Carolina Paralegal News

I recently reviewed the latest statistics from the National Association of Legal Assistants on the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam. There are more than 15,000 CPs in the United States, with 340 of those in North Carolina, including 79 Advanced CPs (ACP). The NALA website also reports that the ACP certification board has a new offering, the Criminal Litigation exam. It’s great to know that more than 30 years after the development of the certification exam, the program is still growing.

The North Carolina State Bar certification program is healthy, too. There are 4,251 N.C. certified paralegals. If you have not yet taken the step of becoming certified, this would be a great 2012 goal. Here are some tips to get you started.

Stell

The method of test-taking for the NALA exam has been updated. Go to www.nala.org to get the latest information. While you still have to go to a testing site for the CP exam, you can take the ACP exam online from the comfort of your home or office.

Use prepared study materials or study courses. The NALA website and www.nccertifiedparalegal.org site provide information about study guides, resources and classes.

Have accountability with a study buddy. Back in the day, I met once a week with a study partner. We developed an outline of the material we would study during the 12 weeks we devoted to preparation. We met and worked on the same material one night a week, and we were available to answer questions or discuss, but we were each responsible for our own outlines. Having a study partner worked well for me as it required me to show up with books in hand and stay on the assigned schedule.

Review a few articles on preparing for standardized tests. Some of those tips likely will be helpful.

At test time, use common sense and good risk management. Get plenty of sleep the night before, arrive early, eat good brain food (this isn’t the morning for chocolate donuts for breakfast!) and once you finish a section, release it. Don’t talk with your fellow test-takers and then beat yourself up over the answers you provided.

If you are not among the 4,251 certified paralegals in North Carolina, consider adding this credential to your professional development toolkit.

Identify Your Strengths

The new year is often a time when people focus on goals, which typically involves identifying our weaknesses and focusing on fixing them. According to the Proactive Change web site (www.proactivechange.com), only 46 percent of us are maintaining our resolutions after six months.

Why? Change is hard. There are many steps you can implement into the goal-setting process to be more successful in keeping your resolutions, but what if we re-think the paradigm? Instead of identifying our weaknesses, what if we identify our strengths?

I recommend reading Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath. His statistics show that people who have the opportunity to focus on their strengths every day are “six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and more than three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general.”

These statistics suggest that by identifying your strengths, and making sure you are playing to them in career choice and work place, you can increase your chances of having an excellent quality of life.

Further, Rath provides a chart that shows the following:

• If your manager primarily ignores you, the chance of your being actively disengaged is 40 percent.

• If your manager primarily focuses on your weaknesses, the chance of your being actively disengaged is 22 percent.

• If your manager primarily focuses on your strengths, the chance of your being actively disengaged is 1 percent.

• In other words, having a manager who ignores you is more detrimental than having a manager who primarily focuses on your weaknesses. However, if you have a manager who focuses on your strengths by recognizing the value you bring to your workplace or team, there is almost no chance that you will find yourself feeling detached from your tasks or your team.

Wouldn’t it be more rewarding to identify what you do well and polish it or put it into action, than to drag out those same old weaknesses? As an example, one of my strengths is communication. Here is what Rath says about the person for whom communication is a strength: “You like to explain, to describe, to host, to speak in public, and to write. … You feel a need to bring [ideas] to life, to energize them, to make them exciting and vivid. This is why people like to listen to you. Your word pictures pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act.”

Is it a coincidence that I write and do public speaking for a living? No. In my job, I play to my strengths daily. That explains why I am energized by what I do and why I can’t wait to arrive at work each day. Read the book, for as Benjamin Franklin said, “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”

What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com to share ideas or suggestions for future columns or share your favorite legal blog.

Camille Stell is the Director of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. Recently selected as a Lawyers Weekly 2011 “Leaders in the Law” award recipient, Camille has more than 20 years of experience in the legal field, as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler CP Exam, NALA

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

Stell

There are many issues facing the paralegal profession – certification, continuing education and changes in technology, to name a few. I am constantly reading, attending meetings and talking with fellow professionals about the various issues and offering opinions or brainstorming solutions.

Recently I was reading some discussions on the LinkedIn page of KNOW: A Magazine for Paralegals. The question was asked, “As a paralegal, how would you respond if a fellow paralegal said he or she had no yearly billable requirements?” The comments ranged from “I don’t have billable requirements so I wouldn’t be surprised” to “My billable goal is 2,000 hours per year, the same as our associates.”

The conversation included comments about whether paralegals with billable goals are more productive. The insinuation was that paralegals with billable goals have more legitimacy. These observations led to remarks reminding the readers that not every paralegal works in a firm that requires billable hours, not because they aren’t real paralegals in real firms.

This discussion started me thinking about how we compare ourselves to other paralegals. Am I a better paralegal because I went to school than someone trained on the job? Am I more qualified because I am NALA certified or N.C. State Bar certified than my colleagues who are not?

Most of you know that I taught in the Meredith Paralegal Program for 15 years, so it is no surprise that I am a strong proponent of paralegal education. However, I think there is room for all of us at the table. I am more concerned about what you are doing once you are in the profession than trying to limit entrance into the profession.

I believe that education provides a firm foundation, but I know paralegals with program certificates who haven’t attended a CLE event in years. To me, staying on top of changes in the profession is as important as obtaining a paralegal certificate.

It is important that we are supportive of one another. We can share differing opinions as long as we all have the same goal – putting the profession in the best light. We continue to need to educate attorneys about our role in the legal process and how we can be utilized to render services to clients more efficiently and economically. Our profession is strengthened when we unite for common goals rather than focus on those issues that divide us.

One way you can contribute to the common goal of putting the profession in the best light is to join a paralegal association. Once you join, get involved and contribute to the many discussions going on about our profession.

Mentoring

Mentoring is a hot topic for attorneys and paralegals. Recently Beverly Michaelis, the practice management advisor for the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund, a bar-related insurance company like Lawyers Mutual, posted a blog entry called “Five Keys to Being a Good Mentor.” Beverly was a former paralegal and her tips very easily translate from mentoring lawyers to mentoring paralegals.

Lynne DeVenny translated those tips on her blog, Practical Paralegalism. I hope you read Lynne’s blog and saw them there, but they are worth repeating:

• Share your experiences in person and via listserves and publications, including paralegal blogs.

• Introduce your mentee(s) to other legal professionals by helping them connect online (for example, via LinkedIn) and at meetings and CLEs.

• Answer questions, whether by email, listserve, online discussion group, telephone or over lunch.

• Be a role model by sharing relevant legal news and practice tips, speaking at CLEs, or publishing articles in newsletters or on blogs.

• Enjoy teaching other paralegals and helping smooth their paths to successful careers.

Several years ago, I was writing an article on mentors and I asked paralegals I knew to speak to me about who their mentors had been and who they were currently mentoring. It was disappointing that many of the people I asked said they hadn’t been mentored, nor were they mentoring anyone.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without excellent mentors – both attorneys and paralegals. Everything I (used to) know about litigation I learned from Walter Brock and David Sousa at Young Moore Henderson. Everything I know about how to be a great litigation paralegal I learned from Joan Brinson Dressler. Everything I know about professional involvement I learned from Joan, Meredith Pollette, Trudy Rutherford, Lee Deuto and Alice Penny. And today, I value the relationships I have made with many Meredith students and others over the years that I’ve been able to mentor.

You heard this from me before. If you need a mentor, find one. If you can be a mentor, share your knowledge. You can do it alone, but it’s just not as easy or as much fun.

What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com to share ideas or suggestions for future columns or share your favorite legal blog.

Camille Stell is the Director of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. Recently selected a Lawyers Weekly 2011 “Leaders in the Law” award recipient, Camille has more than 20 years of experience in the legal field, as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business
developer.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler Overheard at the Water Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

Stell

The 2011 legislative session saw major changes to how plaintiff’s personal injury lawyers will do business in the future. I’m going to share my column space with Mark Scruggs, one of the Lawyers Mutual claims attorneys, to talk about changes that litigation paralegals can expect to see.

According to Mark, one of the changes relates to evidence of medical expenses in a civil action. House Bill 542 added a new rule of evidence, Rule 414, which limits evidence offered to prove past medical expenses to evidence of the amounts actually paid to satisfy the bills. With regard to unpaid medical bills, the evidence is limited to amounts actually necessary to satisfy bills that have been incurred but not yet satisfied.

This change in the law will obviously diminish the amount of medical expenses that can be put into evidence in the typical personal injury case and may have the effect of decreasing the potential jury verdict. House Bill 542 made this change in the law apply to actions commenced on or after Oct. 1. One could certainly envision a mad rush to the courthouse to get personal injury actions filed before then.

At the urging of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), the legislature passed Senate Bill 586, which re-writes Section 4.2 of Senate Bill 542 to make this change in the law apply to actions arising on or after Oct. 1. So it appears the race to the courthouse has been averted, at least with respect to this change.

Not so with the next change that applies to medical malpractice actions. Section 7 of Senate Bill 33 amends N.C.G.S. § 90-21.19 and limits an award of noneconomic damages to $500,000 unless the jury finds: (1) the plaintiff suffered disfigurement, loss of use of part of the body, permanent injury or death and (2) the defendant’s acts or failures, which are the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries, were committed in reckless disregard of the rights of others, grossly negligent, fraudulent, intentional or with malice.

This provision applies to actions commenced on or after Oct. 1, so if one has a medical malpractice case with the potential for significant noneconomic damages, one might want to file the lawsuit before then. If that is neither likely nor possible, the lawyer should advise the potential client in writing that her case may be affected by the new statute and it is unlikely the firm will be able to have the case reviewed and filed by the October deadline. As a consequence, the client’s claim may be subject to the cap on noneconomic damages. If the client still wants you to handle her case, get her to signify in writing that she understands and accepts the probability that her case may not be filed before Oct. 1 and, as a result, will be subject to the cap on noneconomic damages.

When Mark spoke with Todd Barlow, the NCAJ Political Affairs Counsel, Todd advised that efforts are underway to ask the legislature to revise this provision so it applies to causes of actions arising on or after Oct. 1. That would seem to be a more efficient way to implement this change and prevent a rush to the courthouse to get medical malpractice lawsuits filed before that date.

Courage

My friend Lynne DeVenny wrote a recent blog entry entitled “Public Speaking Tips for the Painfully Shy Paralegal.” I hope you regularly read Lynne’s blog, Practical Paralegalism. Lynne described her experience of being painfully shy yet finding herself invited to be a frequent guest lecturer.

When I read her account, I immediately thought of courage. It is a display of courage to tackle something new that frightens you. Are you letting fear get in the way of doing something you really want to do? It might not be public speaking that you are afraid of, but many of Lynne’s comments apply to other situations. Her suggestions – to start telling yourself that you can, find your passion and build your confidence – apply to any situation.

Our fear of failing often keeps us from living the life that we want to live. I love Lynne’s idea of building your confidence by starting small. When I started teaching at the Meredith College Paralegal Program, I was nervous and thought, “I’m going to try to speak to paralegals, but I can’t imagine speaking to working paralegals.” I had such a great time in the classroom that when I was asked to be a CLE speaker, I jumped at the opportunity. Yet I said to myself, “Sure, I’ll speak to paralegals, but never lawyers.” Lucky for me, I started small and didn’t let my fear get the best of me, and today I enjoy a career of public speaking to lawyers and paralegals alike.

Try her suggestions and watch yourself kick fear’s booty.

Resources

I enjoy using social media as a resource. I am a member of a variety of LinkedIn groups and I often join discussions on legal topics or learn from others’ postings. I have found out about webinars, seminars or white papers through LinkedIn groups. Lawyers Mutual is working hard to make our social media applicable to lawyers and paralegals alike. I would love your feedback.

Follow us on Twitter at LawyersMutualNC, connect on our LinkedIn Company and Group page, like us on Facebook, and read our newsletter and blog at www.lawyersmutualnc.com. We’d love to have you sign up for our newsletter and it can be delivered to your inbox each month. Just email us at riskmgt@lawyersmutualnc.com.

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What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com to share ideas or suggestions for future columns or share your favorite legal blog.

Camille Stell is the Director of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. With over 20 years of experience in the legal field, Camille has worked for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer. Contact Camille at 800-662-8843 or Camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

Brockovich & Stell

I recently read a guest column by Gina Drew in NC Lawyers Weekly about a smart pen. Gina titled her article, “The greatest practice management tool ever . . . possibly.”

Gina admits to being an early adopter of technology and she goes on to write a glowing recommendation about a product that should help lawyers and paralegals organize their notes. While I was intrigued by the description, I found myself thinking about her opening sentence, that she is an early adopter of technology.

I am intrigued because I am a resister of technology. When I began my paralegal career in 1984, law offices used pens and legal pads. I learned how to outline my thoughts and dictate legal documents and letters that someone typed on a typewriter.

I remember getting my first desktop computer in the mid-1990s and having a first-year lawyer teach me how to “cut and paste” while we were working on responses to interrogatories. I had my first work email account in 1994, and my first mobile phone was attached to my car. I acquired my first smart phone in 2009 and I opened a Facebook account a few weeks ago. Hello, my name is Camille and I am a dinosaur.

I don’t know why I don’t like technology. The primary tool I have forced myself to learn how to use is my DVR because my husband doesn’t care if he misses an episode of “Desperate Housewives.” My friend Erik Mazzone at the NCBA laughs at my lack of knowledge, and my friend Lee Rosen tries to teach me a few basics, but generally dismisses me because of my lack of interest and effort.

As you read this, you may wonder if I’m proud to be a technophobe or regretful. The answer is I’m not sure. I wish technology was more intuitive for me. However, I have other skills and gifts that help me in my professional life and I try to surround myself with people who balance my skills. In other words, I am grateful for my 20-year-old niece and my 22-year-old intern who are patient and kind. I haven’t caught them laughing at me yet.

Here is my advice to you: Don’t become a dinosaur. If there are parts of your job that you wish you understood better, ask questions, take a class, find a mentor. If there are parts of your job that you do well and really enjoy, then work to refine those skills. Are you a good communicator? Then write articles for legal publications and volunteer to speak at seminars. You can only improve by practicing and taking on greater challenges.

As our work environment continues to change, you need to be able to adapt in order to succeed. At some point, there may not be room for dinosaurs.

Erin Brockovich

In June, I attended the North Carolina Advocates for Justice convention, where Erin Brockovich was the keynote speaker. She began her talk with stories of the movie made about her. As she said, “Everyone wants to hear about that.”

According to Erin, the movie came into being because a friend of a friend of a friend knew Danny DeVito and pitched the idea to him. DeVito eventually became a producer of the film.

The heart of Erin’s speech involved a message from her mother about the need for “stick-to-it-iveness,” which she defines as perseverance and a quest for the truth that came from her father. Not only did Erin display this perseverance as she pressed for the truth in the Pacific Gas and Electric Company case, but Erin continues to fight for the truth today through her consulting business.

Erin remained for an hour following her presentation to sign autographs and pose for photos. She wore fabulous black stilettos and a tight skirt and flaunted her cleavage. In our photo together, Erin towers over me, which seems fitting for a personality that barely fit into the hotel ballroom.

Currently, she is working on an environmental case in North Carolina. You can read more about her business (and the movie, her awards and articles) on her website www.brockovich.com.

The only disappointment surrounding the event is that NC Advocates for Justice had their summer paralegal conference happening downstairs at the time of Erin’s keynote, and they neglected to include their paralegal members as the most famous paralegal entertained a room full of lawyers. What a missed opportunity for the NCAJ to show some of the inclusiveness they talk about.

What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

Camille Stell is the Director of Client Services for Lawyers Mutual. With over 20 years of experience in the legal field, Camille has worked for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer. Contact Camille at 800.662.8843 or Camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

Leadership books are available by the dozens and are authored by everyone from corporate titans to record-setting basketball coaches.

Here are leadership lessons drawn from closer to home, from leaders of our local and statewide paralegal associations.

Jennifer L. Watford, paralegal with Young Moore Henderson and former president of the Raleigh Wake Paralegal Association, told how her first failure led to later success.

“When I was vice president of education, I was caught off guard by needing a guest speaker for the January membership meeting. I was elected in the fall and my term began in January. I had not yet begun to identify potential speakers, which caused me and other board members to have to scramble.  This could have been easily avoided. I learned I would be more effective when I was proactive and checked off my to-do list in advance. Fire drills occur regularly enough. We try to avoid them at work, so I carry that philosophy over to my volunteer work.”

Maximize your service

Jackie Houser, former paralegal and now a lawyer with Walker, Allen, Grice, Ammons & Foy, shared this insight with regard to developing leadership skills:

“My advice – to people like me who don’t come in with lots of leadership experience – would be to get involved in a committee.  Enlist a friend or colleague so in addition to learning, the work can be fun.  During the next term, find a position that interests you and volunteer to serve as a committee chair. Before committing to the assignment, make sure you understand what is involved. Some committees simply work and report, while other committees require creativity. Most importantly, find work within your association that you will enjoy. Once you begin to serve as a committee chair, you will see that every leadership position requires skill to keep the committee on course. You will develop leadership skills in these positions that will serve you well as you rise through the ranks.”

Deborah L. Lawrence, business development manager for Huseby, Inc., said, “One thing I learned in my management role is that people easily complain about what’s wrong in a firm, an organization or association, but very few step up to the plate to volunteer their time to make a difference. I used to tell my employees they should feel free to come and complain to me anytime about anything, but they needed to provide at least one suggestion on how to make the situation they were complaining about better. Offering solutions provides you the opportunity to make a
difference.”

A former president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association and former officer and board member of the North Carolina Paralegal Association, Lawrence said: “Once I started volunteering at the local level, with the encouragement of my colleagues, it seemed a natural progression to take my volunteer efforts to the state level. While I held positions during some of my busiest times at work, I managed to get everything done at my job and in the volunteer position.  I didn’t always have the most balanced life, but it is possible to participate in your community outside of your job. You just have to become adept at managing your time and priorities … and isn’t that what paralegals do every day?”

Find your passion

An advantage to developing your leadership skills is that your employer can also reap the benefits of your new skill set and the added confidence you exhibit.

The best advice comes from Marion A. Young, a paralegal with Narron, O’Hale and Whittington, PA, and current chair of the NCBA Paralegal Division: “Find something that you are passionate about and get involved.  Once you begin to volunteer for committees and projects, you will meet others that share your interest. Encourage others and be a team player. You will discover so much more about yourself when you step out in faith to do something that you really love. Being a paralegal can involve more than collecting a paycheck. You spend much of your time on the job, find a way to give back what you know and you will grow so much in your skills and add value to those you work with. You will find joy in going to work when you have the confidence to do a great job.”

Now, go out there and volunteer. As Walt Disney said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? Let me know.

Camille Stell is the director of client services for Lawyers Mutual. With more than 20 years of experience in the legal field, she has worked for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer. Contact her at 1-800-662-8843 or camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

In the United States, presidential job approval ratings are determined by polling citizens to gauge the level of public support for the president’s actions. A typical question might ask, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?”

Luckily, most of us who serve in leadership positions do not have to worry about our polling numbers. However, the role of the leader is a public one, and your constituents will have an opinion about your skills even if you are not polling them.

Do you have what it takes to be an effective leader? Before you decide to serve in a leadership position, you should examine your skills to see which ones you already have and which ones you need to develop.

Core skills

Effective leaders need a wide array of talents to succeed. Such skills include problem-solving and decision-making capabilities as well as the ability to plan, delegate, budget and coordinate projects.

Leaders are also adept at public speaking, writing, maintaining internal and external communications, management and holding others accountable for their actions when needed.

They also need to be visionaries. Many paralegal or legal associations have long-range planning or strategic planning committees that are tasked with developing a strategy for growth. As a leader, you are charged with creating an agenda and putting that plan into motion.

Accomplishing that task is not always easy. Leaders also need to be able to successfully lead a meeting with differing opinions and to be a balanced and objective voice to help build consensus.

Testimonials

Reading that job description may be daunting, but the purpose of this article is to encourage you to get involved with leadership, not run screaming in the other direction.

Jennifer L. Watford with Young Moore & Henderson in Raleigh, N.C. described her time as president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association as a learning experience.

“The skill that I didn’t have, but would have sworn I did, was the ability to distinguish between the big picture and the micro-managing style of some board members,” she said. “Initially, I let too many individuals sway my opinion instead of relying on my own understanding of the goals of the association. I tried too often to make one or two people happy.”

It’s also easy to look at a list of leadership traits and think you can nail them down, but Jen said it’s a different story “once you’re in the driver’s seat.”

“It quickly became evident to me that I should pay attention to other leaders and their behavior so I could mimic that as I sought to define my own leadership style,” she explained.

Marion A. Young, the current chair of the Paralegal Division of the N.C. Bar Association, pointed out that no one has everything they need to take on a leadership role.

“I continue to be a work in progress,” she said.

When asked what skill had improved during her tenure, Marion said her listening abilities grew.

“It is so important to hear what is being said and sometimes, what is not being said.  It did not take long to realize that I did not know the answers to most of the questions, but those around the council table did,” she explained.

One benefit of serving as a leader is that you have the opportunity to learn from those around you. Your skills improve not just based on your own experience, but on the shared experience of working with a leadership group.

And you don’t have to shy away from leadership just because you don’t have the skills.

“An easy way to start to learn is by reading,” said Deborah L. Lawrence, business development manager for Huseby Inc. “I would say if you don’t think you’re ready for a leadership role in a professional association, volunteer to serve on a committee just to get a feel for how things work.”

Commitment

Indeed, committee work is the way Jackie Houser, former paralegal and now attorney with Walker, Clark, Allen, Grice & Ammons in Goldsboro, N.C. started her involvement with the N.C. Paralegal Association.

“I remember being encouraged by a friend to serve on a committee for NCPA. The next term I served on another committee – with more responsibility. Then I was asked to chair a committee, and finally to serve as an officer. Looking back on the time I served in NCPA and the NCBA’s Paralegal Division, I don’t know how I was able to be so involved.  At that time, I was mom of two small children, I had a full-time paralegal job and I was teaching part-time. But I enjoyed the association work, and so I found balance in choosing those positions that would not be as demanding as others. If you want to work in an association, I believe it is possible, but it is very important to understand – from the outset – the commitment involved.”

And that’s another trait of leadership. Most associations have had their share of individuals who sign up and never show after the initial meeting. Sometimes this is a failure of the organization to choose good leaders, sometimes it is a failure to communicate to the member what the job looks like, but sometimes, this is a member who decides that the hard work involved isn’t for them. If you are looking for a challenge, get involved in your local, state or national association and see for yourself.

What’s on your mind or being discussed at your water cooler? Next month, we are going to continue our discussion of leadership skills. Do you have a story to share about a leadership lesson you have learned? You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or CPN Managing Editor Diana Smith at diana.smith@nclawyersweekly.com.

Editor’s note: Camille Stell is director of client services for Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina. With over 20 years of experience in the legal field, Stell has worked for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer. She can be contacted at (800) 662-8843 or Camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN 

In order to find renewed inspiration at work or to take your career to the next level, we have discussed working with a career coach. In my November column, I shared the experience of someone who did just that. Now, I’ve talked with two coaches about how to maximize the coaching relationship.

Marirose Steigerwald serves as president of Elinvar, an integrated leadership solutions company. I spoke with her, and one of the questions I asked was how to find a reputable coach.

According to Marirose, there are many ways to do that, including word-of-mouth referrals, referrals from certifying bodies or working through organizations like Elinvar, where they don’t have coaches on staff, but have “alliance partner” relationships with many coaches that they know and trust.

When deciding whether to hire a coach, check out their certifications, which (if any) assessment tools they use, their education and their experience. Ask for references and call them. 

Cost might be a concern when considering whether to hire a coach. Should a reputable coach provide a free initial consultation? According to everyone I spoke with, great coaches are worth every penny of their fees. However, most career coaches should and will have an initial conversation at no cost.

What kind of homework should you anticipate as you work with a coach? Most coaches will provide exercises, including behavior modification, in between sessions. 

“We can talk all day long about making changes – actually doing the new behavior is what creates the real change,” Marirose said. “And change should be the reason we seek coaching. I use the analogy of a gifted athlete. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods have incredible talent and are the best in their fields. They use coaches every day – to hone their skills, to develop a different mental approach and to continue to improve their craft.”

Marirose spoke at the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association’s annual seminar in October about dealing with changes in the workplace brought on by the down economy.

“This is a challenging time. I encourage anyone who is frustrated in their job to seek the joy in every day. Find a part of the job you love and focus on that. Look for creative ways to make a difference in your organization, using your gifts and talents. Sometimes we get stuck in our job descriptions – and stuck in the idea of needing to be paid for everything we do. True work joy is doing what you love – and the money comes later, or amazingly, doesn’t matter,” she said.

I also spoke with Ben Quinn, a certified business coach with ActionCOACH Business Coaching. Ben says the purpose of a coach is to:

• Draw out your best skills, interests or talents.
• Focus your actions.
• Provide feedback and accountability.
• To ultimately magnify your results.

Ben said what’s interesting to him is that his best and most engaged clients are already extremely accomplished people. What they have realized over time is that coaching magnifies their abilities. If you find yourself in a point in your career where you need to grow your results and talents, a coach can often accelerate that process.

Ben also encourages people to meet with a number of coaches. Ask yourself, “Does this person have the skills and training to help me achieve the specific goals I want to accomplish, and do we connect with each other on a personal level?”

One additional thing to look for is congruency. “I do everything I teach my clients to do. I have a business coach,” says Ben. “You want to work with someone who believes so much in the process of coaching that they use one as well.”

Another thing people agreed on: Coaching takes time. It is an investment. If you are going to hire a coach, talk up front about the time commitment to the process. By choosing the right person and process to begin with and giving yourself time to explore the change you want to experience, you will be well on your way to seeing transformation both in your life and career.

Here is the contact information for the coaches listed in this series:

• Stefanie Zizzo: (919) 744-9722 or stefaniezizzo@yahoo.com
• Ben Quinn: (919) 321-1321 or benquinn@actioncoach.com
• Marirose Steigerwald: (919) 256-1901 or marirose@elinvar.com.

Next month, we are going to talk about developing our leadership skills. What skills are necessary to be a good leader? You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or CPN Managing Editor Diana Smith at diana.smith@nclawyersweekly.com.

Editor’s note: Camille Stell is director of client services for Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina. With over 20 years of experience in the legal field, Stell has worked for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and business developer. She can be contacted at (800) 662-8843 or Camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler Camille Stell, Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

Do you wonder what it would take for you to find renewed inspiration at work or to take your career to the next level? Working with a career coach could be just what you need. Here’s a conversation I had with “Lauren,” who is employed at a North Carolina law firm and has been working with a coach for several months.

CPN: What made you decide to hire a coach?

Lauren: I felt like I didn’t have a plan for “what I wanted to be when I grew up.” I wasn’t sure about my long-term career aspirations, or where I hoped to be 10 or 20 years down the road and needed some help developing a vision.

CPN: What kind of coach did you hire and how did you find your coach?

Lauren: I was referred to my coach, Stefanie Zizzo, from a friend who raved about her services. Stefanie is a professional certified coach, has a certification in life coaching through the Institute for Life Coach Training, a Master of Science in counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology.

CPN: Any tips you would share for finding a good coach?

Lauren: My advice would be to get referrals from people you know and trust and make sure you have a great connection with your coach right off the bat.

 CPN: What were your goals going into the process of working with a coach? Have you met those goals? Did your coach help you establish goals, results or milestones?

Lauren: My first goal was to figure out where I want to be in 10 years and work backward from there to make sure that the things I am doing now are setting me up to achieve that vision. 

Another goal was to create more balance in my life. For this, we set smaller weekly goals (almost like homework) to make a big, obtuse goal more manageable. For example, one week I might plan to leave the office for lunch at least three times, not check my Blackberry after 7 p.m., make time to exercise three times or try a new recipe. My coach and I worked together to set these goals.

CPN: Do you think you are getting your money’s worth?

Lauren: Absolutely. Coaching is an investment, but like anything, you get out of it what you put in. If you hire a coach and expect them to say “this is the job that is going to make you happy and the exercises that will make life perfect,” you will be disappointed. It is a process.

My coach had me complete exercises in a workbook to determine my values and passions. I spent a lot of time outside of our sessions working on these activities and putting thought into what I want out of life. You have to be willing to do the work and step outside of your comfort zone in order to make changes in your life that will make you happy.

Before each session, I complete a coaching prep form to provide an update on my action items and whether there are new issues I’d like to discuss or problems to work through. This assures our sessions are focused, maximizing my time and money.

CPN: Would you recommend the process of working with a coach?

Lauren: Yes – if you are willing to examine yourself and commit to growth.

 CPN: What is the best takeaway you have received from your coach?

Lauren: The energy that you project affects the way your message is received. I did an exercise where over the course of a week I observed my body language and tone when talking to people I didn’t particularly enjoy talking to versus people that I loved talking to. I then tried to model the same engaged posture and positive tone when talking to everyone. It made a big difference.

Also, after doing the activities to determine my interests and passions, we talked about ways to do more of the things that I enjoy at my job and volunteer groups. Even if you are happy with your job, but are feeling burnt out or frustrated, a career coach can help you find ways to feel more engaged and enthusiastic, both at work and in your life. Working with my coach has helped me take a holistic look at my life and realize the connections between work, friends, family and volunteer activities.

Author’s note: In January, we are going to talk with some coaches about coaching qualifications and what to expect from working with a coach. If you have a personal experience in working with a coach, I’d love to hear your story to share with our readers. You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com.

Editor’s note: Camille Stell is director of client services for Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina. She worked as a paralegal for 20 years, taught ethics and law office management in the Meredith College Paralegal Program and served as president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association, the North Carolina Paralegal Association and as District II director of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

If you work in a law office, you are faced with deadlines. Some areas are more deadline-driven than others – for instance, litigation practices have court-imposed deadlines – but every area of practice involves tasks that must be done and time frames for completion.

Do you ever show up and feel uninspired to do what you’ve been assigned to do?

Do you look at the list and you can’t find anything that you want to start?

Or do you keep ignoring the top priority on the list because you don’t want to start that project?

I believe all of us experience this feeling. I arrive at work on Monday morning, and while I appreciate having a job, today it feels like just that – a job. The thought of going through the motions is daunting.

For some people, this avoidance is procrastination.

According to www.psychologytoday.com, 20 percent of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators. They have developed a lifestyle of not paying bills on time, missing opportunities to participate in events because they don’t get around to purchasing the tickets and shopping on Christmas Eve.

These individuals have plenty of excuses, but at the end of the day, they don’t tend to be any busier than their work mates who are also balancing full lives and hectic schedules.

Psychologists would tell us that procrastination is not a time management problem or organization problem, but that procrastination is a learned response.

A perfect distraction for a procrastinator is e-mail. The ability to check and respond to e-mail under the guise of work makes it hard to discipline an em-ployee for not working even though the projects and large tasks aren’t getting done. While procrastinators can change their behaviors, it involves more than buying a planner.

Another reason people are uninspired to tackle their work is boredom. Many employees don’t feel engaged at work. They feel under-utilized or they may not feel a connection to the organization. In today’s economy, employees are less inclined to leave a job, so they stay put longer than they would have in better financial times.

What do you do to become inspired?

How about making a change in your morning routine? Take a different route to work or go for a short walk or exercise. Turn off the television and read something inspirational before attacking the day. Buy a coffee or bagel for a co-worker or some other small act of kindness.

Remind yourself that you are part of a profession versus a job and that we have clients expecting us to do our best today to help meet their needs.

My friends at K&L Gates were fighting their own battle with being uninspired when they started some firm “morale building” activities. Staff members planned monthly events where the staff and attorneys gather at lunch for food and laughter.

One event was a pancake lunch where they brought in griddles and tried a variety of pancake recipes. Another was a Mayberry-themed party where Goober’s grease rags (ordered from the Internet) were the prizes in the Mayberry trivia contest. These are inexpensive yet fun ways to build camaraderie and feel a connection to the firm.

If feeling uninspired strikes often, it may be time to reevaluate your situation. Maybe it’s a sign of depression and you need to reach out to a professional. Maybe it’s time to find a new job and a visit with a life coach or job counselor would be
beneficial.

Next month’s column will focus on how a life coach and/or a job counselor could help make your work more challenging or take your career to the next level. If you have a personal experience in working with a professional in either of these categories, I’d love to hear your story to share with our readers. You can contact me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or CPN Managing Editor Diana Smith at diana.smith@nc.lawyersweekly.com.

Editor’s note: Camille Stell is director of client services for Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina. She worked as a paralegal for 20 years, taught ethics and law office management in the Meredith College Paralegal Program and served as president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association, the North Carolina Paralegal Association and as District II Director of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

camille.stell Overheard at theWater Cooler

By Camille Stell, Special to CPN

June is the month of conventions for many of North Carolina’s bar associations. This is a time of leadership change as well as to celebrate the relationships attorneys share and recognize their accomplishments. The associations also use this time to offer their paralegal members a chance for education and camaraderie.

Here are some of the takeaways from this year’s conventions:

N.C. Bar Association

The paralegal division of the N.C. Bar Association offered a three-hour CLE at its bar convention in Wilmington, N.C. Some of the topics discussed were ethics and computer sleuthing. A panel of paralegals also detailed their career paths and told stories of how they became leaders in various paralegal organizations. While their stories were unique, their messages were similar, urging others to join a group and get involved, volunteer and find a mentor.

• Join a group: Some young professionals have a tendency to wait until later in their careers to join a paralegal association, thinking they will have more to offer once they gain experience. I’d encourage you to join as early as possible, even while you are still a student. This allows an opportunity for networking, which may help you get a job.

• Get involved: Taking leadership positions will help you develop personally as well as professionally. I ran for office during my first year as a paralegal. Within three years, I served as president of both a local and state paralegal organization. It was during these years that I met colleagues who helped me professionally. I also made lifelong friends.

Ultimately, leadership is learning how to motivate a group of people toward a common goal. Isn’t this what each of us do in our law firms every day?

• Volunteer: One of my favorite moments at the NCBA convention was recognition of the Citizen Lawyers. This year’s recipients had varied accomplishments, including an attorney with 40 years of volunteer service with Pitt Memorial Hospital and an attorney who helped establish the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, N.C.

We can’t all go to those lengths. However, being a member of a local paralegal association opens up volunteer opportunities that are relatively painless. Many times, members can do something as significant as sending care packages to our troops simply by showing up at a monthly meeting with a donation.

Your leadership is desperately needed. Every organization in our state is looking for the next generation of leaders and you can make the search easier by volunteering.

• Find a mentor: Many of the paralegals recently elected to service in associations are there because of a mentor. I became involved in the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association and the N.C. Paralegal Association because the first paralegal I met, Joan Brinson Dressler, was serving as an officer in both organizations. Joan taught me valuable lessons about how to be a paralegal and she helped develop my leadership skills by introducing me to people in the organizations and encouraging me to run for office.

The NCPA has a formal mentoring program underway. If you want to be a part of this program and haven’t responded yet, reach out to Diane Talley at dtalley@wehwlaw.com and volunteer.

N.C. Advocates for Justice

The N.C. Advocates for Justice also held their annual convention in Wilmington in June. This organization has had a Legal Assistants Division much longer than any other bar association in the state.

The LAD was formed in 1983. In 2009, the NCAJ became the first bar association in the country to allow the LAD to have a vote on its board of governors. A similar proposal was voted down by the NCBA in 2008.

Warren Savage, one of the claims attorneys at Lawyers Mutual, spoke at the convention. In preparation for his talk, Warren and I sat down with Kim Hill, a paralegal and office administrator for Martin & Jones.

Kim talked about the systems and procedures her firm has in place to make sure that the paralegals and lawyers are working together daily with a common goal of meeting their clients’ needs.

Kim exhibits leadership every day as she manages legal professionals who work in a busy and high stress environment. It would be easy to dismiss employee concerns or attorney problems by saying “We need to focus on the client,” but Kim recognizes that while it is hard to balance it all, it is a requirement of her job.

N.C. Association of
Defense Attorneys

The N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys has had a paralegal division since 2007. Since that time, its membership has grown from 30 members to 50 members.

A small contingent of paralegals attended the NCADA convention on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, according to Shelli Simontacchi, its chair. Shelli works for Hedrick Gardner, Kincheloe & Garofalo, a firm which provides her with an education budget to encourage paralegals’ involvement in the organization. If you are interested in joining this growing organization, you can reach Shelli at ssimontacchi@hedrickgardner.com or visit the website at www.ncada.org

Have you ever wanted to volunteer, but have been afraid? Need a mentor, but don’t know how to find one? Reach out to discuss this or any other topic overheard at your water cooler by contacting me at camille@lawyersmutualnc.com or CPN Managing Editor Diana Smith at diana.smith@nclawyersweekly.com.

Editor’s Note: Camille Stell is director of client services for Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company of North Carolina. She worked as a paralegal for 20 years, taught ethics and law office management in the Meredith College Paralegal Program and served as president of the Raleigh-Wake Paralegal Association, the N.C. Paralegal Association and as District II director of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

camille.stell COLUMNS, Overheard at theWater Cooler