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Senior Litigation Paralegal
Wagner Reese LLP
During her roughly 30 years as a paralegal, Angela Rinehart has dedicated most of her time to complex, high-value medical malpractice litigation and enjoyed a significant level of autonomy while doing it. Defense counsel and opposing attorneys routinely engage with her directly, underscoring her credibility and reputation within the legal community. “I have spoken to people who view the legal support role as secretarial duties, but it is much more substantive than that,” Rinehart said. “It involves research, understanding applicable trial rules, drafting documents, speaking with witnesses and being an integral part of the litigation process.” She leads the support staff for a three-attorney medical malpractice team, providing comprehensive case support from initial merit evaluation through final resolution.
Givebacks: volunteer, Grace Care Center Mobile Food Pantry, Hamilton County Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity
Important traits: “An effective paralegal understands that each task contributes to the overall case,” Rinehart said. “Success requires being proactive, resourceful, organized and being able to multitask. All while staying calm under pressure.”
Advice: She tells anyone interested in the field that paralegal work can be extremely rewarding, especially if you like puzzles. “Each new case is an opportunity to dig in and look for the missing pieces,” Rinehart said. “A great sense of satisfaction can be found in being part of this process and advocating for clients who are entrusting the legal team with a matter that is very personal for them.”
Favorite de-stressors: “I enjoy taking long walks to reflect, refocus and refresh.”•
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