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Indiana Legal Services
IUPUI, criminal justice
Why did you decide to become a paralegal/legal support staffer?
My first experience with the legal system was in the year 2000 as an AmeriCorps volunteer at Indiana Legal Services. My attorneys (Staci Lane, Mary Butiste-Jones, and Janet Coney) mentored and encouraged me. I loved working alongside these strong women and they are still in my life today.
If you weren’t working in legal support, what would you be doing?
If I was not working in the legal system I would be a non-medical case manager at an HIV service organization. I am committed to helping end the HIV epidemic and serve those affected.
What makes a good paralegal/legal support staffer?
A good legal support staff person meets the needs of the attorney and goes above and beyond whenever possible while providing good customer service to the client. To achieve this, good attorney/support staff communication is vital.
What makes a good lawyer?
A good lawyer has excellent communication skills with both their clients and their support staff. The best lawyers fiercely advocate for their clients but also provide an atmosphere where legal support staff can thrive because their work and opinions are valued.
What would you say to someone who is considering a career in legal support?
I would encourage them to do so because working in the legal system is very rewarding. A good starting point is interning or job shadowing at various size law firms to find out what you like best.
Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment in your career.
As a court paralegal at the Public Defender Agency, I once ran up four flights of stairs to notify a public defender that the co-defendant’s counsel was having his case called up in front of the judge without him being present. We ran back down the stairs and burst into the courtroom in the middle of the pre-trial. When the hearing concluded, the attorney came over to thank me and said “You really have my back.” I thought to myself “You’re just now realizing that?” From that point on, for every new attorney that I’ve worked for, I made sure they knew right away that I had their backs.
Tell us something surprising about yourself.
Ryan White was an Indiana teenager diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1980s and gained national attention when he fought for the right to attend school. After he passed away in 1990, I began corresponding with his mom, Jeanne White-Ginder, and we are friends to this day. I am proud to know her.
What’s something people might not know about the legal support profession?
It can sometimes involve public speaking. As the paralegal of the Ryan White Legal Project, I give presentations about our project with senior staff attorney Dan Kahle.
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