Hi guys,
I know this post finds you buried under a mountain (or maybe more than one) of books, piles of papers, and a long list of things to do before finals start next week. However, I hope you'll take a minute in the midst of all the craziness to take a break, sip your favorite beverage, and read this post.
I have pondered the last couple of days what helpful tips I could give you about the area of family law. Complex, challenging, and very often utterly wrenching, (emotionally & spiritually) family law definitely pushes you to your limits and beyond. What could I tell you that will serve you well if you choose to work in this part of the legal field? Something simple, and I hope, something memorable.
Listen. Listen, listen, listen, and listen some more.
Listen as you sit in interviews with clients, listen as you talk to opposing counsel or (most often) opposing counsel's paralegal, listen to EVERYTHING your attorney says, listen as you sit in court for hearings (you can be an invaluable set of eyes and ears for you attorney), listen as you sit in on depositions, listen during the many phone conversations with your client, etc. and the list goes on...
For you will need every single bit of information you glean by listening. You will need it as you speak with your attorney, draft the 1,001 documents that will be needed, and prepare for the temporary orders and final orders hearings.
The more you have listened, the better prepared you will be to assist your attorney in carrying out your client's wishes. You will be able to remind your attorney of important details, piece together what is really going on after listening to your client and opposing counsel's versions of a particular event, and draft pleadings that are effective and complete.
Don't ever underestimate your importance as you sit in a corner taking notes, or in the back of a courtroom watching a hearing, or standing in the office listening to your attorney talk about the ins and outs of a case. You are an invaluable asset.
A family law attorney can't survive without an excellent right hand paralegal. Other attorneys in other areas of the legal field can make it with a lesser degree of assistance, but not family law attorneys.
One last thought: When you finish finals and are wrestling over whether you chose answer a or b and how many points you could have gotten or lost, remember this:
You should always strive for excellence during your paralegal studies. Study and learn as much as you can. But remember, when you begin to work as a paralegal GPAs will become less and less important in the practical world of the law office. So don't beat yourself up too much, all right?
Blessings on your finals!!
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