good idea to send - ["Senior Legal Hotline connects seniors with the experts"](https://estrin.vip/senior_legal_ho/) - Sounds like a good volunteering opportunity described in this Chico, CA newspaper article. Does your local government or bar association offer similar programs?"The Senior Legal Hotline is surely one of the best kept secrets. The hotline provides California residents over the age of 60 with fast, accurate advice on any legal subject by phone, from - ["The Data Boom: Can Law Firms Profit?"](https://estrin.vip/the_data_boom_c/) - Yeah, oh, yeah! Read how in this Legal Technology article about how MoFo responded when a small client was hit with a huge discovery request:"In the fall of 2005, a small Israeli technology startup came to San Francisco's Morrison & Foerster with a lawsuit -- and, soon enough, a problem. [snip]"The stakes weren't particularly high - ["Law firms looking for help"](https://estrin.vip/law_firms_looki/) - Good news for job-hunting paralegals in this Philadelphia news article which cites a Robert Half Legal survey:"Despite the old joke asking what 1 million lawyers at the bottom of the ocean represent (answer: a good start), a recent national survey found that law firms and corporate legal departments actually need more attorneys. "California-based staffing service - ["The authenticity of a found document:](https://estrin.vip/the_authenticit/) - Hmm, interesting problem that can torpedo a case. Does your firm's IT department employ effective document management policies?"What seems to be the problem? Your IT organization has put in place proper procedures [PDF] for deleting electronic documents, including e-mails. So it is no surprise when as a result of litigation your e-discovery process cannot turn - ["Consultant Compatibility: Take the Quiz"](https://estrin.vip/consultant_comp/) - Always good to have thoughtful checklists for hiring vendors, I say. And this quiz from Legal Technology looks very helpful:"There's a saying that starts, 'You know you're in trouble if ...' But sometimes, by the time you know you're in trouble, it's too late to start asking 'Why?' "One example of such a time is - [Former paralegal now director of law firm recruiting](https://estrin.vip/former_paralega/) - Do you have good staff recruiting skills? Ever thought about a job in legal recruiting? This NJ Courier News article might provide inspiration:"Norris McLaughlin & Marcus P.A. has announced that Victoria A. Martignetti has joined the firm as director of recruiting. "A resident of Warren, Martignetti has more than 10 years experience working in large - ["She knows there's more to diversity than lip service"](https://estrin.vip/she_knows_there/) - Don't you just love it when someone puts her money where it counts? This Houston Chronicle story tells about that & more:"Cathy Lamboley's epiphany changed both her wardrobe and the way some Houston law firms do business. "Lamboley, who last week announced her upcoming retirement as general counsel of Shell Oil Co., used to wear - ["I was fired because I was the fall guy. What do I say in interviews?"](https://estrin.vip/i_was_fired_bec/) - Very intriguing job interviewing question posed to Salon's Cary Tennis:"I was recently fired from my job. Not to go too into depth, but I was blamed for the failure of a succession of projects. "In my opinion, the causes for these failures lay in the planning stages, which I was largely excluded from. When I - ["These women can buy or sell you"](https://estrin.vip/these_women_can/) - Hmm, sounds like it might be a good time for women to explore new careers beyond legal in the corporate world. See this Small Business Times article:"In recent years, many women have successfully climbed corporate ladders to become chief financial officers, commercial lenders, accountants and senior managers of financial companies. "For the most part, however, - [Cary Grant’s daughter former paralegal, now actor](https://estrin.vip/cary_grants_dau/) - Ah, getting career advice from your parents can be tricky, as described in this Ottawa Citizen article:"As a child growing up in Hollywood, Jennifer Grant received plenty of career advice from her movie-star parents. "Ms. Grant, daughter of Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, graduated from Stanford University with a degree in history and political science - ["Mock trial helps students learn more about the legal system"](https://estrin.vip/mock_trial_help/) - This most gratifying article in the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune details how Wyoming paralegal students are showing fifth-graders how the U.S. legal system works:"With a polite but stern tone, fifth-grader Jacob Colman interrupted Robert Novak, reminding him to just answer yes or no."Dressed in a dark blue suit like a miniature lawyer, Colman again asked the - ["Preparing to Survive a Dead-End Job"](https://estrin.vip/preparing_to_su/) - This LawJobs.com career advancement article is directed to associate attorneys, but I think the advice applies equally well to paralegals:"The harsh reality is that sometimes a job just doesn't work out. This can happen to anyone -- it often does. Recognizing the signs early on and being prepared for change are key elements necessary for - [ABA Reapproves Penn College's Legal Assistant Majors](https://estrin.vip/aba_reapproves_/) - This good news is reported in PC Today about the Pennsylvania College of Technology:"The American Bar Association has granted reapproval to Pennsylvania College of Technology’s legal assistant majors, one of only 14 programs in Pennsylvania to be recognized in that fashion. "The college’s School of Business and Computer Technologies recently was notified of the action - ["'Life's Short. Get a Divorce' Billboard Removed After Just a Week"](https://estrin.vip/lifes_short_get/) - Very interesting article about a clever law firm marketing strategy from the Associated Press:"A racy billboard proclaiming, 'Life's short. Get a divorce,' caused such an uproar that city workers stripped it from its downtown Chicago perch after a week. "It wasn't so much about the partially clothed man and woman on the law firm's ad. - ["How to Treat the Touchy Colleague"](https://estrin.vip/how_to_treat_th/) - Ah, I'm sure every reader has run across such situations. Good news -- this Business Week article offers helpful advice:"Sometimes, even casual exchanges can set co-workers off. When you hit a nerve, learn from the experience instead of snapping back "It's pleasant to walk into the office on a sunny morning and hear 'Good morning!' - ["10 dumb things users do that can mess up their computers"](https://estrin.vip/10_dumb_things_/) - Check out these very helpful reminders from the information technology gurus at TechRepublic:"We all do dumb things now and then, and computer users are no exception. Inadvertently pressing the wrong key combination or innocently clicking OK in the wrong dialog box can change important settings that alter a computer's behavior or even crash the system. - ["Some Job Hunters Are What They Post"](https://estrin.vip/some_job_hunter/) - But you already know this, right? If not, I recommend reading this article from LawJobs.com very closely (particularly if you're looking for a new job):"Plug a prospective employee's name into Google or any other Internet search engine, and you might be surprised at what you find. Web pages may tell hiring attorneys that the person - ["Beware the Hidden Costs of Bad Formatting"](https://estrin.vip/beware_the_hidd/) - Pretty poor reaction to need for increased training given that documents produced by law firms are so important!"When talking to law firms about training, I often hear the following statements: 'It's so easy, you don't need training'; 'If you can't learn it in an hour, it's not worth knowing'; and my favorite, 'We're getting documents - [Optimize Information Management Operations with Interwoven](https://estrin.vip/optimize_inform/) - Good old index cards are surely not of much use for law firms or legal departments with thosands & thousands of files. Read how Frost Brown Todd upgraded to Interwoven:"...Frost Brown Todd LLC, an AMLAW 200 law firm, has adopted Interwoven Records Manager to enable comprehensive information management. "Combined with Interwoven WorkSite, the industry-leading document - [Paralegal Student Article about 1st Amendment](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_stude/) - Impressed with this letter to the editor by a paralegal student about a new Indiana license plate (published in The Journal Gazette):"The pending lawsuit regarding the 'In God We Trust' license plates has a few attention-catching flaws. As a paralegal student with a special interest in constitutional law, I found the suit to be a - [Paralegal's Commentary on Court's Patent Ruling](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_comm/) - Yeah, this news is about an important ruling by the Supremes, but it's also very nice to see an experienced paralegal being quoted:"When the Supreme Court of the United States ruled for KSR in the case of KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc. [link added], it also served notice to the software industry that major - ["Paralegal receives mixed verdict"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_recei/) - So, is this good news? Or bad news for the paralegal profession? "A Wailuku paralegal who said she 'filled in the blanks' for a customer on a divorce form has been acquitted [emphasis added] of a charge of unauthorized practice of law. "Kitty Atchley, 54, was found guilty [emphasis added] of two misdemeanor counts of - ["D.C. Law Firm Suspends Woman Who Worked as Escort"](https://estrin.vip/dc_law_firm_sus/) - ABC News finds another person involved in the growing D.C. Madam scandal: "A legal secretary at one of Washington's most prominent and well-connected law firms, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, has been suspended after telling her bosses she secretly worked at night for the escort service run by the so-called D.C. Madam, Jeane - ["EDD-ucating Yourself About Electronic Discovery"](https://estrin.vip/edducating_your/) - Not a new article (Oct. 2006) from the ABA's Law Practice Today, but someone just pointed out that it says something nice about this blog. (How did I miss that!?) "It was back in July 2004 (http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/slc07041.html) when Tom published the first Strongest Links article on the subject of electronic discovery as part of an - [Paralegal's "Obama" MySpace Page](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_obam/) - Only in the brand-new world of user-managed online politics could news like this be reported: "The manager of an unofficial Barack Obama MySpace page tells MTV News how the campaign took his URL. "'They took it ... they just took it from me.' "That was how Joe Anthony described what happened this week when the - ["20 Jobs with the fastest-growing salaries"](https://estrin.vip/20_jobs_with_th/) - This new salary analysis comes from Business 2.0 & paralegals are on the list: "Business 2.0 Magazine identifies popular job categories in which wages are growing the fastest. [snip] ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT 1. HR coordinator ($40,200) 2. Paralegal ($39,500)" It's nice that paralegals made the list, but categorized as "admin support"? Not so much! And what - [Houston's State-of-the-Art Electronic Data Discovery Lab](https://estrin.vip/houstons_stateo/) - Ths news sounds wonderful doesn't it? I'd sure like to take a tour! "UHY Advisors today announced the opening of its newly constructed electronic data discovery lab, a state-of-the-art facility for processing large volumes of electronic evidence and conducting sophisticated computer forensics investigations, at a secure location in downtown Houston. "The lab is unique for - [Conspicuous Hole in [Paralegal] Ethics Training](https://estrin.vip/conspicuous_hol/) - This commentary in Law.com by an experienced paralegal surprised me. What's your reaction? "For all the talk of the need to prevent ethics transgressions in the legal profession, a glaring education gap exists for one group: paralegals. "Usually, it does not rise to the level of a topic to be covered -- until there is - ["Patently Obvious?"](https://estrin.vip/patently_obviou/) - Another excellent post to Legal Blog Watch by lawyer & blogger Robert J. Ambrogi [links listed below from original post]: "Tons of reaction among bloggers to yesterday's Supreme Court ruling in KSR v. Teleflex. Rather than attempt to summarize it all, I offer these samples. More on the impact of KSR. KSR v. Teleflex: The - ["Nearly Half of Law Offices Plan Staff Additions in Next 12 Months"](https://estrin.vip/nearly_half_of_/) - Great news! Particularly for "Litigation, Corporate Governance Experiencing Most Growth": "Law firms and corporate legal departments will be adding to their teams in the year ahead, a new survey [by Robert Half Legal] shows. Forty-seven percent of attorneys polled said they plan to hire personnel in the next 12 months; just 2 percent of respondents - ["The Problem with Time Management"](https://estrin.vip/the_problem_wit/) - Ah, the "trying to do my job, but people keep interrupting" problem. Do you have time management on the job under control? "If you've been living in the corporate world for some time, you've probably attended a training session where one of the exercises was to conduct a 'time spent' analysis in order to increase - [Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day](https://estrin.vip/take_our_daught/) - So, what do you do for this big day? Take your kids to work? Does your firm or company participate? "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day has grown from a modest scope in its pilot year to include businesses large and small, unions, hospitals, manufacturing plants, arts groups, social agencies, schools and government - ["New York's Most Obnoxious Lawyer"](https://estrin.vip/new_yorks_most_/) - Hmmm, I'm sure someone could nominate lawyers "worthy" of this "honor" in other states. But check out the "competition" in this Village Voice article: "'With so many jerks working as attorneys in New York City, you'd think there would be no way to determine who's the single biggest pain in the ass. You could be - [SF Paralegal Manages MyDeathSpace Website](https://estrin.vip/sf_paralegal_ma/) - Well, this is certainly a different way to expand beyond a day job as a paralegal: "Before the public saw the faces or learned the names of the victims from last week's Virginia Tech massacre, thousands of college students across the country were already starting to mourn the dead at a Web site called MyDeathSpace.com."Created - [Hudson Legal Sponsors Monster's New Legal Career Center](https://estrin.vip/hudson_legal_sp/) - I think the message board might become quite helpful, from the Q&As I read, particularly this one. And having law-related career advice collected in one place is very welcome: "Hudson Legal today [4-24-2007] announced its sponsorship of Monster's newly launched Legal Career Center, a section of Monster.com devoted to the career advancement and recruitment efforts - ["Making Forensics Elementary at Your Firm"](https://estrin.vip/making_forensic/) - Here's another career choice -- computer-forensics examinaton -- in which a paralegal background can be most helpful: [snip] "Attorney and e-discovery expert Tom O'Connor, with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Legal Electronic Document Institute, says that judges in the cases he consults on are ordering e-discovery and computer-forensics investigation much more frequently than ever before. O'Connor - ["PowerPoint 2007 Takes On the Fear Factor"](https://estrin.vip/powerpoint_2007/) - Here's where presentation-savvy paralegals [PPT] can save the day (or at least the PowerPoint slides). Still, it's good to hear that "Microsoft Corp.'s upgraded presentation tool adds user-friendliness to increased visual interest." "The very word 'PowerPoint' instills grim fear in the hearts of would-be speakers and dread lethargy in the minds of would-be listeners. No - ["New direction: Former paralegal found her niche in films"](https://estrin.vip/new_direction_f/) - No kidding a new direction! "And now for something completely different," as the funny guys of Monty Python used to say: "It’s a cliche in the movie business. She’s a great actress, but what she really wants to do is direct. He’s a great writer, but what he really wants to do is direct. He’s - ["Quick naps do the job at this law firm"](https://estrin.vip/quick_naps_do_t/) - Calling all workaholics! Be smart & take some time off for a rejuvenating nap..at work! "The Power Room at one Raleigh law office isn't a place where high-profile deals get done or important meetings occur. "It's for snoozing. "As workers log in longer hours, there is increasing interest in the revitalizing power of naps. One - [Using Technology (& a paralegal!) to Cut Legal Costs](https://estrin.vip/using_technolog/) - Interesting profile of Mark Chandler, senior VP, general counsel, & secretary for Cisco Systems Inc. This technology company (based in San Jose, CA), produces Internet protocol-based networking services:"Chandler is keenly focused on applying technology, some developed by Cisco and some that it has purchased, to lower in-house legal costs on repetitive but crucial work. 'If - ["Florida Supreme Court hears paralegal rule argument"](https://estrin.vip/florida_supreme/) - Paralegals working in Florida will want to keep an eye on the proceedings outlined in the Jacksonville Daily Record:"The Unlicensed Practice of Law (UPL) program was established by the Supreme Court of Florida to protect the public against harm caused by unlicensed individuals practicing law. "This program is a proposal only. It has been approved - ["Rise of Paralegals"](https://estrin.vip/rise_of_paraleg/) - Although you must be a paid subscriber to the Dayton Business Journal to read the complete article (& I'm not!), thought the part you can read was interesting:"Betty White has worked as a paralegal for Sebaly Shillito & Dyer's Dayton office for 18 years and has held the managing paralegal position for the past 10. - ["Paralegal licensing is good news"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_licen/) - After a hard-fought legislative battle, independent paralegals in in Ontario will become a regulated profession on May 1. This Toronto Star article outlines why licensing is needed:"In recent years, the need for regulating paralegals has been the subject of considerable comment by Ontario judges and in two Ontario government reports. The most recent comment occurred - ["Virginia Tech Tragedy and the Law"](https://estrin.vip/virginia_tech_t/) - A compilation of legal & factual issues surrounding this tragic event has been posted on Legal Blog Watch by lawyer & blogger Carolyn Elefant:"As our nation continues to mourn the victims of the senseless Virginia Tech massacre, many bloggers' thoughts turn to the question of whether this tragedy could have prevented or whether others like - [Website: Famous Trials](https://estrin.vip/website_famous_/) - This admittedly bare-bones website was created & is maintained by professor Douglas O. Linder at the University of Missouri-Kansas Law School. Linder says: "My vision was to create the Web’s largest collection of primary documents, images, essays, and other materials relating to famous trials from Salem to Simpson. Trials have long struck me as wonderful - [Editorial: "Gonzales v. Gonzales"](https://estrin.vip/editorial_gonza/) - All politics aside, this is not the kind of testimony you want to hear from a witness on your side! Here's the opinion of the New York Times:"If Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had gone to the Senate yesterday [4-19-2007] to convince the world that he ought to be fired, it’s hard to imagine how he - ["Exterro Gets E-Discovery Down to Business"](https://estrin.vip/exterro_gets_ed/) - Quite readable article about new litigation software -- "centralized management of litigation lifecycles" -- with helpful "show & tell" screenshots:"Exterro isn't the first software vendor to apply a business-process-management approach to the legal discovery process, but with the launch of its flagship product Fusion, it is breaking new ground with a solution that combines BPM - ["Improving Your Voice Quality Can Improve Your Career"](https://estrin.vip/improving_your_/) - An article from LawCrossing that just might help advance your career:"You have probably heard the cliché 'You get one chance to make a first impression.' You have probably also heard that while your words only communicate about 7% of what you are trying to say, nonverbal cues communicate the remainder of the message you are - [Former Paralegal Now GC](https://estrin.vip/former_paralega-2/) - This "New at the Top" profile of attorney Arleigh V. Closser will inspire those paralegals thinking about law school:"Position: Vice president, general counsel and secretary, Multimax, a Herndon company that provides enterprise information technology, communications services and solutions to support federal military and civilian agencies and state and local government.[snip]"How did you get to where - ["States Take Aim at 'Bully Bosses'"](https://estrin.vip/states_take_aim/) - Condolences if you work for a bully, but this article in The National Law Journal holds out some hope. I thought the survey results reported by the employer group, Employment Law Alliance (see list below), were startling:"Abusive bosses who bully employees could breed a new crop of employment litigation, warn employment attorneys, who say there's - ["Male Paralegals: Is There Really a Glass Elevator?"](https://estrin.vip/male_paralegals/) - Very interesting question raised on LawCrossing. Diversity in the workplace is good, right?"It is not uncommon these days to see more men doing traditionally female jobs such as teaching preschool and kindergarten and working as librarians, legal assistants or paralegals, bank tellers, speech pathologists, secretaries, data-entry workers, nurses, or even maids. According to the Bureau - [Paralegal Now Lit Support Company Project Manager](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_now_l/) - News of staff additions at TDCI (Technology Concepts and Design, Inc), shows how to use paralegal skills to advance into a different kind of job:"TCDI®, a market leader in Litigation Technology, announces the addition of five new employees. These additions help TCDI focus on further improving the quality of services provided to clients and highlight - ["Deleting embarrassing e-mails isn't easy, experts say"](https://estrin.vip/deleting_embarr/) - So, you think those embarrassing emails sent to the computer's trash can are truly deleted, right? Uh, no:"If Karl Rove or other White House staffers tried to delete sensitive e-mails from their computers, experts said, investigators usually could recover all or most of them. "The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating whether - ["CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAW FIRM FOR YOU"](https://estrin.vip/choosing_the_ri/) - This chart & accompanying list [PDF] -- "Choosing The Right Law Firm For You" & "Considerations For Evaluating A Job Offer" -- come from the NYU School of Law. Obviously intended for law school grads, I think this set of tools would also help paralegals & other legal staff in making career decisions. Found this - [Entertainment paralegal with autistic son makes film](https://estrin.vip/entertainment_p/) - Documentaries focus on insiders' view of autism [registration req'd], including a film made by a paralegal:"When Taylor Cross was 14, he told his mother he wanted to earn money to pay for the Christmas gifts they planned to give a needy family. "Keri Bowers was moved by her son's display of empathy. Cross was diagnosed - ["How to Command Respect through Body Language"](https://estrin.vip/how_to_command_/) - Really long list -- 101 bullets! -- of sometimes obvious, but mostly helpful, tips for improving how people respond to you:"Some people are the center of attention wherever they go. They’re not glamorous movie stars, just ordinary people with excellent command over their body language. Here are some pointers to help you emulate these confident - [ALM Event: Trial Tactics & Technology](https://estrin.vip/alm_event_trial/) - Hey, the name alone, T3, makes me want to attend this ALM event. An then there's that ediscovery mock trial:"The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel and Law Technology News, together with ALM Events, present T3: Trial Tactics & Technology. "T3 will be held in Chicago on May 31, 2007. Due to high demand, it will also - [New Closing Manager (& Paralegal) on Board](https://estrin.vip/new_closing_man/) - Yes, another career path opens up to paralegals with specific experience:"Linda Craft and Team has announced the hiring of Christina Mastascusa as Buyer Closing Manager. In her new position, recently open as a result of internal promotions, Christina will work closely with attorneys and title and insurance companies to ensure smooth closings for Linda Craft - ["Hutchens, Senter & Britton Announces Certified Paralegals"](https://estrin.vip/hutchens_senter/) - Well, isn't this encouraging news? Law firm sends out press release praising its paralegals!"Fayetteville, North Carolina-based law firm Hutchens, Senter & Britton, P.A., which specializes in foreclosure and civil litigation, announced that employees Lesley Cavenaugh, Dianne Dunn, and Aileen Gibson have qualified as North Carolina state bar certified paralegals. All three support the firm's bankruptcy - ["Can Data Have a Life After a Death?"](https://estrin.vip/can_data_have_a/) - Of course! Just be sure to utilize some basic, but smart, computer management skills:"Everyone who has worked with a computer, even before the arrival of the Internet, knows the sickening feeling of loss. Without warning, hours of your work suddenly vanish from the screen. You hope (and pray) that perhaps it's been saved in a - ["Is Software the Key to Streamlining HR?"](https://estrin.vip/is_software_the/) - This Legal Technology article describes the HR challenges in law firms & how various software options makes them manageable. [2nd paragraph links from original text]:"Managing human resources is one of the most labor-intensive processes at a law firm. Keeping track of payroll, benefits, leave time and lots of other information is time-consuming and costly. Fortunately, - ["A Paralegal's View of The ABA Techshow"](https://estrin.vip/a_paralegals_vi/) - Excellent review of the ABA Legal Techshow posted on the Indiana Paralegal Association blog:"As I write this article, I am on the train heading back from Chicago after four (4) days of legal tech submersion at the annual the America Bar Association Legal Techshow. The ABA Techshow is an annual gathering of the most prominent - [More Law Firms Publish Paralegal Profiles](https://estrin.vip/more_law_firms_/) - Like this page of paralegal profiles from Utah's Howard, Lewis & Petersen. Five paralegals from Shoun Bach Walinsky & Curran, a family law firm in Virginia. Several paralegal bios [Note: anchor tags currently don't work, need to scroll] from Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala in Minneapolis. Two paralegal profiles & administrative staff bios from - ["Stay-at-home mom trying to return to work force"](https://estrin.vip/stayathome_mom_/) - Job search & resume advice from a career columnist may address issues you're also having:"I am a 47-year-old woman who has been a stay-at-home mom for 18 years. I have a college degree; certification from an ABA approved paralegal school and experience in social work and as a paralegal. "After applying for close to 100 - [New Career for Paralegal: Jazz Singer](https://estrin.vip/new_career_for_/) - Talk about making a huge career change! Of course, it's good to follow a dream whenever you can:"She’s not yet well known as a performer among Twin Cities jazz audiences but that’s beginning to change. Over a decade ago, Rhonda Laurie gave up a career as a full-time paralegal/part-time vocalist to become a fulltime music - ["Why Do You Always Need This Yesterday?"](https://estrin.vip/why_do_you_alwa/) - How many times have you asked this question when handed a new assignment? LawCrossing looks into why this happens & how paralegals can handle these situations:"Some projects—especially the most urgent ones—seem to demand time traveling as a requisite skill. Everyone wants work done ASAP, but there's only one you and 24 hours in a day. - ["Make the right hire: use an employment agency"](https://estrin.vip/make_the_right_/) - Helpful, if somewhat obvious, restatement of advice to law firms from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly:"We’ve emphasized before that even the smallest practices benefit from hiring the right administrative help to free up attorney time for practicing law and winning new clients. "However, the hiring process in itself is complex and time consuming. That’s why it makes - ["New course for Air Force legal team"](https://estrin.vip/new_course_for_/) - Looking for a career change? Like adventure & travel? How about a tour in Iraq as a paralegal? Read all about ths opportunity here:"The Judge Advocate Corps (JAG) of the U.S. Air Force has developed a new course on Task Force 134. This task force is a basic joint operation in which lawyers and paralegals - ["Still Guilty After All These Years"](https://estrin.vip/still_guilty_af/) - Very interesting op-ed in the NY Times from author & lawyer Scott Turow, all about how advances in forensic technology may also impact statutes of limitations. He raises some intriguing questions about changes in law & the passage of time:"THIS Friday a 33-year-old man named Juan Luna will go on trial here for the murder - ["A case of semantics"](https://estrin.vip/a_case_of_seman/) - I've got two complaints about this news article. One, the problem is with spelling, not semantics. Two, the reporter automatically assigned blame to a legal assistant for the typos: "Court documents can say the most amusing things. What's wrong with this sentence?"'We can only view AT&T's and Cingular's continued attempt to jeopardize NASCAR's relationship with - ["Seven tips for making yourself happier IN THE NEXT HOUR"](https://estrin.vip/seven_tips_for_/) - Not exactly on topic, but what paralegal doesn't need a boost now & then? These quick "how to be happy" tips look good to me! "You can make yourself happier – and this doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next hour, check off as many of the - ["EDD Rules: Fact or Scary Fiction?"](https://estrin.vip/edd_rules_fact_/) - What do you think about all the EDD news? Too much hype? Or information you really need? "Wherever you turn these days, there seems to be a new CLE seminar being offered or white paper being written on the 'sweeping changes' to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as they relate to the discovery of - ["Paralegal pleads not guilty in fraud, theft"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_plead/) - I hate news like this about paralegals. Innocent until proven guilty, of course....: "A Ware County paralegal was released on $20,000 bail Tuesday after pleading not guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and theft of government funds. "Gina A. Wooten, 50, of Waycross, is accused of stealing more than $110,000 in a bank fraud - ["University of Miami Launches New Online Paralegal Program in Spanish"](https://estrin.vip/university_of_m/) - Good news for paralegals wanting to add add another language. This course is expensive -- $6,995! -- although the fee includes all books and materials: "Coral Gables, FL.--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2007--The University of Miami is launching a new online Paralegal Studies Program in Spanish, geared to reach Spanish-language speakers worldwide. [snip] - ["MoFo IT Gets Its Green On"](https://estrin.vip/mofo_it_gets_it/) - Kudos to Morrison & Foerster for adopting a strong 'green' culture! Find four good ideas in this Legal Technology article: "With 1,070 lawyers in 18 offices throughout the world, Morrison & Foerster has a culture that promotes excellence, diversity, teamwork and social responsibility. Last year, we were selected as one of Fortune magazine's '2006 Best - ["Document Imaging: Keeping It Simple"](https://estrin.vip/document_imagin/) - Author Tony DeLoera, the chief technology officer at Ice Miller, describes how to manage document imaging the right way: "Simplicity. This was the guiding principle in our selection of a document-imaging system. In early 2005, Indianapolis-based Ice Miller was overrun with paper. With 225 attorneys, and three branch offices in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Naperville, - ["Give Women A Fair Pay Day"](https://estrin.vip/give_women_a_fa/) - Think your salary is fair & equitable? Responses might just depend on your gender: "We’re coming up on Equal Pay Day again. That’s the day in April every year—this year the 24th—when women’s earnings finally catch up with what men made by December 31 of the previous year. Women’s groups, led by the National Committee - [Best Jobs for Part-Time Paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/best_jobs_for_p/) - Inspired by this post to Legal Blog Watch by Robert J. Ambrogi [links below in original post]: "If you know you want to work part time as a lawyer, which fields of law or types of jobs are best for you? At the blog Concurring Opinions, William & Mary law professor Nate Oman recounts that - ["National Firms Stake Claim in Phoenix's Robust Economy"](https://estrin.vip/national_firms_/) - Hmm, ever thought about moving to Arizona? Sounds like firms in Phoenix are heating up! "It may be a dry heat in Phoenix, but it's also a hot legal market for some national law firms moving into the desert city to take advantage of the region's flourishing economy. "Ranked the fifth-largest city in the nation - ["Cognition Launches New Linguistic Search Engine"](https://estrin.vip/cognition_launc/) - This new search engine could be very helpful for litigation support paralegals: "Every searcher's fear is that a search will produce too little of what you want or too much of what you don't want. And, even if you get a nice collection of the right stuff, is it all the right stuff out there - ["Ten Must-Have Apps for the Solo Practitioner"](https://estrin.vip/ten_musthave_ap/) - More helpful info from Rick Georges, author of the FutureLawyer blog [links below from original post]: "This month I'm focusing on application software. Although there are different software preferences for every lawyer, I'm sticking to Windows, since most lawyers use it. As with last month's article, 'Ten Must-Have Web Sites for Solo Practitioners,' picking the - [New Estrin LegalEd TeleSeminar Series](https://estrin.vip/new_estrin_lega/) - Introducing the new Estrin LegalEd Paralegal Passport: "Finally, a TeleSeminar Series of exciting workshops specifically designed for all levels of paralegals. You don't have to leave your desk to get top quality training to boost your career and become the firm's MVP (Most Valuable Paralegal). "The Paralegal Passport offers paralegals, attorneys, litigation support staff, secretaries - ["The prenup dramas of lawyers in love"](https://estrin.vip/the_prenup_dram/) - Ah, how to keep true love on track given lawyers' arguments over prenup agreements? "When lawyers fall head over heels, love can be a many stipulated thing. [snip] "Some divorce attorneys say lawyers are no worse than any other not-very-star-crossed lovers trying to protect their worldly assets. Others have examples that show they can indeed - ["Get the ball rolling with these tax tips"](https://estrin.vip/get_the_ball_ro/) - Yeah, income tax time is just around the corner. This Washington Post article might help get you started (if you haven't already filed!): "'I know the deadline, but I don't know what I'm required to submit,' said Jennifer Ash, 22, who graduated from George Mason University in May and will pay taxes for the first - ["Boston law firm plans San Diego expansion"](https://estrin.vip/boston_law_firm/) - Oh, boy, firms expanding & lawyers changing firms. See the details in this San Diego Union-Tribune news article:"The Boston law firm Goodwin Procter has recruited prominent local biotechnology lawyer Stephen C. Ferruolo to launch an office in San Diego as part of the firm's push into California. "Stephen C. Ferruolo is expected to take much - [Top U.S. Law Schools](https://estrin.vip/top_us_law_scho/) - See the online list of top law schools compiled by U.S. News & World Report. Also see the complete A-Z list. Of course, you'll get more info in the complete 2008 guide to U.S. law schools: Premium Online Edition Exclusive Rankings: All 191 law schools School Directory: The latest info on graduates' career prospects, starting - [Role of Nonlawyers in Law Practice](https://estrin.vip/role_of_nonlawy/) - What the Michigan State Bar has to say about the utilization of legal assistants: "Article 1, Sec 6, of the Bylaws of the State Bar of Michigan defines 'legal assistant' for purposes of membership in the State Bar Legal Assistant Section as follows:"Any person currently employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, governmental agency - ["E-Griping: Not on My Blog"](https://estrin.vip/egriping_not_on/) - Paralegals should take care when posting complaints about work online, says this article from LawCrossing: "Everyone has bad days at work; with every job, there is some measure of discontent. (Why else would so many people be looking at job-placement websites?) Yet, often, such dissatisfaction can galvanize you by creating the motivation you need to - ["Now Your Computer Desktop Can Be Just as Messy as Your Real One"](https://estrin.vip/now_your_comput/) - Another interesting blog post about day-to-day worklife from Web Worker Daily [links below in original]: "With a pen-like stylus and a 'physics-enabled' virtual workspace prototyped by BumpTop, you can organize electronic files into piles just like you do on your real desktop. I’m not sure whether this shows radical innovation or utter insanity; either way, - [DOJ Official Brings Storm by Taking the Fifth](https://estrin.vip/doj_official_br/) - Fired US Attorneys, revealing emails, testimony before Congress, & pleading the 5th, oh my! This Law.com article has key details: "Taking the Fifth Amendment is everybody's right. But it's a choice that can send up a red flag, often invoked by people who have something to hide. Think of Enron's Andrew Fastow and Iran-Contra's Oliver - ["Too Busy to Notice You’re Too Busy"](https://estrin.vip/too_busy_to_not/) - Does this New York Times article sound like anyone you know? Yourself perhaps? "RECENTLY I’ve found myself annoyed by how busy my friends seem. Putting aside the possibility that they are avoiding me, some are so on the go that they barely have time to tell me they do not have time to talk. Every - ["Women's Work: Never Too Nice"](https://estrin.vip/womens_work_nev/) - So, are you too nice at work? Or not nice enough? This article explains the drawbacks of both: "Working women were once kept beneath the glass ceiling because they were considered 'too nice.' Now they're being held back because they aren't nice enough. "In an effort to erase gender discrimination, many companies have been abandoning - ["Firms Predict More Work, Less Equity"](https://estrin.vip/firms_predict_m/) - What does this news mean for paralegals? I'm guessing higher required billable hours & maybe higher salaries too: "Although law firm leaders at a recent conference publicly pooh-poohed predictions that industry profitability would stumble, in a new survey they say increasing expenses will cut into their bottom line this year. "Lawyers can expect to be - ["24 Time Management Tips"](https://estrin.vip/24_time_managem/) - These helpful, common-sense tips come from Beth Dargis, a certified life coach & simplicity consultant: "Planning is the best time saver there is. At the beginning of the week jot down your goals that you want to accomplish, fun things you want to do, work that needs to be done, and appointments to keep. Then - ["Does a Provocative Pose Help or Hurt a Job Search?"](https://estrin.vip/does_a_provocat/) - Well, this is an interesting question. Legal blogger Carolyn Elefant pointed it out on Legal Blog Watch. [Links below from original post.]: "Over at Counsel to Counsel, Stephen Sackler wonders whether a law firm will hire the photogenic female law student who posed for this photo that's now permanently cached on the Internet. [snip] "...Personally, - ["E-Lawyering Requires Rethinking Technology and Law"](https://estrin.vip/elawyering_requ/) - Great article about the new federal discovery rules, describing these changes in an understandable, even humorous way: "This changes everything." "Those three words, wafting on the familiar, buoyant tones of the actor saying them, have staying power. No survivor of the dot-com boom of the 1990s could forget William Shatner's ubiquitous ads on behalf of - [Five Strategies Key to Reducing Litigation Costs](https://estrin.vip/five_strategies/) - Yay! Having several methods for cutting the costs of litigation is good news indeed: "Smoking-gun documents and emails have been at the heart of the world's best known corporate legal battles, but the risks of information in litigation have suddenly grown with new U.S. Federal guidelines for e-discovery. How can companies get a handle on - ["Keeping Track of 'Track Changes'"](https://estrin.vip/keeping_track_o/) - Very helpful post by by Robert J. Ambrogi to Legal Blog Watch: "Every lawyer [& paralegal] who uses Microsoft Word should take a few moments to read 'Staying on Track with Track Changes,' by legal bloggers and technology pros Tom Mighell and Dennis Kennedy, appearing in the current issue of Law Practice Today. As they - ["Too Many Laws, Not Enough Lawyers"](https://estrin.vip/too_many_laws_n/) - I'm thinking this article means it might be a good time for SOX paralegals to seek raises: "With business booming at the nation's law firms, the fees they charge will climb steadily. Expect the cost of corporate legal services to continue to increase an average of one and a half times the rate of inflation in - ["Survey: Admin. assistants important"](https://estrin.vip/survey_admin_as/) - Okay, that's the good news. The bad? In this article, paralegals are equated with administrative assistants: "Eighty-five percent of U.S. executives believe their administrative assistants are important to their success, a nationwide staffing-service survey says. "Of 150 senior executives at the nation's 1,000 largest companies surveyed, 48 percent said their administrative assistant's role was very - [Canada's new paralegal regulations study grads](https://estrin.vip/canadas_new_par/) - It will be most interesting to compare U.S. regulation with Canada's approach: "She will be among the first students to graduate from Humber College's first bachelor degree programs. As a newly minted paralegal, Sheelagh McLellan will also be among the first in Ontario to benefit from groundbreaking legislation that will regulate the often-misunderstood profession. "'I - [](https://estrin.vip/demand_for_para/) - Demand for paralegals in the military grows. And yes, you can be sent to Iraq: "The Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Adm. Bruce E. MacDonald, visited the military legal team deployed to Baghdad on March 10 and 11. [snip] "More than 100 military attorneys and paralegals -- mostly from the Navy and Air - [NFPA Pro Bono Conference](https://estrin.vip/nfpa_pro_bono_c/) - Tip of that hat to LawCrossing for pointing to this info: "While reviewing news releases and other noteworthy items pertaining to the paralegal world this week, I came across a notice about an upcoming Pro Bono Conference sponsored by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). The conference, which will be held in Denver at - ["How a County Attorney's Office Is Streamlining E-Discovery"](https://estrin.vip/how_a_county_at/) - Hmm, sure sounds like this vendor might be worth investigating: "While the revised Federal Rules of Civil Procedure pertaining to electronic discovery that hit the books in December may have caused headaches for many in the legal profession, some discovered unexpected benefits. Case in point: the Nassau County Attorney's Office in New York, which implemented - [LexisNexis Marks Launch of New Data Collection & Forensics Services Lab](https://estrin.vip/lexisnexis_mark/) - This news makes it sound like LexisNexis has been very busy: "Based at the company’s discovery services headquarters in Bellevue, Wash., the new lab features advanced processing and industrial strength decryption capabilities currently found in very few non-governmental labs. This technology component joins the earlier established 'all star' team of specialists, each with years of - ["One Calendar to Rule Them All"](https://estrin.vip/one_calendar_to/) - Whenever -- & those times are frequent -- a paper calendar just won't do [links below in the original Web Worker Daily blog post]: "Some problems just seem to get harder the longer we work on them. Take keeping track of appointments, for example: you’d think by now we’d have that one all figured out. - [Survey Shows Strong Financial Support for Technology in Legal Budgets](https://estrin.vip/survey_shows_st/) - Well, this is good news for legal organizations & tech-oriented paralegals! "Gone are the days of pleading with law firm partners and in-house counsel about the efficiency and ease that computers bring to a legal practice. The 2007 Survey on Technology Budgeting and Spending [PDF], conducted at LegalTech New York, shows strong sustained support for - ["Ten Must-Have Web Sites for Solo Practitioners"](https://estrin.vip/ten_musthave_we/) - Yeah, that "must have" (must bookmark, must login?), description is odd, but the list of 10 sites in this article does look helpful: "Picking the best of anything is difficult. However, I decided to take a stab this month at the Web sites I use most frequently during a typical day of practicing law. I'm - ["Legal Departments Tell Firms: Get on the Tech Train"](https://estrin.vip/legal_departmen/) - Well, that sure sounds like a smart slap at not-so-tech-savvy firms, huh? "When Aon Corp. slashed its outside counsel roster from about 400 to 23 law firms in 2005, it quizzed the firms about their tech offerings. 'We asked them about extranets, e-billing and litigation management,' says David Cambria, director of legal operations at the - ["Top Law Firms May Face Rough Future"](https://estrin.vip/top_law_firms_m/) - It's certainly smart to face this possibility now, right? Even if the law biz doesn't cool: "Will the good times cease to roll for leading law firms? "With some gloom -- though not so much doom -- industry observers forecasted a cooling of the legal market over the next five years at the Law Firm - ["E-Discovery Survival Guide For Corporate Counsel"](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery_surv/) - Make sure you can do your part to help prevent "death by e-discovery." Here's the complete article by lawyers Jeanine Bermel & Art Smith: "While no one course of action is appropriate for all corporations, there are some basic steps to prepare for that first e-discovery challenge, none of which guarantee success. On the other - ["14 Killer Interview Questions"](https://estrin.vip/14_killer_inter/) - Whether you're hiring -- or hoping to be hired -- knowing the key questions (suggested by CareerBuilder), has gotta help: "Interviewing can be a tedious and stressful time. Which questions should you ask, which ones are appropriate? Are you going to pick the right person for the position? Below is a list of the top - ["Leave It to Lawyers to Think of Beating the Clock Like This ..."](https://estrin.vip/leave_it_to_law/) - I'm both surprised & not, really, after reading this post pointed to by Legal Blog Watch: "Every once in a while, we lawyers hear about conduct by our colleagues that's so deceptive that it makes us embarrassed to be part of the profession. David Lat offers an example of the type of activity that I'm - ["Classify paralegals as professionals, not administrative staff"](https://estrin.vip/classify_parale/) - So, is this a welcome statement from Altman Weil & the Law Department Management blog? I think so! "Classify paralegals as professionals, not administrative staff, so you can pay for appropriate quality "A good point made by a consultant, James Wilber of Altman Weil, appears in InsideCounsel, Feb. 2007 at 54. Wilber has observed that - ["Six Hard-Learned Lessons About EDD"](https://estrin.vip/six_hardlearned/) - New court opinion reminds both law firms & clients "to focus on e-discovery early in litigation": "With the long-anticipated revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure having only recently come into effect, the sense of uncertainty that has historically surrounded electronic discovery promises to linger. While the bar will watch with keen interest as - ["Word 2007 Review: A Ribbon Runs Through It"](https://estrin.vip/word_2007_revie/) - Microsoft Word users rejoice! Getting the "biggest boosts to your daily productivity," as this author suggests, makes me want to give Word 2007 a try: "We love it, we hate it -- we can't work a day without it. "I've witnessed more people gnash their teeth over Microsoft Word than probably any other software application. - ["45 ways we torpedo our careers"](https://estrin.vip/45_ways_we_torp/) - Very helpful, if sometimes painful, career guidance in a new book: "Read a few pages of Anita Bruzzese's book and you probably will see yourself. "And, you're almost guaranteed not to like the picture you see. "'We hear all the time that people aren't happy in their jobs because of the boss, or because of - ["Corporate Groups Enjoy the Boom but Plan for the Bust"](https://estrin.vip/corporate_group/) - Corporate lawyer hiring directly affects corporate paralegal hiring. Tighten your seat belts; it's going to be a bumpy ride! "It has been a bull market for corporate lawyers, with multimillion- and billion-dollar M&A deals galore. But the recent stock market plunge sent a little chill down the backs of some, a reminder that the high - ["5 Tips for Making Progress in Your Career While Staying Put"](https://estrin.vip/5_tips_for_maki/) - As this article from CIO explains, it's all about expanding your skill set: "Most professionals think they have to change jobs every three years to get ahead. But you really don’t have to move to a new job or company to advance your career. Chances are, your current job offers challenges and opportunities you haven’t - ["What do you put in that 'Salary Desired' box?"](https://estrin.vip/what_do_you_put/) - Excellent question! And this blog post has good answers in the form of many [scroll down] helpful reader comments [scroll down]: "A friend of mine is looking for a new job. She has years of experience in the industry, great technical skills, wonderful contacts, and plenty to brag about. But like most of us, she's - ["Law-firm employees receive pro bono awards"](https://estrin.vip/lawfirm_employe/) - Good news for these individuals & for their firm's pro bono program! "Six lawyers and one paralegal are the first recipients of Charles L. Whistler Pro Bono Awards at Baker & Daniel law firm. [snip] "Rhonda Jackson is a paralegal who helped coordinate the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society's annual holiday fund-raising campaign during the last - ["Paralegal career field actively recruits Airmen"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_caree/) - Looking for a way to serve your country? Well, the Air Force wants you! "The Air Force paralegal career field is actively recruiting motivated Airmen to join the Judge Advocate General Corps. [snip] "Master Sgt. Michael Gadson [PDF, scroll to page 4], Randolph Law Center superintendent, has been serving in the paralegal career field for - ["'The Eight E's': Ascending the Computer Forensics Ladder"](https://estrin.vip/the_eight_es_as/) - Sounds like this could be a good career path for tech-minded paralegals: "Though computer forensics is a young discipline, it's not the exclusive province of new graduates of computer forensics degree programs. It's a natural career extension for IT and law enforcement professionals and peripatetic lawyers [& paralegals] with a dominant geek gene. Expertise in - ["Five ways to be nice to your eyes"](https://estrin.vip/five_ways_to_be/) - Important advice for people who work with computers & read lots of documents: "Your eyes are the products of millions of years of evolution. Unfortunately, this means that they’re optimized for spotting prey across the savanna, not for peering at letters built up of little dots on tiny screens. In recent years, optometrists have come - ["Chief Legal Officers Poised to Increase Use of Outside Counsel"](https://estrin.vip/chief_legal_off/) - Good news that should mean more jobs for paralegals: "More than 25 percent of in- house law department leaders indicated that they will increase their use of outside counsel in the coming year, according to the Association of Corporate Counsel's 2006 Chief Legal Officer Survey [PDF]. "This is a significant increase from 2005 when only - ["Firms Hire Nonpracticing Lawyers in Manager and Support Roles"](https://estrin.vip/firms_hire_nonp/) - Well, this is interesting. Think it will hurt paralegal advancement into these positions? "Ron Friedmann posts on a new trend at large firms: use of nonpracticing lawyers as managers. He writes that firms now hire nonpracticing lawyers for jobs such as marketing, e-discovery, knowledge management, professional development and practice support. There are some pitfalls, of - ["Sunshine and Judge Seidlin"](https://estrin.vip/sunshine_and_ju/) - Have to point to this very smart blog post about Judge Seidlin, of "judging on TV" fame: "In 1933, Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis advised, 'Sunlight is the greatest disinfectant.' True to this notion, Florida is known as the Sunshine State not only for its weather -- it has long been a leader in - ["Women Leaving the Law"](https://estrin.vip/women_leaving_t/) - The piece discussed in this blog post was written by one of Estrin's Paralegal SuperConference speakers: "This article, Leaving Your Legal Career Far Behind, Debra Bruno (Legal Times 2/23/07), tackles the question of "why do women keep leaving law firms?" The most oft cited reason, of course, is the lack of compatibility between law firm - ["Do You Have an Office Supply Fetish?"](https://estrin.vip/do_you_have_an_/) - Isn't it fun to shop for office supplies? Well, here's what Web Worker Daily found [links from original post]: "Stella Commute does:Now, I can go to Staples any time I want and because I have a reasonable amount of disposable income, I can select the office supplies that make my heart sing. Color coded folders - ["Peggy Nickerson: Paralegal and Professor"](https://estrin.vip/peggy_nickerson/) - Oh, yes, we like successful people...! Good news from LawCrossing: "Former public school teacher Peggy Nickerson was ready for a career change after staying home with her children. After reading about a legal assistant program at William Woods University in Fulton, MO—located about 30 miles from her home—she became the first 'nontraditional' student in the - ["Looking for Clues in a Juror's 'John Hancock'"](https://estrin.vip/looking_for_clu/) - Paralegals can be soooo involved in this process....: "For Bob Marx, a signature on a juror's questionnaire is more than a scribbled name -- it's a tool he uses to prepare for trial. "Marx, a personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Robert Marx in Hilo, Hawaii, regularly hires a handwriting expert to help - ["Questions Linger Over Paralegal Certification Bid"](https://estrin.vip/questions_linge/) - So, certification for Connecticut paralegals is "two to five years" away? "The road to paralegal certification will be a long one, but Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz pledged her support of the endeavor during a luncheon speech to the Central Connecticut Paralegal Association (CCPA) earlier this month at The Hartford Club. "The CCPA has not - [Demand down for paralegals in Kansas City](https://estrin.vip/demand_down_for/) - Found good news for some careers in KC; unfortunately, not for paralegals: "Monster said the demand for IT professionals and other computer and technology workers exceeds the supply of qualified candidates in the Kansas City metro. The area also is begging for architects and engineers, according to the index. "Demand was down for paralegals and - [Jury Finds Paralegal's Sexual Harassment Claims True](https://estrin.vip/ury_finds_parag/) - Bad behavior from lawyers who have no excuse. But I've seen this kind of news before: "A law firm specialising in sexual harassment cases has itself been proven to have practised sexual harassment and ordered to pay $368,000 to a Roseville woman who worked at the firm as a paralegal."The Martinez-Senftner Law Firm, Roseville, CA, - ["ONSITE3 Launches DXR Mobile at Paralegal SuperConference"](https://estrin.vip/onsite3_launche/) - Good chance for SuperConference attendees to check out this new mobile document 'exchange & review' service: "ONSITE3, a leading global provider of eForensics, eDiscovery, eReview and consulting services offering one source litigation support for law firms and corporations, is pleased to announce the launch of its Document Exchange & Review (DXR) Mobile service, provided in - ["Five Things You Should Know About Fighting Spam"](https://estrin.vip/five_things_you/) - Sadly, this scenario sounds all too familiar! But there's a good reason: "When you started your e-mail client this morning, you were prepared for the usual set of correspondence: your daily dose of corporate politics, a dollop of technical emergencies and the background hum of projects under way. Annoyingly, your inbox also contained a few - ["Lawyers ready for a boom in bankruptcy"](https://estrin.vip/lawyers_ready_f/) - Yeah, good news for lawyers & financial advisers maybe; other people not so much: "Business bankruptcy filings are down by 45 percent and corporate debt default rates remain near all-time lows. Yet bankruptcy pros are buzzing with anticipation."While they don't have crystal balls, call them cynical and firm believers in business cycles. Lawyers, consultants and - ["Bankruptcy Boutique's Lawyers Depart for Larger Firms"](https://estrin.vip/bankruptcy_bout/) - Possible words of warning for people working in bankruptcy law firms, boutique or not: "If it's tough to be tiny, it's even tougher to be small and specializing in insolvency. "San Francisco bankruptcy boutique McNutt & Litteneker began shedding attorneys in the summer of 2005 in tandem with a drop in business. The firm several - ["Couple share more than just a marriage"](https://estrin.vip/couple_share_mo/) - Amazingly wonderful Valentine's gift! BTW, have you signed an organ donation card? "Attorney Paris Eliades referred to Jane Picone on Tuesday as the 'surrogate mother' of the law firm in Sparta where she's worked for 29 years. "In fact, about 15 employees of law firm Daggett, Kraemer, Eliades, Kovach and Ursin gathered to honor her - ["Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf?"](https://estrin.vip/whos_afraid_of_/) - Surely not paralegals! People who work with lawyers every day? "Living in fear is living a life of mediocrity. Your fear may be of going back to school, networking with other professionals, job security or competency at work. Perhaps it is the fear of taking your career to the next level, as a paralegal student - [Cross-Dressing Lawyer Hangs Up His Dress](https://estrin.vip/crossdressing_l/) - I just couldn't pass up news about a lawyer supporting women in law, albeit in a rather different way: "A male lawyer who appeared in court dressed in women's clothes as a protest against what he said was New Zealand's overly masculine judiciary was suspended Wednesday after being found to be in contempt of court. - ["Paralegals in position to improve reputation of legal profession"](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_in_p/) - Well, yeah! This is indeed a welcome news article: "Paralegals are critical to improving the reputation of lawyers in the community. The legal profession still suffers from negative stereotypes and some do indeed think we're better off 'at the bottom of the sea,' as the lawyer joke goes. Paralegals can pull lawyers out of this - ["How Do You Decide What To Do from Your To Do List?"](https://estrin.vip/how_do_you_deci/) - Excellent question posed on the Web Worker Daily blog [links below from original post]: "We’ve recently profiled two online apps for supporting David Allen’s Getting Things Done approach to personal organization: Vitalist and Nozbe. With tools like that–or even just pen and paper–you can capture everything you need to get done. Once you’ve offloaded all - [Paralegal SuperConference with All-New Management Track](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_super/) - This Estrin Paralegal SuperConference (Los Angeles; March 8-9, 2007), has been designed specifically for paralegals seeking to advance their careers: "Will you be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of your specialty? "The success of your career will depend on your ability to respond to unprecedented -- some say alarming -- trends & conditions. Your - ["Paralegals and Smartphones"](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_and_/) - I'm not saying you should buy a smartphone, but the Indiana Paralegal Association rightly points out the value of quick email replies: "I am willing to go out on a limb with this one, but I have come to the conclusion that smartphones are quickly becoming a requirement for paralegals. Whether we like it or - ["RIM announces Blackberry 8800"](https://estrin.vip/rim_announces_b/) - Yay! It's way past time to get a new Blackberry, isn't it? "Research in Motion (RIM) today announced a new Blackberry smartphone. The new 8800 merges the form factor of the traditional Blackberry with the piano-black design of the 8100. The new phone comes with integrated GPS and a n illuminated 'Pearl' trackball. "Other than - ["Tell your boss: Naps are good for you"](https://estrin.vip/tell_your_boss_/) - Really, they are! "At last, science has come up with proof that naps are good for you. Tell your boss! Tell your spouse! "People who take at least three daytime naps a week lasting 30 minutes or longer cut their risk of dying from a heart attack by 37 percent, according to a new study - [New book about the Supremes](https://estrin.vip/new_book_about_/) - Jeffrey Rosen, author of "The Supreme Court: The Personalities and Rivalries That Defined America," made a funny appearance on The Daily Show tonight: His book also sounded very funny. Of course, that could have mostly been Jon Stewart.... "In this compelling work of character-driven history, Jeffrey Rosen recounts the history of the Court through the - [Amnesty criticizes Guantanamo abuse investigation](https://estrin.vip/amnesty_critici/) - I just hope the paralegal who blew the whistle doesn't have her career damaged: "A human rights group on Thursday accused the U.S. military of failing to adequately investigate the latest allegations of prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay and urged officials to open the detention center to more independent monitors. "An investigation was launched in - ["Complicated End of an Ex-Law Firm"](https://estrin.vip/complicated_end/) - Yeah, law firm breakups spawn messy news. Almost as bad as a divorce: "At one time, the breakup of a big, prestigious law firm was rare. But since the technology boom and bust, implosions of once highflying firms like Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault have occurred with more frequency. "Yet the - ["Why Do Lawyers Need Editors?"](https://estrin.vip/why_do_lawyers_/) - Gosh, there are so many reasons. You can find editing help & more from a new blog (written by an experienced 'wordsmith for law firms'); this post, for example:"The firm of Vinson & Elkins has a scholarship program for high school students who are interested in 'pursuing a career in law.' "Great! But take a - [Can you search the Internet anonymously?](https://estrin.vip/can_you_search_/) - Well, no, not without some advance planning. But this article describes how it's done: "Tor — an acronym for The Onion Router — is a freely available, open-source program developed by the U.S. Navy about a decade ago. A browser plug-in, it thwarts online traffic analysis and related forms of Internet surveillance by sending your - ["Princeton paralegal charged with theft"](https://estrin.vip/princeton_paral/) - NOT the kind of news about paralegals I like to read: "A paralegal here with the Cooper Levenson law firm has been charged with theft by deception and forgery after allegedly ripping off a client’s account of $6,000, police said."Kara Swinney, 35, of Washington Street, Trenton, surrendered at police headquarters Tuesday and was arrested by - [Mergers a Threat or Opportunity for Law Firm Nonlawyers?](https://estrin.vip/mergers_a_threa/) - The 'good, bad, & ugly' of law firm mergers is described quite well in this article: "For top lawyers at big-name firms, a prestigious megamerger can look like the beginning of happily ever after. "But for professional staff like paralegals, legal secretaries, administrators and law librarians, merger news may prompt a serious case of wedding-night - ["Surveillance of Soldiers' Blogs Sparks Lawsuit"](https://estrin.vip/surveillance_of/) - This sounds like a serious tug of war (so to speak), over free speech & security: "The FLAG Project at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed suit against the Department of Defense today, demanding expedited information on how the Army monitors soldiers' blogs. "According to news reports, an Army unit called the Army Web Risk - [Open Text Legal Practice Support](https://estrin.vip/open_text_legal/) - I'm not familiar with this software, but anything that aids efficiency is worth a look: "Open Text has announced new enhancements to its LegalKEY Practice Support Suite, designed to help law firms be more effective, efficient and compliant. [snip] "Open Text Legal Solutions provide an integrated product offering developed specifically to support law firms' business - ["Browser Upgrade: Singing Opera's Praises"](https://estrin.vip/browser_upgrade/) - Are you getting tired of IE? I tried Flock recently & was impressed. But Opera sounds even better: "Since its debut in 1997, the Opera Web browser has sought to be faster, leaner, more stable and more flexible than its competitors. Its market share is certainly lean -- about 1 percent. Attorney and media consultant - [Robert Half Legal Identifies Hot Legal Positions for 2007](https://estrin.vip/robert_half_leg/) - Yep, I thought this would be another year for corporate: "'Oportunities abound in a variety of practice areas and industries,' said Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal. 'Corporate governance requirements, new business initiatives and rising caseloads have increased the demand for skilled, experienced attorneys, paralegals and support staff. "'Legal professionals with backgrounds in - [EEOC: Harassment of paralegal violated earlier consent decree](https://estrin.vip/eeoc_harassment/) - What was this firm thinking? "A Forest Hills law firm has agreed to settle a second sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a rare occurrence. "The agency announced the latest settlement last week with Rappaport Hertz Cherson & Rosenthal. The EEOC had sued on behalf of Melissa Castillo, a Bronx - ["Local peace vigils gaining popularity"](https://estrin.vip/local_peace_vig/) - Well, this is one way to voice opinons about the Iraq war: "With death tolls growing and President Bush vowing to send more troops to Iraq, more North Jersey protesters are appealing to their neighbors at anti-war vigils alongside highways, municipal buildings and churches, activists say. [snip] "Few local protests attract more than 50 people - ["Investigator: Paralegal filed false complaint"](https://estrin.vip/investigator_pa/) - Oh, this news can't be good for anyone: "A Marine paralegal who reported that she overheard guards at Guantanamo Bay brag about beating detainees was accused by a military investigator of filing a false report, the paralegal’s boss, a Marine officer, said Friday. "Army Col. Richard Basset, who was ordered by the U.S. Southern Command - [O'Connor still hard at work](https://estrin.vip/oconnor_still_h/) - This Newsweek article explains why & how Sandra Day O'Connor has been busy since she left the Court: [snip] "After her surprise announcement in July 2005 that she was leaving the court, O'Connor seemed likely to follow most of her former colleagues into a quiet private life. But America's first female justice is blazing a - [Paralegal Article on Wikipedia...](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_artic/) - ...definitely needs improvement! Of all the smart & experienced paralegals who read this blog, surely someone (or several someones), has the skills & knowledge to improve this article, right? Find the current article here, history of additions & changes here, editing how-to here, editable page here, editing guidelines here, & info about all this Wikipedia - ["PBS Series Spotlights the Supreme Court's Past & Present"](https://estrin.vip/pbs_series_spot/) - History, drama, games, timelines, personalities...did I mention games? What's not to like? "At the rare times the Supreme Court pops into the consciousness of the public, it is usually because of a vexing case or, more recently, a personnel change or two. Rarely is there a chance to step back and look at the Court's - [LegalTech NY: Combine in-house & outsourced e-discovery](https://estrin.vip/legaltech_ny_co/) - The instant survey says....: "The most common law firm preference for managing client e-discovery data is through a combination of in-house software and outsourced processing services, according to an instant survey of law firm attorneys, litigation support specialists and e-discovery specialists conducted yesterday by LexisNexis® Discovery Services during the opening sessions of LegalTech New York - ["Time and Billing: Be Trigger-Happy"](https://estrin.vip/time_and_billin/) - I love how "trigger" reminders work: "Does your current time and billing software help you manage your law firm's workflow? Does it identify key 'events' that trigger paperwork? If not, it may be time to upgrade. [snip] "By simply defining certain conditions, or rules that must be met -- such as the payment of an - ["27 Tips for Teleconferencing"](https://estrin.vip/27_tips_for_tel/) - Wow, this is a remarkably smart list! Stuff I hadn't even thought about. (Links below are from the original post.): "Whether you call them conference calls or telecons or excruciatingly dull time-wasters, multi-participant phone conversations are as important to most web workers [& paralegals] as email. If you can’t meet face to face or arrange - ["Unlocking Keywords to Ensure Effective E-Discovery"](https://estrin.vip/unlocking_keywo/) - This article explains some important details for effectively searching e-discovery: "[M]isplaced confidence in the power of word searches can seriously hamper electronic data discovery. Perhaps because keyword searching works so well in the regimented realm of automated legal research, lawyers and judges embrace it in EDD with little thought given to its effectiveness as a - ["Ginsburg Feels Isolated on Court"](https://estrin.vip/ginsburg_feels_/) - Yeah, I get this. But do you think Harriet Myers would have made a difference? "BOSTON -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said Friday that she dislikes being 'all alone on the court' nearly a year after the retirement of Sandra Day O'Connor. "Ginsburg, who spoke to an assembly at Suffolk University Law - [Law firm "American as apple pie"](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_americ/) - As much as I like pie (really, who doesn't?), I did not realize there was an actual day to celebrate pies: "FREDERICK -- Attorneys, law clerks and paralegals flowed in and out of Conklyn & Associates' law office Tuesday with little mention of court cases or settlements. "A cheerier goal brought them to the West - [KMWorld: List of knowledge management vendors](https://estrin.vip/kmworld_list_of/) - If you're looking for vendors in the KM space, this magazine has compiled a thorough list: "The KMWorld Buyers Guide is packed with leading vendors offering real solutions to knowledge management dilemmas that will help users gain and maintain control of their enterprise environment. "There are two ways to access the information in this guide: - ["Superior Legal Web Sites to Watch"](https://estrin.vip/superior_legal_/) - This article from our friends at Law Technology News offers a bunch of helpful law links: "We delve into our browser's bookmarks this month, to review the recently launched Web sites of interest to individuals in the legal profession. BLAWG SEARCH "Several sites help you search the content of blogs, but offer no way to - ["Check Your Lawyer's Credentials"](https://estrin.vip/check_your_lawy/) - This story about a paralegal masquerading as a lawyer gets even more snarky: [snip] "In a 2005 litigation case, [Brian T.] Valery told a court in Stamford, Connecticut that he was a lawyer in good standing. Last week, Connecticut authorities arrested him, and he faces two month for the impersonating-a-lawyer charge and up to five - ["Law Technology News Names Catalyst CR Finalist for Best EDD System"](https://estrin.vip/law_technology_/) - So, how does the EDD software that your firm or company uses stack up? "Catalyst Repository Systems, a leading provider of web-based repository software for case, deal and electronic document management, announced today that Catalyst CR has been selected as a finalist for the top Electronic Data Discovery Systems by the readers of Law Technology - ["How to Talk to Your Boss About Being Overworked"](https://estrin.vip/how_to_talk_to_/) - This career article comes from CIO magazine, but I think the advice applies to all knowledge/information workers: "Twelve-hour workdays packed with mile-long to-do lists and meetings on top of meetings. Cell phones and BlackBerrys that are always on, and laptops you take home to squeeze in one more hour of work. With companies [& law - ["Help, I’m Surrounded by Jerks"](https://estrin.vip/help_im_surroun/) - If you're this unlucky, so sorry!, but help might be found in the books described below: "CERTAIN mortals have the power to sink hearts and sour moods with lightning speed. The hysterical colleague. The meddlesome neighbor. The crazy in-law. The explosive boss. A mélange of cantankerous individuals, they are united by a single achievement: They - ["Corporations Decry Official's Detainee Screed"](https://estrin.vip/corporations_de/) - So far, corporations aren't following Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles Stimson's suggestion that they boycott firms representing Guantanamo detainees: "It’s a rare day when law firms get called out for their pro bono work. "But that’s exactly what happened when Pentagon official Charles “Cully” Stimson rattled off a list of firms representing Guantánamo Bay - ["JuryTest.net Creates Self-Service Internet Mock Trials"](https://estrin.vip/jurytestnet_cre/) - Very interesting find from EContent magazine: "JuryTest.net, a provider of online mock trials since 2002, has launched on-demand access to its suite of online case presentation and evaluation tools. The JuryTest system is designed to enable attorneys to record, edit, and analyze case presentations any time of day or night. JuryTest case evaluations usually cost - ["LAWYERS ARE FROM MARS, PARALEGALS ARE FROM VENUS"](https://estrin.vip/lawyers_are_fro/) - Hmm, pretty right-on discussion from law firm coach Cheryl J. Leone: "Having learned one thing during my 42 years of law office management simply is this: Lawyers and paralegals don't talk the same language and they don't think the same way. They live on different planets, breath different air, and they even have different customs. - ["11 Time Management Tips"](https://estrin.vip/11_time_managem/) - Yes, the challenge of smart "time management"! How do you control work time? "Do you feel the need to be more organized and/or more productive? Do you spend your day in a frenzy of activity and then wonder why you haven't accomplished much? "Time management skills are especially important for small business people [& paralegals!], - ["Legal secretaries in short supply"](https://estrin.vip/legal_secretari/) - Has our firm or company experienced this staffing problem? Are you doing more secretarial work as a result? "They might not have the fancy degrees, academic honors or journal publications that usually impress law firms, but there's nobody more sought after right now than legal secretaries. "'There really is a true supply problem,' said Steve - ["Increase Your Salary in 2007"](https://estrin.vip/increase_your_s/) - Here are "10 Expert Tips" on getting a higher salary from PayScale, provider of "global online compensation information": "Determined to increase your salary in 2007? Follow these tips from Reesa Staten, vice president of communications and director of research at recruiting firm Robert Half International and Anna Ivey, a Boston-based career and admissions counselor, to - ["A To Do List That Works"](https://estrin.vip/a_to_do_list_th/) - Yeah, been there, done that. But this article describes to-do tips that might really help! "We have all done to do lists. Somehow there never seems to be enough hours in the day to accomplish all the things on your to do list. Here is the system that has worked for me. It can work - [Pentagon official draws criticism](https://estrin.vip/pentagon_offici/) - Ah, think the guy who's slammed law firms' representation of detainees should be fired...or disbarred? "Charles 'Cully' Stimson, deputy assistant secretary for defense for detainee affairs, has sparked a firestorm of anger, from Capitol Hill to America's law schools to even conservative quarters. "He told a Washington, D.C., Beltway radio station last week that American - [Digitization of Print Materials](https://estrin.vip/digitization_of/) - We all prefer digital over paper-based information, right? Right! "Companies from Google to The Thomson Corporation, from Microsoft to LexisNexis, are all undertaking large digitization projects focusing on better access to paper-based resources. Undeniably, many law firms have a need for some of the digitized products on the market today, and there will soon be - [The American Lawyer's 'Fab Fifty'](https://estrin.vip/the_american_la/) - This is a fascinating (alphabetical) list: "The 50 most-promising young litigators ages 45 & under." "We talked to hundreds of lawyers to find the rising stars whose careers are described below and in the pages that follow. Beginning with a wide and informal canvass that generated more than 200 suggestions, we identified practice areas that - [Book: "Real Resumes for Legal and Paralegal Jobs"](https://estrin.vip/book_real_resum/) - Got an email with recommendations from Amazon today. I haven't read this book yet, but it sure sounds helpful for landing government jobs: "Those who seek legal and paralegal jobs will find this book to be a rich resource. No matter what type of legal or paralegal work is sought, the reader will find outstanding - ["Man files lawsuit to take wife's name"](https://estrin.vip/man_files_lawsu/) - Well, all I have to say about this news is "You go, Mike!" "Mike Buday isn't married to his last name. In fact, he and his fiancee decided before they wed that he would take hers. But Buday was stunned to learn that he couldn't simply become Mike Bijon when they married in 2005. "As - [And speaking of creativity...](https://estrin.vip/and_speaking_of/) - You have got to read this hilarious blog, The Devil Wears Brooks Brothers, by Sarah E. Klem ("Philadelphia’s Favorite Legal Assistant"). This post had me laughing out LOUD! Of course, so did this one, & this one, & this one! - [Invention Created by Paralegal](https://estrin.vip/invention_creat/) - Gotta like creative people who have inventive skills: "'The Spinder™ is a patent pending tool that is elegant, simple, needed and an amazing time saving device that every office will embrace,' said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing. 'When we first reviewed the Spinder™ submission, we were shocked that there was nothing available to perform - ["Paralegal arrested on sex charges"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_arres/) - Oh. My. Not the kind of headline one likes to see, but I had to read the article: "A Polk City man was arrested Wednesday after detectives said he impersonated a lawyer and offered a woman free legal service if she performed sex acts on him."Leonard W. Yanke Jr., 55, who is a paralegal, faces - ["Manager Minute": How to Manage a Law Firm](https://estrin.vip/manager_minute_/) - The legal administrator profiled in this article says his "job is to bridge communications between employees": "...[A]s legal administrator for the Fort Lauderdale bankruptcy law firm of Rice Pugatch Robinson & Schiller PA, Jimmy Allen also 'wears a lot of hats in this job,' he said. He is responsible for overseeing payroll, benefits, scheduling, vendors - [Remember that paralegal who impersonated a lawyer?](https://estrin.vip/remember_that_p/) - ...well, he was arrested & charged with unauthorized practice of law: "A man who prosecutors said had been representing clients of a prominent New York law firm for two years was arrested here on Wednesday and charged with impersonating a lawyer, state prosecutors said. "The man, Brian T. Valery, 32, of Massapequa Park, N.Y., surrendered - ["For Some Firms, Law Is All in the Family"](https://estrin.vip/for_some_firms_/) - I'm sure "family law firms deal with unique challenges" & unique experiences too. Has this been your experience? "Like mother, not so much like daughter. "At the Milwaukee law firm Pitts & Pitts, clients know whether to ask for the mother or the daughter, depending on what sort of representation they are looking for. "If - ["High Court Ruling Could Spark Surge in Patent Challenges"](https://estrin.vip/high_court_ruli/) - Looks like paralegals specializing in patent law can expect much more work: "Patent litigation could explode in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling Tuesday in a closely watched dispute over patent validity between two biotechnology firms. "The Court, by an 8-1 vote, reinstated a lawsuit by MedImmune challenging a Genentech patent related to Synagis, - [Paralegal allegedly shoots three at law firm](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_alleg/) - Not a good start to the new year for anyone! "One man was arrested in connection with the shooting that wounded three people inside a law firm Tuesday night. "Bill J. Weir, 58, a Joshua Tree attorney, handyman Rocky Favorite, 50, and Dawn Croom, 25, were shot when a gunman opened fire just after 4 - ["Virtual Workers Cut Overhead at Law Firm"](https://estrin.vip/virtual_workers/) - How often have you dreamed about working remotely for your law firm? "Like most firms, at Traverse Legal we constantly grapple with dilemmas about staffing. The uncertainty of workload always creates a serious quandary. Understaffing can fuel burnout, and can leave otherwise necessary billable work undone. It also can lead to client friction. How many - [Temp Staff Demand Greatest for Paralegals, Legal Support Staff, Attorneys](https://estrin.vip/temp_staff_dema/) - Isn't it just great to be in demand? "Temporary legal staffing is the most consistently fast growing segment of the contingent workforce in the United States and is largely driven by merger and acquisition activity and litigation-related work, according to a new report by Staffing Industry Analysts, the premier provider of market intelligence about the - ["Law firm employees walk to lunch, get fit"](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_employ/) - Sounds like a very good idea to me. Does your firm have a similar program? "If a Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC employee invites you to lunch, it's a good idea to wear comfortable shoes. [snip] "This late December walk was one of the monthly 'mystery walks' taken by co-workers at the firm. Those - [Five Law Firms Make 'Best Companies' List](https://estrin.vip/five_law_firms_/) - No, really, it's true! "Five law firms made Fortune magazine's list this year of the best 100 employers to work for -- one less than last year. "Alston & Bird, Arnold & Porter, Nixon Peabody, Perkins Coie and Bingham McCutchen held their ground. But Morrison & Foerster, the only California-based firm to make the 2006 - [Library of Congress Enhances Thomas Database](https://estrin.vip/library_of_cong/) - Good news dug up by the research mavens at The Virtual Chase: "The Library of Congress announced the release of a beta versionof Thomas, a Web site that provides access to federal legislation andrelated documents. More search features are available as well as morehelp for those unfamiliar with searching for federal legislation." - ["How Business Trounced The Trial Lawyers"](https://estrin.vip/how_business_tr/) - It's not looking too good for plaintiff's lawyers. So, how are plaintiff paralegals affected? "By focusing on litigation reform at the state level, business has won key battles. Suddenly, it's a tough time to be a plantiffs' attorney. "In 1901 a well at Spindletop Hill sent petroleum shooting 200 feet in the air and made - [Fulbright's Third Annual Litigation Trend Survey Findings](https://estrin.vip/fulbrights_thir/) - Very interesting survey about litigation trends in the U.S. Number of lawsuits...ouch! "Here's a sample of the findings:Large U.S. companies face an average of 305 pending lawsuits. For the largest U.S. companies, those with $1 billion or more in annual gross revenue, the number of lawsuits soared to 556 cases, with an average of 50 - [Harvard 3Ls visit India...](https://estrin.vip/harvard_3ls_vis/) - ...& investigate outsourcing of work for attorneys & paralegals: [F]or 3Ls Shaun Mathew and Vikram Thomas, the fact that legal offshoring is in its infancy makes this the right time to study it. And, as children of professionals who emigrated from India to the U.S., they have their own experience with an earlier chapter of - ["Legal Tech Expert E-Mails His Wish List to Santa"](https://estrin.vip/legal_tech_expe/) - And what a smart wish list this is. I also think those paralegals already familiar with this stuff are smart: "Dear Santa, "I've been a good boy this year. I spent all my time helping lawyers and judges with electronic data discovery (EDD) and studying really, really hard about electronically stored information (ESI) [PDF], data - [NYC online job demand survey](https://estrin.vip/nyc_online_job_/) - This survey news comes from Monster & includes info about legal jobs: "Online job demand in New York was unchanged in November, as an increase in security and production job postings were offset by fewer education and military-related positions, according to a survey by Monster Worldwide Inc. [snip] "Legal positions, including lawyers, paralegals and support - [Illinois Paralegal Association Asks Firms Not to Outsource](https://estrin.vip/illinois_parale/) - Don't know, at this point, if it's possible to turn the rushing tide toward outsourcing of legal work. But I applaud the IPA's attempt: "Ruby Prasad’s legal research and briefs regularly find their way into courts across the United States despite the fact her workstation is located 8,000 miles away in India. "Prasad is among - ["Knowledge Management and Technology: Finding a Balance"](https://estrin.vip/knowledge_manag/) - So, have you gotten into KM yet? Is yours one of the 'progressive firms' discussed in this article? "An increasing number of law firms have invested in knowledge management (KM) programs, which they define as including "know-how" (aka, precedents and form banks), professional development, current awareness (keeping legal professionals current on changes in the law), - ["Gadgets Put the Holiday Spirit in Your PC"](https://estrin.vip/gadgets_put_the/) - Yay, more presents for me! Well, not me exactly: "With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to consider some gifts for your computer. Nothing tells your PC that you care about its happiness more than a few high-tech gadgets to make its life a little more exciting. Of course, if those gadgets also - ["Five IT Blind Spots That Shut Lawyers Out"](https://estrin.vip/five_it_blind_s/) - Oh boy, doesn't this sound like an all-too-familiar story? "In a world where even the most senior of partners can now be found typing away on a laptop, an observer could mistakenly believe that personal computing is as straightforward as using the average toaster. Unfortunately for attorneys, computer software is mostly designed or implemented by - ["Paralegals, not lawyers, introduce technology into law offices"](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_not_/) - Yeah, this press release sounds right: "'What we've discovered is that paralegals, not lawyers, are the people introducing technology into law offices,' said Tom Goldman, AAfPE Chairman, Technology Task Force. 'At AAfPE's annual meeting in October [PDF], I delivered a presentation on SmartDraw's capabilities. Afterwards, over half of the attendees requested copies of the software, - ["Sheppard Mullin Launches Fashion & Apparel Practice Group"](https://estrin.vip/sheppard_mullin/) - This sounds like a very interesting group! Hmm, wonder if they need any paralegals? "Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton is stepping onto the runway with the launch of its new practice group: fashion and apparel. "From negotiating contracts for TV reality show 'Project Runway' to fending off UGG boot knock-offs, the new group is marketing - [NFPA Launches 1st National Legal Technology Conference Specifically for Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/nfpa_launches_1/) - Well, this sure sounds like a conference you should try to attend! "The NFPA\2007:\Tech.Institute\: is the place for paralegals, attorneys and other legal professionals to gain knowledge, perspective and insight into the benefits, challenges, and pitfalls of legal technology. Learn about major trends and technological innovations that will affect your career, your profession, and your - ["I’ve decided to take PACE – now what do I do?"](https://estrin.vip/ive_decided_to_/) - Wow, excellent post on the IPA blog where you'll find lots of helpful guidance from the Indiana Paralegal Association: "The PACE Study Manual is a necessity as it sets out a blueprint that has been followed for PACE with the five domains weighted as follows:"Administration of Client Matters 23%Development of Client Legal Matters 30%Factual and - [Paralegal Opening: Immigrants' Rights Project](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_openi/) - Found what sounds like a challenging open position using Google's blog search: "The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), a national non-profit public interest organization, seeks applicants for a full-time Paralegal position with the Immigrants' Rights Project (IRP) in the ACLU’s National Headquarters in New York City. The IRP works to defend the civil and - [Searching for paralegal job openings](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_parale/) - Found openings just by searching the Web for "openings OR careers AND paralegals": WilmerHale, a international law firm, has paralegal opportunities in 3 different cities. Mintz Levin, "a recognized leader in the use of information technology," posts openings for paralegals & points to opportunities for project analysts (a position that sounds fascinating to me!). Miami - ["A Mouse on a Mission in the Document Maze"](https://estrin.vip/a_mouse_on_a_mi/) - Just what I've wanted: a computer mouse that smartly finds what I want in a mountain of documents: "The new mouse does all the work of a standard model, while also letting the user skim rapidly through lengthy documents to reach a desired spot in seconds. It does this with an unusual scroll wheel that - [Corporate Counsel trailblazer makes her mark in EDD](https://estrin.vip/corporate_couns/) - All I have to say about this trailblazer is "You go, girl!" Electronic discovery is not that easy for non-techies to grasp: "It was June 2000, and Laura Kibbe, then an associate at Kaye Scholer's New York office, had to deal with e-discovery for the first time. Her client, Pfizer Inc., had just acquired a - ["Electronic Evidence - Fear and Loathing in the Legal Profession"](https://estrin.vip/electronic_evid/) - Great post to the MassLawBlog! First, a great quote, followed by a daunting, yet very informative diagram of "client server architecture" [PDF]: "The schematic displayed...is a simplified illustration of a corporate network which Microsoft provided to the Federal Rules Committee in connection with proceedings on electronic evidence. It was intended to illustrate a generic corporate - ["How Web 2.0 Could Light Up Your Law Firm"](https://estrin.vip/how_web_20_coul/) - What is "Web 2.0" exactly? This article describes the key elements & possible law firm uses: "Grappling with Web 2.0 can be a bit daunting in that it has become an amalgamation of disparate trends and ideas. Equal parts buzzword, technology standard, aesthetic ideal, business model and social movement, Web 2.0 may become a phrase - ["Google launches search engine for US patents"](https://estrin.vip/google_launches/) - This news from Google sure sounds smart to me. But will patent paralegals be impressed? "Google was live [12/14/2006] with a service enabling Internet users to search through the more than seven million patents granted in the United States. "The beta, or test, version of Google Patent Search lets people sift through patents granted by - [TIME: Best Inventions 2006](https://estrin.vip/time_best_inven/) - Not really paralegal related, unless an article about the year's best inventions counts as learning about IP! (Well, there is that "Paralegal Hidden Camera" video...) "Meet Peter. Peter is a 79-year-old English retiree. Back in WW II he served as a radar technician. He is now an international star. "One year ago, this would not - ["Top Ten Tips for Effective Utilization of Paralegals"](https://estrin.vip/top_ten_tips_fo/) - Seems like a good article to put here....right after that "lawyers resolve paralegal priorities among yourselves" post: "Paralegals have been part of the legal profession for roughly 30 years. When utilized correctly [PDF], they are a significant benefit to a law firm or law department and its clients because they are able to handle both - ["Paralegals. Just say no."](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_just/) - Recent post from the UK's nearlylegal blog describes a familiar problem. Do you agree with this paralegal's solution? "I currently have four solicitors giving me work. Regardless of what I explain about current workload, each insists that their work takes priority. Each then gets very annoyed when I do my own form of triage as - ["Are BlackBerry users the new smokers?"](https://estrin.vip/are_blackberry_/) - Well, people do seem addicted to these devices (cell phones too). What do you think? "I have a new policy with my friends. I will not meet them in a restaurant or bar - holiday cheer notwithstanding - unless they promise to switch off their cellphones and BlackBerrys. "It's embarrassing to impose such sanctions. It - [Making Career Resolutions](https://estrin.vip/making_career_r/) - Not completely happy with your current position? Well, here's a solid list of resolutions for changing your career: "If you're like most people, you have probably given some thought to New Year's resolutions and what you would like to achieve in 2007."If you didn't gain weight over the holidays and have no vices to give - ["Trials & Tribulations of New Rules on EDD"](https://estrin.vip/trials_and_trib/) - Could not understanding EDD issues -- both evidence rules & technology -- amount to malpractice? Oh, yeah, I think so, especially if the client didn't 'know' not to monkey with hard drives: "During discovery in a securities case in the Northern District of Florida, Miami attorney Michael Kreitzer's client wanted to see e-mails between two - ["Tech Gifts for the Lawyer [&/or Paralegal] in Your Life"](https://estrin.vip/tech_gifts_for_/) - Fun version of the classic Santa Claus story packed with links to tech toys of interest to all kinds of legal folks: "It was the night before [insert favorite winter holiday here], and all through the office, the associates were stirring, but I was home at the house. The stockings were hung by the chimney - [Project Management for Law Firms](https://estrin.vip/project_managem/) - A white paper + survey [PDF] from ITLA smartly discusses the use of project management by law firms, something I think should involve paralegals: "Project management is so much more than what is visible at first glance. Typically, we just see the team, tools and pieces to complete the project. What we don't see is - [Jobs for legal techies: ITLA](https://estrin.vip/jobs_for_legal_/) - Find some very interesting jobs posted by ILTA (International Legal Technology Association), here. I counted 122 listings (on 12/12/06), but these are the positions that really caught my eye: Applications Analyst V -- San Francisco, CA (12/4/2006) Litigation Support Specialist -- Chicago, IL (12/4/2006) Practice Group Training & Support Specialist -- Richmond, VA (11/30/2006) Knowledge - ["Paralegal charged in embezzlement"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_charg/) - Oh, this news is just sad. Particularly because the alleged thief used some stolen funds for her boyfriend! "A paralegal at a Manitowoc law firm allegedly embezzled more than $200,000 to pay for vehicles, home repairs, medical bills, furniture and TVs, according to authorities. "Debra D. Hardtke, 35, Kewaunee, will appear in Manitowoc County Circuit - ["Law Office Closes For Mourning After Shooting"](https://estrin.vip/law_office_clos/) - A disgruntled former client apparently took out his anger over a patent case on the firm: "The law offices where Friday's shootings took place are closed, but for those working elsewhere in the building, there was an eerie feeling upon their return."As CBS 2's Sylvia Gomez reports, on Friday, the squeal of sirens through the - ["Million-Dollar Diction"](https://estrin.vip/milliondollar_d/) - Yeah, this article [for chief information officers] is not targeted to the legal world! But it contains good advice for everyone whose work revolves around words [PDF]: "Studies show you can't get ahead in business without a strong vocabulary. Here are some quick tips for learning new words and using them effectively. "When people want - ["She puts her name in the papers"](https://estrin.vip/she_puts_her_na/) - Real case managed by a bonded & registered Legal Document Assistant in Califormia: "In 2004, an anxious young husband and father approached Just Document Preparation in Riverside to help him file a domestic violence restraining order against his wife. "He wanted to protect himself and his young daughter from his wife's abuse stemming from her - [New Year Resolutions & Your Career](https://estrin.vip/new_year_resolu/) - Are you looking ahead to the new year with your career in mind? If so, here are some questions to think about: "It's time for New Year's resolutions again. Rather than basing your resolutions on an inventory of regrets, may I suggest a more positive way to get started? "Before you begin listing the 'must - [Legal Project Management -- new paralegal responsibility?](https://estrin.vip/legal_project_m/) - Seems to me that senior paralegals (see task list) can help manage legal projects, although I doubt many firms do this formally now: "Managing a legal matter, whether it’s a transaction or a dispute, can be equally as important as executing the actual legal work. Attention to both management and execution will help to ensure - [CIA seeking paralegal professionals...](https://estrin.vip/cia_seeking_par/) - Looking for a different kind of paralegal position? I think working for the CIA would qualify: "The Central Intelligence Agency is seeking Paralegal professionals to provide case management, legal research, case-cite verification, blue book citations and general paralegal support to the Office of General Counsel. Paralegals support legal issues relating to foreign intelligence, counterintelligence activities, - [More Tech Gift Ideas...](https://estrin.vip/more_tech_gift_/) - This looong Holiday Buying Guide comes from The New York Times Circuits section: "With no one looking, gadgets learned to connect the dots." The sections that interested me most: If Wishes Were Horses, High-Tech Wherever You Look, & Radio Stations Add Personalities, Digitally. Enjoy! - [Unique gifts: t-shirts, mugs, & more...](https://estrin.vip/unique_gifts_ts/) - Custom gift designs, all with law-related themes, from CafePress.com: "Legal" Designs on T-Shirts and Gifts "Law" Designs on T-Shirts and Gifts "Paralegal" Designs on T-Shirts and Gifts "Lawyer" Designs on T-Shirts and Gifts My fav gifts are here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, & here. - ["Better Legal Writing Is Plain and Simple"](https://estrin.vip/better_legal_wr/) - Find several resources for writing better legal documents on this much-linked blog: "Legal language is used to record and explain the most important events in people's lives -- should it not be comprehensible? "Modernizing the archaic style you learned by rote is easy and with a little practice becomes habit. "Legal writing should be well - [Survey: IP & M&A Still Hot Areas](https://estrin.vip/survey_ip_ma_st/) - Good to know where law client needs (& $$$) are headed: "Intellectual property as well as mergers and acquisitions are still red-hot practice areas, while insurance coverage and environmental law are cooling off, according to legal consultant Robert Denney's 18th annual 'What's Hot and What's Not in the Legal Profession' report. "In addition, Denney said - [CrunchGear: Best electronics of 2006](https://estrin.vip/crunchgear_best/) - Lots of fab tech gifts -- games, music, phones, mobile stuff, sure, but I really liked the infrared trash can! "CrunchGear’s editors searched far and wide for the best gadgets of 2006. We’ve included devices from our own pages and some things we picked up over the year that made us smile. Read on for - [How to provide constructive performance feedback](https://estrin.vip/how_to_provide_/) - The job works well for everyone when you know how to give constructive feedback: "When you need to provide team members with feedback, it's usually a breeze when their performance is up to snuff. However, if an employee requires constructive feedback, it can be a delicate situation. Check out Tom Mochal's tips on how to - ["Surviving the Holiday Office Party"](https://estrin.vip/surviving_the_h/) - Office parties can be fun, but watch yourself, it's still work! "Yes, it's that time of year again; 'tis the season for the holiday office party. Holiday parties are typically held to thank employees for all their hard work and to try to motivate them to continue their efforts. Parties are also viewed as great - ["Will Lawyers Flip for Adobe Acrobat 8?"](https://estrin.vip/will_lawyers_fl/) - Oh, I think so! This new version of Acrobat seems to solve some serious problems: "When a major software company offers features that appeal directly to the legal community, it makes me happy. Version 8 of Adobe Acrobat blasted on the scene recently with some tasty ingredients that appeal directly to legal professionals, such as - ["Associate Suspended for Offering Information to Opposing Party for Fee"](https://estrin.vip/associate_suspe/) - Simply amazing! Was potentially losing a legal career worth $2,000? Or even $20,000? "A former law firm associate who offered to provide information to an opposing party for a $2,000 fee has been suspended from the practice of law for five years. "Glenn A. Kiczales, a former associate at landlord-tenant firm Ingram Yuzek Gainen Carroll - ["Crafting Effective Cover Letters"](https://estrin.vip/crafting_effect/) - Looking for a new job in the new year? Here's some good advice from AllBusiness.com: "Keep your cover letter brief. Never send a letter that is more than a page in length; half a page is ideal. Be sure to use clear, professional language while steering away from buzzwords, acronyms, jargon, or anything overly personal. - [New Legal Outsourcing Service For Lawyers](https://estrin.vip/new_legal_outso/) - Here's an interesting concept in outsourcing -- do it yourself! "LawSourcing.com today announced their beta launch. This free site is a resource for licensed attorneys to obtain assistance for projects. This is ideal for lawyers in small firms who may not have available assistance to prepare documents or do research that is needed to prepare - ["E-Discovery May Target Unexpected Sources"](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery_may_/) - Yes, even more information is now subject to discovery, but really, iPods too?? "On Friday [12/1/2006], the long-discussed and much-awaited amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) went into effect. Among the elements of these amendments are changes to how electronic evidence is treated in discovery. "This issue and the changes to the - ["The CRANKY Shopper's Holiday Gift Guide"](https://estrin.vip/the_cranky_shop/) - Yeah, I still have gift giving on the brain. And all this shopping is making me cranky! "Nothing puts the bug into 'bah, humbug!' more than an impossible shopping challenge. He has everything. She doesn't like anything. They want nothing ... except to fill you with the searing, white-hot frustration of a thousand yule logs. - [Are You a 'Re-Gifter'?](https://estrin.vip/are_you_a_regif/) - Okay, who hasn't 'regifted' once or twice (or more)? But please follow the "12 rules for regifting": "There are only three reasons you might be reading this column: You think 'regifting' is totally tacky, but you secretly hope there might be a polite way to get rid of that hideous scarf your Aunt Edna gave - [E-Discovery Road Map](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery_road/) - Looks like a pretty handy guide for finding your way through the e-discovery thicket: "Law.com's E-Discovery Road Map is the perfect resource for legal professionals looking for information and guidance on the often confusing road to e-discovery. From client's records management to production, the road map covers each step in careful detail." I like this - [Six Rules on Gift-Giving at Work](https://estrin.vip/six_rules_on_gi/) - Just how often does either party to gift exchanges like the outcome? Not to mention the dicey office politics: "As the holidays approach, the season of potential gift-giving at the office can range from pleasantly surprising to painfully awkward. "Navigating the social and professional landscape can be difficult, but there are ways to avoid alienating - ["Know your workplace obligations"](https://estrin.vip/know_your_workp/) - This article is from an IT perspective, but regardless of idustry, it's always good to know your obligations...& those of your manager: "Wouldn't it be nice if every boss came with a standard API [Application Programming Interface]? It would be so easy to look at the interface specifications and know exactly what he expected, in - [Find job openings in blog posts...really!](https://estrin.vip/find_job_openin/) - Google news search now includes blog content -- I've noticed some job openings listed in those blog results: Litigation support: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=litigation+support+AND+paralegal Corporate: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=corporate+AND+paralegal Real estate: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=real+estate+AND+paralegal Intellectual property: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=intellectual+property+AND+paralegal Labor law: http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news&q=labor+law+AND+paralegal - [The 10 Best Books of 2006](https://estrin.vip/the_10_best_boo/) - Looking for a gift for people who like to read? Check out this list of both fiction & nonfiction books from the New York Times Sunday Book Review. The descriptions of these two books put them on a list of presents for myself! ABSURDISTANBy Gary Shteyngart. Random House, $24.95.Shteyngart's scruffy, exuberant second novel, equal parts - [9 Tips for Office Parties](https://estrin.vip/9_tips_for_offi/) - Office party guidance compiled by Kring & Chung from Department of Labor information. Who knew the DOL cared this much about parties? "The United States Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol-and Drug-Free Workplace has prepared two highlight articles titled, Send Your Employees a Safe and Sober Message About Office Parties and Drinking and - ["How Many Lawyers Does It Take to Make You Sick?"](https://estrin.vip/how_many_lawyer/) - Yep, the answer to this question totally depends on the firm! Plaintiff: Amy Seiler Defendants: Harry J. Mulry Jr.; Gregory G. Shaub, doing business under the firm name Mulry & Shaub L.L.P. Accusation: A paralegal toils for a small law firm and gets bouts of "stomach distress, headaches and disagreeable fits of temper." Oh, and - ["Paralegal Job Outlook - Stagnant or Full Steam Ahead?"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_job_o/) - This is not really new news, but it's nice to have "paralegal job growth" confirmed: "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for paralegals is very good, with an expected growth rate near 33 percent a year through 2010. The bureau notes that compared to other professions, the leap in the paralegal - ["Virtual Paralegal Services Introduces Virtual Workspace"](https://estrin.vip/virtual_paraleg/) - Well, this new paralegal business feature sounds interesting, dontcha think? "Virtual Paralegal Services, LLC, a provider of affordable, on-demand, experienced paralegal assistance exclusively for lawyers and their clients, today introduced its new Virtual Workspace. "VPS’ Virtual Workspace gives lawyers access to a highly secure collaborative environment for creating, storing and retrieving documents and records without - [Want to be more productive at work?](https://estrin.vip/want_to_be_more/) - Well, David Allen of Getting Things Done fame recommends some very good productivity software: "MindManager Pro - Find out how mindmapping can transform the way you think about, and organize information while you collect, capture, and manage ideas. You can also view a replay of The Best Kept Secrets of Productivity, David's recent webinar on - ["The Real World According to Summer Associates"](https://estrin.vip/the_real_world_/) - Ah, who doesn't like to work with summer associates? "Law students today are a serious bunch. 'Although I appreciate the fancy lunches, dinners, ball games, retreats, etc., I am more interested in experiencing what life actually will be like as a first-year associate,' reads one typical remark from an intern at Heller Ehrman in Menlo - ['What’s in an e-mail sign-off?'](https://estrin.vip/whats_in_an_ema/) - It's sometimes hard to write meaningful letters, but email communication is even more challenging: "CHAD TROUTWINE, an entrepreneur in Malibu, Calif., was negotiating a commercial lease earlier this year for a building he owns in the Midwest. Though talks began well, they soon grew rocky. The telltale sign that things had truly devolved? The sign-offs - ["Free Services to Inspire Your Cellphone"](https://estrin.vip/free_services_t/) - Helpful NY Times techie, David Pogue, offers up a batch of useful cell phone services: "With every passing month, cellphones are becoming even more useful. Sure, it’s nice that they let you call people from the road. But lately, their reach has grown, thanks to clever programmers making links between the cellular world and the - [''Mock Jury' Site Readies Launch"](https://estrin.vip/mock_jury_site_/) - Found this new service on the always-informative blog, Robert J. Ambrogi's Lawsites: "A Web site offering mock juries where lawyers can test their cases is now online and preparing for a formal launch in January. Called TrialJuries, the site will allow lawyers to submit their cases and have them 'decided' by online jurors similar to - [CNN's Nancy Grace Sued Over 'Grilling' that 'Led to Suicide'](https://estrin.vip/cnns_nancy_grac/) - When does an aggressive interviewer go too far? Guess we'll find out with this wrongful death lawsuit: "Relatives of a mother who committed suicide after CNN's Nancy Grace aggressively questioned her about the disappearance of her son sued the network and the talk-show host Tuesday, accusing Grace of pushing the woman over the edge. "Melinda - ["Law Firm's 'Trial-in-a-Box' Rescues Cases"](https://estrin.vip/law_firms_trial/) - Well, this approach to get-there-quick-litigation sure sounds smart! "Any serious trial law firm must have the capability to 'parachute' into a problem case and try a matter on short notice. At Houston's Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, we have developed a comprehensive program to deal with remote trials, which we call 'trial-in-a-box.' This consists of custom-made - [10 ways to train your boss](https://estrin.vip/10_ways_to_trai/) - Such very helpful tips for advancing your career! "Takeaway: If your boss routinely ignores you, withholds praise, or offers little guidance or feedback, you might need to take action. IT pro Becky Roberts looks at some ways you can get your boss on the right track. "Got a lousy boss? Never gives you guidance or - ["Who's to Blame When EDD Vendors Go Boom?"](https://estrin.vip/whos_to_blame_w/) - I hate it when companies "go boom," but this article really discusses what happens "when vendors let you down": "If you engage in e-discovery, chances are you depend on vendors to help you harvest, process, search and filter digital evidence. But is that a dependency that blurs the line between lawyer and service provider? "Selecting - [Paralegals miss out on 15% Christmas bonus](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_miss/) - Not expecting much holiday cheer at this firm's year-end parties! "Paralegals and professional support lawyers at Slaughter and May will receive a bonus this year of just 3%, despite the rest of the lawyers at the firm pocketing a 15% boost under the firm’s recently introduced scheme."Slaughters’ new system will see a flat-rate bonus of - [Firm Discovers 'Associate' Is Not a Lawyer](https://estrin.vip/firm_discovers_/) - Despite many "red flags," it took Anderson Kill & Olick almost three years to find out this 'associate' was a paralegal! "While Brian T. Valery 's legal education is in question, he could likely graduate with honors from the Frank Abagnale Jr. school of deceit. "Valery is under fire for his pro hac vice appearance - [Paralegal now jury coordinator](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_now_j/) - It's all about making jury duty sound like fun -- or at least time well spent: "Most people aren't thrilled to be called for jury duty. They think they are too busy, can't afford to miss work, or need to be home caring for their children. "Mary Poston considers it her job to change their - [Paralegal: “A Fairly Well-Educated Chimp Could Practice Law”](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_a_fai/) - Like the creativity involved in this paralegal's pursuit of a law degree, but truly enjoyed all the comments following the blog's post [link in original]: "A Connecticut paralegal has sued the state’s bar exam committee because it won’t let him take the bar, despite his earning a degree from an unaccredited Internet correspondence law school.... - [Salary Range: Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/salary_range_pa/) - Just happened to run across the Ask Dr. Salary blog where I found paralegal salaries charted [links in original post]: "I was reading AboveTheLaw and noticed David's Request for Paralegal Salaries. To help him out, I've posted a few charts from PayScale's Research Center about Paralegal Salaries that he might find interesting to compare against. - [Legal Logic Puzzle](https://estrin.vip/legal_logic_puz/) - If you have trouble solving this puzzle (I did, darnit!), don't despair, the answer is included. Find more fun stuff at the website of Bordwell & Associates (legal recruiters in California). And see their current paralegal job listings here. Enjoy! - ["The Inside Scoop on Law Firm Outsourcing"](https://estrin.vip/the_inside_scoo/) - Practical advice about law firm outsourcing from White & Case's administrative partner: "Although law firms have traditionally outsourced services like security, travel or mail, the allure of Thomas Friedman's 'flat' world has some law firms looking hard at whether to outsource other functions. The options are no longer limited to an outside vendor running a - ["Should Associates Vote on Partnerships? Latham's Do"](https://estrin.vip/should_associat/) - Don't you think paralegals have just as much to contribute to partnership decisions as associates? "Making partner usually means stiff competition with other associates. "But at Latham & Watkins, associates are asked to put down their swords and shields and objectively evaluate whether their peers have what it takes to make partner. "Most firms wouldn't - ["The Dress Shops"](https://estrin.vip/the_dress_shops/) - Should I be pleased that The New York Times mentioned paralegals in a fashion article or peeved because of how it's worded?"COLLETTE LOVULLO had some qualms about decorating Coco & Delilah, her year-old boutique on St. Marks Place near Avenue A. 'I was trepidatious about the chandelier,' she said, eyeing the multi-tentacled fixture dangling from - ["WNS bets on legal outsourcing"](https://estrin.vip/wns_bets_on_leg/) - More outsourcing of legal work, this time in Sri Lanka: "WNS, a NYSE-listed business process outsourcing (BPO) major, is seeing a huge momentum in legal services. "Riding high on the legal process outsourcing wave, WNS has started legal services in Sri Lanka about eight months back and now has over 30 lawyers there. It has - ["Technology and Legal Secretaries"](https://estrin.vip/technology_and_/) - Next big outsourcing move -- legal secretaries? [Text & links by Ron Friedmann] "Starting in the early 1990s, I noticed that secretarial work was changing as a result of widespread lawyer use of PCs. Yet I have seen few articles about this much less smart management reaction. "Already in 1991, I thought secretarial roles needed - [Gift that's also a stress reliever!](https://estrin.vip/gift_thats_also/) - OK, is it me? Or am I the only one who knows about 100 people who can use this new product? "It’s no secret that lawyers lead incredibly stressful lives: they operate under relentless time pressures in an adversarial environment that breeds hostility, conflict and cynicism. Now, you can relieve your stress with Slam-A-Gavel. "Slam-A-Gavel - [SURVEY: Starting Salaries for Lawyers & Other Legal Professionals Projected to Increase](https://estrin.vip/survey_starting/) - Good news from this Robert Half Legal survey looking ahead to 2007! "Average starting salaries for legal professionals in the United States are projected to rise 4.7 percent in 2007, according to the just-released Robert Half Legal 2007 Salary Guide. Larger increases in base compensation are expected for attorneys with one to three years of - ["My cell phone is bigger than yours..."](https://estrin.vip/my_cell_phone_i/) - Yeah, this AlterNet post is only tangentially related to the legal field. But don't most lawyers & paralegals use cell phones? "Just a short reminder that we're all hopeless monkeys trapped inside one giant National Geographic special, via TechDirt [links below are from original post]: "Well, it appears some things don't change much. Almost exactly - ["Long Awaited New Edition of The Legal Research Dictionary Now Available"](https://estrin.vip/long_awaited_ne/) - Just announced on the Law Librarian Blog: "With ths work one can find the definitions of hundreds of terms used in legal research and bibliography. The dictionary coverage includes the judicial, legislative and executive branches of federal, state, and local government. This handy reference work is useful for law librarians, paralegals, public librarians, law review - ["Chocolate - any way you like it"](https://estrin.vip/chocolate_any_w/) - News about chocolate and paralegals? A must-read article for all chocoholics! "If you're missing a paralegal, check the new chocolate shop. "(And if you're missing some chocolate, check your paralegal's office.) "The new chocolate shop is Schakolad Chocolate Factory in White Plains, and it does indeed seem to lure legal assistants - and a lot - ["Strong Law Firm Growth Continuing"](https://estrin.vip/strong_law_firm/) - Well, this must be good news. More lawyers working means more paralegals needed, right? "The nation's largest 250 law firms [registration req'd] grew by 4 percent in 2006, a figure that was just shy of last year's gains but still reflected a sound legal economy. "The results of the 2006 NLJ 250, The National Law - ["Iraq Marines thank law firm in person"](https://estrin.vip/iraq_marines_th/) - This is a remarkable story about a project organized by legal staff members: "Marine Lance Cpl. Brenton Hutson of Wheat Ridge carried a 12-by-8-inch American flag through much of his tour of duty in Iraq. "On Friday, Hutson and another Marine visited the downtown Denver offices of Holland & Hart to thank the law firm's - [Getting paralegal job despite no legal experience](https://estrin.vip/getting_paraleg/) - Here are 4 suggestions for how new paralegal grads can land their first professional job: "For many students, graduating from college with a degree in paralegal studies is a moment filled with starry eyes and great hopes for a new and improved career choice. Then they begin to look for a job. "'I'm sorry, but - [Britney Pre-nup 'Airtight'](https://estrin.vip/britney_prenup_/) - I'm not really a Britney fan, but it sounds like she's got a solid pre-nup agreement: "She has been dismissed as simply a bubble-headed pop princess. "So when Britney Spears filed for divorce last week after two stormy years of marriage to Kevin Federline - now dubbed Fed-Ex - many assumed it would cost the - [New career opportunities for corporate paralegals!](https://estrin.vip/new_career_oppo/) - And most new jobs were made possible by changes in technology: "Throughout the past two decades, corporate law offices have undergone a quiet revolution. Increasingly sophisticated technology and a much more stringent legal and regulatory environment now provide paralegals with some wonderful opportunities. Many new job prospects involve employment in a section of corporate legal - [Ever thought about working as a "Mechanical Turk"?](https://estrin.vip/ever_thought_ab/) - Yeah, the first thing you're asking (I did too!), is what is a Mechanical Turk? "Some day, your boss could be a faceless Mechanical Turk who doles out tasks over the Internet. For nearly a year, Amazon.com's Mechanical Turk has paid amounts ranging from one cent to several dollars for tasks that take a few - ["12 Rules of Client Service"](https://estrin.vip/12_rules_of_cli/) - Found this advice on a very interesting blog, "What About Clients?" "The goal of the 'What About Clients?' 12 Rules is outrageous client service--but the 12 Rules' way of getting there is to align the interests of clients and customers and service providers. They were derived from the 'How To Practice Law' section of our - [Paralegals staff voting question 'hotlines'](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_staf/) - Helping people vote legally & successfully is a good thing: "South Carolina voters will have a lot of company at the polls on Election Day as several groups say they will watch for problems across the state. [snip] "The U.S. Justice Department will dispatch more than 800 observers nationwide, a record for a non-presidential election - [Day, Berry Merges, Becomes 'Day Pitney'](https://estrin.vip/day_berry_merge/) - News of a law firm merger in Connecticut, 'driven by client needs': "Day, Berry & Howard, one of the state's largest law firms, will change its 74-year-old name as it merges with a New Jersey-based law firm to double its staff of lawyers and extend its geographic reach."Day, Berry's merger with Pitney Hardin, based in - ["Everything sucks. Plus I'm a legal secretary!"](https://estrin.vip/everything_suck/) - Salon magazine's help column answers an amusing & serious career question: "Nov. 3, 2006 | Dear Cary, "I don't know what to do with my life. "No, I don't mean in that midlife-crisis kind of way. Long story short, I am 21 and I live with my boyfriend (27). While this traditionally is not considered - ["Kennedy Covington Paralegal Wins National Rookie of the Year Award"](https://estrin.vip/kennedy_covingt/) - Well, isn't this great news? "Kennedy Covington paralegal Julianne Fink, NCCP, has been awarded the Rookie of the Year by Legal Assistant Today magazine. "Fink was selected by the magazine's editorial advisory board for her leadership and dedication to the legal assistant profession, to her local association, to her employer and to her community, in - ["Pillsbury Winthrop Faces E-Mail Pileup"](https://estrin.vip/pillsbury_winth/) - Why am I not surprised to read this: "[T]he challenge was getting lawyers to adapt." "The exponential growth of e-mail for client-related exchanges has increased the potential for knowledge management and records management breakdowns. Today's information is spread out in personal inboxes that can't be easily accessed, leveraged, protected and properly stored. When e-mail that - [Some Holiday Fun...](https://estrin.vip/some_holiday_fu/) - Have you ever wanted to make a pc-o-lantern? Or a mac-o-lantern? Sure you have! "Look at this. We've [University of Arkansas Dept. of Computing Services/Help Desk] made a pumpkin into a computer." "The Pumputer was conceived of to bring home the company's carving contest award for the Information Technology department. A 1990 Macintosh Classic computer - ["How to Turn Paralegals Into Franchisees"](https://estrin.vip/how_to_turn_par/) - I LIKE this idea! Nice follow-up to the post about independent paralegals, hmm? "Since July 1986, Paralegal Services of Allenhurst has been matching freelance paralegals with New Jersey-area attorneys. "Now, it wants to expand the business into a nationwide franchise system, essentially by giving paralegals working for firms a model to become independent contractors. "Last - ['Ways to get along without lawyers'](https://estrin.vip/ways_to_get_alo/) - Did you know that the CA Legal Document Assistants Association is now 20 years old & has 225 members? "Ed Sherman started a revolution 35 years ago when he wrote How to Do Your Own Divorce in California. Since then, millions of people have found they needn't resort to the adversarial and expensive step of - ["National Award to Paralegal For Work with Native American Community"](https://estrin.vip/national_award_/) - Congratulations! Love to hear this kind of news: "The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is pleased to announce that Raylene Frazier, a paralegal with Dakota Plains Legal Services (DPLS) in South Dakota, is the 2006 recipient of the Pierce-Hickerson Award. Frazier will be honored during the NLADA 2006 Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on - [Paralegal quoted on identity theft](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_quote/) - Excellent news -- paralegal advice now being quoted by the press! "A 90-year-old Manchester woman is out $10,000 cash after falling victim to a Canadian lottery scam."Another area woman selling a motorcycle on eBay was lured into wiring $2,000 to British Columbia as part of a phony transaction."New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Richard Head recently - [NY Trial Court Online Case Access](https://estrin.vip/ny_trial_court_/) - Legal Dockets Online describes new enhancements to New York State's case information databases: "Supreme Court and County Clerk dockets, decisions, monitoring, and calendar access is finally consolidating and improving. If you practice in New York, be prepared to be impressed. Here is a summary of the state's major case information databases now available to the - [Paralegal enters 150-mile race through Egypt's desert](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_enter/) - This article's title -- "You have to live on the edge" -- is perfect: "Jacqueline Eastridge admits that, yes, she is a little crazy. "Starting on Sunday, the 46-year-old senior paralegal for a Center City law firm will join 59 other runners in a week-long, 150-mile trek through the sands and dunes and the dry, - ["Former paralegal finds fulfillment working with 'tweens at library"](https://estrin.vip/former_paralega_1/) - Charming story about the joys of being retired (not anytime soon for me)! "When Jayne Morrison goes to work, she couldn't be happier. "She loves every moment she spends in the children's department of the Boca Raton Public Library. "'Being here is like being in a terrific garden,' she said. 'There's everything here.' "Morrison talks - ["In-house attorneys in Minnesota are happy"](https://estrin.vip/inhouse_attorne/) - Good news -- more jobs for corporate paralegals (at least in Minnesota!): "A new survey found that 95 percent of in-house attorneys in Minnesota are satisfied with their jobs. "The highest paid in-house lawyers worked for health care companies, and attorneys in public companies were better paid than those in private corporations. The average salary - [10 Tips for Effectively Recruiting a Team](https://estrin.vip/10_tips_for_eff/) - Here's some good advice for getting people to work on a new project: "Many times in your life you will make requests of others: to join a group, committee or team, to perform a task or to assist with a project. This month's question: How do you make the ask? Often the key to getting - [Legal Profession Web 2.0 'Treasures'](https://estrin.vip/legal_professio/) - These legal-focused Web 2.0 apps -- described by Law Technology News -- look very helpful (& fun!): "What started out as a two-part tour of Web 2.0 products and services of interest to the legal profession has easily turned into three parts. In fact, our journey could easily continue for several more columns, given the - [Editorial: 'Lawyers will regulate paralegals'](https://estrin.vip/editorial_lawye/) - Another strong opinion about regulating Canadian paralegals: "Ontario has passed a law that will regulate paralegals. This is good news. Until now, what has it taken to be a paralegal? Call yourself one. That's it. No training required. No liability insurance. No minimum standards. No discipline for bad ones. "I've seen some good paralegals. I've - ["E-Mail Intelligence Eases E-Discovery Headaches"](https://estrin.vip/email_intellige/) - First time I've heard about this software, but sounds like it works quite well: "Juries don't always believe what people say, but they do tend to believe what is on paper. The difference that thorough e-mail review and analysis can make in the outcome of litigation is dramatic, and attorneys cannot risk overlooking key evidence - ["Paralegal jobs decline"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_jobs_/) - Is this another example of how automation can negatively affect employment? I'm not sure there are really fewer paralegal jobs, particularly for people with experience or specific skills: [snip] "Thanks in part to new technologies that help law firms sort and scan documents, firms are hiring fewer paralegals than they did during the 1990s, when - ["Ten Tips for Successful KM in Law Firms"](https://estrin.vip/ten_tips_for_su/) - Very helpful tips for tech-oriented paralegals interested in the challenging field of knowledge management (KM): "Law firms struggle with knowledge management. On the one hand, law firms are classic examples of information and knowledge businesses. On the other hand, managing lawyers has often been likened to 'herding cats.' Combining 'knowledge' with 'management' in the law - [Ontario paralegal must reimburse client](https://estrin.vip/ontario_paraleg/) - Cases like this undoubtedly supported the fight to regulate paralegals in Canada: "It was a dream payday for Brampton, Ont., paralegal Vince Chiarelli: He made $1,800 for just two hours of work. "But for his client, Pamela Elliot, that contract with Mr. Chiarelli would represent her lowest point in a year of sheer hell. "Having - ["Paralegal breaks the fashion law"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_break/) - Can't quite figure out if this story is mostly funny or sad. Of course, 'dress for success' is usually a good idea, right? "A colourful Toronto paralegal is seeing red after his forceful ejection from court for a 'fashion crime.' "Ex-lawyer Harry Kopyto alleges that a Toronto cop 'manhandled' him out of a Scarborough court - [Ontario regulates paralegals, 'puts lawyers in charge'](https://estrin.vip/ontario_regulat/) - This news is not a surprise, but it does sound like the battle continues: "Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate paralegals Thursday, but many in the profession worry they could be forced out of business because they will be regulated by lawyers - the very people they compete against for most of - [Law firm offers reward for missing paralegal](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_offers/) - Oh, no, this news sounds like a tragedy coming: "St. Paul police have asked Minnesota and Wisconsin authorities to be on the lookout for a 43-year-old woman who has been missing since she left her home Thursday without telling anyone where she was going or packing anything. "Nancy Gee's family and friends are also hoping - ["Sergeant places first in paralegal contest"](https://estrin.vip/sergeant_places/) - Congratulations to Rosemary Hernandez! "A sergeant bested 22 other Army paralegals from XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command in competition Thursday at Fort Bragg, N.C. "Sgt. Rosemary Hernandez placed first in the Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell Gilmore paralegal challenge, according to results released by Master Sgt. Joseph Lister, one of the event’s organizers. - ["Lawyer, paralegal square off for justice position"](https://estrin.vip/lawyer_paralega/) - Love this news story! "Columbia Falls paralegal Jerry O’Neil and Whitefish attorney Mark Sullivan were the top vote-getters among four candidates for Flathead County Justice of the Peace in the June primary."Now they face off Nov. 7 for the judge job that will expand from part time to full time in January. Incumbent Dale Trigg - ["AmLaw Tech Survey: Law Firms Play Variations on Old Themes"](https://estrin.vip/amlaw_tech_surv/) - This interesting survey (the 11th annual), finds law firms expanding their information technology investments: "True technological revolutions are few and far between. And making the 'old' work with the 'new' can make it increasingly difficult for chief information officers to maintain or advance the value of technology for their firms' lawyers. Results of the 11th - [Army paralegals compete](https://estrin.vip/army_paralegals/) - Interesting components of this competition! "Twenty-three paralegals will compete today to be named the best in the XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command. "It is the first competition to be organized for Army paralegals, according to Master Sgt. Joseph Lister, chief paralegal noncommissioned officer for Army Special Operations Command. "The contest includes a - ["5 Ways to Unclutter Your Desk"](https://estrin.vip/5_ways_to_unclu/) - Gosh, I definitely need this advice! What does your desk look like? "Do you feel like you're buried under a mound of paper by the end of the day? If so, join the crowd. According to the Smead Corporation, which manufactures filing systems and records management products, the average office in the US spits out - ["8 Ways to Deal with Difficult People"](https://estrin.vip/8_ways_to_deal_/) - Surely most paralegals have no need for this advice, right? :-) But do you? "[C]onflict is built into the very fabric of their organizations. When conflict is not dealt with well, it can create strained relationships and grow to sap the time, energy, and productivity of even the best teams. Dealt with positively, conflict can - [On the job: Certified case manager, geriatric care manager, & paralegal](https://estrin.vip/on_the_job_cert/) - Don't think I've ever known a paralegal who wears such different career 'hats'! Jeanne Tolomeo: Certified case manager; geriatric care manager; paralegal; Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple What do you do?“'I am a caretaker. That’s my case manager part. I work with (the law firm’s elderly) clients and make sure they have the best care possible, - [Former paralegal opens "Geeks on Call"](https://estrin.vip/former_paralega-3/) - We like this entrepreneur's story! "For years, computer technician Jason Radtke daydreamed about what it would be like to run his own business. Now, thanks to the help of his former employer -- who also happens to be his mentor -- Radtke has embarked on a new chapter in his career by opening his own - ["Two-minute guide to Electronic Data Discovery"](https://estrin.vip/twominute_guide/) - Hardly seems possible to learn what you need to know in 2 minutes, doesn't it? "Let the fear-mongering begin: the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) requirements are changing effective December 1, 2006, with new requirements for electronic data discovery (EDD). Images of a pale and blinking CIO walking through phalanxes of shouting reporters and - [VP promotion for securities paralegal](https://estrin.vip/promotion_for_s/) - Congrats for this career news! "Crosshair Exploration & Mining Corp. (TSXV:CXX) has made two executive changes. Greg Davis has been promoted to VP of business development. He has been with the company since December 2004. Julie Bolden has been appointed VP of corporate affairs and corporate secretary. She has worked at a number of Vancouver - [Want to simplify your life?](https://estrin.vip/want_to_simplif/) - Are you looking for a simpler life? This article describes people, including a paralegal, who have made changes: [snip] "Interpretations of simplicity are as varied as the individuals who practice it. Most agree that it's about buying less, taking care of the environment and building meaningful relationships. [snip] "Two years ago, Linda Dalton, 62, left - [Paralegal fights identity theft](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_fight/) - Read about this paralegal in an article titled "Good Cybercitizens Keep Watch Over ID-Theft Victims": [snip] "Janice Forster, 50, a paralegal in North Carolina, this year started FindMyId.com, a Web site devoted to educating consumers about ID theft. In the past week, she mailed more than 100 letters to North Carolina residents informing them that - ["Tightknit: Gunster Yoakley staff bond with needles"](https://estrin.vip/tightknit_gunst/) - We'd heard that knitting has become more popular, but in law firms too? "Around noon once a week, Rebecca Bolduc enters the conference room of the law firm of Gunster Yoakley in Fort Lauderdale with a brown tote in tow. She slides into a chair around the large teak table and pulls out items rarely - [Paralegal regulation in Canada 'on cusp of becoming law'](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_regul/) - Regulation up north has definitely been a hard-fought battle: "Last month, the Ontario Bar Association managed to lobby successfully for further clarity of the portion of bill 14 that amends the Law Society Act, after it made submissions to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. "As a result, the legislation now refers to paralegals as - [Paralegal & military lawyer ordered not to discuss Gitmo claims](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_milit/) - We earlier noted this paralegal's actions in reporting abuse; now she's been told not to talk to the press: "A paralegal and a military lawyer who brought forward allegations about prisoner abuse at the Guantanamo Bay detention center have been ordered not to speak with the press, lawyers and a military spokeswoman said Saturday. "Marine - [Law firm 'Talent Show'](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_talent/) - Watch out, year-end holidays (& related events), are coming soon: "Christmas Party Committee. "Have three words ever struck more dread in the hearts of office workers? Especially when they’ve only just started working somewhere and, accordingly, get assigned whatever the more seasoned employees avoid like the plague (i.e., savings bond campaigns)? Especially when it’s only - ["On the move..."](https://estrin.vip/on_the_move/) - Have you all seen paralegals (&/or secretaries), mentioned in law firm "we're moving" notices before? "Holland & Hart, a law firm, has opened an office in Las Vegas at 3763 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 300. Philip Dabney and Gregory Gilbert will be resident partners in the office. Both partners are commercial litigators with a strong - ["ABA to Continue Fight Over Detainee Rights"](https://estrin.vip/aba_to_continue/) - Excellent news for supporters of habeas corpus: "The American Bar Association [PDF link] said last week it will continue to challenge key provisions of a federal bill authorizing military tribunals to try terrorism suspects, even though the legislation ultimately passed by a lopsided margin in the Senate. "ABA members say they are most concerned about - [Law firm runs clothing drives for needy women](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_runs_c/) - Good news about a Seattle firm & its managing partner: "When Russell M. Aoki took a break from college and worked on the maintenance crew of a golf course, he discovered his calling. "Seniors who he met while on the job 'took me aside and encouraged me to go back to school and consider going - [Wisconsin native named 2006 Outstanding Young Alumnus](https://estrin.vip/wisconsin_nativ/) - Nice to see a paralegal's hard work get recognized: "A Fond du Lac native and legal-support leader for a Cleveland law firm is among four University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh alumni who have won the 2006 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. "Michael Hammarlund, a native of Fond du Lac now living in Rocky River, Ohio, earned his degree - ["Chasing the Paper Dragon"](https://estrin.vip/chasing_the_pap/) - Sounds like a good idea to us: "ShadowCounsel, a paper and other media-to-digital [PDF link] conversion and remote paralegal support company serving law firms and other paper intensive enterprises, today introduced what is believed to be the first complete search and retrieval database processing service requiring no specialized software [emphasis added]. “'Two products, Summation and - ["Paralegals' anniversary marks state recognition"](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_anni/) - My, how time has flown for the paralegal profession in Texas! "Paralegals have made their way out of the figurative woods and into the light of a recognized profession [PDF link] since the State Bar of Texas created its paralegal division 25 years ago, an Austin woman who was instrumental in the landmark said Wednesday. - ["The Making of a Public Records Researcher"](https://estrin.vip/the_making_of_a/) - This most helpful article was written by Genie Tyburski of The Virtual Chase: "What constitutes public record, public information and private information sometimes is as clear as mud. (For a discussion of the differences, see The Art of Public Records Research.) [link in article] In a recent e-mail exchange concerning a proposal for a distant - [Paralegal writes blog for FTC](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_write/) - This job sure sounds interesting: "The Federal Trade Commission has joined the blogosphere with a site to explore how technology is changing the way consumers shop, bank, pay bills and communicate. "The 'Tech-ade Blog' will include interviews with technology experts ahead of the agency's November 6-8 public hearing on how to protect consumers from ID - ["Half of government documents 'born digital'"](https://estrin.vip/half_of_governm/) - Wow, this is amazing info (pointed to by The Virtual Chase): "Public Printer Bruce James recently returned to the Rochester Institute of Technology, his alma mater and the school that launched his 40-year publishing career, to talk about printing. "After nearly four years of leading the U.S. Government Printing Office into the Digital Age as - ["Use a librarian to manage document repository"](https://estrin.vip/use_a_librarian/) - From a tech, not legal, publication, but this article offers some good advice: "Many large projects generate a lot of documentation. Depending on the type of project, sometimes there are literally hundreds or even thousands of documents produced. One often overlooked aspect of a large project is the need to organize and manage all of - ["Mashups to Re-Map the Legal Tech Market?"](https://estrin.vip/mashups_to_rema/) - We love mashups, don't you? Just not sure how they'll work in the legal world: "Take one of the industry's oldest matter management software packages, combine it with cutting-edge, Internet-based mapping technology, and what do you get? The first commercial legal-tech mashup. "Synaptec Software, the 25-year-old, Denver-based maker of the venerable LawBase software suite, has - ["Data discovery business booms"](https://estrin.vip/data_discovery_/) - Not surprising news to litigation paralegals, but what about the new career opportunities provided? "The pre-trial discovery phase and case management processes have grown so complex in corporate legal cases that lawyers increasingly rely on technology experts to help them gather and wade through the evidence. "The need for what is known as litigation support - ["JAG paralegal soldier honored"](https://estrin.vip/jag_paralegal_s/) - Well-deserved kudos for a paralegal in uniform: "Spc. Tasha Carnahan plays a tough game of softball, her commander says."She also wants to be a tough lawyer in the courtroom someday, according to Col. Jerry Linn of Fort Leonard Wood’s staff judge advocate office. "Linn spoke Friday at the Committee of 50 ceremony honoring Carnahan as - ["Compensation Survey Shows Lofty Rewards for Firms"](https://estrin.vip/compensation_su/) - What do law firms bill their clients? You might be surprised; then again, maybe not: "Miami attorney Eugene Stearns may prove true the old cliche about getting what you pay for. "The plaintiffs attorney is credited with taking a teetering case against ExxonMobil and turning it around to win his clients a $1.1 billion judgment. - ["Taking passwords to the grave"](https://estrin.vip/taking_password/) - So, yet another unexpected impact of the Internet! "William Talcott, a prominent San Francisco poet with dual Irish citizenship, had fans all over the world. But when he died in June of bone marrow cancer, his daughter couldn't notify most of his contacts because his e-mail account--and the online address book he used--was locked up. - ["Pushing Legal Research Beyond Google"](https://estrin.vip/pushing_legal_r/) - Good article about Internet research, specifically for paralegals: "When it comes to sleuthing for information there are no hard and fast rules for paralegals, except maybe this one: Don't ignore the Internet. "The courts may notice if you do. "Last year, an Indiana appeals court agreed to dismiss a lawsuit because the plaintiff took three - [Paralegal reports beatings by Gitmo guards](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_repor/) - And to this news report, we say a hearty "good work"! "Guards at Guantanamo Bay bragged about beating detainees and described it as common practice, a Marine sergeant said in a sworn statement obtained by The Associated Press. "The two-page statement was sent Wednesday to the Inspector General at the Department of Defense by a - ["Yours, Mine and Ours: What You Need to Know About IP"](https://estrin.vip/yours_mine_and_/) - Sounds like a very informative (& fun!) roundtable discussion: "This summer, an employee of the Coca-Cola Co. made news when she -- along with two others -- allegedly attempted to steal trade secrets from Coke and sell them to PepsiCo Inc. It's not every day that a company goes public when someone tries to loot - ["Ontario Paralegals Say NO to Regulation by Lawyers!"](https://estrin.vip/ontario_paraleg-2/) - Very strong press release from Ontario paralegals: "The Ontario Justice Committee hearings regarding Bill 14 (Access to Justice Act) are coming to a close at Queen's Park. One thing is very certain . . . Independent paralegals in Ontario are in a David and Goliath fight for the very survival of their profession!! "If Schedule - ["OnSite E-Discovery Ranked As Top Ten Provider"](https://estrin.vip/onsite_ediscove/) - And the company says that the jump to top ten ranking in one year validates its customer-centric focus: "OnSite E-Discovery, a global e-discovery and forensics firm serving law firms and corporations, recently received notable recognition as a Top 10 electronic discovery service provider in the 2006 Socha-Gelbmann E-Discovery Survey. The survey, published by independent technology - ["Adobe Acrobat Updates Likely to Lure Lawyers"](https://estrin.vip/adobe_acrobat_u/) - Okay, these changes sound very helpful! "Another chapter in the history of Adobe Acrobat opened Monday, and this one includes some juicy plot points that might tantalize the legal industry. [snip] "Acrobat 8 now devotes a whole toolbar to redaction features allowing you to mark, apply and 'Search & Redact.' You can use different colors - ["Lycoming County Paralegal Association Establishes Scholarship"](https://estrin.vip/lycoming_county/) - Good for the association & the person this scholarship honors: "The Lycoming County Paralegal Association is honoring one of its members by establishing a scholarship fund for legal assistant/paralegal students at Pennsylvania College of Technology. "The Maxine Stiffler/Lycoming County Paralegal Associate Scholarship Fund will provide an annual award of $250 to a student in the - [Enron task force receives top award](https://estrin.vip/enron_task_forc/) - Good news -- paralegals serving on that task force are included: "U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this week bestowed his office's top annual award to federal prosecutors, FBI agents and paralegals who have served on the Justice Department's Enron Task Force, including those involved in this year's fraud and conspiracy trial of former Enron chairman - [More Paralegal Bios/Profiles!](https://estrin.vip/more_paralegal_/) - Love seeing these acknowledgements of paralegal contributions: Vermont's Paul, Frank & Collins (too bad only attorney profiles include photos): Melanie F. Black, Heather A. Moreau, Robert L. Scott, & Carie A. Tarte Missouri's Hazelwood & Weber LLC: Louise Pratt, Renee Avis, Cynthia M. Brooks, Terrah E. Stallcup Indiana's May Oberfell Lorber: Deborah L. Denman, Pamela - [Why attorneys (& paralegals?) quit](https://estrin.vip/why_attorneys_p/) - This survey focused on lawyers, but wouldn't paralegals say the same things? "What causes good attorneys to jump ship? The answer: A bigger title and more money are the chief reasons. "Twenty-six percent of attorneys polled recently said they would leave their current jobs for opportunities to advance professionally. Twenty-one percent of said a pay - ["Law Departments Join Firms and Nonprofits in Pro Bono Efforts"](https://estrin.vip/law_departments/) - Good news! More pro bono activity usually means more work for paralegals: "In 2000, the Pro Bono Institute formed the Corporate Pro Bono Organization in collaboration with the Association of Corporate Counsel to advocate for and promote corporate pro bono efforts. At that time, 'corporate pro bono was an oxymoron,' said Esther Lardent, president of - [Historically Important Watches at Christie’s](https://estrin.vip/historically_im/) - Not that I shop at Christie's fabulous auctions all the time. but this news certainly drew my attention: "The season commences with a selection of rare watches, including two historically important pieces from Patek Philippe, each appearing for the first time on the market. [snip] "Also of historical importance is the Patek Philippe reference 2499 - ["Triple Grande Extra Frivolous Lawsuit"](https://estrin.vip/triple_grande_e/) - So, what do you think? Frivolous case or does it have merit? "Much like Johnny "Drama" [link in article], when Starbucks regular Kelly Coakley had her free drink coupon rejected, she took action. On Friday, the 23-year-old Queens paralegal joined forces with lawyer Peter Sullivan in bringing a $144 million lawsuit against the Seattle coffee - ["Dewey and Orrick in Merger Talks"](https://estrin.vip/dewey_and_orric/) - Mega merger! Mega merger! Over $1 billion in possible revenues if this goes through. Could it also mean more opportunity (& $$$) for paralegals?? "New York's Dewey Ballantine and San Francisco's Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe are discussing a possible merger, the leaders of both firms confirmed Monday. "It remains unclear how far the discussions have - ["Temporary Solution"](https://estrin.vip/temporary_solut/) - Must read this article! "The $16 billion merger of SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T Corp. represented a high-water mark in the legal cattle call known as document production. Some 600 contract attorneys converged in Washington, D.C., to work on the SBC side of the deal, where the telecom giant's antitrust counsel, Crowell & Moring and - ["Let's Offshore The Lawyers"](https://estrin.vip/lets_offshore_t/) - Sure lots of us would agree with this sentiment, but what might it mean for paralegals? "Mention offshore outsourcing, and Americans fume. But who would cry if we outsourced the work of lawyers, with their fat fees and endless strategies for adding years to litigation? Sounds like a great idea, but many might say it - ["Laying down the law"](https://estrin.vip/laying_down_the/) - Toronto wrestles with paralegal regulation: "A startling event this week shocked the justice committee hearing presentations on proposed legislation that would regulate paralegals. "Tory MPP Ted Chudleigh wondered out loud if it wasn't a conflict of interest for the committee, which is comprised of several lawyers, to be considering a bill which would hand regulation - [Inside Counsel: "Paralegal Power"](https://estrin.vip/inside_counsel_/) - Fantastic article [PDF link; scroll down to page 3] about how AXA Equitable Life Insurance hired paralegals to save time, money, & turnover in attorneys. Like, duh...... "It’s a question many a CEO has asked his or her general counsel—Can we reduce legal department spending by bringing more work in-house? "When AXA Equitable Life Insurance - ["Justice: Pretty Woman"](https://estrin.vip/justice_pretty_/) - Finally, a couple of paralegals actually have lines, scenes, & meaning in a TV show! You don't even have to guess what work they do. This FOX show recognizes the importance & permanence of paralegals in a law firm. Gooooo bad TV! "Oh my God. Did anybody else get dizzy while watching this? Maybe the - ["Firm Podcasts to Reel in Recruits"](https://estrin.vip/firm_podcasts_t/) - Podcasts are now used to recruit lawyers, so why not paralegals? Might be helpful in areas like Washington D.C. where corporate paralegals are almost impossible to find: "Law firm recruiting pages can be surprisingly sterile. Few adequately answer the question foremost on a potential associate's mind: 'What will life be like for me?' Some firms - ["Saddam legal assistant murdered in Baghdad"](https://estrin.vip/saddam_legal_as/) - Oh, no, this is awful news! "An assistant to one of the defense lawyers in the trial of ex-president Saddam Hussein and six co-defendants over the alleged genocide of Kurds has been found dead, a lawyer said Thursday."Lawyer Badih Aref Izzat said his 50-year-old assistant Abdel Monem Yassin Hussein had been kidnapped on August 29 - ["Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Sued By Legal Assistant"](https://estrin.vip/kareem_abduljab/) - Sounds like a very messy case: "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being sued by a legal assistant for allegedly firing her daughter, a legal assistant, because she is pregnant, according to court records."Diane Broda says her pregnant daughter was fired by Abdul-Jabbar's company Ain Jeem Inc., last December. When Broda called Ain Jeem Inc. to warn them - [Greeting card company for legal professionals](https://estrin.vip/greeting_card_c/) - Yeah, we've all seen funny cards about lawyers, but I can't wait to see this new company's cards: "The Billable Hour Company has opened the world’s only online greeting card store featuring humorous and customizable printed greeting cards especially for lawyers and other legal professionals. The store uses print-on-demand technology that allows customers to send - [Latest Headlines from Legal Assisant Today](https://estrin.vip/latest_headline/) - Gotta check out LAT's latest news blurbs: Ohio Provides Paralegal Certification: Bar association creates education, experience standards. Carrying on After Katrina: The paralegal community strives to cope one year later. ATLA Adopts New Name: Association works to improve image of trial lawyers. NALA Holds Annual Convention: Education and achievements rewarded at the 31st annual event. - [Grant provides aid, paralegal services](https://estrin.vip/grant_provides_/) - Sounds like a good job opportunity in Montana: "A grant recently awarded to the Montana Legal Services Association will allow the group to bolster its services across the state."According to Klaus Sitte, executive director for the association, the $650,000 Legal Assistance for Victims grant [PDF link] through the Montana Department of Justice will fund positions - ["Manila paralegal grads visit Bilibid prisoners"](https://estrin.vip/manila_paralega/) - Remarkable post-graduation introduction for paralegals in the Philippines: "Graduates from The Manila Times Institute for Paralegal Studies (TMTIPS) interacted on Monday with 120 inmates at the National Bilibid Prisons taking up a special course in business administration. "The inmates attend class at the College Building in Camp Sampaguita, the NBP’s medium security facility. "The course - ['Paralegal' among 50 best jobs](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_among/) - Money Magazine has ranked paralegal jobs in America # 27 out of the 50 best: "MONEY Magazine and Salary.com researched hundreds of jobs, considering their growth, pay, stress-levels and other factors." And here's how they picked those "best jobs." - ["Search Terms Mean Savings in E-Discovery"](https://estrin.vip/search_terms_me/) - Something litigation paralegals need to know: how word searches can limit the scope of e-discovery production: "With the impending changes in the federal rules related to electronic discovery, opposing parties will be required to discuss any and all discovery issues involving electronically stored information (ESI). "In this context, discussions will likely focus on what information - ["Paralegals specialize for higher salaries in tight market"](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_spec/) - This approach [subscription req'd] -- of specializing in a practice area -- makes sense: "Growing Boston law firms and harried corporate law departments share a common challenge: recruiting paralegals." - [Briggs & Morgan's Paralegal Profiles](https://estrin.vip/briggs_morgans_/) - This Minneapolis firm, Briggs & Morgan, showcases its paralegals with photo profiles. See, for example: Business & securities paralegal Julie R. Hanson, business litigation & labor/employment paralegal Jeanette T. Larson, business litigation & mortgage banking paralegal Craig S. Hennen, & public finance paralegal Linda Obidowski. The firm also describes paralegals as part of the legal - ["Law Firm Paralegal Honored for Public Service"](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_parale-2/) - Good works recognized by major firm: "Vinson & Elkins LLP is proud to announce that Pam Lewis, a paralegal in the firm’s insolvency and reorganization (IR) practice in Dallas, received the President’s Call to Service Award in a ceremony at the Fort Worth Police Academy on August 23, 2006. Lewis was nominated and chosen for - ["Attorneys Find Work, Fulfillment at Burning Man"](https://estrin.vip/attorneys_find_/) - Woo-hoo, lawyers doing their thing at this crazy show: "Over the weekend, mediator Ron Kelly planned to put on his full-length white linen suit and his huge green hat -- 'three feet in diameter' -- and set up his booth in the desert, so he could do what he describes as some of his most - [Time Billing 'The Perfect Crime'?](https://estrin.vip/time_billing_th/) - Must-read post on the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog: "William Ross, a professor at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., calls it 'the perfect crime.' NYU legal ethics guru Stephen Gillers says there’s a 'general consensus' that the practice is on the upswing. The practice? Law-firm billing fraud, and the WSJ’s Nathan - ["Offering Truth and Illusion and Nothing but the Two"](https://estrin.vip/offering_truth_/) - Finally! A TV show featuring paralegals as well as lawyers! "Celebrity trial lawyers are supposed to be flamboyant and theatrical. Yet the high-priced defense attorneys in Jerry Bruckheimer’s new courtroom drama on Fox, “Justice,” are not at all like F. Lee Bailey or Johnnie Cochran. They are as grimly focused and humorless as the crime - ["What I Learned This Summer at ILTA'06"](https://estrin.vip/what_i_learned_/) - Calling all techies who missed the festivities in Orlando: "Throughout the year, the International Legal Technology Association hosts e-mail listservs, webinars and regional meetings. But once a year, more than 1,100 attendees and hundreds of technology vendors converge in one spot for the group's major educational conference. [snip] "ILTA's educational scheme is divided into tracks, - [Davis Polk acknowledges legal assistant work](https://estrin.vip/davis_polk_ackn/) - In a press release announcing Davis Polk's efforts in an offering, the firrm pointed to the work of legal assistants as well: "Davis Polk & Wardwell advised Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as sole bookrunner and representative of the underwriters on the offering by American International Group, Inc. (AIG) of 15.4 million common shares of IPC - ["How to Handle E-Mail Efficiently"](https://estrin.vip/how_to_handle_e/) - You may know these email tips already, but a few of the 8 were new to me! "As more and more business is conducted via e-mail, it´s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of messages you receive every day. Following these tips will ensure that you spend your time and energy managing your - [Must see this clever item!](https://estrin.vip/must_see_this_c/) - ...needed by paralegals & so many others! "billable hour timepiece (noun): 1. a watch or clock with a dial divided into tenths of an hour; 2. a lighthearted take on the concept of the billable hour; 3. the perfect gift for a lawyer, law student, or any professional who bills by the hour. (The Billable - ['Fearless' UK law firm's paralegal profiles](https://estrin.vip/fearless_uk_law/) - Not only does McCormicks Soliciters sound like a very fun firm, they include short profiles + photo for all paralegals. - [LAT 2006 Paralegal of the Year](https://estrin.vip/legal_assistant_3/) - Inspiring news [PDF link] from Legal Assistant Today: "The editors and staff of Legal Assistant Today are proud to announce Katherine Manns has been awarded LAT’s 2006 Paralegal of the Year Award.... Manns, a 20-year paralegal and litigation support manager for the Buffalo, N.Y., office of Phillips Lytle, was selected by the magazine’s editorial advisory - ["Technology rules in the ‘courtroom of the future’"](https://estrin.vip/technology_rule/) - Do you know how the 'courtroom of the future' impacts the work of court reporters (& paralegals)? "With more than 30 years’ experience as a court reporter, Jo-Anne Galloway has seen the job change dramatically with each addition of new technology [PDF link]. [snip] "Before leaving the [New York State] Supreme Court, Galloway managed a - ["Eight Ways to Bill for Litigation Support"](https://estrin.vip/eight_ways_to_b/) - Okay, this is very good to know! Lit support can be very expensive: "Litigation support is an increasingly necessary service that helps attorneys and staff do all that they need to do with client data. Many billing options exist, but before we explore them, it might be helpful to identify the various things that commonly - [Legal assistant vs. Paralegal "defined"](https://estrin.vip/legal_assistant_2/) - This article is meant to be funny, we think. It’s from The Snark, Georgia Daily Report’s anonymous associate: [snip] LEGAL ASSISTANT (Pronunciation: le-glsis-tnt) direct object of Partner and/or Cog abuse. Synonyms: Secretary, Legal Secretary, Right Hand, Co-Conspirator. Definition: A secretary who gets a fancier title because she (or he) has to enter computer edits for - ["Small Litigation Shops Produce Big Results"](https://estrin.vip/small_litigatio/) - Do big-firm litigation paralegals wonder about switching to the small-firm world? [snip] "Litigation boutiques generally are characterized as having one dozen to two dozen lawyers, a payment system other than billable hours and careful selection of cases to enhance the firm's ability to provide individualized client service [PDF link]. The boutiques [PDF link] argue that - ["E-Discovery Zero Hour Approaches"](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery_zero/) - Is your firm or company prepared for these sweeping EDD rule changes? "Although the start date of the new electronic-discovery procedural rules is still three months away, lawyers who haven't sat down with clients to devise a plan may be losing a race against time. "The intent of the changes to the Federal Rules of - [Find a legal commuity online](https://estrin.vip/find_a_legal_co/) - More helpful info from lexisOne, a guide to online legal communities. - ["Legal Web Site Directory"](https://estrin.vip/legal_web_site_/) - Excellent guide to federal & state legal resources on the Web compiled by lexisOne: Find the "State Resource Center" here. And find the "Legal Web Site Directory" here. - ["iJacking" Risk](https://estrin.vip/ijacking_risk/) - Not solely affecting paralegals, everyone should read this info about identity theft: "A national study [PDF link] has uncovered the top cities most at risk for 'ijacking.' [snip] "iJacking: (i*jak*ng) noun: An emotionally devastating crime that drains your accounts, hurts your reputation and leaves you financially paralyzed when thieves assume your identity or use your - [Legal Assistant Who's Lost 10 Jobs!](https://estrin.vip/legal_assistant_1/) - Not much we can add to this item -- the advice given sounds right on! "Dear Ella, "I'm 32 years old and have been fired from 10 jobs. Early in my career, most of my terminations had to do with attendance issues. For the past 10 years, personality conflicts have been the issue. The conflicts - ["Tech firm opens office in Milwaukee"](https://estrin.vip/tech_firm_opens/) - Interested in working for a tech-lit vendor? "Elijah Technologies Ltd., a Chicago-based company specializing in computer forensic investigations and electronic discovery processing, today announced it has opened a new Milwaukee office at 1215 N. Water St. "The company's Milwaukee office, which is beginning with two employees, is overseen by Eric Struve. The company has 10 - ["Report on Paralegal Education Programs in the US"](https://estrin.vip/report_on_paral/) - Very thorough survey [PDF link] of U.S. paralegal programs researched & prepared by LawCrossing: [snip] "In an effort to provide future paralegals with the information they need to choose a paralegal education program and to aid higher education administrators in evaluating programs, LawCrossing has compiled statistics on 36 paralegal education programs. "The majority of paralegal - [Legal Assistant Profiles + Attorney](https://estrin.vip/legal_assistant/) - Now this is an interesting twist! Axley Brynelson (in Madison, Wisconsin), includes profiles of its legal assistants & indicates the attorneys they work with! Mary Haack, litigation; Ellen Teed, business litigation; Shirley Jensen, estate planning & more; Cindy Erstad, telecommunications & more. - ["Attrition in Associates Leads to Attrition in Law Firm Marketing"](https://estrin.vip/attrition_in_as/) - Comments about the attrition of associates probably of interest to paralegals too: "Interesting post from Larry Bodine about how the associate attrition problems that I [Carolyn Elefant] blogged about last week are taking a toll on lawyer marketing efforts. Apparently, because few lawyers see themselves as making partner or don't care about partnership as a - ["‘Special measures’ to level legal fields"](https://estrin.vip/special_measure/) - Some say the role of paralegals in South Africa needs to be recognized. Gee, think other countries have the same problem? "DECADES of exclusion of black lawyers had resulted in a skewed distribution of profitable law firms, and intervention was necessary to transform the legal profession, Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla said yesterday. "Mabandla was addressing - [Interested in Paralegal Job in Brussels?](https://estrin.vip/interested_in_p/) - If so, here's where the details: "Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is an international law firm with offices in New York, Washington, Paris, Brussels, London, Frankfurt, Cologne, Rome, Milan, Moscow, Hong Kong and Beijing. Worldwide, the firm has more than 800 lawyers and 1,300 employees."A position with Cleary Gottlieb provides a challenging and rewarding - ["Diagnosing EDD Costs in Four Stages"](https://estrin.vip/diagnosing_edd_/) - Ouch!! "Are you spending $36 for every document produced in electronic data discovery? That figure was quoted in a recent e-Discovery Law & Strategy newsletter as one company's experience. The painful truth: Many law firms and their clients simply do not know the true cost of discovery -- and how much they spend per document. - [Techie paralegal? Six Steps to a Global Network for Law Firms](https://estrin.vip/techie_paralega/) - Put on your tech hat & learn the practical steps for networking computers: "While most of corporate America quickly embraced technology as a way to improve their business, law firms came a bit later to the party. Computers now may be ubiquitous at all major law firms, but many still struggle with larger technology issues, - ["Bad paperwork, advice hurts immigrants"](https://estrin.vip/bad_paperwork_a/) - One reason why California's Business & Prof. Code 6450 went into effect -- independent paralegals' mistakes when delivering services directly to the public: "Some immigrants want U.S. citizenship after they sneak past the border. Others need to renew a visa to stay legal. And still others want political asylum to escape persecution in their home - [Paralegal's "cool-looking phone"](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_cool/) - Yes, phone makers want cool designs as much as cool technology: "Alison Hong never thought she'd be turning heads with a cell phone, but that's exactly what's been happening with her latest gadget. "The 22-year-old San Francisco paralegal just bought an LG Fusic -- a sleek, white phone from Sprint with colored face plates -- - ["Looking further afield for paralegals"](https://estrin.vip/looking_further/) - Well, this idea makes very good sense to me & not only for the UK: "With trained paralegals becoming increasingly difficult to source from within the legal profession, is the recruitment of applicants from non-legal backgrounds worth consideration? "The legal profession has a formidable reputation for demanding excellence and places for pupillages or training contracts - ["Time Warner and Comcast Complete Purchase of Adelphia"](https://estrin.vip/time_warner_and/) - Law firm acknowledges paralegals' contribution on huge merger -- smart thing to do! As reported by The New York Times, The Daily Deal and other media outlets, on July 31 Paul, Weiss client Time Warner Inc. and its cable subsidiary, Time Warner Cable Inc., and Comcast Corporation announced that they completed the acquisition of substantially - [Ohio State bar develops paralegal certification program](https://estrin.vip/ohio_state_bar_/) - Another state announces [scroll down] mandatory requirements for paralegals -- YAY! "The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) announced at the end of June that it was implementing a new paralegal certification program. The program will not only make it easier for attorneys to hire well-trained legal staff, but will also bring professional esteem to paralegals - ["Group feels new name does lawyers justice"](https://estrin.vip/group_feels_new/) - Can a simple name change really change perceptions of trial lawyers? "The Association of Trial Lawyers of America [archived site] is taking 'trial lawyers' out of its name. "At its convention recently, the 60-year-old association's members voted to change the name to the American Association for Justice. "The new name 'reflects whose side we're on - ["Through the Glass Ceiling: Legal dynamics"](https://estrin.vip/through_the_gla/) - Interesting article about U.S. women who've moved to Israel & opened a new business: "Minna Felig is a successful lawyer turned head-hunter. Kimberly Lindy is a successful organizational consultant turned head-hunter. "Each is American born and educated. Each had a flourishing career in the US and did well for herself in Israel. Their individual success - ["5 Steps for E-Mail Retention"](https://estrin.vip/5_steps_for_ema/) - Smart guidance & helpful discussion: "The wrong time to enact an e-mail archiving and retention plan is after your company gets audited or sued. The best way to protect your company, of course, is by developing a plan for managing and legally deleting your data before something happens. For companies just starting to look at - [More Paralegal Profiles...](https://estrin.vip/more_paralegal_-2/) - Whether grouped as a department or single paralegal profiles, this trend is a good thing! Heather M. Finch & Kris S. Pace of Howard, Lewis & Petersen (State of Utah Paralegal Team (25 brief bios) of Steptoe & Johnson (Washington, New York, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Century City, London, and Brussels): “Steptoe’s multi-tiered program includes project - ["Memphis Paralegals Perform More Tasks Attorneys Used to Do"](https://estrin.vip/memphis_paraleg/) - Is anyone surprised by this news? "Whether it's a right-hand man or woman, having a trusty assistant is vital in many jobs. "In the legal profession, paralegals must be vital, considering the number of firms that employ one for every couple of attorneys. And things only are looking up for these legal professionals, as the - [Great law firm paralegal bios!](https://estrin.vip/great_law_firm_/) - Really! Congrats to both firms & paralegals: Brenda M. Ferderer of Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC (Seattle, WA) Elizabeth C. Kellner of Singleton Law Firm, P.C. (Champaign, IL) Dena M. Bauer of Crivello Carlson & Mentkowski s.c. (Milwaukee, WI) - [LSI Announces 'Forensic Vault'](https://estrin.vip/lsi_announces_f/) - Well, this sure sounds like a smart service: [snip] "LSI [Litigation Solution, Inc.], as one of the few companies with Licensed Private Investigators and Certified Forensic Computer Examiners on staff, is fully compliant with the Texas laws for computer evidence collection and provides expert witness services for forensic matters. The new 'Forensic Vault' service, starting - [Growth in EDD's Future](https://estrin.vip/growth_in_edds_/) - Not surprised by the results of this survey! "Results are in for the fourth annual Socha-Gelbmann Electronic Discovery Survey, and here are highlights of the report. In general, spending continues to grow, although with changing processes and tightening prices some providers are beginning to feel the pinch. "Consolidation continues as well, with larger electronic-data-discovery providers - ["Legal process outsourcing: 79,000 jobs on offer!"](https://estrin.vip/legal_process_o/) - Number of outsourced legal jobs expected to grow: "Except for fighting court cases in New York or London for law firms there, Indian lawyers are doing everything else for their western counterparts - litigation support, contract review, patent writing and paralegal services. "Legal process outsourcing as it is being called, has very high growth potential, - ["Demographic Shifts Transform Law Office Management"](https://estrin.vip/demographic_shi/) - Excellent article describing trends in the legal profession: "Demographic shifts, globalization and increased corporate governance are three key factors changing the way law offices operate, according to a just-released white paper from Robert Half Legal, a legal staffing service specializing in attorneys, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. The paper is titled The Changing - [Former Paralegal Wins SLAPP Ruling](https://estrin.vip/former_paralega-4/) - Excellent outcome! "Former paralegal Peggy Soukup and famed Irish dancer Michael Flatley don't know each other, but they share one thing in common: Both won cases Thursday clarifying the state's complex anti-SLAPP law. By a unanimous vote in two rulings involving three cases, the California Supreme Court ruled that anti-SLAPP motions and their counterparts, SLAPP-back - [Paralegals Are Army Master Sergeants](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_are_/) - It's true -- see the Stars & Stripes report: "GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — The departure of the 1st Infantry Division from Europe means legal services for the U.S. Army in Bavaria are moving here from Würzburg. "Lt. Col. Mike Mulligan, Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) for the Joint Multinational Training Command, said his office, which used to - ["ABA Sees Surfing Lawyers as Lawsuits on Longboards"](https://estrin.vip/aba_sees_surfin/) - This news is just too, too funny! "The nation's lawyers are coming to Hawaii, and some of them apparently have no fear of sharks -- unless they're the kind that file lawsuits. "About 40 lawyers have signed up so far for the National Lawyers on Longboards Surfing Contest scheduled during the Aug. 3-8 American Bar - [Paralegal Bios...](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_bios/) - ....are being included at more & more firms these days. So, we'll start posting bio links to celebrate this trend: Denver's Jacobs Chase Frick Kleinkopf & Kelley: http://www.jcfkk.com/attpro/paralegals/drobnakk.html New Hamphire & Maine's Cooper, Deans & Cargill, P.A.: http://www.cdc-law.com/staff.html Minnesota's Fredrikson & Byron: http://fredlaw.com/bios/professionals/omalleybonnie/ Philadelphia’s Kolsby, Gordon, Robin, Shore & Bezar: http://www.kolsbygordon.com/bios/thayer.php Indianapolis’ Dann Pecar Newman - [Cost Savings through Outsourced Litigation Doc Review](https://estrin.vip/cost_savings_th/) - News from a litigation support vendor based in Austin: "Tusker Group, LP, a global service organization providing business and knowledge process outsourcing today announced the availability of first level document review services via an outsourced model."Tusker Group now offers first level document review to law firms and corporate counsel world-wide, utilizing a hybrid method that - [Case Management: Tips for Techie Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/case_management/) - Definitely helpful guidance for any firm wanting to add these systems: "There is no question today that case management systems can literally transform the most disorganized law practices into super-efficient legal services delivery engines. Firms that effectively implement case management software systems consistently report: (1) higher profitability due in part to a reduction of previously - ["Coming soon to theaters: Paralegal saves the day"](https://estrin.vip/coming_soon_to_/) - You must read this article to learn how the case was won! "The story sounds familiar, like the plot of a dozen movies: a legal assistant saves the case of a law office when she finds evidence everyone else - the prosecution, investigators and her bosses - overlooked. "Days before David Redden's murder trial began, - [Indiana Paralegal Association Welcomes Advertising](https://estrin.vip/indiana_paraleg/) - Would you welcome this advertising outreach? "Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association has announced a new program where businesses can advertise its products and services to paralegals and attorneys in northeast Indiana. The association is offering businesses the opportunity to take advantage of more benefits at a discounted rate, in some cases as much as 30 percent, - [6 Tips to Paralegals from Sole Practitioner](https://estrin.vip/6_tips_to_paral/) - This lawyer's tips for paralegals sound smart. Let us know if you agree! "1. I Can’t See the Trees, but I Can See the Forest. I’m a sole practitioner and out of the office on a regular basis. I have a pretty full case load, I go to more than my fair share of - [Things Paralegals Want to Tell Lawyers](https://estrin.vip/things_paralega/) - This sure is an interesting list from a trial lawyer blog: "Well, we’re finally kicking off the Top 5 series. We’re starting with a doozy, things paralegals would tell their lawyers if they could. Most of the responses were anonymous, because the paralegals didn’t want their current or future employers to google them and find - ["Special Masters Can Do the Heavy Lifting for E-Discovery"](https://estrin.vip/special_masters/) - Good! Paralegals & lawyers need help with the hard work of e-discovery: "The impact of electronic data on modern litigation can hardly be overstated. More than 90 percent of information now is created and stored electronically. "With most day-to-day business records created in electronic form, courts and litigants alike struggle to define e-discovery production requirements. - ["A bunch of paralegals" helps Warner](https://estrin.vip/a_bunch_of_para/) - The ITV Interview with Eric Frankel [PDF link], President of Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution: [snip] Frankel: "Yes. First, you need to look at all your rights, program-by-program and episode-by-episode, to see if you have the rights to put it on the Internet. [snip] "A couple of years ago, I said, 'Gee. One of these - ["N.J. Paralegal Pay Lags Behind the National Average"](https://estrin.vip/nj_paralegal_pa/) - One of our Paralegal SuperConference speakers, James Wilber from Altman Weil, publishes national salary survey. Ouch, NJ is the lowest: "Paralegals in New Jersey earn markedly less than their counterparts in other parts of the country, according to a new survey of paralegal compensation. [See chart.] "If they worked in Newark last year, their average - ["DiLeone & Associates, P.C. Announces New Paralegal"](https://estrin.vip/dileone_associa/) - Another welcome move by a firm -- announcing paralegal hires: "Ralph J. DiLeone, managing partner at DiLeone & Associates, P.C., has announced that Dara Lyon Warner has joined the firm as a paralegal. In this position, Warner will be involved with business incorporations and other business related matters, wills and estate administration, manage administrative and - ["Simpson Thacher Achieves Denial of Class Certification"](https://estrin.vip/simpson_thacher/) - Firm's press release on winning the case also acknowledges paralegals! Although the firm does not currently post paralegal bios, a site search pulls up several more press releases naming paralegals as part of the team: "On July 11, 2006, the Firm [Simpson Thacher & Bartlett] won the dismissal of a consolidated ERISA putative class action - ["Hot rods, hot time" involving paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/hot_rods_hot_ti/) - Two paralegals & their husbands on a really different path: "Imagine your job is to plan parties, give out prizes to people who attend, chat with guests and entertain them with music. "Welcome to Lightning Rod ProMotions. "Two husband-and-wife teams own the LaGrange-based company. Donna and Ed Silinsky and Cheryl and Ray LeFever host weekly - ["Building a First in IP Fact-Finding"](https://estrin.vip/building_a_firs/) - Database for IP litigation sounds like a smart plan: "When Joshua Walker worked with a team of lawyers in Kigali, Rwanda, to mount a case against the perpetrators of that country's genocide, he built a database of trial evidence under wartime conditions. Targets of his investigation put a $1,000 bounty on him. "Ten years later, - ["Keep Executive Witnesses From Falling Off the Credibility Cliff"](https://estrin.vip/keep_executive_/) - Here's an interesting article about corporate executive witnesses: "These are challenging times for those of us who represent and defend corporations in litigation. The recent criminal convictions of Enron's Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling only confirm what we have known for quite some time -- jurors are skeptical [PDF link] of, and even hostile toward, - [Army sergeants & paralegals in Iraq](https://estrin.vip/army_sergeants_/) - A married couple serves together in Iraq as, yes, paralegals: "The night envelops the two young Army sergeants in darkness as their hearts beat loudly within their chests. Staring at one another through night vision goggles, he whispers, 'Happy anniversary, baby.' With nothing to do but keep silent and wait, she drifts off into past - ["Paralegal Charged With Theft"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_charg-2/) - I hate to find news like this: "A former paralegal has been arrested for stealing $3,800 from the New York County Public Administrators office [PDF link] while he was employed by a law firm that serves as counsel to the PA."Derricke Brown, 43, of the Bronx, has been charged with third degree grand larceny, a - ["Radio Waves Lasso the Paper Trail"](https://estrin.vip/radio_waves_las/) - Fascinating news! "It makes sense that attorneys who advise e-commerce ventures as part of their regular practice would try putting technology to use to manage law firms. And it makes sense that they'd be the ones to succeed. "As technology continues to permeate our society, use of radio frequency identification (RFID) equipment is spreading far - [UK paralegals launch diversity drive](https://estrin.vip/uk_paralegals_l/) - Good news for all: "The Institute of Paralegals last month hosted a meeting with the backing of the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) as part of a drive to improve diversity in the legal profession." - ["Do's and Don'ts of High-Tech Trial Presentations"](https://estrin.vip/dos_and_donts_o/) - Smart advice for litigation paralegals heading to trial: "Four years ago, our courtrooms in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota were equipped with new technology tools [PDF link], including digital document cameras, real-time feeds, video and audio conferencing, and more. "Since then, I've witnessed effective and ineffective use of courtroom technology by - ["Law firms mull outsourcing"](https://estrin.vip/law_firms_mull_/) - Another a must-read article about outsourcing paralegal & other legal services to India: [snip] "Some local [Seattle] law firms are looking at the possibility of outsourcing legal services to save money and keep clients' costs down, although none so far appears to have actually done so. "A few weeks ago, Seattle-based Perkins Coie LLP formed - ["Paralegal Faces Trial"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_faces/) - Oh, no, definitely not good news: "A July 6 trial date has been set for a Fort Smith paralegal accused of giving legal advice while not licensed to practice law."A complaint filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court by attorney Jim Hollis of the U.S. Trustee’s Office in Little Rock alleges that Mary Angela Barnett, a paralegal - [Ohio State bar develops paralegal certification program](https://estrin.vip/ohio_state_bar_-2/) - Well, this sure is welcome news! "The Ohio State Bar Association has developed a certification program for paralegals to help lawyers and firms identify qualified assistants. "Paralegals interested in earning a certification good for four years must meet educational standards stipulated by the bar association, have sufficient experience and pass an examination. Applications will be - ["Law Firms Look at Closing Pay Systems"](https://estrin.vip/law_firms_look_/) - As described in this article, closing access to salary info may lead to less of a lockstep approach to pay. And perhaps paralegals will also be paid for their performance, not simply years in the field: "When Robert Tucker and 35 other partners jumped ship as Arter & Hadden was sinking in 2003, they wanted - [Hamdan Case & Perkins Coie Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/hamdan_case_per/) - Nice to work on a big Supreme Court case! "Perkins Coie attorneys were part of a defense team that received a favorable ruling in a landmark case that challenged the scope of presidential authority. In a historic decision, the Supreme Court ruled (5-3) that military tribunals established by the Executive Office to try enemy combatants - ["Proceed With Caution When Deleting Data"](https://estrin.vip/proceed_with_ca/) - Good advice for paralegals, lawyers, & techies! "As dependence on electronic communication has grown, lawyers and their clients have faced new and significant issues relating to preservation of electronic information. "Electronically stored information is often recycled pursuant to a company's ordinary course of business, for example, through a computer system that automatically deletes e-mail older - [Locals help Katrina-surviving paralegal & lawyer feel at home](https://estrin.vip/locals_help_kat/) - Good news about Katrina's displaced for a change: "Sofia Lavidalie was not yet three years old when her parents, Jean and Dianna had to tell her that they could not go home to Louisiana because their house was wet."The explanation was oversimplified but accurate in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In the days immediately following - ["Celebrity Brockovich plaintiff in 2 suits"](https://estrin.vip/celebrity_brock/) - We're in favor of legal assistants righting wrongs...& making big money: "Erin Brockovich, the resourceful legal assistant made famous by Hollywood's depiction of her epic fight against Pacific Gas & Electric, now is going after two of San Diego's largest hospital operators. "She is the plaintiff in a pair of lawsuits filed recently in San - ["SEC's EDGAR Now Fully Searchable"](https://estrin.vip/secs_edgar_now_/) - More helpful news dug up by The Virtual Chase: "The Securities and Exchange Commission last week announced that documents in its EDGAR database now are fully searchable. The change in search access affects documents that are two years old or newer. In addition to company filings, researchers will find filings pertaining to mutual funds." - ["German Legal Assistant Wins Henri Dunant Award"](https://estrin.vip/german_legal_as/) - Excellent news! "Miss Wibke Timmermann -- a 30 year-old German legal assistant working in a defence team at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) -- is to receive the Henri Dunant Award 2006 for her international law dissertation, specializing in hate speech and war propaganda. "She carried out this work after studying at the - ["The rising profile of the [UK] paralegal"](https://estrin.vip/the_rising_prof/) - About 500,000 paralegals work in the U.K. today. Many earn between £50,000 & £80,000 annually ($92,045 to $147,280). And with higher salaries comes a more professional standing: "Largely unnoticed, the paralegal profession has grown to 500,000 practitioners: 50,000 in the legal profession, the remainder spread throughout every other sector of the economy. "Paralegals do work - ["The Billable Hour's Staying Power"](https://estrin.vip/the_billable_ho/) - One of my least favorite tasks -- & I'm sure others' as well -- billing time! "As Abraham Lincoln once said, "A lawyer's advice is his stock in trade." That short phrase has been repeated by attorneys throughout the years and is etched on brass plaques hanging in law firms worldwide. "Clearly, Abe knew the - ["There's Always a First Time for Tech at Trial"](https://estrin.vip/theres_always_a/) - This case is a remarkably successful demonstration of how to use technology to win a case. Waiting until you absolutely NEED technology to LEARN how it works, however, is NOT recommended: "On May 24, 2001, Claire Duncan was driving on Route I-95 near Petersburg, Va., when a Winnebago made a sudden shift into her lane. - [Toronto Bill 14 to Regulate Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/toronto_bill_14/) - Here's a letter from Margaret Louter in support of regulation to the Toronto Star: "Marshall Yarmus suggests in his letter that the Paralegal Society of Ontario disagrees with Bill 14 because it will increase the cost of legal services to the public and small businesses and will increase lawyers' monopoly on certain legal services. He - ["Enron Defense Firm Stuck With the Tab"](https://estrin.vip/enron_defense_f/) - I guess this shouldn't be surprising news to anyone who's followed the Enron mess: "To the list of employees, investors and businesses who suffered financial misfortune in Enron Corp.'s demise, add this one: the law firm defending former chief executive Jeffrey K. Skilling. "Los Angeles-based O'Melveny & Myers LLP, which has represented Skilling on both - [Paralegals in Australasia](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_in_a/) - Yes, Australasia, namely Australia, New Zealand, & neighbouring islands: "An increasing number of UK, US and international law firms are swarming around Australia's and New Zealand's shores in search of highly skilled, hard-working partners, associates, paralegals and trainees." - [Manila Institute's First Paralegals](https://estrin.vip/manila_institut/) - The Phillippines' Manila Institute has graduated its first class of paralegals: "The Manila Times Institute for Paralegal Studies will award certificates of completion to its first batch of graduates at ceremonies scheduled for Friday at the Manila Hotel. "Presiding Justice Ruben Reyes of the Court of Appeals will be the commencement speaker. Dr. Dante A. - ["Lawyers plan increased hiring in next 12 months, survey shows"](https://estrin.vip/lawyers_plan_in/) - Good news for those interested in making a change: "The hiring outlook for law firms and corporate legal departments remains positive, a new survey shows. Fifty-five per cent of lawyers surveyed plan to add personnel in the coming year. Only 1 per cent of respondents anticipate reductions in personnel. These results reflect little change from - [Over 1,000 paralegals have worked on the Oxycontin case(s)...!](https://estrin.vip/over_1000_paral/) - And at least who will pay the legal bills has been decided: "Purdue Pharma has settled with its insurer over lofty legal costs the drug maker had racked up in defending against OxyContin suits. [snip] "None of the pending OxyContin lawsuits has gone to trial, WSJ reported. The report further noted that, although insurance payment - [What happened on June 13, 1966?](https://estrin.vip/what_happened_o/) - Many important events, we're sure, but one in particular came from the Supremes: "Washington, June 13--The Supreme Court announced today sweeping limitations on the power of the police to question suspects in their custody. The justices split 5 to 4. In stinging dissents the minority denounced the decision as helping criminals go free to repeat - [Computer Forensics 101 for paralegals & others](https://estrin.vip/computer_forens/) - This free course can give paralegals a valuable skill: "Project Leadership Associates, Inc. (PLA),continues to meet the demands of the legal industry and corporate counsel by offering a Computer Forensics Training Session in Chicago on Tuesday, June 27th. "Computer Forensics 101 is a free training session hosted by PLA. Our introduction to Computer Forensics is - [Second language can open doors for paralegals](https://estrin.vip/second_language/) - ...which just makes sense in our global world, right? "With employers in the private and public sectors exploring operations on a global scale, gaining fluency in a second language or preserving a native language can provide countless opportunities to graduates. [snip] "Not all languages lead to the same opportunities, however. "Arabic, Korean, Russian, Persian and - ["Game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' Ordered to Settle Dispute"](https://estrin.vip/game_of_rock_pa/) - Now this is both funny & smart news! "A federal judge, miffed at the inability of opposing attorneys to agree on even the slightest details of a lawsuit, ordered them to settle their latest dispute with a game of 'rock, paper, scissors.'" "The argument was over a location to take the sworn statement of a - ["For Some, Online Persona Undermines a Resume"](https://estrin.vip/for_some_online/) - Just like posting [PDF link] to a blog, this article reminds people to consider how their online words might look to an employer: "When a small consulting company in Chicago was looking to hire a summer intern this month, the company's president went online to check on a promising candidate who had just graduated from - [E-Discovery Attorneys (& Paralegals) Needed](https://estrin.vip/ediscovery_atto/) - Yes, both attorneys & paralegals are needed for e-discovery: Commentary (by Seth Davis of LawFirmInc.): A recruiter weighs in on the current upsurge in demand for e-discovery attorneys "There's a new tech boom of sorts. In the last few months I've received numerous inquiries from organizations seeking e-discovery managers [PDF link], e-discovery consultants, e-discovery engineers, - [Law Firms "Compelled" to Raise Summer Associate Salaries?](https://estrin.vip/law_firms_compe/) - Ah, if only a survey about paralegal salaries could be so compelling! "Reminiscent of the teenage girl who conforms her fashion choices to those of her clique's alpha, many Atlanta law firm recruiters -- when pressed on summer associate salary details -- first asked, 'Well, what are other firms doing?' "Then they followed the alpha. - ["alternative to ‘employing an army of paralegals’"](https://estrin.vip/alternative_to_/) - Well, this software could be both good & bad news: "KPMG Forensic, the UK unit responsible for fraud investigation, has agreed to purchase e-disclosure and investigations software solutions from Aungate, a specialists real-time enterprise governance developer. "The software is widely used by law enforcement and other agencies around the world and will enable KPMG forensic - [Can't find work as a paralegal?](https://estrin.vip/cant_find_work_/) - Well, Arizona has more "paralegal jobs than grads" & needs you! "Local attorneys have a problem."Apparently, they can't find enough qualified people to fill open paralegal positions in their offices."Susan Howery, dean of Yavapai College's Prescott Valley Campus, and Ruth Harrison, director of the college's paralegal program, said during an interview Monday that their inability - ["The Need for Work-Life Balance"](https://estrin.vip/the_need_for_wo/) - Yes, you might be able to have a balance between work & life, Virginia: "Every working person in Corporate America feels the need for work-life balance. The legal community is no different. The Boston Bar Association was recently commended for establishing a Task Force which addressed and brought to the forefront the sensitive issue of - [CRM software for law firms, managed by paralegals?](https://estrin.vip/crm_software_fo/) - Something new that paralegals might use to climb the ladder? "It took legal professionals a while to embrace customer relationship management (CRM) technology, but the advent of products tailored to the specific needs of the industry has made it easier than ever for attorneys to trust the tech with their most sensitive asset. "This is - ["Paralegal offers a new twist on a traditional job"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_offer/) - Will this news about going independent convince you to do the same? "Paralegal Laura Hunt stumbled upon her career by accident. "'I originally went to nursing school at WestConn for about a year, right out of high school in 1996, but I didn't really like it,' said Hunt, now 27. "Nine years ago, the Brookfield - [1-800-Translate now supports foreign discovery translation](https://estrin.vip/1800translate_n/) - Well, this sounds like good news for lots of firms: "'With the internationalization of the practice of law and the growing importance of e-discovery, our clients in law firms and corporate legal departments face escalating demands for translation of foreign language data,' said Ken Clark, chief operations officer at 1-800-Translate. 'We've answered this challenge by - [Fiji Paralegals Tour Courts](https://estrin.vip/fiji_paralegals/) - Good, practical news: "COMMUNITY paralegals and community workers took a tour of the court and family court on the final day of the Family Law Act and Family Court training on Friday. "The training workshop was organised by the Fiji Women's Rights Movement and the Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team and ended on Friday after - [Have Time for Fun?](https://estrin.vip/have_time_for_f/) - Of course, you do. The Anonymous Law Firm is well worth a look.... - [Comparing Paralegal Certification Exams](https://estrin.vip/comparing_paral/) - For those interested in taking a paralegal certification exam, check out this comparison prepared by NALS. The chart looks at exams offered by:NALS, the association for legal professionalsNational Association for Legal Assistants (NALA)National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA)And read this Utah Bar Journal article to learn "Why Paralegal Certification Counts": "Through the certification program, - [Top IP Attorney in US credits colleagues including paralegals](https://estrin.vip/top_ip_attorney/) - Let's hear it for teamwork! "Topping off another year of exceptional results on the intellectual property front, Irell & Manella LLP's Morgan Chu has been named the Number 1 Intellectual Property lawyer in the U.S. by Chambers & Partners. "Mr. Chu was among only 19 American lawyers singled out by Chambers as being the top - ["Clarion paralegal program coming to Indiana University"](https://estrin.vip/clarion_paraleg/) - Good news for Indiana residents: "The associate of science degree in paralegal studies offered by Clarion University is coming to the Indiana University Northpointe Regional Campus beginning with the Fall 2006 semester. “'This is a new initiative with IUP,' said Dr. Art Acton, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Clarion University. 'The general education - ["Study finds companies snooping on employee e-mail"](https://estrin.vip/_study_finds_co/) - Do you know about your firm or company policy? "According to a new study, about a third of big companies in the United States and Britain hire employees to read and analyze outbound e-mail as they seek to guard against legal, financial or regulatory risk. "More than a third of U.S. companies surveyed also said - [Law firm & paralegals now prepared for hurricanes](https://estrin.vip/law_firm_parale-3/) - Planning to protect data & business documents in wake of 2005 storms: "The fear of losing everything on its computer system drove Locke Liddell & Sapp to spend more than $300,000 so the information on its computers is stored on a nightly basis, said David F. Taylor, who was the law firm's administrative partner and - ["We may be slow, but we're not stupid"](https://estrin.vip/we_may_be_slow_/) - So said Patricia Glaser, a name partner at embattled Christensen Glaser when talking about a recent raise for associates: "Two Los Angeles law firms recently raised their first-year associate salaries while facing key partner departures and a federal criminal probe into whether lawyers engaged in illegal wiretapping. "Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger, whose top - [Paralegal Fights Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_fight-2/) - Gotta like it when people fight silly fees: "Like most controversies, the debate over the much-despised FLREA or RAT Act, as named by its critics (short for Recreation Access Tax), has ended up in the courtroom. One hiker's refusal to pay a $5 fee to park along a road through a national forest could bring - ["Redacted Brief Leaks Sensitive Information"](https://estrin.vip/redacted_brief_/) - Brief leaks into through bad redaction -- will people ever learn? "Lawyers for AT&T accidentally released sensitive information while defending a lawsuit that accuses the company of facilitating a government wiretapping program, CNET News.com has learned. "AT&T's attorneys this week filed a 25-page legal brief striped with thick black lines that were intended to obscure - ["CaseSeeker Showcases at Paralegal SuperConference"](https://estrin.vip/caseseeker_show/) - More reasons to go to Houston (never mind the heat, the Houstonian is fab!): "Data Reign, the distributor of the data and document management software CaseSeeker, announced today it will showcase CaseSeeker to the public during the 'Paralegal SuperConference' in Houston. "The Houston Paralegal SuperConference is a day-and-a-half event with over 35 workshops and sessions - ["Professor wrote book on being a paralegal"](https://estrin.vip/professor_wrote/) - All we can say about this profile is "wow!" "For 20 years Elms College students have learned from the words of legal studies professor Katherine Currier, and they are not alone. "Currier's text, Introduction to Law for Paralegals: A Critical Thinking Approach, is used by more than 150 colleges and universities, and was released this - [Is Your E-Mail a Pain in the Net?](https://estrin.vip/is_your_email_a/) - Conference addresses dangers lurking in cyberspace: "Confidentiality breaches, identity theft, and loss of proprietary data online are among the biggest security threats today to law firms and their clients. "According to Patricia Eyres, a Phoenix and Los Angeles based attorney, law firms suffer losses of intellectual property, privacy, and piracy through lack of consistently enforceable - [Paralegals in Fiji!!](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_in_f/) - Another "who knew?" news article, this time from the Fiji Times: "THIRTY-THREE community workers will learn about the Family Law Act and the newly established Family Court in a training program from May 22-26. "The training program has been organised by the Fiji Women's Rights Movement and will be held at the Pacific Theological College - [The Air Force employs paralegals!](https://estrin.vip/the_air_force_e/) - Who knew? At just one Air Force base, 100 paralegals work as claims specialists: "Air Force Chief of Staff General T. Michael Moseley recently re-designated the Air Force Legal Services Agency as the Air Force Legal Operations Agency. "This and other changes in the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps are part of a new - ["Milberg Weiss, Two Name Partners Indicted"](https://estrin.vip/milberg_weiss_t/) - Well, this isn't good news: "After a six-year investigation, federal prosecutors in Los Angeles have indicted the New York securities class action firm Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman and two of its name partners. "The charges against partners David Bershad and Steven Schulman of conspiring to make illegal payments to clients in class actions -- - [SEC rules out Sarbanes-Oxley exemption for small firms](https://estrin.vip/sec_rules_out_s/) - Wow, didn't see this coming! "The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) Wednesday announced that although it has decided to simplify the Sarbanes-Oxley law, it will not exempt smaller companies from the provisions of the law aimed at reducing fraud."The SEC mentioned that it will take steps to simplify compliance procedures, while making the regulatory process - [Paralegals in China?](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_in_c/) - Yes, but foreign law firms practicing there are now facing problems: "Mainland legal groups are urging the government to crackdown on foreign law firms that exceed their legal operating authority by practicing Chinese law, which could lead to the sanctioning and closing of some foreign law offices, or even the voiding of business and legal - [Someone is worried whether a paralegal can buy a house?](https://estrin.vip/someone_is_worr/) - Yes! Tough way to get recognition though: The cooling real estate market offers a bit of good news for cash-strapped home buyers: The affordability squeeze has eased slightly. [snip] "Rising mortgage rates are cramping consumers' budgets, however, and local employers and politicians continue to fret about the ability of teachers, nurses and paralegals to afford - [Paralegals are everywhere, Africa included](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_are_-2/) - Women face human rights abuses in the informal legal sector: "Women in rural Sierra Leone have few protections from discrimination and other human rights violations and abuses. They face formal and official discrimination under the law, in customs and in rulings in matters of personal status, marriage and inheritance. Although there is a system within - [Louisiana paralegal positions going unfilled...](https://estrin.vip/louisiana_paral/) - Been in contact today with a VSA (Very Stressed Administrator), from a firm in Metairie, LA. One of the many effects of Katrina is the scarcity of candidates to fill open positions. There are good-paying jobs going unfilled because no one is there to start work! For example, this firm seeks two experienced paralegals to - [India's Legal (& Paralegal) Outsourcing to Grow 7% by 2010](https://estrin.vip/indias_legal_pa/) - See the latest prediction here: "India is set to achieve significant growth from its current share of 3-4 per cent to 6-7 per cent in the 250 billion dollar global market of Legal Process Outsourcing, by 2010."According to the BPO Council of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), more than 200 top US - ["Virtual Legal Assistant to Participate in Online Virtual Convention"](https://estrin.vip/virtual_legal_a/) - Virtual assistants also 'do' legal! "For most professionals, Friday, May 19, 2006 will be an ordinary workday -- but not for Lynn Carroll, a virtual legal assistant who lives and works from her home in Colorado Springs. She, along with colleagues in the area and around the world will be celebrating the first annual International - ["Paralegal opportunities to $115K"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_oppor/) - Are these salaries posted on Monster for real? Check them out & let us know! Segue Legal Search PARALEGAL CAREER OPPTYS TO 115K +++ Segue Legal Search is one of NYC’s most successful recruiting organizations, bring your unique talents to Segue -- we are now recruiting for the following: arnold@seguelegal.com Law Firms and Major Financial Institutions – IMMEDIATE - ["Fosamax - is it the next VIOXX?"](https://estrin.vip/so_litigation_p/) - So, litigation paralegals, think Fosamax could be the next VIOXX? Hear the discussion on Legal Talk Network: "On this edition of Coast to Coast, find out more about personal injury lawsuits and class actions being filed against Merck by women who took the drug, Fosamax. Many now suffer severe medical and dental problems. "Co-hosts & - ["ABA Raises Fresh Concerns Regarding Domestic Surveillance"](https://estrin.vip/aba_raises_fres/) - Nice to hear from the ABA about this important issue: "May 9, 2006 -- American Bar Association President Michael S. Greco today called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to carry out 'a thorough inquiry into the nature and extent of the warrantless domestic surveillance conducted by the administration,' and called any legislative action 'premature' until - [Paralegals Help with "Do-It-Yourself E-Discovery"?](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_help/) - It's all about making EDD accessible to small firms & solo practitioners where paralegal tech skills can come in handy: "Recently, a Texas firm received a dozen Microsoft Outlook .pst files from a client. Like the dog that caught the car, they weren't sure what to do next. Even out on the prairie, they'd heard - ["Outsourced Around the World in a Billable Hour"](https://estrin.vip/outsourced_arou/) - There's more talk about outsourcing legal research & paralegal jobs. One report says that by 2015, 79,000 jobs will be outsourced; half will be legal staff & paralegals. Will your job be one of them? "General counsel should know of the dramatic increase in compensation levels for associates working for large Texas firms. As in - [Paralegals have trouble getting the recognition they deserve...](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_have/) - Here's what's going on in Zambia, Africa: "ZAMBIA has missed by far the 30 per cent SADC gender and development declaration target for women in decision-making by 2005, Non-Governmental Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC) chairperson Lucy Muyoyeta has said. "In her speech read by NGOCC board member Theresa Nyirenda during the official opening of Law and Development - [Fortner Promoted to Dallas VP for Paralegals Plus](https://estrin.vip/fortner_promote/) - Congrats to this former law firm technology trainer & successful business builder: "Paralegals Plus, Inc., a leading provider of qualified talent to the most prestigious law firms and corporate legal departments in the State of Texas, announced the promotion of Debra Lindsey Fortner to Vice President, Dallas Division. "Ms. Fortner joined Paralegals Plus, Inc. in - [Is Your Firm Prepared for Emergencies?](https://estrin.vip/is_your_firm_pr/) - Check to see if this article helps you answer that question: "When Hurricane Andrew blew away Robert Zinn's car dealership in 1992, he decided it was time to put his degree from Cornell Law School to full-time use. Fourteen years later, as the chief operating shareholder of Akerman Senterfitt, he's still worried about the weather. - [Product Placement, Branded Entertainment = New Practice Area](https://estrin.vip/product_placeme/) - Interested in entertainment law? Learn about "branded entertainment" deals: "It's no accident that contestants of 'The Apprentice,' Donald Trump's reality television show, designed the actual marketing brochures for a new Pontiac model. Or that the Man in the Yellow Hat in the recently released 'Curious George' movie drives a Volkswagen. "They're the results of a - [Business casual is out but shorts are in for Florida paralegals....](https://estrin.vip/business_casual/) - Fashon news for law firms from the Daytona Beach News Journal: "Tank tops and flip-flops in a law office? No way. "But shorts? "They're OK -- if they're tailored, conservative 'city shorts ' paired with a matching jacket, according to Patti Humphreys, legal administrator and keeper of the dress code at Rice & Rose, a - [Lawyers & Paralegals Connecting with Extranets](https://estrin.vip/lawyers_paraleg_1/) - Not sure the "end of the paper chase" will ever occur, but it is getting closer: "Sarah Borders is not a fan of paper -- at least not reams and reams and reams of it. The leader of the Financial Restructuring Group at King & Spalding helps her clients buy and sell distressed assets, which - [Fort Worth “Paralegal of the Year” Joins Sales Staff](https://estrin.vip/fort_worth_para-2/) - This seems like a rewarding way to use paralegal experience: "Litigation Solution, Inc. a regional leader in litigation support services including computer forensics, electronic discovery, document imaging, and trial support services for law firms and corporate legal departments today announced the expansion of its sales efforts with the appointment of four new sales consultants. The - ["Electronic Redaction Doesn't Always Hide What It's Supposed To"](https://estrin.vip/electronic_reda/) - Do paralegals & attorneys in this electronic document age need more instruction about keeping info confidential? "With the issue of intentional government leaks of classified information frequently in the news, the problem of unintentional leaks of classified and sensitive information is frequently overlooked. The examples are numerous and startling. "Last year, U.S. military commanders in - [Use of contract attorneys & paralegals on the rise](https://estrin.vip/use_of_contract/) - And it's all about discovery documents: "The costs of document discovery are expected to rise by almost $3 billion by 2007, according to a recent article in The National Law Journal. "An increasing number of law firms are turning to contract attorneys and paralegals to review, code, index and summarize discovery documents. Many of the - ["...$195 an hour for work by paralegals..."](https://estrin.vip/195_an_hour_for/) - Have paralegal billing practices gotten out of control? The New York Sun seems to think so: "A bitter legal brawl over attorneys' fees has erupted in a national cosmetics pricing class action lawsuit, with feuding camps of plaintiffs' lawyers slinging allegations of flagrant billing abuses and extortion. "Among the alleged abuses were bills of $195 - ["Law In Business: Language barriers"](https://estrin.vip/law_in_business/) - Litigation paralegals who speak languages other than English may find themselves in demand: "As the boundaries of technology continue to widen, the need for multilingual e-discovery systems has become ever greater. Matthew Blake examines the important considerations for law firms in a rapidly globalising market."As discovery continues its transformation into the electronic age, cases have - [Lawyers & paralegals use multimedia software](https://estrin.vip/lawyers_paraleg/) - ...in the courtroom: "Today an increasing number of tech-savvy trial attorneys are turning to multimedia solutions to highlight critical evidence and testimony at trial. "With a well-organized multimedia presentation, skilled trial attorneys can wage in-court arguments and deliver powerful closing statements, seamlessly integrating key evidence and even impeaching or discrediting critical witnesses by replaying previously - ["Paralegal to meet with senior citizens"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_to_me/) - Does this seem like the unauthorized practice of law to you? "Judy Clay, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma’s senior citizens paralegal, will visit Northern Oklahoma Development Authority from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday."She will meet with Garfield County seniors who want information on legal matters or have legal questions. The - ["No fear of flying" for paralegals](https://estrin.vip/no_fear_of_flyi/) - Have you ever looked into aviation law? "How many legal practices offer the chance to explore professionally what you enjoy doing personally? Thankfully, a good part of our practice does. For those who love airplanes and flying, aviation litigation offers that opportunity. [snip] The Morrison & Foerster Aviation Team consists of a dozen lawyers and - [Paralegals' Database Expertise Needed](https://estrin.vip/paralegals_data/) - See Who Should Direct Your Company's Next Case? "Litigation has become part of the business landscape for most companies. Companies that once faced little or no litigation now find themselves defending against "bet the company" litigation. Often the in-house attorneys are stretched too thin to guide the day-to-day management and coordination of the voluminous litigation - ["...while paralegals go high-tech,...](https://estrin.vip/while_paralegal/) - ...the number of legal secretaries is dwindling." Excellent article! [snip] "Not only are work opportunities for paralegals growing but their work is increasingly sophisticated. Always in demand, paralegals have become the technology-proficient information managers often called upon to go to court alongside the attorney. "'Paralegals today are much more relied upon,' Steefel, Levitt & Weiss' - [Veteran Litigation Service Providers Forge National Co.](https://estrin.vip/veteran_litigat/) - Wonder how well this idea will work: "Twelve regional litigation service firms have joined forces to launch CausaFirma, LLC, the first national company to offer standardized and integrated support services from discovery through trial presentation."The partners, selected for their leadership roles in their own markets, have developed a process for delivering consistently high quality litigation - [Uganda Paralegals Fighting for Children's Rights](https://estrin.vip/uganda_arua_top/) - "Uganda: Arua Tops in Domestic Violence" -- NOT good! "CHILD abuse and domestic violence have increased in most rural parts of Arua district, the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers has said. "Ms. Hellen Edimu, the national programme officer for Fida - Uganda, said on Monday that their branch office in Arua was overwhelmed with cases - [International Legalization Handbook Published](https://estrin.vip/international_l/) - New publication from a leading market research & newsletter company: "Research and Markets has announced the addition of 'The International Legalization Handbook' to their offering. "The International Legalization Handbook deals with the increasingly common problem of how to have official and private documents authenticated for use in other countries. This perennial need has been fuelled - ["Solos' First Step: Converting Contacts Into Clients"](https://estrin.vip/solos_first_ste/) - Very helpful advice from The Connecticut Law Tribune: "Office space? Check. A computer and other requisite technology? Check. Clients? "For attorneys venturing out on their own, that's not only the hardest ingredient to come by, it's also the most vital. "Depending on their legal niche, or how desperate they are for business, solo practitioners can - ["States rush to remove data on residents from websites"](https://estrin.vip/states_rush_to_/) - Well, this is good news for protecting privacy: "States across the USA are furiously removing sensitive data from official websites. "The task highlights challenges facing states with sites full of personal information on residents, from Social Security numbers to bank account numbers. "Such data is available in Florida, Ohio and at least a dozen others, - [Oh, My, Lawyers in Love?](https://estrin.vip/oh_my_lawyers_i/) - Well, yes, it can happen: The Internet has fueled marketing for just about every product & audience imaginable. So, why not love? And why not lawyers? Enter Lawyersinlove.com. Exclusively for lawyers, law students, & other legal professionals, the online dating site marked its one-year anniversary this past February 14th. Users pay fees starting at $19.95 - [Demo the Latest Legal Techology](https://estrin.vip/demo_the_latest/) - Ooh, we love new technology! "See the latest in legal tech! Law.com's Legal Technology Video Showcase gives you some of the best highlights of legal technology in one place. View videos of the latest vendor products, commentary from industry experts, and learn about what Law.com's Legal Technology Super Section has to offer." - ["Got Kids? These Clients Don't Care"](https://estrin.vip/got_kids_these_/) - Well, all I can say to this is "ouch!" "So much for sisterhood. "Women juggling kids and careers in private practice might expect some sympathy, maybe even a little slack, from female clients. After all, the thinking goes, they can relate. "Or not. "Last week, a panel of in-house counsel [PDF link] at a National - [New Chair of National Patent Litigation Practice](https://estrin.vip/new_chair_of_na/) - Big moves in Washington, D.C. IP practice: "Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP today announced that Alexander J. Hadjis and Richard G. Green have joined the law firm as partners in its Washington, D.C. office, where Hadjis will be the national chair of the patent litigation practice. Hadjis and Green come to Sonnenschein from Weil, Gotshal - ["ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY: Office boss"](https://estrin.vip/administrative_/) - Let's hear a rousing "thanks!" for hard-working office staffers: "Joyce Josaitis orders office supplies, fixes broken copy machines, administers employee benefits and trains new staff. She's also the first face and voice customers encounter at LaMont Title Corp. in Detroit. "Josaitis, 41, of Eastpointe is the office manager at LaMont, and, according to her boss, - ["Cottage a good legal source"](https://estrin.vip/cottage_a_good_/) - Don't let the headline confuse you (like it did me!), this is a fun article: "It's an old-school lawyer's paradise: Four rooms crammed with books bearing catchy titles like 'Corpus Juris Secundum,' 'Bender's Federal Practice Forms' and 'West's Annotated Mississippi Code.' "It's not the Ole Miss or University of Memphis law library, but the pink - ["What's a Little Metadata Mining Between Colleagues?"](https://estrin.vip/whats_a_little_/) - So, an organization sends a document to another without deleting the doc's metadata. And then it complains about that data being acessed! "When Florida Bar president-elect Henry Coxe III brought up metadata mining to the Bar's board of governors, some board members conceded they had never heard of the practice. "Coxe himself had only recently - ["Gear Up for Great War Rooms"](https://estrin.vip/gear_up_for_gre/) - Excellent how-to info from Legal Times: "When most people use the term 'war room,' they might conjure up images of camouflaged men and the thud-thud-thud of helicopter blades. But in reality, a properly planned litigation war room can become a respite from the day-to-day grind of trial -- a place where, in addition to everything - ["GCs Brace for Work Force's Shifting Sands"](https://estrin.vip/gcs_brace_for_w/) - Texas Lawyer says demographic changes forecast more age bias suits & showdowns over telecommuting: "Trends -- demographic, technological, cultural and political -- shape a general counsel's world. "Here are three inexorable trends guaranteed to impact a GC's life: an aging work force, a multicultural work force and a geographic migration [PDF link]. The businesses that - ["Time to put the legal in paralegal"](https://estrin.vip/time_to_put_the/) - Intriguing news from Canada -- paralegals may soon be regulated: "Across Canada, paralegals provide a variety of services for a fraction of the price lawyers charge, but they do it with no training standards, no regulations and no professional body to license or discipline them. "Ontario is set to change that. "Bill 14 will regulate - [UNICEF Humanitarian Action in Malawi](https://estrin.vip/unicef_humanita/) - Report of much-needed help coming from paralegals: "UNICEF will continue to protect children and women from sexual and economic exploitation in partnership with the Government of Malawi and NGOs. UNICEF will also continue to further enhance the partnerships with paralegals to monitor prisons and provide legal aid to children in conflict with the law, "The - ["Balancing Life and Practice: Getting Lawyers To Reset Moral Compass"](https://estrin.vip/balancing_life_/) - Lawyers need more spirituality so they won't be so miserable, so says this article from the Boston Globe. "Daniel Webster: You seem to have an excellent acquaintance with the law, sir. "The Devil: Sir, that is no fault of mine. Where I come from, we have always gotten the pick of the Bar. (Stephen Vincent - [Virtual Assistant Can Complete Your Team](https://estrin.vip/virtual_assista/) - Interesting approach to building legal teams: Lawyers function best as members of a team. No lawyer can do everything. A paralegal or administrative assistant whose qualifications and skills meet your needs will effectively extend the reach and quality of your practice. You can hire such a person to work full time, on your payroll. However, - ["Avoiding Mobile Computing Burnout"](https://estrin.vip/avoiding_mobile/) - Another good article found & submitted to The Estrin Report by Celia C. Elwell, RP: "It’s no secret that lawyers and legal staff have high-pressure jobs. As if we were not multitasking enough, mobile technology makes us even more accessible to client service and other demands. Untamed, it leads to information overload, multiple interruptions throughout - ["Shaping a Firm's Future Through Its Next Generation"](https://estrin.vip/shaping_a_firms/) - Well, this is how law firm leaders should manage. Well, except for the "young person's game" comment: "James Fotenos knows he is playing a young people's game. "All the leaders at Greene Radovsky Maloney & Share are -- but the firm's founders and senior partners are well into their 50s and 60s. Though they say - ["Danger, death and dining served up in ‘Dark Tort’"](https://estrin.vip/danger_death_an/) - New murder mystery victim is a paralegal! "Goldy’s back and as usual, it’s murder! If you’re a mystery reader, and haven’t yet picked up one of Diane Mott Davidson's previous 12 culinary mysteries featuring Goldy (Bear) Schulz — millions of which are in print — you’re in a true minority. Sampling this Colorado caterer’s crimes - ["Promoting Pro Bono"](https://estrin.vip/promoting_pro_b/) - This use of attorney time is good: "Just admitted to the Ohio Bar last summer, Chad Sizemore, an attorney with Jenks, Piper & Oxley Co. LPA, began looking for opportunities to volunteer his time. He soon came across the Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, an organization that helps connect lawyers interested in volunteering their services - ["Paralegal took father's lesson to heart"](https://estrin.vip/paralegal_took_/) - This Colorado paralegal makes a difference! "Here's a compressed look at Debbie Hindin-King's profession and volunteerism: litigation and visitation. "She's a paralegal with the Holland & Hart law firm. "In her spare time, she devotes around 15 hours a week to volunteering, mainly with the Central Visitation Program. "She is the April recipient of the - ["Firm keeps an eagle eye on clients' legal bills"](https://estrin.vip/firm_keeps_an_e/) - Interesting news about a company that audits legal bills: "Harry Maue tried to start a legal auditing business three times before getting his company off the ground in 1985."Stuart, Maue, Mitchell & James Ltd. of Bridgeton helps companies manage their legal bills, which can be a mystifying and burgeoning expense in a litigious society.[snip] "The - ["High-profile defense lawyer joins high-profile law firm"](https://estrin.vip/highprofile_def/) - Well, this is an unusual pairing! "Minneapolis attorney William Mauzy, one of the best-known criminal lawyers in Minnesota, has joined the high-profile law firm of Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi to bolster its white-collar defense practice. "Mauzy joins former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones and government antitrust attorney Christopher Madel to focus on corporate crime, - ["Land rescued"](https://estrin.vip/land_rescued/) - Good work by paralegals in Uganda! "Paralegals have recovered over 10 acres of land that clan leaders grabbed from widows in Kaserem and Kawowo sub-counties. An area supervisor Burhani Kitiyo said this followed meetings the paralegals held with clan leaders, to sensitise them on the laws of inheritance. He said the clan leaders had grabbed - ["Pregnancy Discrimination Suits on the Rise"](https://estrin.vip/pregnancy_discr/) - Sigh, this is still happening? And getting worse!? "Employment lawyers say pregnancy discrimination lawsuits are on the rise in corporate America, particularly among high-level female executives who claim that they are being knocked off the corporate ladder because of maternity issues. "In Chicago, a national marketing manager is suing Merisant Worldwide Inc., the maker of - [Litigation Support Opening for Top CA Firm](https://estrin.vip/litigation_supp/) - We have been asked to assist a client in their search for a litigation support professional with a strong paralegal background. The ideal candidate will work in the Los Angeles office. The top 10 California firm seeks a candidate who possesses a B.A. degree, certificate from an ABA-approved school, & major firm background. Will work - [Legal Research Guide: Elder Law](https://estrin.vip/legal_research_/) - The Virtual Chase points to elder law info from the ABA: "Legal Guide for Older Americans: The American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging makes available a legal information guide for seniors. It provides an overview of 10 topics, including age discrimination, retirement rights and benefits [PDF link], Medicare, housing and long-term care [PDF - ["Keep Internet Disclosures From Costing Your Company"](https://estrin.vip/keep_internet_d/) - This article affirms what we've been teaching at our SuperConferences: "Answer: The Internet and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) "Question: What two powerful forces are generating a whole new world of liability for companies and their directors and officers? "It is unlikely that this answer-and-question combo will ever appear on the popular TV quiz - ["Supreme Court Votes to Allow Citation to Unpublished Opinions"](https://estrin.vip/supreme_court_v/) - What a change! "The Supreme Court on Wednesday adopted a historic rule change that will allow lawyers to cite so-called unpublished opinions in federal courts starting next year. The new rule takes effect unless Congress countermands it before Dec. 1. "The justices' vote represents a major milestone in the long-running debate over unpublished opinions, the - ["Kilpatrick Stockton Pro Bono Efforts Set New Firm Record"](https://estrin.vip/kilpatrick_stoc/) - Good work by this Atlanta firm & kudos for a paralegal: "Kilpatrick Stockton LLP announces the firm’s third annual pro bono awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the firm’s pro bono efforts. The awards highlight a second record-breaking year for the firm, with more than 27,500 pro bono hours in 2005, a value of $8.2 - ["Working With an Expert Witness: The Seven Deadly Sins"](https://estrin.vip/working_with_an/) - Good article from Law.com about what not to do: "'So, I'd really like it if you could say this ...' "If you've just said that to your expert witness, you've just made his blood boil. And that's probably not going to be very good for your case. As engineer Steven Murray, Ph.D., of Exponent Failure - ["Internet 2.0 has arrived. Can you Feel it?"](https://estrin.vip/internet_20_has/) - Now this is a MOST interesting article from Legal Marketing Technology: "Wikis. Topping the 'heard about them, not sure what they are' list are wikis — Web sites to which anyone can add content or revise what already is there. 'It’s like [Microsoft] Word on the Web,' said Steve Rubel, senior vice president of CooperKatz - [Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Reports](https://estrin.vip/missouri_state_/) - Another helpful research tip from The Virtual Chase: "The Missouri State Highway Patrol makes available unofficial copies of accident reports for the past 10 days for free. For an annual fee, businesses and organizations may subscribe to the Crash Reports dB, which provides access to reports back to January 2004. The free service makes reports - ["Thorp Reed in Merger Talks With Dinsmore & Shohl"](https://estrin.vip/thorp_reed_in_m/) - More law firm merger news, this time in Philadelphia: "Pittsburgh-based Thorp Reed & Armstrong is in merger talks with Cincinnati's largest law firm, 280-attorney Dinsmore & Shohl. "While the talks have yet to produce even a letter of intent, Dinsmore & Shohl managing partner Clifford A. Roe said both firms are general service firms and ## Pages - [Home](https://estrin.vip/) - Estrin VIP - C Suite and Lawyer Head Hunters Over 25 years of experience providing job opportunities - [Fractional C Suite](https://estrin.vip/fractional-c-suite/) - Executive Leadership. Part-Time Commitment. Full-Time Impact. Fractional C-Suite Executives for Law Firms Your law firm has reached a point where practicing law and managing the business have become two full-time jobs. You don’t need another consultant. You need an experienced executive. Estrin Advisory Partners provides Fractional COOs, CFOs, CMOs, Chief People Officers, CIOs, and other - [Estrin Advisory Partners](https://estrin.vip/estrin-advisory-partners/) - Estrin Advisory Partners provides Fractional COOs, CFOs, CMOs, Chief People Officers, and CIOs exclusively to law firms nationwide. Executive leadership, part-time commitment, full-time impact. - [Blog Feed](https://estrin.vip/blog-feed/) - The Estrin Report Chere Estrin provides insightful & often humorous wisdom for surviving & thriving as a legal professional. Chere Estrin has been published and interviewed extensively.Her articles, podcasts and webinars have made a positive impact in the legal workplace for employers and those working in the legal field. - [Testimonials](https://estrin.vip/testimonials-2/) - Testimonials We are grateful for all of those who have entrusted us to help them. ”Once again Chere Estrin has proven why she is a true expert and professional when it comes to understanding the business behind job seeking and recruiting. This webinar is packed full of great ideas and instruction on using LinkedIn to - [Home Page - Oct 25](https://estrin.vip/home-copy-2/) - Connecting Top Legal Minds with Top Firms EmployersSpecializing in well qualified candidates for top law firms. 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President Chris LaVoie Director of Marketing and Strategy Lynda Stevens Chief Attorney Recruiter and Business Development Manager Kevin Hooks Senior Recruiter Stacey Novotny Senior Recruiter - [Home Copy](https://estrin.vip/home-copy/) - Connecting Top Legal Minds with Top Firms EmployersSpecializing in well qualified candidates for top law firms. Employer Info Request a Candidate Attorney Career OpportunitiesAmazing Jobs for Well Qualified Candidates Search Jobs Submit Your Resume C-Suite Executive SearchLeadership that Performs Employer Info Request a Candidate EMPLOYERSCANDIDATES Our CEO, Chere Estrin, is a recognized - [Candidates](https://estrin.vip/estrin-legal-staffing-candidates/) - Career Advancement Specializing in Attorney and Legal C – Suite positions Submit your resume Here’s a secret – We only accept candidates who are at the top of their game: Great background, good academics, know their specialty inside and out and of course, are fantastic to work with. If you are one of these terrific candidates, - [Building Your Core Team](https://estrin.vip/estrin-legal-staffing/) - Building Your Core Team Request a candidate Estrin VIP is committed to providing you with both the highest quality candidates and outstanding services. We conduct in-depth interviewing sessions with each candidate. We are aware that the legal staffing business demands around the clock service, therefore, our staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days - [Contact Us](https://estrin.vip/contact-us/) - Contact Us Reason for Contact* —Please choose an option—Staffing/Request a CandidateSubmit Your ResumeMediSums (Medical Records Summarizing)Deposition SummarizingDocument ReviewersGeneral Inquiry Your Name* Your Email* Your Message Please prove you are human by selecting the key. “ Ms Estrin’s enthusiasm and enjoyment of what she does is obvious. 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If you are in need of filling a legal professional role, reach - [Contact Us - old](https://estrin.vip/contact-us-old/) - Contact Us Reason for Contact* —Please choose an option—Staffing/Request a CandidateSubmit Your ResumeMediSums (Medical Records Summarizing)Deposition SummarizingDocument ReviewersGeneral Inquiry Your Name* Your Email* Your Message Please prove you are human by selecting the car. Estrin Legal Staffing Headquarters 811 West 7th Street, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone: 310.846.9040 chere@estrinlegal.com - [Employers](https://estrin.vip/estrin-vip-employers/) - Do you have an important seat you need to fill? Vetted C-Suite Candidates Request a candidate Do you have an empty seat to fill? Here’s a secret: We don’t take on every client. That’s so we can do a better job of spending more time and resources on the clients at hand. We look for - [Webinars](https://estrin.vip/webinars/) - Estrin Workforce Workshops Sign up for our webinars that aim to help legal professionals develop soft skills. [blog design=”design-19″ grid=”3″ show_author=”false” show_date=”false” show_category_name=”false” read_more_text=”Sign Up (Free Webinar) “] - [MediSums](https://estrin.vip/medisums/) - MediSums Medical Records Service MediSums is a fast growing division of Estrin Legal Staffing that successfully handles medical records summarizing for US law firms. Our MediSums team consists of doctors from premier medical colleges from Chennal, India and legal nurses based in the U.S. This talented team brings more than 15 years of experience of - [Podcast](https://estrin.vip/podcast/) - Lawfully Employed Lawfully Employed is a Podcast Hosted by Chere Estrin. This Podcast is for Rebels and Disruptors in the Legal Profession that are seeking to shatter the glass ceiling , gain a powerful career, and expand their expertise! Future Proofing Paralegals: Are you headed in the right direction? Our podcast fearlessly explores the dynamic - [Best Job Hunting Handbook Ever](https://estrin.vip/best-job-hunting-handbook-ever/) - Thank you for asking get our Best Job Hunting Handbook Ever! We’ve put some of our best tips into this book to help our candidates stand out when applying for jobs. That’s because we take the time to work with our candidates – helping you communicate your skills and professionalism effectively to firms that are - [Best Job Hunting Handbook Ever Download](https://estrin.vip/best-job-hunting-handbook-ever-download/) - Thank you for asking get our Best Job Hunting Handbook Ever! We've put some of our best tips into this book to help our candidates stand out when applying for jobs. That's because we take the time to work with our candidates - helping you communicate your skills and professionalism effectively to firms that are - [Jobs](https://estrin.vip/jobs/) - Job Search Are you looking for a career in the legal industry? Take a look at our recent jobs listed below. Note that our career listings change regularly, so check back once in a while if you can’t find what you are looking for. You are encouraged to submit your resume here to be considered - [test-page](https://estrin.vip/test-page/) - [abcf-staff-list id=”2739″] [abcf-staff-list id="2739"] Nora BoghossianLegal RecruiterPrior to working as a legal recruiter with Estrin Legal Staffing, I was a civil litigation paralegal for more than 20 years and a workers’ compensation paralegal for 6 years. 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We carefully boil down testimony to facts, cautiously keep track of names, dates, exhibits, numbers. dates, statistics and deposition inconsistencies. Our skilled summarizers provide a carefully - [Search Candidates](https://estrin.vip/search-candidates/) - Search Candidates Los Angeles, CALitigation Paralegal 1 Litigation Paralegal with 15 years of experience in drafting, summarizing and trial prep. Type of Law: Construction, Employment, and Business Education: BA and paralegal certificate ABA approved school Los Angeles, CAAdministrator Responsibilities or experience in: Finance, HR, Facilities, Strategic Planning, Operations Education: BA (Yale) and CLM Los Angeles, - [Join mailing list](https://estrin.vip/join-mailing-list/) - Join our mailing list I would like to sign up to receive: (choose one or more)* Job listingsArticles and information about great resourcesTalent Alert for Employers Your Name* Your Email* Your Message Please prove you are human by selecting the house. ## Jobs - [Litigation Legal Assistant (K)](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-legal-assistant-k-2/) - Hybrid Sometimes the best career move isn’t a step up… it’s a step into the right seat. Our client, a respected South Bay medical malpractice insurance defense firm in El Segundo, is looking for a Senior Litigation Legal Assistant who knows how to run a busy desk like a command center—and actually enjoys it. This isn’t a “support role.” - [Litigation Legal Assistant/Paralegal (RV)](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-legal-assistant-paralegal-rv-2/) - Litigation Legal Assistant Hybrid 4 days in office Join this national products liability firm as a Litigation Legal Assistant. Great for those with 1-2 years of experience! In this position, you will assist in answering phones, booking appointments, scheduling depos, proofreading pleadings, eFilings, trial prep, mail, expert witness scheduling and much more. The firm has - [Litigation Legal Assistant (BG)](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-legal-assistant-bg-2/) - Litigation Legal Assistant Hybrid Must have at least 3 years of litigation experience, mandatory Sometimes, the case runs the room. Sometimes, you do. Our client, a high-performing employment litigation defense firm in Glendale, is looking for a Litigation Legal Assistant who knows how to keep complex cases from turning into chaos—and maybe even enjoys it a little. - [eDiscovery Litigation Paralegal (178205ce/MN)](https://estrin.vip/job/ediscovery-litigation-paralegal-178205ce-mn-2/) - eDiscovery Litigation Paralegal – Los Angeles, CA 2-3 Days onsite / Hybrid Some cases make headlines. Some quietly change the law. Our client handles both. With five California offices and a reputation as the firm clients call when the stakes are high and the spotlight is bright, this powerhouse is known for navigating complex, controversial, - [Marketing & Business Development Manager](https://estrin.vip/job/marketing-business-development-manager-2/) - Marketing & Business Development Manager Hybrid after 90 days onsite Ready to take the lead where strategy, creativity, and growth intersect? A highly respected multiple office and mid-size law firm in Century City is seeking a dynamic Marketing & Business Development Manager to help drive the next phase of growth. Known for its powerhouse attorneys in real estate, trusts & - [Corporate Paralegal (v)](https://estrin.vip/job/corporate-paralegal-v-3/) - Corporate Paralegal Hybrid Must have BigLaw background Sometimes the best corporate paralegal opportunities come with stock options. Sometimes they come with prestige. And sometimes… they come with a free cruise. Our client, a globally recognized cruise line, is seeking a Mid-to-Senior Corporate Paralegal to join a highly respected in-house team. This is not a “sit - [Litigation Paralegal (PW)](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-paralegal-pw-2/) - Litigation Paralegal Hybrid/Temporary 1--2 months Here is a 1-2 month temporary Litigation Paralegal job that you're sure to enjoy! Our client, a sophisticated boutique litigation and employment law firm with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, is building something special in Century City — and is seeking an experienced TemporaryLitigation Paralegal who wants - [Litigation Paralegal](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-paralegal/) - Litigation Paralegal Arts District - Los Angeles Litigation Paralegal Arts District | Los Angeles Ever wanted to work in a law firm that looks more like an art gallery than a law office? This may be that rare opportunity. Our client is an established 11-attorney litigation firm located in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant - [Litigation Paralegal](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-paralegal-2/) - Litigation Paralegal Arts District - Los Angeles Litigation Paralegal Arts District | Los Angeles Ever wanted to work in a law firm that looks more like an art gallery than a law office? This may be that rare opportunity. Our client is an established 11-attorney litigation firm located in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant - [Litigation Paralegal Supervisor (AD)](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-paralegal-supervisor-ad-2/) - Temporary Litigation Paralegal Supervisor 4-8 weeks Hybrid Can You Walk Into a Law Firm and Instantly See What's Working...and What's Not? A respected boutique litigation firm in Downtown Los Angeles is looking for an accomplished Litigation Paralegal Supervisor—or a highly accomplished senior litigation paralegal with exceptional leadership instincts—for a short-term consulting engagement (approximately 30–60 days). - [Corporate Paralegal (v)](https://estrin.vip/job/corporate-paralegal-v-2/) - Corporate Paralegal Hybrid Must have BigLaw background Sometimes the best corporate paralegal opportunities come with stock options. Sometimes they come with prestige. And sometimes… they come with a free cruise. Our client, a globally recognized cruise line, is seeking a Mid-to-Senior Corporate Paralegal to join a highly respected in-house team. This is not a “sit - [Litigation Legal Assistant (lz)](https://estrin.vip/job/litigation-legal-assistant-lz-2/) - Litigation Legal Assistant Onsite A great legal assistant doesn't just keep things moving. They keep everything from falling apart. If juggling court deadlines, wrangling calendars, managing filings, tracking documents, coordinating attorneys, and somehow making it all look effortless sounds familiar, keep reading. Our client, a highly respected litigation boutique in Century City, is seeking a ## Slides - [Auto Draft](https://estrin.vip/home_slider/auto-draft-2/) - [Auto Draft](https://estrin.vip/home_slider/auto-draft/) ## Portfolio - [Kevin Hooks](https://estrin.vip/portfolio/kevin-hooks/) - [Chere B. Estrin](https://estrin.vip/portfolio/chere-b-estrin/) - Ms. Estrin is the CEO of Estrin Legal Staffing, and Co-Founding Member of the Organization of Legal Professionals (OLP), an organization for attorneys and legal professionals. A former Administrator for two major law firms, she has held executive positions in law firms, litigation support companies. She is the CEO and founder of the Paralegal Knowledge - [Allen S. Brody, Esq.](https://estrin.vip/portfolio/allen-s-brody-esq/) - As President, Allen S. Brody, Esq. has practiced law for over 30 years. He is also the General Counsel for the Organization of Legal Professionals, OLP, an organization that provides eDiscovery training for attorneys and legal professionals and provides eDiscovery certification. 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