Read more from The Estrin Report

Some Holiday Fun…

Have you ever wanted to make a pc-o-lantern? Or a mac-o-lantern? Sure you have! "Look at this. We've made a pumpkin into a computer." "The Pumputer was conceived of to bring home the company's carving contest award for the Information Technology department. A 1990 Macintosh Classic computer was obtained and carefully dismantled. After insertion into a large pumpkin, it's...

“How to Turn Paralegals Into Franchisees”

I LIKE this idea! Nice follow-up to the post about independent paralegals, hmm? "Since July 1986, Paralegal Services of Allenhurst has been matching freelance paralegals with New Jersey-area attorneys. "Now, it wants to expand the business into a nationwide franchise system, essentially by giving paralegals working for firms a model to become independent contractors. "Last month,...

‘Ways to get along without lawyers’

Did you know that the CA Legal Document Assistants Association is now 20 years old & has 225 members? "Ed Sherman started a revolution 35 years ago when he wrote How to Do Your Own Divorce in California. Since then, millions of people have found they needn't resort to the adversarial and expensive step of hiring a lawyer to reach a divorce settlement. A new industry — independent...

“National Award to Paralegal For Work with Native American Community”

Congratulations! Love to hear this kind of "The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is pleased to announce that Raylene Frazier, a paralegal with Dakota Plains Legal Services (DPLS) in South Dakota,  is the 2006 recipient of the Pierce-Hickerson Award.  Frazier will be honored during the NLADA 2006 Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on Friday, November 10 at the...

Paralegal quoted on identity theft

Excellent news -- paralegal advice now being quoted by the press! "A 90-year-old Manchester woman is out $10,000 cash after falling victim to a Canadian lottery scam."Another area woman selling a motorcycle on eBay was lured into wiring $2,000 to British Columbia as part of a phony transaction."New Hampshire Assistant Attorney General Richard Head recently got a fraudulent e-mail...

NY Trial Court Online Case Access

Legal Dockets Online describes new enhancements to New York State's case information databases: "Supreme Court and County Clerk dockets, decisions, monitoring, and calendar access is finally consolidating and improving. If you practice in New York, be prepared to be impressed. Here is a summary of the state's major case information databases now available to the public: "This system...

Paralegal enters 150-mile race through Egypt’s desert

This article's title -- "You have to live on the edge" -- is perfect: "Jacqueline Eastridge admits that, yes, she is a little crazy. "Starting on Sunday, the 46-year-old senior paralegal for a Center City law firm will join 59 other runners in a week-long, 150-mile trek through the sands and dunes and the dry, relentless heat of Egypt's Sahara desert. The event was organized...

“Former paralegal finds fulfillment working with ‘tweens at library”

Charming story about the joys of being retired (not anytime soon for me)! "When Jayne Morrison goes to work, she couldn't be happier. "She loves every moment she spends in the children's department of the Boca Raton Public Library. "'Being here is like being in a terrific garden,' she said. 'There's everything here.' "Morrison talks about her job as if she's worked there for...

“In-house attorneys in Minnesota are happy”

Good news -- more jobs for corporate paralegals (at least in Minnesota!): "A new survey found that 95 percent of in-house attorneys in Minnesota are satisfied with their jobs. "The highest paid in-house lawyers worked for health care companies, and attorneys in public companies were better paid than those in private corporations. The average salary for all in-house lawyers responding to...

10 Tips for Effectively Recruiting a Team

Here's some good advice for getting people to work on a new project: "Many times in your life you will make requests of others: to join a group, committee or team, to perform a task or to assist with a project. This month's question: How do you make the ask? Often the key to getting to 'Yes' involves how you make your request. "Whether you are: building a board of directors forming a...