Q&A: NALA president: Mandatory certification could actually limit paralegals
Karen McGee is the president of the National Association of Legal Assistants. She is also the first deputy clerk with the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport, La. A frequent speaker on paralegal procedures, McGee also is a member of the Northwest Louisiana Paralegal Association, the Louisiana State Paralegal Association and the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks. She received her certified paralegal credential from NALA in May 1990 and her advanced credential in civil litigation in May 1994. In 1996, McGee was named Louisiana’s Outstanding Paralegal of the Year.
Here, McGee tells Carolina Paralegal News why mandatory certification carries both risks and benefits for paralegals.
CPN: How long have you been a paralegal?
McGee: I first began doing paralegal work in 1987 and attained my certified paralegal credential in 1990.
CPN: What drew you into the career?
McGee: I was approaching my 29th birthday and the nonprofit agency that I worked for was about to lose its funding. I was at a crossroads and had to decide what I wanted to do “when I grew up.” I needed a career.
I happened to read an article about the paralegal profession and since I’d always been interested in the law, it seemed like the perfect career choice for me. I was right! Working as a paralegal has allowed me to be part of a profession that serves others and my professional association work has allowed me to give back to a profession that has given me so much.
CPN: What are the challenges of being president of the National Association of Legal Assistants?
McGee: So far, the biggest challenge has been balancing the demands of the association with the demands of my regular job. I work a lot of nights and weekends. However, I am so fortunate to have the type of job that allows me to be available during most days, and my employer has been very supportive of my involvement in NALA. I love being able to talk to paralegals all over the country about the issues that are important to them.
CPN: When you talk with other paralegals, what are the main concerns or issues they face on a daily basis?
McGee: No matter what they do – whether they work in small or large firms, a corporate environment, doing plaintiff’s work or defense – most paralegals just want to know what they can do to be the best at their jobs. Successful paralegals, as a “species,” are detail-oriented individuals, who can be quite competitive and usually are driven to perfection. They are constantly seeking new tools and techniques to help them excel at what they do and to improve the service rendered to their clients. They have found those professional development tools in NALA’s certification and CLE programs, as well as the leadership training and volunteer opportunities offered by NALA.
CPN: Are there issues that paralegals face in one part of the country, but not others? What are they?
McGee: Well, obviously the economic downturn has impacted some areas of the country harder than other areas and that may have resulted in lost employment opportunities in those areas. We also know there are some areas that are so remote it is difficult for paralegals to develop a network of support. These two problems are somewhat related, in that the result is that there are paralegals who feel disconnected.
The best way to reconnect is through the networking tools offered through NALA’s website and its annual convention, or by retraining through NALA’s online educational programs. Online education serves anyone with access to a computer, and the networking opportunities through NALA’s Conference Center connect NALA members, making them aware of career opportunities across the country.
CPN: In your opinion, should certification be a mandatory requirement for paralegals? Why or why not?
McGee: I believe whether a paralegal seeks certification should be a matter of personal choice. Over the last three decades, this profession has seen great growth, and this growth will be sustained as long as there continue to be plenty of opportunities for us to apply our paralegal skills in a variety of ways.
A mandatory certification is more precisely a licensing scheme. This defines for the employers who they can and cannot hire for a job, increases the cost of hiring a paralegal and puts governmentally imposed limits on the work paralegals may be able to do. It is very possible much of what we can do now would be limited. I don’t see a lot of positive benefits in government regulation of paralegals.
To me, the key is working in an environment that provides for ultimate supervision by an attorney. If that is achieved, we will always find paralegals working in many different positions, both traditional and nontraditional. Those who want to go that extra step in order to show commitment to the profession and stand out from the crowd will continue to see NALA’s voluntary certification as the best means to accomplish those goals.
CPN: If you could name one thing that would most benefit the paralegal profession, what would it be?
McGee: My wish is that all attorneys were trained to fully appreciate the very real benefits of employing paralegals, understand how best to utilize the unique skills paralegals bring to the job and the benefits of supporting them in their professional development.
CPN: If you could snap your fingers and create the perfect CLE, what would it be and why?
McGee: No need – it’s already been done! NALA has created a wonderful combination of CLE options designed to meet the many learning styles and needs of paralegals. You can learn in a classroom setting where the education builds from one day to the next. You can learn through a traditional book or in one of 90 interactive online courses, or through a NALA Campus course on a Saturday morning in your slippers. It doesn’t get any better than that!
CPN: What do you wish you knew when you were getting started in the profession that you know now?
McGee: I was lucky that there was a local paralegal association in which I could network and meet like-minded professionals who mentored me as I was learning the job. I only wish I had discovered them sooner.
CPN: What is the best thing about your job?
McGee: I have the pleasure of working in a challenging job where I am surrounded by professionals and have the opportunity to learn something new every day. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
CPN: And what part of your job could you do without?
McGee: I could do without attorneys who wait until the last minute to make their filings, and then it’s an emergency!
CPN: What one thing, either personally or professionally, are you most proud of?
McGee: While I am incredibly proud of my professional accomplishments, I would have to say I am most proud of my two daughters. They are wonderful, talented young women who make such a difference in the lives of those they touch. They constantly inspire me.
