What is The Paralegal Society™ you ask? Think of it as a social conduit of information created for all paralegals. Whether you are new to the field or a savvy and experienced paralegal, you are welcome here. In fact, we created this blog just for you. You can find interesting articles, glean helpful information and career tips, ask questions and seek advice from our team of experienced paralegal mentors who will provide assistance, guidance and support.
Our mission at The Paralegal Society™ is to orchestrate a much needed change in the social aspects of education, mentorship and camaraderie for paralegals throughout the country. Heck, we like to think of it as a full-blown movement. For us, it is a worthy endeavor and one we hope will perpetuate positive change for the paralegal profession. We are ready to give back. We have a strong desire to assist our fellow paralegals in the quest for excellence.
Again, we welcome you. Please peruse the array of articles and posts we have compiled for you and don’t hesitate to let us know if there is a particular topic or endeavor for which we can provide helpful information or assistance. Enjoy and welcome to the society!
Jamie Collins,
Founder
p.s. If you like our blog ~ please be sure to tell your paralegal friends about it! You can also follow us on Twitter @TPSparalegals.
Alas, I am back from the long-lost intersection of “Where in the Heck Did Jamie Go?” and “Why isn’t she blogging for us anymore?” I am officially here, back on the screen, to make my triumphant (I mean, at least I certainly hope it’s a tad bit triumphant) return to blogging for all of you here at The Paralegal Society. If you don’t remember who I am, please just know that I am your favorite blogger of all time. Just saying. Let’s go with that. (This is what happens when I get to be in charge of the narrative. Best. Blogger. Ever. Hands down. Tell everyone…)
For starters, I feel a brief bit of catch-up is in order. While I was away, I continued to work in the legal trenches as a litigation paralegal the entire time. I now work at a new firm, which I guess is technically an “old” firm to me because it is the one that I worked at for my second-ever-paralegal-gig back in the day, early on in my career. Kind of a “the prodigal paralegal returns to the firm” type of thing, like 5+ years ago. Anyway, I am excited to be working at a “nice” law firm which is, in fact, called “The Nice Law Firm.” (True story.) I am wearing multiple fedoras between management, a plethora of HR duties, working for the Firm’s owner as the sole paralegal on our litigation team, and occasionally still doing that fun papyrus-filled-five-inch-binders-from-hell-exhibit dance out of our otherwise paperless office to make an occasional visit into the courtroom for a jury trial. I haven’t slowed down a bit. At all. You just haven’t seen me here.
During my leave of blogger’s absence, I have written and published not one, but TWO true crime memoirs: I Am Jessica: A Survivor’s Powerful Story of Healing and Hope, which tells my cousin’s life story, and I Am Abigail: A Texas Woman’s Childhood Nightmare—and Her Escape from Hell as a Sex Slave/Survivor, which tells the riveting story of survival of Abigail Alvarado. These books consumed my twilight hours outside of paralegaling and there simply was not enough words and time left to go around in order for me to continue blogging. But here’s the thing – I cannot apologize for being gone. I simply can’t. Because I feel like I have no business telling anyone else how and why they should go out and pursue their own goals and dreams if I don’t actually go out and live out and pursue my own. And I did. That. All of it. The Full Dream Dance. Twice. It was absolutely amazing to work with these two remarkable women—survivors of the unfathomable—to share their inspiring stories with the world. If any of you ever have any questions about my experience in doing that, I’d certainly be happy to answer them, so feel free to post a comment below or hit me up via a direct message. There are numerous podcasts out there about both stories if you’d like to go listen to them. (If you did/do end up reading either one of my books, pretty paralegal pleeeeeeeease leave a review online at Amazon or wherever you bought it. That would be AMAZING.)
I must admit that returning to blogging is something I have very much wanted to do on the heels of my latest book, but I truly to God swore to myself in my mind two thousand times that I may have actually forgotten how to blog. (I swear. Crazy, I know.) I mean, I’ve only been at this for the better part of two decades (holy moly, that makes it sound like I used to blog on stone tablets in a cave or something….), so why is it that I can write and publish two 400+ page books . . . and somehow still find the blank screen intimidating? Also, I have no idea. Yet here we are. I am back. At long last. I am typing words. You are reading them. We are all still alive. We are not in a mental institution . . . yet. It’s going splendidly. I’ll get better as we go, I triple paralegal promise you.
Thirdly, I find myself wanting to take a pulse on what it is you guys and gals truly would like to hear from me as a blogger—and likely some other contributing bloggers. Undoubtedly, the paralegal humor posts will still be a thing. How could they not be? We want them. We need them. I will somehow manage to find a map to lead myself back into the Land of Jamie’s Hilarity. (I admit I went back and reread some of the old paralegal humor posts and: I. Was. Dying. We need more of that for sure.) But what other types of topics, issues, challenges, problems, crazy things are seeing, hearing, wanting to read, learn more about, rant or rave about, or hear more about from the Fearless Founder? Hit that comment button below – do tell. I assure you that I am an ever-captive listener with the vigilant enthusiasm of a semi-sane person eating Starburst Jellybeans out of a ceramic ramekin on her couch, legs crossed, ten little pigs wearing Bombas socks on a Thursday night at the humble abode of Collins as I type this. Tell. Me. More. What would you like to read about, Paralegal Nation? What did you used to love to read here at TPS? What do you miss? We are open to hearing all the things — about all the things. Hit that button and sound off. Let’s hear it…
I promise to return again soon, my fearless paralegal friends.
Until then, keep doing what you do—slinging those files in the legal trenches, helping people, not stabbing any esquires with objects off of your desk, and finding time to take a lunch break. Really. As in, one AWAY from your desk. Step away. They will survive. Lastly, I’d like to give a shout-out to all of you attending all those law firm meetings via video looking much like a news anchor, with all business up top and your finest yoga pants, sweatpants, PJ pants, or running shorts bringing home the bottom half. We see you. We know you. We are you. (You do you.)
I stand here, on the screen before you today, because I have the immense privilege of addressing each of you, individually, and a cross-section of the profession, collectively, in this way. I have also earned myself the obligation to do so. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when it’s not popular. Even when it’s somewhat controversial. And most importantly, when others don’t seem to be talking about the things that affect our profession at all. Especially then.
When the time to stand up and fight presents itself to a person who is called to a cause: the soldier picks up his rifle; the boxer, his gloves; and the blogger, her keyboard. And we do not stop, until we have either silenced our opponent, or there is nothing of ourselves left to give. That time is today. The keyboard is locked and loaded. The House of Collins banner flies on high in the legal sector. The stallions stand at the ready. People are flocking to the streets holding poster boards boasting boating brightly colored glitter. Buckle up, people. Grab a beverage. Take a seat and grab your breakfast bar.
It was on this day, March 5, 2016, that I awoke and came to the sudden realization that I have apparently become the self-proclaimed Jackass Whisperer for the legal profession. Then I hit the “publish” button. And smiled.
“Don’t call it a come back, I’ve been here for years.”
By: Jamie Collins Helllllooooo, my paralegal friends! Finally, at long last, you made it through yet another ultra-fabulous work week. Congratulations! Perhaps, …
The Paralegal Society™ 