Karla News

My Life as a Bankruptcy Paralegal

Eagle Eye, Legal Advice, Paralegal

I never dreamed growing up about being a paralegal – I dreamed of being a teacher, an astronaut, a pastry chef or a princess (being an only child I had a great imagination). I guess the best way to describe how I chose my career is to say I was in a hurry. I was getting married and needed a job – one that did not require physical labor, night or weekend work and where I had all major holidays off. I opened the school catalog, flipped through it and landed on the page for “paralegal degree.” I thought, “that does not sound bad – good money, normal working hours, holidays off.” I got part of that right.

If I had to sum up what being a paralegal means, I would borrow the line from the movie ” Eagle Eye ” when Rachel explains to Jerry what a paralegal is: “The same thing as the guys with their names on the door, except I do it for $11 an hour, so they can bill $200.” That sums up being a paralegal – we meet with clients, draft legal documents and do legal research. We cannot give legal advice or represent a client in court. Have I heard paralegals give legal advice? Sure I have because it is difficult not to when you know the answer and the client is pushing you for an answer; however, a paralegal must always remember not to cross the line into giving legal advice. Have I have known the answer and my attorney did not? Sure, that has happened plenty of times when I have trained “baby lawyers” (the term I give to fresh-faced, eager and clueless associates right out of law school). Experience is something that cannot be taught in paralegal school or law school and after 22 years in this field, I have learned far more than any paralegal program could hope to teach.

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I have heard the term “glorified secretary” applied to being a paralegal and I would have to admit that is true at times. I can type, file, stuff envelopes, run errands, answer the phone and make copies with the best of the best. In fact, that is probably the most important piece of advice that I would offer to anyone seeking a paralegal degree – – learn how to do everything from the ground up and it will make you far more valuable as an employee. I have watched attorneys crumble and cease to be able to function if their secretary calls in sick because they have no clue how to do what she does. A great paralegal is one that can continue to do her job and make sure that everything else is done too, no matter who is out sick or drops the ball.

In fact, my first job as a paralegal was great – I had a receptionist/secretary to assist me and I thought I was something great dressed in my new suit and carrying my briefcase. It did not take but a few weeks for her to take me down a few pegs. I might have known how to draft a complaint and perform legal research but I had no clue how many copies to send to court or how many days notice to give for a deposition. I vowed then I would learn her job too so that I would never feel that inadequate again when communicating with clients, the court, other paralegals or attorneys. I did learn and now people come to me to ask questions – that has its rewards and its disadvantages (some days I wish people would forget my name).

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I have worked in law firms that handle worker’s comp claims, auto accidents, personal injury, family law, probate law, real estate and now bankruptcy law. Bankruptcy was something new to me and again I was green as grass the first day on the job. But as before, I started with the receptionist and worked my way up from there learning about each position – duties, responsibilities and tips. It has made me a better paralegal and a more valuable employee.

If I had to bet, the person who wrote that line in “Eagle Eye” was a paralegal because she nailed the job description perfectly.