If you've ever had a class with me, you know that I stay in contact with the local attorneys and hammer--HARD--on whatever they tell me they're looking for in a paralegal. Certainly this is where my emphasis on writing came from.
One of the attorneys at yesterday's Appeals on Wheels CLE spoke with me today about what he looks for in a paralegal. His advice? Have confidence in your abilities and in your education. Lawyers are not looking for someone to sit quietly by and wait for step-by-step instruction. If you know what needs to be done (and you probably do), do it! If you don't know what needs to be done, ask! He emphasized the role a paralegal plays as a part of the team--not as a gofer. Play like you are part of the team.
Also, he gave a big thumbs up to the whole engagement points scheme. (I didn't use the term engagement points. I said I encouraged my students to interact more with each other, attorneys, etc.)
"Great!" he said. "They need more of that."
You heard it here, folks.
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