The Paralegal Voice covers the latest issues and trends in the world of paralegals and legal assistants. Host Vicki Voisin, also known as the Paralegal Mentor, invites leading paralegals and legal professionals to discuss a range of topics from career tips and tactics to writing skills and hiring trends. The Paralegal Voice is a comprehensive educational resource for paralegals at any level of experience.
Tracy Mosz talks about her experience as a litigation paralegal including handling the stress and maintaining all the necessary documents.
Julia Dunlap, president of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), talks about paralegal education
In this podcast, why networking is so important for lawyers and what they can do to improve their professional social skills.
Vicki Voisin defines what it means to have a successful paralegal career and gives 30 tips on how to live out your calling.
In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin talks to Adam Camras, CEO of Lawgical, about managing your law firm’s time effectively with apps and technology.
This podcast episode is about tips and tricks for public speaking.
PLLC Certified Paralegal Alicia Mercer talks about why having a project manager is beneficial to the health and well being of any law firm.
NALA President Cassandra Oliver talks about the organization and the significance of paralegal certification.
Vicki Voisin talks with the State Bar of Michigan practice management advisor JoAnn Hathaway about her tips to help law firms go paperless.
What is the LLLT program and what does this license provide to low income communities and the law firms that serve them.
Going paperless seems to be one of the top new trends among law firms due to cheaper and better hardware and software, refined processes, and effective consulting. And it is especially important for paralegals to know the do’s and don’ts of implementing a paperless office as they may be the ones in charge. So why...
Similarly to most organizations and companies, social media can be very beneficial for nonprofits. They use Facebook, Twitter, and similar platforms as tools for communication, networking, and engagement with their audiences. Social media facilitates fundraising, volunteer recruitment, spreading a message, advocacy and awareness, and transparency about current events and actions. But it is particularly important...
It’s not always easy to serve process on individuals. This is especially true if they move around a lot or are otherwise difficult to find. So what do you do when traditional methods fail? The answer: try social media. Initially, the social media serve was only allowed with foreign defendants who were difficult to locate....
The new Windows 10 has received a lot of attention, partly due to the lack of popularity of Windows 8, but legal professionals are notoriously conservative with adopting new technology. Since paralegals will likely be the first law firm employees to use the new operating system, they need to know whether to upgrade and when....
Lawyers and paralegals are likely using social media in law firm marketing and are most likely on social media in their personal lives. As such, they should understand how Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and even Pinterest are affecting their cases, marketing, and ethical responsibilities. Many paralegals work with lawyers to create an attractive online profile...
The National Association of Legal Assistants 40th Annual Convention featured a three-day Essential Skills Institute for paralegals. The institute focused on effective legal research, written communication, and judgement and legal analysis. Any paralegal is likely to further his or her career, become essential in their firm, and improve future job prospects by cultivating these abilities....
Most paralegals have an annual review with their employer, and many dread the day it arrives. But this meeting can be useful and informative. During your annual review, you can receive praise for hard work, learn about expectations, reevaluate your goals, and determine what about your workflow needs improvement. Furthermore, this is the time to...
The National Association for Legal Assistants (NALA) recently held their 40th Annual Convention, Institutes, and Exhibition in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While at the conference, The Paralegal Voice host Vicki Voisin interviewed Andi Elmore from the Kansas Association of Legal Assistants and Paralegals (KALA), Tove Sebring from the Capital Area Paralegal Association (CAPA), and June Brown from...
During the National Association for Legal Assistants (NALA) 40th Annual Convention, Institutes, and Exhibition in Tulsa, The Paralegal Voice host Vicki Voisin interviewed Yoli Garcia from the El Paso Paralegal Association (EPPA), and Linda Carrett, Carla Valenzuela, and Ruth Conley from the Houston Paralegal Association (HPA). Both EPPA and HPA are affiliated with NALA, ensuring...
The National Association for Legal Assistants (NALA) recently held their 40th Annual Convention, Institutes, and Exhibition in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The conference offered educational programs for CLE credits applicable to many paralegal associations nationwide. Legal Talk Network host Vicki Voisin attended and interviewed instructors from some of the CLE “institutes.” In this podcast, Voisin interviews Stacey...
The National Association for Legal Assistants (NALA) recently held their 40th Annual Convention, Institutes, and Exhibition in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The conference offered educational programs for CLE credits applicable to many paralegal associations nationwide. Legal Talk Network host Vicki Voisin attended and interviewed instructors from some of the CLE “institutes.” In this podcast, Voisin interviews Peter...
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) recently hosted their 40th Annual Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Legal Talk Network attended with The Paralegal Voice host Vicki Voisin to interview board members, panelists, and attendees about their experience at the conference and what’s happening next year for paralegals. In this episode, Voisin interviews NALA President Kelly...
As paralegals (or any legal professional really), it is difficult to keep up with technology trends, firm software, or even client data security. Listeners of The Paralegal Voice are likely ahead of the curve in terms of legal tech education, even though technology evolves so quickly. But what about the lawyers in our firms? Attorneys...
As paralegals, we are known multitaskers, often confronting many tasks at once. While multitasking seems like a process of getting more done, it often results in distraction and inefficiency. And while it is nearly impossible for paralegals to avoid distraction completely, we can learn to manage email intake for a better overall workflow. In this...
New paralegal graduates often lack sufficient experience when they encounter job opportunities. Even seasoned paralegals have a hard time standing out from the crowd when applying for positions with thousands of applicants. If you are running into these problems, staffing agencies or recruiters can help you polish a resume, gain legal experience, network with law...
The legal history of rights against discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people is changing rapidly. In April 2015, 38 states and Washington, D.C. granted legal benefits of marriage to same-sex marriages, a huge step up from 12 in 2013. But there are still 27 states that do not have statewide protection from discrimination...
Every 2 years, the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) conducts a survey of paralegals to establish current trends in the paralegal industry. Among those surveyed are NALA members, non-members, and members of affiliated organizations. Topics include the duties and responsibilities of paralegals, where they work, common practice areas, and the changes in billing rates...
Many paralegals have problems getting a job with no experience but can’t get experience without having a job. This is one of the worst paradoxes in the field. Paralegal education programs have been changing to help resolve this and other issues. Many classes are now offering in depth subjects such as legal research and many...
Paralegals and paralegal students often have difficulty developing their writing skills to the level expected from legal industry. The legal professionals rely heavily on both verbal and written communication, and writing is an essential necessity for both lawyers and legal secretaries. Because the other employees in a law firm will not tolerate inadequate writing skills,...
Although being a paralegal is a rewarding job, sometimes paralegals experience burnout in their careers and consider changing positions or leaving the profession altogether. There are many ways to revitalize your paralegal career in order to avoid such drastic decisions. Joining a local, state, or national paralegal association can be energizing and spark fresh interest...
Marilyn Wass ACP, CAS is the Senior Paralegal at Lopez McHugh, LLP, a nationally recognized plaintiffs law firm that takes on pharmaceutical companies, nursing homes, insurance companies, auto manufacturers, and the manufacturers of defective medical devices. Her job includes an incredible amount of responsibilities both over time and day-to-day. Being a Senior Paralegal for a...
Family law and divorce can be a very difficult practice due to the amount of emotion and transition surrounding the client’s life. The lawyers practicing in this area are directly responsible for the financial and emotional future of their clients. Because of the level of pressure involved, a successful family law firm depends on their...
The majority of people today are getting their information electronically, whether on a laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. In the legal world, this means lawyers, paralegals, clients, and even judges are reading on screens rather than paper, causing them to skim pages and have a constant source of distraction. Because of this, paralegals and legal...
Technology has changed the world of law firms and businesses, affecting the way lawyers are required to retrieve, record, and archive information. Instead of communicating entirely by email or phone, professionals are now also exchanging valuable information by instant message, collaboration systems, or social media. It is important for paralegals to understand the ways in...
John and Patsy Ramsey, Richard Jewell, and Gary Condit are names everyone has heard as they were all on trial in the court of public opinion. These cases were spread throughout the media and, even though there was never an arrest made in any, the public had judged the accused. L. Lin Wood was the...
Despite US notions of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, many innocent people have been sent to prison for lengthy to life sentences. Common reasons for these wrongful convictions are faulty eyewitness accounts, use of “junk” science as evidence, and informants with conflicts of interest. On this episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin interviews...
In reaction to rising legal costs and decreased access to legal services, Washington State has authorized paralegals to practice law on a limited basis through its new Limited License Legal Technician (LLLT) program. Soon paralegals will be able to practice in specific areas of law. To learn more about this developing field, tune into this...
Today’s economy can be challenging for paralegals. Make sure you’re taking the right steps to advance your career. On this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin interviews future President of NALS Karen McElroy. Together they discuss what you should be doing as a paralegal to get ahead and stay ahead in this job...
“Say something to make them put down their salad fork,” public speaking coach Deb Sofield said. The window of opportunity to engage an audience is small, and your introduction is a key factor in success. In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, Paralegal Mentor Vicki Voisin hosts a lively discussion with Sofield covering public speaking...
When it comes to redaction and the process of removing confidential information from legal documents, some paralegals still rely on the traditional yet cumbersome method of using a black marker and the copier machine. A new option is growing in popularity: the use of specialized electronic tools like Redact-It, which is specifically built for redaction....
