The Paralegal Coach

About the Guest: Samantha Brillantino is a legal specialist at one of the largest medical technology companies in the world. She has been working in the legal industry since graduating from Salisbury University in 2017 and obtaining her ABA paralegal certificate in 2019. Samantha has faced challenges throughout her career due to her learning disability. Despite the doubts and challenges she has en...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   In this episode, Ann shares her top seven litigation tips for paralegals. She emphasizes the importance of getting up to speed quickly on new cases by reviewing all relevant documents and extracting key information into a players list, chrono...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   Ann announces a five-day challenge for new litigation paralegals to help you jumpstart your career in 2024. The challenge is free to participate in and starts on Saturday, January 20, with a live training session. Then, starting on Monday, ea...

Want to join our FREE 5-Day Challenge for New Litigation Paralegals ? It's live on January 20, 2024!  Learn more here:   https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/challenge In this episode, Ann discusses the importance of litigation paralegals learning about ediscovery and how it can benefit their careers. She challenges the misconception that some paralegals may have about not doing ediscovery, emphasizing...

In this episode, Ann celebrates the 100th episode of the Paralegals on Fire podcast and shares her top ten favorite tips and nuggets from previous episodes. Key Takeaways: Take ownership of your career and invest in career development. Share your knowledge and skills with others to elevate the paralegal profession. Keep a brag folder to track accomplishments and update your resume. Prepare for per...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   In this episode, Ann discusses the importance of celebrating accomplishments and measuring progress in order to stay motivated and avoid feeling overwhelmed. She introduces the concept of "The Gap and The Gain" from the book by Dan Sullivan a...

About The Guest: Melissa Andrews is a former paralegal with over 15 years of experience in personal injury, family law, criminal law, and real estate. She transitioned from working in a law firm to becoming a virtual chief compliance officer and virtual chief privacy officer at Clearwater Security, specializing in healthcare compliance and privacy. Summary: Melissa Andrews shares her journey from...

In this episode, Ann interviews Ashley Stasiewich, a former paralegal turned full-time paralegal instructor. She discusses the importance of mentorship and the impact it can have on aspiring paralegals. Ashley also highlights the need for research on effective legal education for non-lawyers, particularly paralegals. She emphasizes the value of practical experience through internships and the role...

In this episode, Ann discusses alternative career options for paralegals. She emphasizes that the skills acquired throughout a paralegal career open the door to unlimited employment opportunities. Ann also provides a step-by-step plan for evaluating and transitioning to a new career, including soul searching, career assessments, researching new fields, and updating resumes.  View the Alternative P...

In this episode, Ann shares six steps to becoming a rock star personal injury paralegal. Get the PDF Download here that Ann mentions in the episode to get two bonus steps. Key Takeaways: Learn anatomy and medicine to better understand medical records and terminology. Know the statute of limitations for each case and remind attorneys as deadlines approach. Familiarize yourself with medical abbrevia...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   In this episode, Ann discusses the confusion and debate surrounding the use of the job titles "legal assistant" and "paralegal." While the ABA now distinguishes between paralegals and legal assistants, there is still inconsistency in how thes...

In this episode, Ann answers questions from listeners in another "Ask Me Anything" format. She provides advice on various topics, including how to quickly gain knowledge in estate planning and probate, how to navigate a job search as an older worker, and how to overcome age bias in the hiring process. Ann offers practical tips and strategies to help paralegals advance their careers and achieve the...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   In this episode, Ann emphasizes the importance of attention to detail in a paralegal's career. Attention to detail is a skill that can make or break a paralegal's success, regardless of their experience level. Ann shares anecdotes to illustra...

In this episode, Ann discusses practical solutions for overwhelmed paralegals seeking better time management. She advises conducting a week-long time audit to track tasks and distractions, then using the data to approach the attorney with a plan for increasing productivity and addressing overwhelm. Ann also suggests reading relevant books on time management and shares insights on batching work to...

In this week's episode, Ann dedicates the show to listener M who reached out on Instagram. Ann dives into the role of an evidence manager during different trial phases, emphasizing the importance of staying organized, proactive, and prepared. Drawing from her own experiences, Ann shares valuable insights and lessons learned, highlighting the critical role paralegals play in trial success. Don't fo...

In this episode, Ann answers an "Ask Me Anything" question about managing paralegal teams. She dives into the characteristics of a good paralegal manager, emphasizing the importance of being a leader rather than just a boss. Ann shares her own experience in a paralegal management role and highlights the significance of having a paralegal background for effective management. Don't forget to visit t...

In this episode, Ann answers listener questions, offering valuable advice to paralegals looking to fast-track their careers. She shares insights on handling mistakes, improving relationships with attorneys, and considering a chapter two in one's career. Ann also provides tips on starting a virtual paralegal business and offers a sneak peek into a future episode dedicated to paralegal management. W...

In this episode, Ann discusses the importance of finding your confident voice as a paralegal. She emphasizes that true confidence is not just about acting confident, but about actually feeling confident in your interactions with attorneys. Ann explains that having confidence is crucial for success in your career, as it allows you to speak up when something goes wrong, have courageous conversations...

In this episode, Ann discusses the importance of billable hours from a management perspective. She emphasizes that exceeding billable hour goals is crucial for career advancement and job security.  Key Takeaways: Exceeding billable hour goals can fast-track a paralegal's career. Low billable hours can impact job security and salary. Paralegals can proactively seek feedback from attorneys to improv...

In this episode, Ann shares three quick tips for drafting billable time entries.  Key Takeaways: Change your mindset about billable time and view it as an integral part of your job responsibilities. Familiarize yourself with all the features and functions of your timekeeping software to streamline the process of entering billable time. Ensure that your time entries answer the questions of what and...

In this episode, Ann welcomes back Molly McGrath, who is back on the show to talk about her new book. Molly shares her unique perspective on the topic as someone who has sat on various sides of the table in the legal industry. The book aims to bridge the communication gap between employers and employees by providing a framework for both parties to understand each other's perspectives. They touch o...

In this episode, Ann Pearson speaks with Amy Elder. Amy shares her journey from being a file opener to becoming a paralegal at a mid-size Atlanta firm specializing in workers' compensation. She discusses how she landed the job and quickly progressed in her role by expressing her passion for the legal field and continuously seeking more responsibilities. Amy emphasizes the importance of having supp...

In this episode, Ann reflects on her experience as a paralegal manager and shares valuable lessons she wish she knew as a paralegal. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the business aspect of law, finding a work-life balance, mastering the art of delegation, knowing your numbers and key performance indicators, and recognizing that management is aware of underperformers.   Key Takeaways:...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   In this episode, Ann emphasizes the dangers of "fake it till you make it" mentality in the legal profession, highlighting a story of a paralegal who was fired for refusing help. She advises paralegals to admit when they need assistance and pu...

Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/strategies/   In this guest episode of the Paralegals on Fire! Podcast Show, Ann Pearson has a very special guest and this episode is going to inspire you, whether you're a new paralegal, struggling to break into the field or an experienced paralegal who t...