We recently interviewed Barbara Liss, the president of the Santa Barbara Paralegal Association. She shared some great insights into the variety of tasks that a paralegal career may involve, what it is like to work on a trial, and advice for new paralegals looking for their first position.

How did you get started in the paralegal field?

When I first moved to California in 1972, I managed the apartment building in which I lived. The owner liked me and hired me to work in his office; after reorganizing it in short order, he ran out of work to give me, so introduced me to a friend, who was an attorney, just starting up a general solo practice after having made a mid-life career change. We learned procedural work together. When he left solo practice to accept a position with a large, downtown Los Angeles firm, I accompanied him — it was the mid-1970′s and my title was then “legal secretary,” although much of what I did was paralegal work. Eventually, I took my first position as a paralegal, where the title was “pseudo-paralegal” because the firm was afraid to use the actual title.

After bouncing between legal secretary and legal assistant/paralegal jobs, I took the UCSB extension legal assistant program classes at night and acquired my certificate. When I started working in complex business trial litigation, I took the title “trial paralegal.” By the mid-1980′s word processing and secretarial work were more specifically the realm of legal secretaries and word processors while working with evidence, discovery and witnesses in preparation for and attending trial were more clearly defined as paralegal work assignments, the field in which I worked. After 35 years of prepping for and attending complex civil litigation trials in state and federal courts, I changed the direction of my career and transitioned into Wills, Trusts, Probate and Estate Administration work, where I currently practice and have done so for the past five years.

What do you like the most about working as a paralegal?

I have always been slightly obsessive/compulsive and paying attention to the nuance and detail of procedural work is satisfying for me. I often compare the job of a paralegal to that of a stage manager of a play — we are the folks who make sure that everything goes forward without a hitch, knowing where the props are supposed to be and when, giving cues and lowering the curtain at the appropriate time. Always dressed in black, working behind the scenes, hardly ever noticed, we ensure the smooth running of the machinery of the production; filled with the myriad details in a way that few are ever truely aware. We affect the outcome in an extremely significant way. We work in stealth, in often unrecognized contributions that may appear small when taken individually, but which have enormous ripple effect in the aggregate. I gain intrinsic satisfaction from the knowledge that my work produces this benefit.

Can you describe some of the main activities that you spend a lot of time on at work?

I currently work for a solo practitioner whose main focus is Wills, Trusts, Estate Administration, Conservatorships and Real Property. Because of this, my work is quite varied. In addition to paralegal work, I am the office administrator. I have a great deal of direct client contact and will be involved in reassuring clients who are stressed and in need of explanations about what to expect during the time we are working on a matter for them. I review, edit and finalize estate plan documents and prepare them for signing appointments. I am also a notary public and act in that capacity often. I prepare probate pleadings for court filing and communicate with court personnel directly quite often. I solve problems and more often, give attention to details to prevent them from occuring in the first place.

When dealing with trust and estate disputes for clients, I am often asked to draft pleadings, conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on various factual and legal subjects. I prepare much of the correspondence that goes out of our office as well.

I supervise our assistant who handles our files, telephone, reception and court run duties.

I communicate with and problem solve for our vendors, our bookkeeping staff and the tenants who rent space in our offices.

I also handle some internal administrative duties, including inputting of monthly costs and charges, keeping the computer system up to date and creating pre-bills and client billing statements. When clients have questions with regard to their bills, I answer them.

Previously, as a complex business litigation paralegal, my duties were similarly weighty. I was often the person who met with potential new clients to interview and gather facts, analyze them and then prepare memoranda to suggest whether sufficient liability and damages existed to justify taking on a case. Working for a boutique office that specialized in complex business litigation, established case parameters made determining the type of cases accepted by the office understood and easy to recommend or suggest to be declined.

Assigned as a member of a litigation team to each case, I was on most from inception, although I was sometimes brought onto special cases within the 100 days prior to trial, to ready them. If involved in early stages of litigation, I would participate in fact investigation, evidence gathering, drafting of pleadings, interviewing witnesses, preparing discovery, discovery responses, motion practice, meet and confer correspondence, disclosures required by federal practice rules, calendar supervision and deadline tracking, and supporting pre-trial motion practice, such as summary judgment motions and their oppositions. I was given legal research assignments and participated in drafting various pleadings.

I often attended depositions, summarized transcripts and served as a case manager charged with establishing document management systems for cases involving enormous volumes of documents. In the early days of doing this work, this was done with manual systems, but later as computerized systems and software were developed, we shifted to using those instead and I was trained in many of them.

I coordinated trial preparations, witness subpoena service and tracking, trial book preparations, preparing trial evidence for introduction at trial and readying the files for transport to the courtroom. I coordinated with courtroom personnel, IT support and vendors for the preparation and presentation of demonstrative evidence. I sat at counsel table with the attorneys and participated in voir dire of potential jurors. I hung out in courthouse restrooms to overhear juror conversations. I dragged boxes of exhibits and binders back and forth between courthouses and cars and cars and rented spaces during trials. I stayed up nights and marked deposition transcripts, called witnesses by phone; photocopied at Kinko’s at 3 in the morning. I sewed lawyers’ pants when they split and arranged for food deliveries. I memorized facts and rules of evidence and deposition testimony, calling details to the attention of my attorneys and pointing to page and line references constantly.

I worked 14 to 18 hour days, six days a week for months on end at incredibly long trials for years. After the trials were over, I worked with the attorneys to interview jurors, courtroom personnel and witnesses to learn what could be learned about how to do it better, differently. I rested briefly, then started all over again.

Can you share an interesting case that you worked on and what your role was?

The very first jury trial I worked on was Lumbermans v. Union Bank, a case that altered bank lending practices in California. Prior to that case, lender liability virtually didn’t exist and bank clientele were in an unbalanced negotiating position when seeking loans and signing documentation with banking institutions. As a result of that case, the burden shifted and financial institutions became far more accountable for disclosure of terms and resulting liability when entering into lending transactions with their banking clients.

It was the first time I was permitted to enter the well of the court and sit at counsel table — there was quite a little discussion with the judge about it during the preliminary “housekeeping” motions and discussions, but the judge determined that I’d be useful from a practical standpoint, so I was granted permission to be allowed to “pass the bar.”

I tracked potential jurors during voir dire by using post-its on a legal pad where a hand drawn chart of the jury was sketched out, pulling off post-its as peremptory challenges were exercised and scrawling new notes as replacements were seated. I watched faces, body language and reactions of the persons of whom questions were asked and those around them; I noticed what the courtroom personnel did and how they responded; I watched opposing counsel and their assistants. I took copious notes and reported everything I saw during breaks.

In 1980, documentary evidence was organized and introduced manually, in paper form. No computerized organizational systems were used. We didn’t project images, we presented duplicate copies of each document to each juror, to whom we gave individual binders in which to keep them.

The chain of evidence was carefully maintained so that each document could be authenticated by source, creator and unaltered condition when presented to the court at time of trial. Duplicates were hand Bates numbered and organized chronologically, topically and by witness in binders and in loose manila files for presentation at trial. I worked with the court clerk staff and opposing counsel in marking, introducing, and tracking all evidence.

I also kept track of witness subpoena status, ran to telephone booths in the hallways (no cell phones yet) and kept witnesses apprised of scheduling changes; I communicated with the firm’s office to gain assistance of associates for research assignments and staff for fact research help. I ran to the law library and made copies of cases and statutes (no laptop or internet access was then available).

I coordinated with copy services and expert witnesses, with vendors who provided enlargements of photographs and other demonstrative evidence and made sure that everything was where it needed to be when it needed to be.

In the end, I was the stage manager — the role I played for every trial in which I participated from that time forward.

What qualities or skills do you think are important for being successful as a paralegal?

• Organization, organization, organization!
• Learn to not take it personally — recognize that whatever it is, it’s usually NOT about you (even if it seems like it is).
• Roll with it — flexibility is a skill; learn to stretch as well as bend.
• Take care of yourself and be self-aware; get as much sleep as you can – being sharp takes brain cells!
• Learn to separate your office relationships from your personal life; trench mentality can muddle your thinking. Returning to the real world after a trial can be a shocker.
• Get it in writing! Do not proceed unless any and all instructions are in writing, via letter, email or post it. If you’re given verbal instructions, confirm them in writing. This will prove invaluable should any incongruity about what the assignment was arise.
• Proofreading – Don’t rely on spell check to do the work–it doesn’t catch everything! Print it out and read it out loud. If it’s legalese or a legal description, have a second set of eye on it besides your own.
• Know your client – You can’t protect/defend what you don’t know/understand.
• Check/double check your deadlines. The last thing you need or want is a missed deadline. When in doubt, be conservative.
• Always have a backup plan (especially for really important projects). No one wants to hear excuses, they only want to hear your solution to the problem.
• Find a mentor from within your own ranks – we are invaluable to one another (and then once you’ve got your feet under you, be one to someone else! Pay it forward.)

What is the outlook for paralegal jobs in the Santa Barbara area?

Santa Barbara has a small legal community and sometimes finding employment here can be difficult because living here is so desireable and in demand. There has been expansion and contraction in step with more macro economic circumstances and at present, I think it is harder to find work here than it might be in a larger environment, such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. As well, there can be a provincial attitude among some of the more staid practices, which are reticent to offer substantive assignments to paralegals. However, my experience is that there are always those who are able to establish confidence in their skills, knowledge and talents have proven themselves able to forge a road through some of those attitudes and earn respect which translates into job satisfaction and career opportunities.

What tips would you give to new paralegals for getting hired at a job they want?

Do some inward reflection with honesty and objectivity. Usually, we are our own worst enemy and set our own limitations before anyone else does.

Quietude and patience are difficult but worth it. Sometimes what you want is worth waiting for. But it often doesn’t come to you — you have to go after it.

Attention to detail, nuance and minutia can make all the difference in the world. I don’t think being anal/retentive is a bad thing!

We thank President Liss for being so generous with her time and sharing her story with us. To learn more about a career in the paralegal field see our paralegal career center.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that law enforcement agents may not use GPS tracking devices to gather evidence on suspects under investigation, although the ruling still leaves many questions for criminal justice professionals.

The ruling is a response to a challenge filed in a lower-court case involving the tracking of Antoine Jones, a man previously convicted of drug trafficking. That conviction was overturned with the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling; however, the three-way split among justices in their reasoning leaves much to be considered in the application of the new precedent.

Some legal analysts and those who support more sweeping surveillance techniques argue the ruling is an announcement to the law enforcement community that electronic tracking of any kind without a warrant will be challenged and that the ruling severely limits the capability of police officers and federal agents to fight crime.

Privacy advocates and other legal scholars, however, argue the ruling is too narrow and may only be construed to apply to the act of trespassing when attaching a GPS device to a vehicle for tracking purposes. Justice Sonia Sotomayor echoed these concerns in her portion of the opinion, noting that the ruling may not specifically apply to other instances of tracking that do not involve a physical invasion of privacy.

The larger legal implication is one that involves not only GPS tracking devices, but any device that can be used to track the whereabouts of citizens including mobile devices, personal GPS devices and antitheft devices installed in vehicles or electronics.

The high court acknowledged that all of the issues that arise in the clash between Fourth Amendment rights to a “reasonable expectation of privacy” and the increasing pervasiveness of technology would not be addressed by the ruling. Even so, most agree it sent a strong message to the US Justice Department and other agencies seeking more surveillance latitude that limits will be imposed.

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The Internet has become a fertile ground for copyright infringement and other forms of piracy involving intellectual property, and the US government’s latest answer is the introduction of legislation known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Piracy Act (PIPA).

These two measures, both of which are supported by law enforcement organizations, hope to help curb incidences of online piracy occurring from foreign locations by giving rights holders more power to challenge alleged infringers in court as well as anyone doing business with the infringing website – including payment processors, ad companies and even search engines.

Both bills have seen recent revision as challenges against their passage mount, including an announcement by President Barack Obama that he would not support SOPA. The main concerns are that unproven allegations of infringement could cause unnecessary damage to innocent Web businesses, false allegations may be used as a tool to stifle competition and overload court dockets, and that it saps the resources of Web entities by turning them into unwitting Internet gatekeepers.

And, this is ostensibly why law enforcement agencies support the measures. Tracking and investigating Internet piracy is a time-consuming and costly activity, and one that drains criminal justice resources that could be used to combat greater threats. In addition to this benefit, the Acts also pertain to counterfeit goods and medications sold online, which would also help law enforcement agents.

Internet-wide protests, however, are already changing the trajectory of both bills. Three co-sponsors of the bills (one for PIPA and two for SOPA) have already announced their shift in support in light of a viral campaign against the legislation that included the voluntary blackout of Wikipedia, Reddit, Fark and thousands of other websites in opposition to the bills.

The rift between supporters and opponents seems to be a disagreement over power and enforcement rather than one over the unacceptability of piracy and copyright infringement. Only time will tell whether the bills move forward, and in what form if they do.

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Law enforcement professionals hold one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, and 2011 saw yet another increase in police officer fatalities.

The National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund has released its preliminary fatality report for 2011, and it indicates a 13% increase in deaths from last year to 173.

This represents a year-on-year increase for law enforcement fatalities. The profession found itself in the Top 10 most dangerous jobs in the country, joining the ranks of more well-known high-risk careers like logging and mining.

A radical jump in deaths at the outset of the year had many in law enforcement believing there was an unofficial declaration of ‘war on cops’ in America. A rash of 11 officer shootings within a 24-hour period around the nation in January 2011 prompted worry that a larger criminal enterprise was at work.

The concern over widespread criminal coordination was not proven out, but increased budget cuts throughout the year seemed to undermine law enforcement professionals’ ability to address a clear threat to officer safety. Some who lost loved ones cited training cutbacks and delayed equipment upgrades as signs that not enough was being done to protect troopers.

The rising death toll has not gone unnoticed. The US Justice Department has noted that police officer deaths were in decline for the two years prior to 2010 and is now asking questions about what has changed. The only conclusion that has been drawn thus far is that there are no firm answers to explain the increase.

That there is no one clear answer points to the likelihood that it is a culmination of many factors. Hard economic times, a greater prevalence of gun ownership and a leaner law enforcement presence are just a few elements that may have contributed to the increase.

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President Barack Obama’s new vision for the US military will involve less spending and more technology as warfare merges more completely with the digital age.

Cyber warfare is fast becoming a part of the US global defense strategy, and threats to the country’s network infrastructure are as likely to originate domestically as they are internationally. Last year saw the most cyber attacks ever recorded in history, and experts believe the threat will only get larger as the world grows more dependent on technology.

President Obama’s plan to reduce force strength and shift the focus to more peripheral defense strategies is not new following the drawdown of a conflict. What is new is that the Pentagon appears to finally be shifting away from the long sought-after capability to maintain two theaters of war at one time, and instead focus on a nimble, more technologically advanced fighting force.

This will require superiority in the arena of cybersecurity, something most recently proved by Iran’s alleged ability to “spoof” an advanced top-secret US spy drone by overriding its onboard guidance program to take control of it. Although the allegation is still debated, what is known is that the threat is real and that Iran is now in possession of the drone.

Critics claim the size reduction is entirely driven by budget concerns, and while budget is always a consideration the president’s plan only reflects the Pentagon’s broader interest in refocusing resources on advanced threats, many of which are technology-based. Cyber warfare is the new frontier, and that fact remains unrelated to what many see as controversial personnel cuts.

The good news is that the new strategy will open up doors for more cybersecurity professionals and retraining opportunities for troops that will prove beneficial in peacetime due to the overlap in needed skills found in the civilian sector.

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We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Mariana Fradman who is the President of the New York City Paralegal Association Inc. and an accomplished real estate paralegal who also holds a master’s in business administration. We discussed what it was like to become a paralegal after immigrating from Ukraine, what her job is like, and her advice for paralegals.

Can you tell us what inspired you to go into the legal field and how you got your first job as a paralegal?

I would disappoint many people, but I wasn’t inspired by anything or anyone to go into the legal field. The legal field “found” me. After I finished English Second Language (ESL) course at New York Association for New Americans (NYANA), I was at a crosswalk: majority of immigrants from the former U.S.S.R. entered the computer science field or medical field. None of those appealed to me. I don’t like to deal with blood, bones and muscles and anatomy was never my favorite subject (although I was an A student ). I also was skeptical of how many programmers the country needed (had a good vision – remember dot.com?). So, I went to Long Island University (LIU) for another semester of English. In one of the classes I met a former psychiatrist from Kiev who gave me an advise: “Buy any newspaper, open “help wanted” section, close your eyes and put your finger on the page. Open your eyes and see what you picked. Go and learn the skill for one year. In a year, you will know if the choice was right or not, but for a year, you will be busy doing something and it would give you a piece of mind.” I didn’t follow his advise step by step, but went to a college’s admission office, walked to a display with brochures of different majors that were offered at that time and, with my eyes closed, picked one. It had information about the Paralegal Studies Program. I didn’t join it at LIU due to the cost, but, with a recommendation of another student, went a few blocks down and applied for the same program at NYC Technical College, CUNY College that charged much less. “Lucky” me, I didn’t pass an entrance exam (passed math at the calculus level, but failed reading and writing). It took me additional two semesters of ESL to pass the reading portion, but I was still struggling with the writing course. At that time, I “tricked” my advisor. The Intro to Paralegal Studies required students to be proficient in Reading as a pre-requisite. The catalog didn’t say anything about writing, so, I was able to register for the class. On the first day of class, the professor asked if everyone passed all entrance exams. I kept my head low. Professor Lise Hunter was the best teacher for an intro class I could dream about. She explained everything down to the core and I had no problems with understanding her or doing my work. After midterm she called me to her office and told me that she knew that I didn’t pass the writing test and that the catalog had a typo. However, she saw my work and dedication and didn’t raise the flag. She kept me in the class that I passed with one of the highest marks. Through the program, I had great instructors. One of them, Professor Charles Coleman, became my mentor. I registered for three of his classes (some students thought that I lost my mind as he wasn’t an easy one to please). I just loved his system that, in reality, was very easy: follow the rules and be detail oriented. He gave me a taste of the profession. I worked as his paralegal on many pro bono cases at the Divorce Clinic. So, at the end of the first year in the program, I knew that I am doing something right. I told myself: the brochure I picked up at LIU said that by the year of 2000, there will be 140% increase in demand for paralegals. I don’t know about 139, but I can fit in the last 1%: I have a second language (that is actually my first), this country is a country of immigrants, so, somebody would need my skills one day. I took a bankruptcy course as extra curriculum as someone would file for bankruptcy. I took immigration and international laws as extra curriculum as well…

I got my first job as a paralegal during my last semester getting my Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies. Professor Hunter was my internship supervisor and she sent me to a small law office in Brooklyn. The internship was for 120 hours that had to be completed in 14 weeks. I made a point to finish it in six (6) weeks, so I was in the office four days a week putting in 20 hours per week. I was hired on my last day of internship as the matrimonial paralegal walked away that day. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

I wanted to be a patent and trademarks paralegal (I had a degree in engineering, didn’t I?), but couldn’t break in – didn’t have connections. My first degree connection solidified when I had almost 10 years of experience in real estate law. By that time, I didn’t think about changing the practice area anymore.

As an immigrant who moved to the United States from Ukraine in 1992, what was it like for you to adjust to a new country and attend college to become a paralegal?

To say that it wasn’t easy is to say too little. I had to learn new language, new culture and became a student again. The college structure in the United States is different of what I was accustomed to. For example, I had the same classmates through most of my classes in Ukraine compared to here where in each class I had different people and by the time I knew them, I had my finals and chances that I won’t be with them in my next class were great. My classmates were students who could be my children’s friends, my age or even my parents age. In one of my classes, I had a mother and a daughter studying together. You won’t find that in Ukraine.

Some professors invited students to call them by first name. That never happened in Ukraine or any of other countries in former U.S.S.R.

I never saw a teacher sitting on a table back in Ukraine We had a very strict discipline in school: no walking around or eating/drinking in class. Attendance was mandatory.

My biggest shock was at one of my ESL classes where a topic was something about clothing. Don’t remember exactly what happened, but one of students didn’t understand the word “undershirt” and a professor just unbuttoned his shirt and showed it. Can’t imagine what it would be if the word in question would be…”underwear”.

When I started to take paralegal classes, I tried to “fit” them into my background and engineering skills. Wasn’t easy, but, I was able to “break” them into manageable pieces. For example, the court system: what was the same and what was different? Documents drafting: any analogy? The most easiest and rewarding class was real estate and especially the part about the survey review. I felt like a fish in the water.

What do you enjoy about working in real estate law?

Paperwork I like to organize my work. To put all parts in order and piece them together. I started as a matrimonial paralegal and, as much as I like to work with people, I was burned out by people we represented. I was getting upset that I had to smile to a client just because he is a client even if he (or she) was an abusive spouse (parent) or a cheater. Shopping malls don’t cheat and a hotel chain won’t abuse anyone. The work is straight forward. I can’t say that there are no emotions involved, but they are different. I like to see the fruits of my labor: a clean title, new entities organized and documents recorded in a right order. The real estate doesn’t have a rush of excitement of winning a case in a court, but it has its own beauty of hard work involved with all preparations to closings and successful closings.

Can you describe what a typical work day looks like for you in your current position?

I really can’t There are no two days alike. One day would start with drafts of documents for upcoming closings and another with ordering lien searches or forming entities. You can find me drafting UCCs or being on a phone with a title company “cleaning” titles or chasing a surveyor who is “out in a field” second week in a row when I need some minor changes to a survey for a closing tomorrow. Or, I can have a boring day compiling documents and preparing closing binder. On another day, I will sit in a closing room passing down documents for execution or notarizing boxes and boxes of documents and checking that we have all necessary documents executed (with a right color – yes, some counties require blue (or black) ink only or even both).

How many hours do you work in a typical week?

When we are busy (and December is one of those months), the week could be 50 hours and more. When real estate was on the top on the hill, 50-55 hours week was a norm all year around. I had some all-nighters, but I had slow weeks too. It all depends on the economy and how your office operates.

Can you give us an example of an interesting case or project that you have worked on and your role in helping to achieve a positive outcome?

A few years ago, I was assigned to a project where we represented a buyer of more than 150 properties in more than 20 states. In addition to buying, we had a borrowing and a leaseback components on this deal (a leaseback is when a new owner leases the property back to a seller). I assisted a team of three attorneys and a partner. Just to give you a taste of what we went through: the final closing binder was more than 70 3 inch volumes of binders with documents. Surveys that were reviewed could possibly cover all grass in the Central Park in Manhattan. I was keeping track of all searches and title and surveys revisions. The post-closing summary of UCCs had over 700 UCCs in different states and counties. The day we closed, I felt like a winner of a million dollar lottery.

Why did you decide to get your Master’s in Business Administration and how has this helped you in your career?

I felt that I needed something more…I didn’t want to go to law school. After a few years of being a paralegal, I knew for sure that I want to be a paralegal, but lacked knowledge in how business run in the United States. In addition, the economy started to slide down and I wanted to have something in my hands in case my job would be in jeopardy.

I went to online school as it was the only one what fit into my schedule. I don’t regret a day of it. Where else would you be able to go to class at 2 am in the morning? I met people from across the country and across the globe. The best teachers were my classmates. They shared their practical knowledge in addition to their cultural differences. My teachers/professors were people who worked during the day. I remember an ad I saw in NYC subway a few years ago (about the different colleges and using different words, but with the same meaning): “Our teacher left his office 10 minutes ago, when did yours?” Those were my teachers.

The paralegal job is not only about the law. It is about the business. Only well educated paralegals are able to manage a day full of different assignments. You don’t need to be a corporate paralegal to know about corporate structure. I learned more about technology and how an office works. I learned about advertisement and marketing. I learned finances and how to deal with different personalities. One of the examples is that during the conference call with a client the only part that I wasn’t familiar with was when he chatted about golf with my partner while awaiting for all parties to join . Prior to getting my MBA, I would probably be completely lost at that call.

What advice would you give to students or paralegals who would like to reach your level of success in the area of real estate law?

Never stop learning. I worked as a commercial real estate paralegal at Blank Rome LLP for over eight years. On January 9, 2012, I will start as a commercial real estate paralegal at Chadbourne & Parke LLP. Sounds the same, doesn’t it? However, the group I am joining assists with energy projects and this is something that I never did before. People who don’t know the subject matter will say that “real estate” is always a “real estate”. But it is not true. There is a huge difference between residential and commercial real estate, between representation of a lender and a borrower, a buyer and a seller, selling of a multifamily project and shopping mall, or buying an office building and a hotel chain. Yes, the basic provisions are the same, but there are many nuances that need to be taken into consideration: the title, the survey, the lien searches, zoning regulations, entities status, etc., etc.

The real estate paralegal is the one who, in addition to a real estate law, has to know corporate and lien laws, be well vested in technology, able to find information, detail oriented and organized. He or she can’t afford to miss a deadline for recording documents or forget about lien search. And, the real estate paralegal should be a people person as he or she will be dealing with many different personalities. He or she needs to be a person who attracts others and be willing to share knowledge. The more you give, the more your get.

In addition to the above, I recommend joining a local paralegal association. Membership will expand your network, introduce to new fields and help you to grow professionally and personally. Membership will make your paralegal career interesting as it provides many ways and opportunities to stay involved through CLE classes, pro bono work or leadership positions. I also highly recommend to join The Paralegal Society (TPS): a group of professional paralegals and mentors with a goal to assist students and recent graduates, “a forum created to educate, motivate and inspire paralegals to engage in the pursuit of excellence for all paralegalkind”.

You will become a professional only if you combine your knowledge, professionalism and personal traits together.

We want to thank President Fradman for sharing her experience and advice with us. To learn more about becoming a paralegal see our paralegal career interviews and our paralegal degree center.

The results of a study conducted among North American police officers from 2005 to 2007 reveal that a significant portion of law enforcement professionals suffer from sleep disorders that can impair health and job performance.

The research was spearheaded by Shantha M. W. Rajaratnam, Ph.D., at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study represents data collected from 4,957 police officers in the United States and Canada using a combination of online surveys and in-person screening.

Forty percent of police officers were found to suffer from some type of sleep disorder, most commonly disruptive sleep apnea, insomnia or shift work disorder – a problem prevalent in people who rotate into and out of work schedules during typical sleeping hours. These types of disorders affect as scheduled hours, and the pressure to meet these demands is high.

The bigger problem, say experts, is that the increased responsibility faced by law enforcement professionals leaves less room for error; particularly the types of errors that result from sleep deprivation. Fatigue can lead to poor driving, slower response times, increased administrative errors and physical health problems, all of which can contribute to more haphazard law enforcement performance.

And, the problem is likely to persist. Growing state and federal budgetary constraints will translate to more working hours for police officers, even while national unrest over a struggling economy and perceived social injustices continues to mount. There is no simple answer other than to hope law enforcement professionals get the rest they need to keep much-needed peace during troubled times.
many as 70 million Americans, although often the issue is never diagnosed.

Doctors involved in the study noted that Americans live in a fast-paced culture that often views needing sleep as a sign of weakness, and that this attitude is magnified in the law enforcement community. Police officers are frequently asked to work extra shifts, change schedules and stay on duty beyond.

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As cybercrime becomes more aggressive, so must the tools used to combat it.

California is the newest state to introduce an “eCrime Unit” into its arsenal of law enforcement, and it is aiming to set a new standard in its comprehensive approach to fighting cyber criminals.

The new task force will focus on five different areas of cybercrime including online fraud, identity theft and child exploitation, real-world hardware theft and intellectual property crimes, and will involve coordination between state and federal law enforcement departments when necessary.

Anti-virus software manufacturer Symantec estimates cybercrime affected 431 million people and cost businesses and government entities $338 billion in 2011. California’s estimated losses due to identity theft alone amounted to $46 million last year, and the 20 investors and prosecutors assigned to the new eCrime Unit hope to significantly reduce losses within the state as well as losses elsewhere that are caused by crimes that originate in California.

Although its existence was only announced recently, the unit began its operations in August and has already succeeded in sending one hacker to prison and shutting down an ATM scam that netted $2 million before the suspects were detected.

The new unit, which has the authority to operate statewide, will not act as a replacement for or hindrance to the development of regional resources in the fight against cybercrime. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office was recently awarded a $200,000 grant by the US Department of Justice to beef up its local cybercrime operation and help to develop better relationships with technology firms to improve security coordination.

Cyber-security is becoming more important as more of the world’s business, banking and commerce data are shifted to the cloud, and more transactions become dependent upon the use of networks and third-party servers with which there is not tangible connection. California may be the first state to invest in such a broad-spectrum cybercrime program, but it will not be the last.

->Learn about a Cybersecurity Degree

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a piece of legislation drafted with the hopes of curbing the common threat of intellectual property theft, but questions over proposed law enforcement and possible overreach are casting a shadow over the bill.

On its face, the intentions behind SOPA appear benevolent and beyond argument: protect US copyrighted material from the clutches of foreign cyber-bandits. It aims to do this, however, by creating legal remedies for copyright holders against intermediaries (e.g., credit card companies and service providers) who facilitate the consumption of pirated material by Americans – a power many think will sap law enforcement resources and bog down courts.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, drafted in 1998 to address similar problems, was passed with safe-harbor provisions for social media companies and search engines that may have customers that consume pirated material. SOPA would change that, and tech giants like Google and Facebook are voicing their concerns on Capitol Hill, arguing it would give the government the power to shut down reputable Internet companies overnight.

Large media conglomerates like Time Warner and Disney support the legislation because it would give them the latitude to pursue violators in court, and brings them into direct opposition of powerful tech lobbying groups. Critics say the only losers in the war will be the small Web professionals and tech wage-earners who are forced to act as copyright enforcement officers without pay and with little hope of success at policing Americans’ insatiable appetite for pirated material.

Thanks to a surprising show of bipartisan agreement, SOPA once looked like it may survive a notoriously divided Congress, but things have grown murkier as special interests take their legislators to task and the new digerati make a show of power. The bill still has many supporters, however, and the outcome remains uncertain.

->Learn About a Computer Forensics Degree

Jamie Collins generously agreed to participate in a paralegal career interview with us to share her experiences working as a paralegal at a personal injury law firm and her advice for being successful in this field. Jamie Collins is a litigation paralegal in Indiana with 14 years of experience and writes a column for the paralegal magazine KNOW. She is also the founder of The Paralegal Society, a mentorship and community site for paralegals.

Can you tell us why you chose to become a paralegal?

It was luck or fate, I’m not sure which. I interviewed at a small law firm on my birthday 14 years ago and landed my first legal job working as a part-time receptionist. They eventually offered to pay for a portion of my paralegal degree, so I took classes at a local college and worked three days per week. I continued to hone my paralegal skills and eventually, I was hired on full-time. I worked at that firm for 6 years and learned so much from the attorneys for whom I worked. It was an ideal fit for me.

I really enjoyed working in the paralegal realm and offering my expertise and skills to help people in their time of need. I really love what I do! I’m now fourteen years into my career and I still find it to be a challenging and extremely rewarding on a daily basis. Although luck or fate brought me into the legal profession, it is my passion for the paralegal field that keeps me here. I absolutely love it.

What was your experience like when attending college as a paralegal student?

I put the cart before the horse in the work/educational realm. I worked in a law firm for nearly two years prior to attending college to obtain my paralegal degree, so for me, it was a unique experience. I already knew much of what was being taught. It definitely made me a lot more confident as a paralegal student to already have a legal job and daily access to the “smart” attorneys I worked around if I had a question or needed to learn something new. I was more interested in learning all of the nuances of law because I knew the paralegal field was where I wanted to be. I enjoyed learning additional areas of law during my paralegal studies, but ultimately, realized I was already working in the area of law best suited for me: personal injury and wrongful death law.

Are there any specific requirements to become a paralegal in Indiana or specific things that law firms in Indiana look for in a strong candidate for a paralegal position?

Unfortunately, at this juncture, the State of Indiana (and nearly the entire United States) does not have any specific requirements for paralegals. This makes it difficult for employers to assess candidates who market themselves as “paralegals” because there is no assurance of their actual on-the-job experience, educational background and former training in the paralegal field. This also presents many issues for other paralegals that wish to be acknowledged as working professionals who possess specialized knowledge and a specific skill set. I believe in time, things will begin to change and licensure and/or certification will become more prevalent.

I feel that most firms look for paralegal candidates that are high-energy individuals who work well independently, are detail-oriented, possess critical thinking skills, are excellent writers, personable communicators, have a professional demeanor, and are intimately familiar with legal terminology, processes and systems, as well as the trial rules. These traits are absolutely essential for a paralegal candidate to succeed in my opinion.

What tasks or projects do you enjoy working on the most at your law firm?

I enjoy the thrill of a good trial. While it can be exhausting to prepare for a jury trial, it is also very fulfilling and exhilarating. When you prepare for a trial, the case has a way of consuming you. You find yourself going without lunch, without dinner, without sleep because you become so immersed in the work or deep in thought about the case– and not because you “have to,” but because your thoughts are simply overriding your innate desires to eat and sleep as you normally would. It’s very difficult to watch television or read a book when your mind is moving a million miles an hour as you think about a case or strategy. It is very inspiring to know that you are playing a vital role to help prepare a client’s case for trial, their one day in court and one ultimate outcome. It feels great to know that you and your team gave the client everything you had to help them reach a final outcome. I thrive in the litigation and trial realm. It is my favorite part of working as a litigation paralegal.

Can you tell us about an interesting case that you worked on and what your role was?

I would say one of my most interesting cases was one that my firm took to trial. The case stemmed from personal injuries a lady had sustained in a motor vehicle collision with a semi. I was extremely involved in all aspects of trial preparation for her case. I knew the details of the case inside and out. In fact, I spent nearly six hours of my life driving this particular client around town to obtain new glasses and clothing that was suitable for trial. I really got to know her well during that time. She seemed to trust me more than the attorneys because of the time we had spent together.

At trial, during our opening statement, she walked out of the courtroom and didn’t return. About thirty minutes later, I went to search for her in the restroom and hallways, but to no avail. Eventually, during the break for lunch, I found her sitting outside on a bench. She appeared to be in a daze (completely checked out from reality). She kept stating that she wanted to leave and couldn’t go back in. Obviously, not having a client sitting in the courtroom was going to present a major problem. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to talk her back up, so I had to go notify our lead attorney of the issue. We both walked back down to talk with her, but she remained in a dazed and confused state. Eventually, it was determined that she was unfit to return to trial, so she left. The lead attorney on this particular case is a trial legend and in his more than 40 years of practicing law, he had never had a client walk out during their own trial. This was a first. We had no idea if she would return for trial the next day, but we certainly hoped she would. We proceeded forward with trial that day without our client present in the court room.

The next day, she showed up for the second day of trial. She looked great, was wearing the outfit we had purchased, and seemed to be in good spirits. It turns out she had spent the prior evening in the hospital where she received IV medications. She really nailed her testimony and things were back on track. We had a chance.

At several points during trial, our leading attorney called me up to sit at counsel’s table with him, so I could take copious notes. I would then go home in the evenings to type them up and send them to him, so he could prepare for the next day of trial. It was very fun to be so heavily involved with every aspect of the trial. Obviously, sitting next to a trial legend and assisting him is pretty cool too.

It was in that courtroom that I heard my first million dollar verdict read. The client immediately burst into tears of happiness and hugged me and the attorneys, thanking us profusely. It was a phenomenal feeling. We knew that we had forever changed her life, and in turn, the lives of her two young daughters (one of whom had special needs). It is a case I’ll never forget because of the complications we faced and the million dollar verdict we obtained in spite them.

What advice would you give to new paralegals who want to reach a high level of success in the paralegal field?

To jump right in! Don’t be timid. Don’t be shy. Work to learn as much as you can as fast as you can and surround yourself with smart and successful people. When you are new to the legal field, it can be very intimidating (especially the attorneys), but do your best to overcome any insecurities or personal apprehension. Just immerse yourself in the profession and see where your passions lead you!

It is imperative to remember that the legal world is a buffet, not a one course meal. If you try a particular area of law and feel it’s you’re not well-suited for it, try something else. If you work for a big firm and don’t like it, try a small one. If you don’t like doing defense work, try Plaintiff’s work. The legal realm should truly be looked at as a buffet. It is all there for the taking; you simply have to decide what appeals to you and go in that direction.

I would also encourage new paralegals to reach out and network with other paralegals and attorneys. Create a professional profile on LinkedIn. Be professional with all of your comments and make some friends. You won’t know anyone initially (no one does) but join a few paralegal groups, follow some paralegal blogs, join your local association and/or the National Federal of Paralegal Associations, and mingle with those around you, so you can begin to establish a paralegal network. The legal world can be very competitive, and often, unnecessarily so. You must work to build a network in order to achieve the highest level of success during your career.

So, don’t be intimidated and don’t be shy — just jump right in! You can start your paralegal network today, by e-mailing me at jamietheparalegal@yahoo.com. I’ll be your first LinkedIn connection too! Begin to build your paralegal network today.

What is The Paralegal Society and how can paralegals benefit from visiting the website?

The Paralegal Society™ is a social forum that I created to educate, motivate and inspire paralegals to pursue excellence for all paralegalkind. I assembled a phenomenal team of Mentors (and paralegal powerhouses) from all across the country, including: Karen George, FRP (Florida), Jennifer MacDonnell (California), Mariana Fradman, MBA (New York), Kathryn Gordon (Illinois), Ann Pettigrew (Texas), and our TPS Ambassador, Kelly Holdcraft, the Director of the Paralegal Program at Georgetown University.

Our mission at The Paralegal Society is to orchestrate a much needed change in the social aspects of education, mentorship and camaraderie for paralegals throughout the country. Heck, we like to think of it as a full blown movement. For us, it is a worthy endeavor and one we hope will perpetuate positive change for the paralegal profession. We are ready to give back. We have a strong desire to assist our fellow paralegals in the quest for excellence.

On The Paralegal Society website, you can find interesting articles, glean helpful information and career tips, ask questions and seek advice from our team of experienced paralegal mentors who will provide assistance, guidance and support.

We also have a “social club” which is hosted on LinkedIn under the same name. It is a very active and fun group of legal minds, consisting of experienced paralegals and those with paralegal aspirations, including students. We share interesting articles and discuss a variety of legal topics each day. Both of these resources (the blog and our social club) are invaluable resources for paralegals. If you work in a small firm where there aren’t many paralegals, you live in a rural area or you just want to expand your paralegal network, The Paralegal Society can be your lifeline! I really hope you’ll check out our site and join our efforts to make a positive change in the paralegal profession. We hope to see you “around!”

We thank Jamie Collins for being so generous with her time and sharing her experience and things paralegals can do to excel in their careers. To learn more, visit our paralegal career interviews and paralegal career center, which provide additional information about how to get started in the paralegal field.