Time for a new feature here on the Paralegal Underground. Who better to give you an idea of what being a new paralegal is like--and what you are truly capable of--than our alumni? Annette Wiegand, class of 2016, is working at a law firm in Danville, Illinois, which specializes in personal injury and medical malpractice. She wrote me this week to let me know how her job is going, and I just had to share (with her permission, of course!).
I'll turn it over to Annette:
We
are going to trial next Monday - Thursday and this will be my first actual jury
trial - ever.
I
will be in charge of all the technology in the courtroom, and have developed
all of our exhibits. I have been asked by the lead attorney to sit at counsel
table (big smile on my face after THAT!)
(I
recently found a defendant in South Africa and arranged for him to be deposed
from a law firm there, we did it over a Skype link - very cool - different case
but very cool)
I
have had to track down medical experts who are the top in their field for very
obscure things. You have to know how to use technology to your advantage.
Never
underestimate what people will post on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Snap Chat -
it's incredible.
I
have also been placed in charge of rolling the firm's entire caseload over into
a program called Trial Works. I am working with the programmers and IT folks to
get that done as seamlessly as possible before we go live.
I
am LOVING THIS.
Things
to tell current students:
That
Law Office Technology course you have to take? Yeah - pay attention because it
will be YOU the attorneys will fully expect to be able to take off and run with
this kind of thing. I've edited the website and all kinds of unusual
technology-based things since I've been here. So pay attention!!!
Get
involved with local paralegal organizations and STAY involved. These people
know the ropes and the local system. The Vermilion County Legal Assistants
group has given me contacts ranging from the Sheriff's Department, other law
offices and the courthouse. Never forget it is ALL about networking and word of
your capability and temperament spreads like wildfire, good or bad!
And
please pay attention in Legal Writing!!! I have the dubious honor of proofreading EVERYTHING. It's SCARY sometimes. Legal Writing in Plain English sits
on the bookshelf in my office and I refer to it often.
And
pay attention to the details in everything you do; the attorneys notice, and
truly appreciate it.
