In this episode, Linda Odermott delves into the evolving landscape of the legal profession, focusing on regulatory reforms aimed at mitigating the access to justice (A2J) crisis. Linda brings to light essential discussions surrounding the profession's impact on justice accessibility, noting that in 75% of cases, one side is self-represented. She references research from Nora Freeman Angstrom and James Stone on how historical events like the legal crackdown on early 20th-century auto clubs...

Join the Paralegal Playbook: 10 Career-Boosting Principles Webinar here! View the episode on time management mentioned in the episode here!   This episode puts the spotlight on career-boosting principles tailored for paralegals. Mark your calendars for an exclusive free webinar on November 20th, titled "Paralegal Playbook: 10 Career Boosting Principles." The episode provides a sneak peek into the webinar, promising specialized insights and actionable steps to elevate your career. Whether...

In this episode, learn how taking complete ownership—not just completing tasks—can elevate your professional standing. Explore why ownership builds trust with attorneys, how it enhances job security and opens doors for career progression, and practical ways to implement this mindset in your daily work. By adopting a proactive approach and focusing on continuous improvement, you can position yourself as an invaluable asset to any legal team.   View the video tip for how to be a proactive...

In this episode, guest host Linda Odermott delve into regulatory reforms in the legal profession. Linda discusses significant changes, including the introduction of regulatory sandboxes in states like Arizona, which allow for innovative legal services to be tested in a controlled environment. The episode highlights Arizona's initiatives to improve access to justice through alternative business structures and the creation of licensed paraprofessionals. These reforms aim to diversify legal...

You can find the episode mentioned, Episode 23: A Refresher of the 7 C's of Paralegal Communication here! In this episode, Ann discusses seven common communication mistakes paralegals should avoid. Drawing from her experiences and insights from hiring managers and HR professionals, Ann emphasizes the importance of effective communication in the legal profession. Key mistakes include engaging in office gossip, disrespecting colleagues' time, using informal email communication, blurring social...

Learn more about the Litigation Associate Training here: https://LitigatorLaunchPad.com   In this episode, Ann Pearson interveiws Olivia Saint Clair Long, a managing partner at her Illinois law firm. They explore the critical traits that contribute to the success of paralegals and associates, emphasizing attention to detail, effective communication, and ownership of work.    Key Takeaways: Attention to detail, effective communication, and ownership of work are essential for paralegals...

In this episode of the Paralegals on Fire podcast, guest host Linda Odermott delves into Washington State's Limited License Legal Technicians (LLLT) program. She discusses its inception, aimed at improving access to affordable family law services, and the challenges it faced, including political opposition and complex requirements. Despite initial successes, the program was ultimately sunsetted in 2020. Linda highlights lessons learned, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, incremental growth,...

In this exciting episode, Kristy Medo dives into the basics of artificial intelligence, specifically tailored to beginners with no prior experience. She discusses her personal journey with AI tools like ChatGPT, sharing insights on how to navigate and utilize these digital advancements effectively. Kristy compares the transformative potential of AI to the historic leap from corded telephones to mobile phones, emphasizing AI’s profound impact on both personal and professional realms. Kristy...

In this episode, Ann delves into the correlation between physical wellness and reducing burnout. By emphasizing the importance of prioritizing physical health, she provides practical tips and strategies to mitigate the effects of prolonged stress. From the significance of sleep to the benefits of strength training and grounding, Ann offers actionable advice to enhance overall well-being and resilience against burnout. Key themes covered include the impact of sleep on mental and physical...

In this episode, Linda Odermott joins as a Guest Host for the podcast. Linda discusses the importance of paralegal licensing and its impact on the legal profession. She shares insights on the evolving landscape of paralegal licensing programs. Linda is an NFPA certified paralegal, an RP, and an Oregon certified paralegal. She has extensive experience working on access to justice initiatives and regulation reforms, particularly in licensed paralegal programs. Linda mentions many articles and...

Are you stuck in a paralegal position that you don't like and wondering if you even want to be a paralegal? What if it's not the paralegal career and it's more about the practice area you're working in or the team you're working with? In this podcast episode, it's a replay from a couple of years ago that you're going to want to listen to for some inspiration!  This is also a great example of what to do if you left the paralegal profession for a few years and want to get back into it but...

Episode Summary: The Paralegals on Fire podcast features guest host Kristy Medo, a paralegal student sharing actionable strategies for current paralegal students or recent graduates entering the field. Kristy draws from her experience transitioning from the wellness industry to pursuing a paralegal career and landing a remote paralegal position. She encourages students to proactively prepare for their future roles by building resumes, creating LinkedIn profiles, and engaging with industry...

In this episode, Ann delves into the power of curiosity as a paralegal superpower and its role in driving success in the legal profession. Drawing from her own experiences as a paralegal and paralegal manager, Ann emphasizes the importance of curiosity in fostering problem-solving skills, embracing a growth mindset, and utilizing technology to enhance career development. With practical tips and real-life examples, Ann highlights how curiosity can propel paralegals towards continuous learning...

This podcast episode was also recorded as a video! You can watch it on the Paralegal Boot Camp's YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/Ns1i8kpeyQw  Technology changes are an opportunity for paralegals to take the lead and be the go-to person on the legal team. AI is that time for paralegals now!  Ann Pearson interviews Jim Sullivan, an attorney-turned-tech person, who is also the co-founder of eDiscovery AI. Jim gives us insightful tips and thoughts on how AI might affect paralegals and...

In this episode, Ann delves into the essential numbers that paralegals working in law firms with billable hour requirements must track. She breaks down the key metrics of utilization, realization, and productivity, offering valuable advice on how paralegals can improve these numbers and enhance their performance in a competitive legal environment.  To see the calculations that Ann goes through in this episode, you can see them here: ...

Be the first to get notified of the AI bootcamp by going here. Learn how to make money on the side by applying to develop a course here. In this episode, Ann delves into the delicate topic of receiving counteroffers from employers when attempting to transition to a new role. She shares personal experiences and insights to caution against seeking counteroffers solely for a salary increase and highlights the potential pitfalls of this strategy. By analyzing the reasons why firms might not...

Be the first to get notified of the AI bootcamp by going here. Learn how to make money on the side by applying to develop a course here. If you're interested in guest hosting, reach out to Ann on LinkedIn here. In this episode, Ann delivers a series of exciting announcements, including a switch to Tuesday releases, the introduction of guest hosts on the podcast, plans to start recording video episodes, updates on new courses, and an intriguing project on creating online courses for...

In this episode, host Ann discusses the topic of making mistakes as a paralegal and how to handle them. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and assessing the mistake, notifying the attorney, fixing the mistake, and reflecting and learning from it. Pearson shares a cautionary tale of a secretary who tried to hide a mistake and the negative consequences that followed. Key Takeaways: Mistakes happen to everyone, even attorneys, and it's important to acknowledge and address them...

What is Panic Mode Paralegal? It's that state you're in when you're new to your career, you haven't had any kind of structured on-the-job training, the attorney brings you another last-minute piecemeal project that needs to be done, and you panic, wondering and guessing if you're doing it the right way or not. It doesn't have to be that way! In this episode, Ann discusses the Litigation Paralegal Career Accelerator method that helps new litigation paralegals move from Panic Mode Paralegal to...

Attorneys have a reputation for being procrastinators. We’ve all seen the memes and jokes about it. They’ve all seen them too. So we assume that’s just the way it is. It’s always been that way, and we have to get used to it. What if it didn’t have to be that way? Can you prevent all rush projects with what I’m going to talk about today? No. But what if you could reduce them by 50%? Even more of a reduction would be better, but imagine if you’re currently dealing with one rush project per...

Join the FREE live training Ann mentions in this episode, the Roadmap to 6-Figure Earnings: Insider Strategies for New Litigation Paralegals, here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/Roadmap  In this episode, Ann shares actionable strategies for legal assistants or other legal professionals who want to get promoted to a paralegal position. She emphasizes the importance of exceeding expectations in your current role, taking on paralegal projects, getting additional training beyond your...

About the Guest: Lewanda Franklin is an experienced paralegal with over 20 years of experience in the legal field. She has worked in various practice areas, including family law, civil litigation, government affairs, and personal injury. Lewanda is known for her ability to pivot and adapt to different practice areas, continuously expanding her knowledge and skill set. She is currently working on launching her brand, "The Proper Paralegal," which aims to help paralegals achieve work-life...

Use Code "bootcamp" to get 10% off Jaclyn's 1 day live freelance paralegal marketing mastermind that's happening on April 8, 2024 at https://FreelanceParalegalMarketing.com.   About the Guest(s): Jaclyn Foster is dedicated to empowering freelance paralegals nationwide, helping them achieve their entrepreneurial dreams in the legal industry. As a former paralegal turned multiple six-figure entrepreneur, Jaclyn's journey from subcontracting to founding her own successful...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Ann provides quick resume tips to help paralegals in their job search. She emphasizes the importance of the name and format of the resume file, using numbers to showcase experience, keeping the resume length concise, using action verbs, and avoiding repetition of bullet points from previous positions. These tips will help paralegals create effective resumes that stand out to potential employers. Key Takeaways: Use a simple and clear file name for your...