The Paralegal Voice

A year-end farewell as co-host Carl Morrison steps away from the mic. It’s been a great ride for the past five years, and Carl closes with a look back at 2022. Have no fear, co-host Jill Francisco stays with the podcast and will continue to deliver important insights in 2023. We’re watching so many changes to the role of paralegal professionals: more responsibilities, better tools, improved processes, and more options than ever. How can we make the legal profession more efficient and deliver more value? Think of paralegal professionals as “revenue protectors” not a “cost center.” By adding value, paralegals let firms keep more of what they earn. Process management remains key. Carl also revisits “DEI,” diversity, equity, and inclusion. How are we doing in the legal profession? And then there’s ALSP, alternative legal service providers. Did that turn out well for paralegals? The creativity of paralegal professionals continues to improve the process and drive the profession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No matter if you’re new to the profession or a seasoned vet, paralegal professionals can never know too much. Guest Cathy L. Davis is an assistant professor and department chair of the criminal justice and legal studies programs at Alabama’s Faulkner University. She’s a champion of continuing education and the lifelong pursuit of new skills. Make your job your passion, and make learning your passion. Lexus, Clio, Mycase, Microsoft Office, local paralegal associations, and others all offer opportunities to learn and demonstrate competencies. Get every certification you can. For those new to the business, start with: Professionalism: Be organized, manage time, and listen. Writing matters: Hone your skills. Really work on your writing. Research skills: Go beyond traditional sources, even social media counts. Preserve and protect data: Evidence and research are crucial. Offer to attend hearings or assist at the courthouse, even if some tasks are outside your scope. Consider volunteering at a legal aid office, neighborhood associations, and community causes. Ever thought about teaching or speaking at a local college? Never stand still. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a very special, and very personal, episode host Jill Francisco is joined by her good friend, NFL star and Super Bowl champion Vinny Curry of the New York Jets. The power of positive thinking. Paralegal work is stressful and at times emotional. There are deadlines, complicated problems, and even difficult people and situations. It’s OK to feel frustrated, sad, even angry. But as Curry explains, the key is to acknowledge those feelings and work through them with the help of the positive, supportive people you surround yourself with. Curry was a standout college player and enjoys a productive, rewarding career at the highest level of the most popular league in the country. But even a star goes through rough patches. Hear how Curry faced down a scary health issue that threatened his career by thinking positively. The paralegal profession takes a special kind of person. Take a moment to step back and recognize your contributions, abilities, and expertise. Feel good about yourself and your work. Take a breath, get some rest, and be thankful a 300-pound lineman isn’t going to try to knock you to the ground on your next trip to the copier. Be sure to visit Curry’s foundation,Rush2Victory, dedicated to helping economically challenged students through motivation, mentorship, and empowerment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Memme Onwudiwe was a speaker at July’s NALA 2022 Conference & Expo delivering a presentation titled “Corporate Paralegals in the Age of Contract AI.” It’s an exciting topic as the role of corporate paralegals shifts from generating contracts to overseeing, managing, and validating contract data. This doesn’t mean corporate paralegals will lose their jobs, instead Onwudiwe expects they’ll be more valuable than ever, applying their expertise more productively. Imagine, no more "fire drills” when someone needs a specific data point buried deep inside complex language. Automated content extraction is only one use. Consider automated reviews, language management, and datapoint classification, freeing paralegals to apply their expertise to the highest-level tasks. Imagine legal turning the corporate library of contracts and all that information into tools that help the bottom line, prioritizing customers during supply chain snarls or spotting opportunities to boost profit. With AI, legal turns from a cost center to a revenue center. Hear how to integrate AI into your workspace and how to avoid missteps. For corporate paralegal professionals, this changes everything. Mentioned in This Episode: 2022 NALA Conference & Expo Article, “Finding New Pathways in your Legal Operations Career” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Debbie L. Overstreet, the incoming NALA president, gives an overview of the upcoming NALA conference – a return to the in-person gathering after two years of virtual, but with a remote option as well. Plus, the state of the job market for paralegal professionals and the role of the paralegal in government organizations. Now is a great time to be in the paralegal field. Jobs abound, and the field is transforming with new options for flexibility, including working from home. But every new step requires a willingness to embrace change. The field is never going back. What’s new for NALA? Overstreet vows to continue national outreach to affiliates, working with colleges to supporting students, and looks for NALA to reach out to government-affiliated paralegal professionals who need national support in a niche that can get lost. Don’t miss the upcoming conference, chances to network, meet vendors, and earn continuing education credits. Hot topics include the legal side of social media, modern policing, climate change, ethics, and motions in limine. Mentioned on this Episode: NALA 2022 NALA Conference & Expo NALA Keynote Speaker Melissa Zabor Q&A With NALA Board, 2022, Including Debbie Overstreet USAjobs.gov U.S. Department of Justice careers CIA careers DEA careers FBI Jobs IRS Jobs BIA Jobs Judiciary Jobs Oklahoma Northern District Bankruptcy Court (each District has own website) Army Civilian Service Defender Services Office Training Division Federal Government Jobs Government Jobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), our guests believe legal organizations want to do what’s best. But they don’t know where to start, or even have the data tools to point out shortcomings. The issue can seem so overwhelming the process falls into analysis paralysis. But as host Carl Morrison hears, even beating a problem so overwhelming can be done with the right tool, one bite at a time, like eating the proverbial elephant. Where can firms get the data they need? Where to start? Guests Mark Harris and Emmanuel Smith of JusticeBid explain how data from JusticeBid analytics helps the legal community progress, build diversity, and leverage available talent by expanding opportunities to all. And because one of our guests is an NFL Super Bowl Champion (hint: Smith), we hear what the legal community can learn from the NFL’s struggles with DEI and the so-called “Rooney Rule” that’s been in the news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an inspiring edition of The Paralegal Voice, guest Bobby T. Rimas shares his experiences as a paralegal professional, lifelong learner, author, and adjunct professor. Rimas shares his views on networking and staying current. Stand still and risk being left behind. Rimas follows the latest trends in legal tech and procedure and leans on his ever-growing network of paralegal professional colleagues to boost his team with resources that span state lines and jurisdictions. Even the most introverted can learn something from his experiences. Start small, join a local paralegal organization, attend the meetings and conferences, gobble up those CLE opportunities as they arise, and soon you’ll find yourself not only learning, but also sharing what you’ve learned with the next generation of paralegal professionals. Check the websites of organizations you might be interested in. It doesn’t have to be just legal-related organizations. Civic groups, charities, youth organizations, and schools all need your help. Ask local colleges or universities if they need help teaching a class or reviewing materials. Share real-world experience in the classroom. You have valuable skills, share them. It’s all about the tech. You must stay up to date and embrace change for the sake of your legal team. Keep current on new laws and procedures. Change was always coming, but the Pandemic juiced the entire system. What are your state courts and legislature up to? Build your network and take advantage of the “hive mind” around you. Your colleagues are a rich resource to draw from. Don’t know? Ask. Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and Infotrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Carl Morrison is joined by guest Ben Hengels of Ligl.io for a deep dive into the Evidence Lifecycle Management (ELM), e-discovery, and data flow management that law practices run on. With so many moving parts, taking proper stock of every component – from email and cloud systems to legacy on-site servers – is crucial. So is working with providers who understand how each piece works with the other. Recognize early warning signs of common problems, mistakes that find their way into the process and grow. Avoid inefficiencies and costly snafus. E-discovery and data management are not static processes. Technological advances continue yearly. Learn to collect, produce, and preserve the data you need to keep up with a busy caseload. Plus, “The Listener’s Voice.” Your content, comments, and questions matter. In this episode, tips and tricks on making the leap from paralegal to legal operations careers. What’s on your mind? Drop us a line at [email protected] Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and Infotrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By default, many paralegal professionals serve as project managers, keeping cases on track and knowing when the next filing is due. But is traditional, linear project management best for all cases? Agile project management has been around in other business sectors for 20 years, but the legal field has been cautious and slow to adopt. Guest Alicia Mitchell-Mercer is an expert in applying the modern Agile project management philosophy to legal cases and how the Scrum processes fit. Scrum team? Product owner? ScrumMaster? If you’ve been curious, even baffled, by these terms, you won’t get a better 30-minute introduction. Learn how modern project management fits today’s legal needs. From start to finish, Agile project management can help track legal projects and review results, then apply lessons learned to future projects. Mitchell-Mercer explains how applying these principles could help your firm work more efficiently, improve outcomes, and better serve clients. As a bonus, there isn’t a high barrier to entry for ScrumMaster certification (and it could add to your personal market value). Plus, some insights on how COVID’s push to remote meetings has changed, perhaps forever, legal project management. Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New year, new trends. Our field never slows down. Keep up or risk being passed by. Host Carl Morrison looks at a dozen developing trends for the coming year and beyond. Everything from the evolution of the Limited Licensed Practitioner field (looking at you Arizona and Utah) to the breakneck acceleration in legal tech, artificial intelligence, workflow automation, and process improvements. The post-pandemic “Great Resignation” is creating more opportunities than ever for paralegal professionals. Make 2022 the year you truly understand your value, embrace change, advance your skills, and take charge of your career. Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New year, new … job? The legal field is struggling to find paralegals and fill vacancies during the “Great Resignation.” For paralegals, that creates opportunities to break into the field or to advance your career. Guest Tony Sipp, a paralegal manager for a national law firm, says it’s more important now than ever for paralegal professionals to know their worth, highlight their skills, and pursue their dreams. Firms are hiring now. Hear what hiring managers are looking for today – from soft skills to tech, including e-filing and e-discovery and Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Listen to Sipp’s valuable job seeking and interviewing tips as we head into a promising year for paralegals. Even if you’re happy where you are, it doesn’t hurt to look around or ask for what you want. Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl is joined by Ki Hwang and Bob Roberts of Bright Line Counsel, an Alternative Legal Service Provider (ALSP). Learn how the field is not only streamlining legal ops and more efficiently serving clients, but also creating exciting opportunities for paralegal professionals. Hear how today’s paralegals can leverage their project management and technology skills to advance their careers and focus on meaningful, rewarding work. It’s a whole new world, and paralegal professionals are at the center of it. And in the Listener’s Voice segment, Carl takes a question about getting into the field of legal operations and offers tips on making the leap. Is this the next step in your own career? If you’ve got a comment or question, reach out at [email protected] Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jill Francisco talks with veteran paralegal (and BFF) Nancy Jordahl about opportunities for paralegals outside the office. Jordahl regularly writes for paralegal and legal professional journals and is a regular speaker at paralegal conferences. Learn how to get started, find opportunities, and create the content professionals want (and need). Hear how to spot opportunities to serve on paralegal education advisory boards and even teach the next generation of paralegals. Not only are you giving back, but you’ll keep up with the latest developments in your field, guide student curriculum, and build your network (you might even make a little extra money). You can do this. Learn how. Special thanks to our sponsors NALA, ServeNow, and InfoTrack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s not just the poor. Even the middle class struggles with a complex and costly American legal system. Our guest, Toni Marsh, JD, is a professor and director at the George Washington University School of Law Paralegal Studies program and a fierce advocate for the role of paralegals. The paralegal profession is in flux. As Americans struggle to access their legal system, constitutional rights are becoming out of reach. Marsh believes paralegals can fill that gap as states explore expanding their role. Legal navigators, legal document preparers, and licensed legal professionals are stepping up. How can paralegals prepare for tomorrow’s legal profession? Also, in the “Listener’s Voice” segment, host Carl Morrison answers a listener’s questions about seeking new challenges, perfecting a resume, and finding new opportunities. Got a question for Carl? Email him today at [email protected]. Special thanks to our sponsors CourtFiling.Net, InfoTrack, NALA, and ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legal profession was already going online and high-tech. But COVID disruptions, working from home, and remote legal processes have supercharged those changes. Are you up to speed? Host Jill Francisco – a veteran paralegal and classroom instructor – interviews attorney and longtime professor Todd Richardson about today’s classroom experience. It’s more than lectures and books. Today’s learning includes new technology, working collaboratively online and in person, and leveraging digital tools to expedite cases, gather information, and navigate the modern legal jungle. Richardson explores how legal education is changing and how vital learning today’s tech keeps a paralegal valued and vital in the workplace. He also touches on areas where soft skills still play an important role. Knowing how to integrate tech with interpersonal skills can build and maintain relationships so important in the legal community. Special thanks to our sponsors CourtFiling.net, NALA, and ServeNow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Morrison and Tom Stephenson detail the myriad ways paralegals can leverage their skills in the growing field of legal operations. Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, and CourtFiling.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Given how fast the paralegal field is growing, it’s no wonder NALA expects record meeting attendance. CEO Vanessa Finley offers a preview. Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a right way to create a culture of diversity and inclusion and there are countless wrong ways companies and law firms continue to develop failing programs and policies. St. John’s University’s William Murphy tells host Carl Morrison the range from worst reasons to implement (reactionary) to best (making the business case). Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Educator and trainer Amy Johnson shows how simple changes in work habits can save time, increase productivity, and add value to a legal team. Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Morrison reviews the changing paralegal certification landscape as states weigh and test limited licenses to expand access to justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Partner Marc Williams recaps the rapid litigation transition from in-person to virtual and what he expects will be the new normal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyer Drew Downing explains how those injured by vaccines can file claims with the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyer Brian Moore details evolving regulatory changes that impact employers and workers as the pandemic rages and vaccines hit the market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Master Sgt. Albert Perez Oyola details career paths and, for some, intense assignment twists for those trained as military paralegals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating a diverse and inclusive culture requires action. Jill Francisco explores big and small ways to support diversity in the workplace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Carl Morrison shows how paralegals can integrate process improvement techniques in their day-to-day work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to social media, legal professionals should tread carefully, but actively engage friends, clients and peers in these new spaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne Geraghty-Rathert discusses the mission of the WILLOW Project and prevalent issues in women’s wrongful convictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NALA has gone virtual for this year’s conference! Join hosts Carl Morrison and Jill Francisco and conference speaker Brian Moore as they discuss the session offerings, social events, and CLE opportunities available through the 2020 NALA Conference @ Home. If you still need to register, head over to the NALA.com today! Brian Moore is a partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. Special thanks to our sponsors, NALA, ServeNow, CourtFiling.net and Legalinc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this brief announcement, host Jill Francisco shares some of the details about NALA’s first virtual conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jillian Kuehl outlines how the recruitment process works and how to find the right recruiter for your needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole Clark explains AI basics and how it can help paralegals work with greater efficiency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Debbie Hrytzay offers remote work tips for paralegals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Morrison shares remote work tips and his perspective on the ABA’s changes to the definition of a paralegal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristine Custodio Suero shares career development insights for paralegals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa Finley gives insights on NALA’s offerings for members and plans for 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Paralegal Voice co-host Jill Francisco talks with Chris Jennison about potential changes to the ABA’s legal assistant/paralegal definition and new guidelines that would approve online paralegal coursework. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Morrison shares highlights from 2019 interviews on the Paralegal Voice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keith Shannon offers guidance for paralegal professionals on the importance of diligent compliance with ethical standards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Candess Zona-Mendola shares insights from her book, “The Indispensable Paralegal: Your Guide to Getting It All Done.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NALA vice president Melissa Hamilton and conference first-timer Sherron Brightharp talk about the conference experience and its offerings for attendees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vicki Kunz shares about the innovative opportunities arising in the paralegal industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NALA CEO and Executive Director Greta Zeimetz discusses NALA’s strengths and the challenges it will face in the coming years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly LaGrave shares the importance of paralegal certification and suggests study tools for the exam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ken & Anna Buchner give insights into the area of motor vehicle accident recording and reconstruction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeffrey Wolff of ZyLAB talks about the growing impacts of eDiscovery on the law and the tech solutions that empower lawyers and paralegals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Carl Morrison as he recaps his first day at the 2019 NALA Conference & Expo and teases the great content to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Mix Bag episode, Carl covers news from the Supreme Court, Crisis Management Plans, and presents his Corporate HR Guide to the Paralegal Profession. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the buildup to the 2019 NALA Conference & Expo, host Carl Morrison talks with NALA president Jill Francisco to discuss why NALA is a valuable resource to paralegals, how paralegals can participate in leadership, and what obstacles NALA and the paralegal community will face in the coming years. As Jill prepares for the conclusion of her tenure as President in 2020, they also look back on her career path, her leadership style, and what legacy she hopes to leave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Carl Morrison talks to Maddy Martin about the impact of automation in the legal profession and how it affects paralegals. They discuss how speed and accuracy in everyday paralegal tasks can be improved with AI and how this frees up paralegals for higher level tasks. After the break, Maddy talks about her role at Smith.ai and describes how the company provides communications services for law firms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices