The Paralegal Voice

In the buildup to the 2019 NALA Conference & Expo, host Carl Morrison talks with NALA president Jill Francisco to discuss why NALA is a valuable resource to paralegals, how paralegals can participate in leadership, and what obstacles NALA and the paralegal community will face in the coming years. As Jill prepares for the conclusion of her tenure as President in 2020, they also look back on her car...

Host Carl Morrison talks to Maddy Martin about the impact of automation in the legal profession and how it affects paralegals. They discuss how speed and accuracy in everyday paralegal tasks can be improved with AI and how this frees up paralegals for higher level tasks. After the break, Maddy talks about her role at Smith.ai and describes how the company provides communications services for law f...

In this episode, host Carl Morrison talks to Erin Levine, a certified family law specialist, about the important roles paralegals play in legal product development and client interaction. Erin talks about her career and what led her to launch Hello Divorce — a platform that allows greater access to justice for those in divorce proceedings. They discuss the utilization of paralegals in her family l...

What things can paralegals do to become a better hire? In this episode, host Carl Morrison talks to Sandy Lavender, office manager for Clark Hill PLC about recruitment strategies for paralegals and legal support professionals. They discuss the important skill sets they look for when hiring for these types of positions and give tips for improving resumes and interview skills. They also encourage pa...

Have you considered what goals may help you grow as a professional paralegal? In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Carl Morrison reflects on 2018, noting successes and discussing the importance of setting new goals for 2019. He gives practical advice on ways paralegals can challenge themselves and gives his predictions on what trends may impact the paralegal industry in 2019. Special thank...

Paralegals can be a vital part of how the law office operates even if they are not in a management role. In this episode, host Carl Morrison shares his top ten tips on law office management. He gives insight into the ways paralegals can impact management issues such as hiring, technology, marketing, mentoring, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Electronic filing (eFiling) is changing the court filing game across the nation. Host Carl Morrison talks to Tisha Delgado about how eFiling works. While some may be hesitant to shift to eFiling from paper filing, Tisha shares the advantages to this electronic system from saving time and energy to being able to file last minute. She also shares tips for using the PACER system and provides resource...

The magic of paralegal conferences is that you can learn new things about your profession and make connections that you couldn’t have otherwise, all while actually having fun. Host Carl Morrison talks to Lauren Rentz and Tara Hughes about their experiences of the NALS 67th Annual Education and Networking Conference. Lauren, a new paralegal, and Tara, a seasoned paralegal, discuss about the session...

Host Carl Morrison talks to Linda McGrath-Cruz about how to get the most out of paralegal conference networking. Whether you need advice as a first time conference-goer or you’re a conference veteran who just needs a refresher, tune in for tips on topics like how to choose between conflicting seminars and make yourself more approachable. Linda shares how networking has directly impacted her parale...

A successful trial team involves more than just a good lawyer, it includes a strong trial consultant. Host Carl Morrison talks to April Ferguson about trial consultants and the important role they play in the courtroom. They discuss the basics of what a trial consultant does, how they interact with paralegals, and the education a paralegal needs in order to transition into trial consulting. Learn...

Host Carl Morrison reaches into his paralegal grab bag to bring you time management tips and tricks, current association trends, and predictions for the future of the paralegal profession. Tune in as Carl shares valuable advice that all paralegals can use, from tackling time-wasters to engaging a younger generation of lawyers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disclaimer: This episode was originally aired on September 29, 2017. From Erin Brockovich to My Cousin Vinny, paralegals have often been depicted in movies and TV, but is it an accurate picture of the life of a paralegal? In this Paralegal Voice, host Carl Morrison talks to Lisa Stone about paralegal representation in pop culture, whether it’s accurate, and where it could improve. They also discus...

Host Carl Morrison talks to Lisa Vessels about the characteristics that make a paralegal a strong leader. From volunteering with the Girl Scouts to effectively communicating with subordinates, they discuss Lisa’s experience becoming an effective leader. Additionally, Lisa gives her tips and tricks to improve leadership skills through understanding people’s personality type. Learn more about your a...

Carl Morrison talks to Andrea Grabow about her experience as a government employee, what law firm knowledge has prepared her for her current position, and what was challenging about the transition from law firm to government. Andrea also shares advice for paralegals interested in making the switch. Stay tuned until the end for Listener’s Voice, Carl’s recurring segment featuring audio questions or...

As solutions to the access to justice gap have been proposed, it has been increasingly clear that there will not be a single solution to the issue. Along with a variety of technology solutions, limited license legal technicians (LLLTs) have emerged as a potential answer to solving access to justice issues. In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Carl Morrison talks to Patrick Palace about wha...

Being a good paralegal requires more than just an eye for detail and an adaptable personality. Quality education is vital to a successful career as a paralegal. In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Carl Morrison talks to Lisa Myers about her experience as a paralegal educator, why she’s passionate about teaching, and why it’s vital for aspiring paralegals to obtain a solid educational foun...

Translated into Latin, pro bono means “for the public good.” Pro bono work is a way for lawyers and paralegals to give back to their communities but is by no means a requirement for legal professionals. In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Carl Morrison talks to Conni Hebert about why paralegals should be investing their time in pro bono work and the importance of finding pro bono activiti...

From Erin Brockovich to My Cousin Vinny, paralegals have often been depicted in movies and TV, but is it an accurate picture of the life of a paralegal? In this Paralegal Voice, host Carl Morrison talks to Lisa Stone about paralegal representation in pop culture, whether it’s accurate, and where it could improve. They also discuss whether these depictions help or hurt the profession they represent...

After eight years, the Paralegal Voice is gaining a new host. In this bittersweet episode of the Paralegal Voice, Vicki Voisin hands the hosting reigns over to Carl Morrison who turns the questions on her. In their discussion they talk about the origins of the Paralegal Voice, notable guests, and the challenges she faced in the making of the podcast. Special thanks to our sponsors, Boston Universi...

Litigation paralegals are an essential cog in the trial machine, but handling this responsibility often comes with a large amount of stress. In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin talks to Tracy Mosz about her experience as a litigation paralegal, including handling the stress and maintaining all the necessary documents for trial. Together they discuss keeping an organized trial...

It’s common for professionals to confuse having a job with having a career. In this rebroadcast episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin defines what it means to have a successful paralegal career and gives 30 tips on how to live out your calling. Some of her tips include setting goals, keeping your resume updated, and improving public speaking skills. She concludes the episode with a cou...

Aspiring paralegals can get caught on a job carousel. You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. In this episode of the Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin talks to Julia Dunlap, president of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), about how paralegal education has changed, trends in the profession, and what employers are looking for when hiring a para...

Even if you qualify as an extrovert, the pressure of networking can be stressful for many legal professionals. In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin talks to Carl Morrison about why networking is so important for lawyers and what they can do to improve their professional social skills. Some of his tips include asking open ended questions, joining a professional association, and...

It’s common for professionals to confuse having a job with having a career. In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin defines what it means to have a successful paralegal career and gives 30 tips on how to live out your calling. Some of her tips include setting goals, keeping your resume updated, and improving public speaking skills. She concludes the episode with a couple of bonus...

Time is not something you can create more of or borrow when you need it, yet it is one of our most valuable resources. In this episode of The Paralegal Voice, host Vicki Voisin talks to Adam Camras, CEO of Lawgical, about managing your law firm’s time effectively. According to Adam, one of the best ways to do this is by taking advantage of technology and apps, like Google Express and Uber. Additio...