Advertise on podcast: Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson

In this episode,  Ann  discusses the concerns paralegals have about their jobs being replaced by overseas virtual legal assistants and AI. She reassures listeners that the types of paralegal jobs that can be taken by overseas assistants are typically low-paying and repetitive tasks. Ann provides actionable strategies to protect paralegals' job security and increase their value in the legal profession.  Key Takeaways: Paralegals should aim to work in positions that involve tasks requiring specialized knowledge and experience, rather than repetitive and easily replaceable tasks. Choosing to work for larger firms can provide more job security, as they are less likely to outsource paralegal positions to overseas assistants. Being client-facing and developing strong relationships with clients can make paralegals more valuable and less likely to be replaced. Legal assistants should strive to gain the skills and training necessary to be promoted to paralegal positions, as these roles are less likely to be outsourced. Developing leadership skills can make paralegals indispensable in managing overseas virtual legal assistants if their firm decides to hire them. Regularly updating resumes and LinkedIn profiles is essential for paralegals to showcase their skills and accomplishments to potential employers. Paralegals should focus on building career security by acquiring the skills and knowledge needed for future job opportunities Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career? The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career and cut YEARS off the typical learning curve that most new paralegals encounter when starting their careers. View our course offerings to see how we've helped thousands of paralegals like you. Website:  https://Paralegal-BootCamp.com  For more free paralegal resources, visit our Paralegal Resources page on the website. 

Click here to view Teas' "10 Essential Tips for Paralegals to Ensure a Successful Process Service"   About the Guest: Tea Godfrey is a former litigation paralegal who now owns her own company, Solid Serve Legal, where she provides process service and private investigation in the state of Oregon. With her background in litigation and her expertise in investigation and surveillance, Tea specializes in serving hard-to-reach defendants and conducting workplace investigations, civil litigation, and criminal defense cases. She is also the Vice President of the State's Association of Professional Process Servers and regularly volunteers with several legal aid organizations.   Episode Summary: In this episode, Ann interviews Tea Godfrey, owner of Solid Serve Legal, about the importance of hiring a reliable process server and shares a checklist to ensure a smooth process. Tea discusses her experience as a former litigation paralegal and how she transitioned into owning her own company. She also provides insights into the world of surveillance and investigation, highlighting the precautions and challenges involved. The conversation focuses on tips for hiring vendors, including process servers, and emphasizes the need for clear communication, comprehensive instructions, and thorough research. Listeners gain valuable insights into the process serving industry and learn how to avoid common pitfalls when hiring a process server.   Key Takeaways: Conduct thorough research and obtain multiple bids when hiring a process server or any vendor. Price should not be the sole determining factor when choosing a process server; consider responsiveness, communication skills, and attention to detail. Provide comprehensive instructions and relevant information to the process server, including photos or physical descriptions of the person to be served. Understand the rules and limitations of your role as a paralegal when hiring vendors and ensure compliance with state laws for out-of-state cases. Effective communication and documentation are crucial for successful outcomes when working with vendors.   If you're looking to level up your paralegal investigation skills, check out our Paralegal Investigations Boot Camp: https://paralegal-bootcamp.thinkific.com/bundles/investigative-paralegal-boot-camp     Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career? The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career and cut YEARS off the typical learning curve that most new paralegals encounter when starting their careers. View our course offerings to see how we've helped thousands of paralegals like you. Website:  https://Paralegal-BootCamp.com  For more free paralegal resources, visit our Paralegal Resources page on the website.   

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

Announcement for our podcast listeners! The Litigation Paralegal Boot Camp is currently open for enrollment! This is the only online course and coaching program of its kind that walks litigation paralegals through every phase of a litigation case and cuts YEARS off your learning curve. It also includes monthly live group coaching calls with Ann Pearson.   Learn more about joining at https://LitigationParalegalBootCamp.com Enrollment closes on Thursday, February 8th!

About the Guest: Samantha Brillantino is a legal specialist at one of the largest medical technology companies in the world. She has been working in the legal industry since graduating from Salisbury University in 2017 and obtaining her ABA paralegal certificate in 2019. Samantha has faced challenges throughout her career due to her learning disability. Despite the doubts and challenges she has encountered, Samantha has proven that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and self-belief. Episode Summary: In this episode, Ann interviews Samantha, a paralegal who has overcome challenges and defied expectations in her career. Samantha shares her experience of being told by a recruiter that she had no chance of being hired as a paralegal due to her lack of experience. However, Samantha persevered and landed a position at one of the largest medical device companies in the world. She emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and not letting others define your capabilities. Samantha also discusses her learning disability and how she has learned to navigate the legal industry while managing her disability. She offers advice for paralegals facing similar challenges and emphasizes the importance of communication, continuous learning, and self-awareness. Key Takeaways: Believing in oneself and pushing through challenges is crucial for success in the paralegal career. Recruiters may underestimate the potential of candidates based on their lack of experience, but it's important to prove them wrong and continue pursuing opportunities. Individuals with disabilities should be open and honest about their challenges with their managers and seek support from companies that value inclusivity. Strong communication skills, self-awareness, and continuous learning are essential for overcoming challenges and excelling as a paralegal. Networking, joining professional associations, and attending seminars can provide valuable opportunities for career growth and development.   Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career? The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career and cut YEARS off the typical learning curve that most new paralegals encounter when starting their careers. View our course offerings to see how we've helped thousands of paralegals like you. Website:  https://Paralegal-BootCamp.com  For more free paralegal resources, visit our Paralegal Resources page on the website. 

In this episode, Ann shares her top seven litigation tips for paralegals. She emphasizes the importance of getting up to speed quickly on new cases by reviewing all relevant documents and extracting key information into a players list, chronology, and master to-do list. She also discusses the essential software skills that every litigation paralegal should have. Additionally, Ann highlights the importance of being an information manager and proactively managing cases by reviewing and organizing all incoming information. She also addresses the need for paralegals to take ownership of their careers and seek out the training they need to succeed. Finally, Ann discusses the growing importance of ediscovery in litigation and the need for paralegals to have a solid understanding of ediscovery tools and processes. Key Takeaways: Review all relevant documents and extract key information to create a players list, chronology, and master to-do list for each case. Develop strong skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe, as these are essential tools for all litigation paralegals. Be an information manager and proactively manage cases by reviewing and organizing all incoming information. Take ownership of your career and seek out the training you need to succeed. Ediscovery is now a mandatory skill for litigation paralegals, as electronic documents are a crucial part of most cases. Even small firms should embrace ediscovery tools to improve efficiency and ensure compliance with court rules. Paralegals should speak up when they see potential issues or challenges in a case, rather than waiting for someone else to address them. Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career? The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career and cut YEARS off the typical learning curve that most new paralegals encounter when starting their careers. View our course offerings to see how we've helped thousands of paralegals like you. Website:  https://Paralegal-BootCamp.com  For more free paralegal resources, visit our Paralegal Resources page on the website. 

Sign up for the Paralegal Bootcamp challenge here! Ann announces a five-day challenge for new litigation paralegals to help you jumpstart your career in 2024. The challenge is free to participate in and starts on Saturday, January 20, with a live training session. Then, starting on Monday, each day of the challenge, participants will receive an email with a task or assignment to complete that will help advance their career as a litigation paralegal. Key Takeaways: The challenge is free to participate in and starts with a live training session on Saturday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Participants will receive daily emails with tasks or assignments to complete that will help advance their careers as litigation paralegals. The challenge is specifically designed for new (or fairly new) litigation paralegals,  Learn more about the Free 5-Day Challenge mentioned in this episode:  https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/challenge  Are you a paralegal who wants to skip the learning curve and kickstart your career? The Paralegal Boot Camp offers online courses to fast-track your paralegal career and cut YEARS off the typical learning curve that most new paralegals encounter when starting their careers. View our course offerings to see how we've helped thousands of paralegals like you. Website:  https://Paralegal-BootCamp.com  For more free paralegal resources, visit our Paralegal Resources page on the website.