By Chere Estrin 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...
Will You Survive? How Trump’s Upheaval is Reshaping Your Legal Career By Chere B. Estrin I had the honor of delivering the keynote address for the Illinois Paralegal Association conference. Initially, we envisioned a lighthearted discussion on emerging job trends in the legal field where opportunities were growing and how professionals could position themselves for success. However, in just a...
Networking demands skill, talent and a knack for risk taking. By Chere B. Estrin Networking. How many times have we heard it? It’s like saying, “bless you” when you sneeze. It has, in a sense, lost its real meaning.
No matter how you tweet, link, tik, insta or face, networking is a requirement these days if you want to avoid career suicide. With all this online socializing, however, your...
The Legal Profession Can Be a Journey to Bigger and Better Opportunities By Chere B. Estrin It’s that time of year. You’ve received your raise and politely waited a month or so after collecting your bonus. You’ve appeared grateful and appreciative (all the while thinking, you’re giving me this after all the work I’ve done?). Now, you’ve started circling Indeed and LinkedIn,...
When it comes to achieving your goals in the sometimes brutal law firm world—negotiating a raise, onboarding a client, or winning that elusive lunch meeting—persuasive storytelling emails are a tool you can’t afford to ignore. This skill becomes even more critical when working in a law firm where sharp minds meet high stakes. Let’s unpack how you can craft compelling emails that tell a...
Ah, small talk. That delightful social ritual where you skillfully navigate through the weather, weekend plans, or the universally beloved “How’s your day going?” It's like conversational popcorn—light, seemingly inconsequential, but sneakily satisfying. Yet, beneath its humble exterior lies a secret superpower: small talk can transform your career faster than you can say, “So, how...
By Chere B. Estrin For the past few years, I haven’t been much on going to conferences, which is strange because my partner and I used to hold the Paralegal SuperConferences all over the country until the Great Recession (which is another story for another day). First, there was COVID, and then there was Zoom – (who wants to do all that travel when you can watch the conference and eat...
