I received an email recently from a colleague I hadn’t spoken to in years. She opened with: “It’s nice to see you’re still around.”
Still around? Holy moly. What was she saying, “You’re not dead yet”?
Let’s be honest: if your state doesn't require CLE, most people won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. But that’s like saying you won’t go to the dentist until your tooth falls out. CLE (Continuing Legal Education) isn’t just about credits—it’s about staying sharp, staying marketable, and staying employed. And for those of us in California (yes, paralegals are required to take CLE here), there's no excuse.
But even if you're in a state that doesn't mandate CLE, the bigger question is: Do you want to stay competitive?
What’s really keeping legal professionals in jobs they hate. And how to break free.
Let me guess. You wake up, drag yourself out of bed, gulp down that cup of burned office coffee, and dread logging into yet another pointless Zoom meeting run by someone whose idea of leadership is reading PowerPoint slides aloud, badly. But you show up anyway. Every. Single. Day.Why? Because you’ve got bills. Maybe a mortgage. Maybe a spouse who’s “finding themselves” on your dime. Maybe kids. Or maybe just a serious addiction to overpriced takeout and handbags you never use.
How to Vacation Without Falling into the Guilt Trap
It was that time again: vacation time. God, what a drag. It meant I had to leave work and go have fun. I don’t have time to have fun. Who scheduled this?
Still, my wonderful husband had been dealing with some health issues lately, and stress was clinging to us like a client who found your cell number. So in a rare moment of compassion, I suggested we take a short trip to Hawaii. I knew I’d be squeezing it in between clients, candidates, webinars, writing deadlines, marketing campaigns, and possibly solving world peace but the image of lounging by the pool with a trashy magazine while a shirtless beach boy misted me with mineral water? That seemed... almost worth it.
Someone constantly talking over me is extremely annoying. Why? I feel like I am being run over by a steamroller of ego, wrapped in entitlement, and dusted with a light coating of "I know better than you." And I lose control—of meetings, interviews, or whatnot.
I had a colleague who constantly did that until I realized that, lo and behold, she had a hearing problem. Well, that answered that.
But when the person doesn’t have an excuse? That's when it gets interesting.
Are male paralegals worth more than female paralegals?
Are white paralegals worth more than those of other races?
I was lightly skipping (OK, doom-scrolling) through some industry articles the other day, looking for a couple of solid stats for my blog: The Estrin Report.
My throat closed, my stomach turned, and all the other clichés your favorite legal drama would trot out in a dramatic courtroom close.
Here it is, straight from a NALA 2024 Compensation Trends report:"In 2024, male paralegals earned approximately 14% more than their female counterparts." "White paralegals earned 4% more than BIPOC paralegals."
The other day, I got an email from someone I used to work with years ago. Sweet woman. We hadn’t spoken in a long time. Her message started with, “I’m so glad to know you’re still around.”
Still around? Are you kidding me?
I wanted to respond with, “Thanks, I didn’t realize I was one step from a commemorative plaque.”
If you’ve heard this too, welcome to the sisterhood. We’re not just “still around.” We’re still smart, still savvy, and very much still in the game.
Whether you’re in a law firm, in-house, freelancing, consulting, re-entering, or just plotting your next power move, this one’s for you.
