“Delegation Day in the Law Firm”

Found this interesting post at the morepartnerincome blog which is sponsored by Juris,Inc.:"Hildebrandt’s Rees Morrison passes along a simple but clever technique for encouraging attorneys to improve efficiency by finding delegable tasks for non-lawyer members of the team.  The idea comes from the corporate world but should work to everyone’s benefit in a law firm as well. The law...

Fort Worth paralegal named Legal Professional of the Year

Hearty congratulations to Leslie Stokes for receiving this award reported by Pegasus News:"Leslie G. Stokes, Certified PP, PLS, TSC-CL, at the Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, P.C., in Fort Worth, has been named Legal Professional of the Year for 2007-2008 by the Texas Association of Legal Professionals. "Ms. Stokes, a native of Fort Worth, was presented with the award at the Texas ALP's...

Helen Raschke Pro Bono Award

Must read this very inspiring article from the The Black Hills Pioneer (SD)"If you were to talk to Helen Raschke of Lead, she would tell you that the best years of her life were spent doing pro bono work because she was helping people in trouble. "In April of this year, Raschke was honored as an award was given in her name for the work she did for 16 years as a Private Attorney...

“Senior Legal Hotline connects seniors with the experts”

Sounds like a good volunteering opportunity described in this Chico, CA newspaper article. Does your local government or bar association offer similar programs?"The Senior Legal Hotline is surely one of the best kept secrets. The hotline provides California residents over the age of 60 with fast, accurate advice on any legal subject by phone, from Social Security issues to age...

Paralegal’s Commentary on Court’s Patent Ruling

Yeah, this news is about an important ruling by the Supremes, but it's also very nice to see an experienced paralegal being quoted:"When the Supreme Court of the United States ruled for KSR in the case of KSR Int'l Co. v. Teleflex Inc. , it also served notice to the software industry that major changes may be afoot in both the granting and protecting of existing software patents. "For...

“20 Jobs with the fastest-growing salaries”

This new salary analysis comes from Business 2.0 & paralegals are on the list: "Business 2.0 Magazine identifies popular job categories in which wages are growing the fastest. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT 1. HR coordinator ($40,200) 2. Paralegal ($39,500)" It's nice that paralegals made the list, but categorized as "admin support"? Not so much! And what do you think about that...

“Making Forensics Elementary at Your Firm”

Here's another career choice -- computer-forensics examinaton -- in which a paralegal background can be most helpful: "Attorney and e-discovery expert Tom O'Connor, with the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Legal Electronic Document Institute, says that judges in the cases he consults on are ordering e-discovery and computer-forensics investigation much more frequently than ever before....

“PowerPoint 2007 Takes On the Fear Factor”

Here's where presentation-savvy paralegals can save the day (or at least the PowerPoint slides). Still, it's good to hear that "Microsoft Corp.'s upgraded presentation tool adds user-friendliness to increased visual interest." "The very word 'PowerPoint' instills grim fear in the hearts of would-be speakers and dread lethargy in the minds of would-be listeners. No other software...

Using Technology (& a paralegal!) to Cut Legal Costs

Interesting profile of Mark Chandler, senior VP, general counsel, & secretary for Cisco Systems Inc. This technology company (based in San Jose, CA), produces Internet protocol-based networking services:"Chandler is keenly focused on applying technology, some developed by Cisco and some that it has purchased, to lower in-house legal costs on repetitive but crucial work. 'If you are...

“Rise of Paralegals”

Although you must be a paid subscriber to the Dayton Business Journal to read the complete article (& I'm not!), thought the part you can read was interesting:"Betty White has worked as a paralegal for Sebaly Shillito & Dyer's Dayton office for 18 years and has held the managing paralegal position for the past 10. "But White has spent the past two decades doing more than just...