Paralegal education programs limited by lack of resources
Leslie McKesson is a college instructor and program administrator for the paralegal technology program at Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton, N.C. She is certified through the North Carolina State Bar and has a certificate in litigation specialization form the National Center for Paralegal Training. McKesson also has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from the University of North Carolina and two graduate degrees in education from Appalachian State University.
CPN: How long have you been a paralegal?
McKesson: I started working as an administrative law paralegal in 1981 and transitioned into paralegal education in 1989. Technically, I worked as a paralegal in the public sector for a little more than eight years prior to moving into education.
CPN: What drew you into the career?
McKesson: Originally, I was interested in attending law school and wanted to be sure that area suited my aptitude and ability before investing in three years of professional education. After working as a paralegal for awhile, I decided to go on to graduate school but I felt more of a tug toward education than toward the practice of law.
CPN: What paralegal organizations – national, state or local- are you member of and what positions do you hold in them?
McKesson: I am currently (by way of my institution) a member of the American Association for Paralegal Education. I am also a North Carolina-certified paralegal and have served on the Paralegal Certification Committee for N.C. State Bar Board of Paralegal Certification since its inception.
CPN: When you talk with other paralegals, what are the main concerns or issues they face on a daily basis?
McKesson: Currently, employment and pay are common concerns. Paralegals that are unemployed are anxious about finding jobs. Those who are employed but want to move are concerned about starting new positions and losing their seniority, and many who are happily employed are concerned with losing their positions due to economic conditions.
CPN: If you could name one thing that would most benefit the paralegal profession, what would it be?
McKesson: I know there are those who would disagree, but I believe that standardization of core competencies and duties for paralegals would bring greater consistency across the labor market and would also eventually increase recognition of the profession. Standardization would reduce the number of people actually qualified for paralegal positions, but it should result in a higher salary because of simple supply and demand. I believe certification would have to be mandatory for such changes as these to take place.
CPN: If you could snap your fingers and create the perfect CLE, what would it be and why?
McKesson: The educator in me would create a “perfect” CLE by combining high-quality substantive knowledge with relevant ethics applications and ample opportunity for interaction, perhaps in more of a workshop setting than as pure lecture.
CPN: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
McKesson: I was a young child during the civil rights movement and I remember watching television at home on the day JFK was shot and killed. It was one of those moments that is frozen in time that you always remember. From that time, I had a strong desire for justice and I wanted to be a lawyer. I wasn’t always so philosophical, though – there were almost as many times that I was downright artsy and wanted to be a ballerina!
CPN: Knowing what you know now, if you weren’t a paralegal, what else would you want to do?
McKesson: I love music, so I would pursue a career in singing, writing and producing Christian music.
CPN: What do you wish you knew when you were getting started in the profession that you know now?
McKesson: I wish I had known that I could combine my love of the law with my passion for music and enjoy a career that combined both. When I began my paralegal career, the options were much more limited than they are now. The profession has really evolved.
CPN: What is the best thing about your job?
McKesson: I enjoy the creative side of teaching and running a program. It is both challenging and rewarding to have the discretion to solve problems with ingenuity. I also really enjoy helping students discover and move toward their life goals.
CPN: And what part of your job could you do without?
McKesson: The biggest problem I face in my current position is limited resources, particularly funding, administrative support and time.
CPN: What one thing, either personally or professionally, are you most proud of?
McKesson: I’m proud to have been able to enter the paralegal profession while it was still a relatively young venture and to have been able to contribute to its development in North Carolina as an educator and leader.
CPN: Where would we find you on the weekends?
McKesson: Hanging out with my family, admiring my patio garden or working on a home-improvement project.
