Obviously, you’ll benefit by having a mentor. But where and how do you find one? Check out this article for some tips.

What exactly are paralegal ethics and why do they matter? In this edition of the Paralegal Voice podcast, Carl Morrison talks with Keith Shannon about the heavy weight of ethics in the paralegal profession. 

The practice-area specific Bill Watch reports for Jan. 24 are now available. The reports highlight the pending bills of particular concern to different sections within the bar.

In keeping with our goal to increase community-building opportunities for solo or small firm attorneys and paralegals, IndyBar member Patty McKinnon has taken lead in setting up an opportunity for us to serve dinner at Ronald McDonald House on Monday, Feb, 17 at 6 p.m. at the Limestone Ronald McDonald House located on the campus of IUPUI in Indianapolis.   

Start your new year with a resolution to SAVE MONEY! We’re bringing back Free Fridays in 2020, which means you’ll save more time AND money with these complimentary offerings.

Productivity means something different to everyone, and it means something different in every profession. What does productivity mean for a paralegal? 

Pro bono work is a way in which you can use your knowledge, skills and experience to benefit others. Not only does pro bono work provide a much-needed service to people who would not otherwise be able to have the benefit of legal assistance, it can give you a great deal of personal satisfaction at the same time.

While everyone procrastinates at some level, chronic procrastination can have serious consequences. Not being able to tick something off your to-do list doesn’t always mean it’s the end of the world, but if you consistently fail to meet deadlines, or ask your boss for an extension every single week, they’ll probably hear alarm bells and may even start thinking about disciplinary measures.

In July 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued Opinion Letter FLSA2019-8 addressing whether paralegals are exempt from minimum wage and overtime requirements under Section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Previously, in opinion letters issued in 1998 and 2005, the WHD had concluded that certain paralegals did not qualify for the administrative exemption mainly because they had not exercised “discretion and independent judgment” with respect to matters of significance—an essential element of the FLSA’s exemption for administrative employees.

Paralegals and other non-attorney professionals are often tasked with the initial potential client intake interview. The first consideration is to determine if there is any conflict of interest in communicating with the potential client. All legal practices should have a protocol and means for quickly conducting a conflict check.