Law-related Blogs

I decided to wrap up my blog by suggesting other blogs that may be of interest to paralegal students. I’ve grouped them according to topic /audience and included a brief description of each blog’s purpose. I hope that you’ll find some of them of informative and even helpful in your legal careers. Be sure to read all the disclaimers though, and do some fact-checking when necessary.

Humor – because we all need to laugh.

Fail blog (http://failblog.org/): Not really law related but this site, but certainly good for a chuckle.

Litination (http://www.litination.com/2008/07/disclaimer.html): The disclaimer says it all.

Above the Law (http://abovethelaw.com/): A legal tabloid.

Lowering the Bar (http://www.loweringthebar.net/). I especially enjoyed the one on Comical Case Names.

By and for Experts or Teachers.

Law Professor (http://www.lawprofessorblogs.com/): Created to assist law professors in their teachings and includes everything from administrative law to immigration law to white collar crime.

The Volokh Conspiracy (http://volokh.com/): A group blog with postings mostly from law professors.

Adams Drafting (http://www.adamsdrafting.com/): Ken Adams has expertise in contract drafting.

Ralph Losey (http://ralphlosey.wordpress.com/): A lawyer since 1990 and named a Superlawyer in the field of IT, Mr. Losey writes about the issues of electronic discovery and the law. Other blogs and information on this subject can be found at http://www.discoveryresources.org/.

Acrobat for Legal Professionals (http://blogs.adobe.com/acrolaw/): This one is of special interest for those using Adobe Acrobat. Its author, Rick Borstein, specializes in the Acrobat-Legal Market for Adobe Systems Incorporated.

The Librarian at Law (http://librarianatlaw.blogspot.com/): The author of this blog is the Head of Reference Services, at the University of Connecticut School of Law Library.

Set in Style (http://misterthorne.org/set_in_style): Although this blog is a resource for law firm publishing, there is some good information that all legal professionals can use, such as how your writing skills can advance your career and how to produce documents that leave a favorable impression.

Paralegal specific.

Paralegal Mentor: Vicki Voisin offers up some advice for paralegals under http://www.paralegalmentor.com/ and also has a blog you can find on her website.

Practical Paralegalism by Lynn Devenny (who at times teams up with Vicki) has a great site that offers tips and “cautionary tales.” Here’s Ten Tips all new paralegals may be interested in: http://www.practicalparalegalism.com/2009/06/top-10-tips-for-brand-new-paralegals.html

Lexis Paralegal Community (http://law.lexisnexis.com/communityportal/default.aspx?g=QfsTyLJ1USs=): Offers tutorials, research information and tips and includes a discussion forum.

Paralegal Gateway (www.paralegalgateway.com): This site has an immense amount of information relating to and of interest to paralegals. Their weblog (http://paralegalgateway.typepad.com/) is designed to promote paralegals around the world.

Finding Your Strengths

I was recently was asked by a friend to help her prepare for a job interview. She specifically wanted to know how to respond to that standard question about strengths and weaknesses. How can you play up your strengths if you aren’t sure what they are? And how can you downplay your weaknesses with a comparable strength? There are many programs and books available to deal with this subject, but I just happened to have a Strengths Finder 2.0 book. The basis of this book is that “Talent (a natural way of thinking, feeling and behaving) multiplied by Investment (time spent practicing, developing your skills, and building your knowledge base) equals Strength (the ability to consistently provide near-perfect performance).” Rath, Tom, Strength Finders 2.0, Gallup Press, 2007, p 20.

Purchase of the book gives you access to a program that, after completing a questionnaire, identifies the top 5 areas where you have the greatest potential to develop strengths. (He categorizes 34 areas of strengths referring to them as themes.) Not only does the author give an overview each theme, but he provides examples and Ideas for Action.

The examples are especially useful to gain insight into what motivates someone with a particular strength. For example, I am not very competitive. The book states that those who are competitive are “rooted in comparison” and that, over time, this type of person will “avoid contests where winning seems unlikely.” When you find yourself having to work with someone who is competitive, the author’s advice is to connect with this person by speaking her language, such as referring to the work goal as the “ultimate prize.” You should also find areas within the project or work environment where this person can win. If this person does suffer a loss, it’s best to let the person mourn for a bit, but then quickly move on.

We all have strengths and once we know what they are, building upon such strengths may make our weaknesses less prominent. However, an interviewer will most likely want to know that you’ve identified some of your weaknesses and how you cope with them. Using the above example, a competitive person may admit that she sometimes has difficulty completing ordinary tasks, but add that she's recognized this about herself and learned to pay special attention to those mundane tasks by turning them into achievable goals.

Quick and Dirty Tips

Some days we can use all the help and tips that are available to us. I found a site that may be of interest – Quick and Dirty Tips™. I personally download the podcasts for Nutrition Diva, Grammar Gal, House Call Doctor and that all important Legal Lad.

There’s quite a few more quick tips covering a wide range of topics. Each podcast is about 5 minutes long, includes a sponsor mention and answers a specific question relevant to the type of podcast. The podcasts are quick, somewhat entertaining, definitely informative and best of all (especially the Legal Lad podcast), easy to understand.

So whether you’re interested in tips for parenting, investing, public speaking, marketing, or even dog training you’ll want to take a quick moment to check out this site.

Stay Connected

According to Wikipedia, “LISTSERV was the first electronic mailing list software application, consisting of a set of email addresses for a group in which the sender can send one email and it will reach a variety of people.”

Subscribing to a listserv for paralegals is a great way to read what others in our field are discussing and, just as important, an excellent venue to ask questions, seek resources, recommendations, etc.

I currently subscribe to the © Legal Assistant Today listserv. Paralegals from all over the U.S. are a part of this forum and everyone is extremely helpful even if it’s just a trivial question about where to find an ordinance. There are even those who use this forum as a networking tool for job searches. Anyone can subscribe this public listserv, but one tip – you may want to create a separate folder or specific email address just for the listserv because the daily emails received can number as many as 30+. Of course, you can always just go to the link above and read the archives, but participating is much more interesting.

The NFPA® has a listserv for members only and several public listservs:
Educators (education@list.paralegals.org)
Students (students@list.paralegals.org)
Individuals Studying for PACE (PACEStudy@list.paralegals.org)
Military (military@list.paralegals.org)

Whichever listserv you choose, or if you choose them all, they will enhance your learning.

Adding "Notary Public" to your Resume

I’ve been a notary for a number of years now and although I don’t notarize nearly the number of documents I did when I worked for a corporation, I still consider it a valuable asset. For those of you who’ve thought about it, but haven’t gotten around to checking out what’s required, I wanted to share some information that I hope will urge you to consider applying.

First, some minimum requirements: you must be at least 18 years old, free of any felony convictions and be registered to vote at your current address.

You’ll need to apply in the county in which you reside, pass an exam and pay a fee. For example in Montgomery County, the Dayton Bar Association can assist you with the process (109 N. Main Street, Suite 600; 222-7902).

Once you apply and pay a $70 fee, you will receive a booklet which is a guide to the various situations where notary services are needed. The DBA schedules a test the fourth Friday of each month; they’ll also let you know the specific time and location. The test is comprised of 50 questions and a sample auto title. The guidebook isn’t very lengthy but taking the time to review and study its contents is beneficial.

After you've been notified that you’ve passed the exam, you will be commissioned as a Notary Public for five years. You are then given your first journal to record each transaction. You are responsible for purchasing your seal and name stamp (optional) though. You are also responsible for maintaining your commission and, if you move, giving notice to the new county. By the way, even if your employer has paid the exam fee and reimbursed or purchased your notary supplies, the commission and supplies belong to the individual, not the company.

I’ve been a member of the National Notary Association for some time now, too, and this group offers great support and excellent information about the notary profession. It's also a great resource for advice on how to market your notary services which may hold you over until you find that dream job. It's also another way to network with other professionals.

Should you take an interim job?

During your time at SCC taking the required and elective paralegal courses you’ve most likely determined what area of law you prefer to focus on for your job search. I found an article on i-Newswire that reprinted an interview with Debra Benton, an executive coach and author, where she addresses the pros and cons of holding out for that dream job or taking a less-than-ideal job just for the money or experience.

There’s no clear answer to this situation because it depends upon your circumstances. If you are able to financially weather the job-search storm, then you can be more selective. If not, you may have to take a job that doesn’t exactly fit what you would consider a first or second choice. I suspect many of us will fit in the latter category – I know I do.

This article reminded me that even though you may accept a less-than-optimum job offer, you can always learn something while you are there. It’s important to always do your best and produce quality work. You never know if the time you spend gaining that all-important, on-the-job experience or making new contacts, will set you on the track to your ultimate job. No one should stay in a job where you’re not treated with respect though. That’s never worth a paycheck.

Should you add certification to your credentials?

It probably goes without saying that you should never stop learning. So, after we’ve worked so hard to complete SCC’s Paralegal Program, is certification really necessary? Of course not, but I’ve talked to a few paralegals about this and they have all strongly suggested obtaining certification.

The NALA offers detailed information about the certification and claims that there are over 15,000 certified paralegals and more than 1,800 with advanced certification. According to NALA’s website, the CP “credential has been recognized by the American Bar Association as a designation which marks a high level of professional achievement.” It just may give you that extra “edge” towards obtaining a job or advancing in your current job.

Continuing education keeps you up-to-date with the changes in the profession. In fact, staying abreast of the latest changes through continuous education is listed in NALA’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility (Canon #6). Many CLE credits can be obtained via on-line courses, but for those of you who like to travel and prefer in-class training, options are available. Both the NFPA® and NALA offer these educational opportunities.