TOP 10 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOR PARALEGALS

BY AMANDA MOSBAUGH AND BERLINDA BERNARD, CP

As paralegals, we are constantly overwhelmed. Whether balancing our workload and personal obligations, it can seem as if we barely have time to think of doing anything differently. However, it doesn’t mean that we cannot set goals for ourselves and take some actions to improve all around. Will this be the year you make a change? The following are the top 10 new year’s resolutions for paralegals.

1) JOIN A PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION OR GET MORE INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL ORGANIZATION

First things first, if you have not yet joined a paralegal association, that is always the best place to start! Most associations offer networking opportunities, special events, a job bank, a resume review team, mentor/mentee opportunities, pro bono opportunities and a massive opportunity for networking. Search associations nearby and consider joining!

If you already belong to an association but you haven’t made it to many meetings recently, make a plan to get more involved this year. Check the local event calendar and register to attend some meetings. Not only can you sharpen the tools in your proverbial toolbox but you also open up the opportunity to meet new people that can certainly help or encourage you on your paralegal journey. 2) GET CERTIFIED

Obtaining a paralegal certification has become an increasingly popular professional move. You can become certified on the national level through NALA or NFPA. If you want to become certified on a state level, your local bar association may offer their own certification. For example, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Kentucky Bar Association both offer their own paralegal certification program. For any testing, most associations have study materials available and usually offer study groups as well.

There are also other areas where you can become certified. As we all know, eDiscovery has been a hot topic for some time now. ACEDS offers a number of eDiscovery certifications that can be obtained year-round. Maybe this is your year to try something new!

3) TAKE YOUR LUNCH BREAK

One thing most paralegals have in common is that we rarely take our lunch break. Most days are a continuous cycle of putting out fires, responding to emails, billing hours, completing daily assignments and also tackling those rush projects that need immediate attention. That kind of schedule leaves little room for an hour lunch break. Many times, I would plan to heat up my lunch or run out to grab something, but whatever project I was working on had made me lose all track of time. By the time I finally remembered lunch, it was already late afternoon and I would just skip it entirely.

If you want to make some positive changes in 2022, I would encourage you to make sure that you’re taking a lunch break at least twice a week. Getting away from your desk for a few minutes is great for your brain. Take a break from whatever you’re working on, grab something tasty, then head back and you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle your project again.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES IN 2022, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE TAKING A LUNCH BREAK AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK.

4) PLAN A FUN TRIP

Along the same lines as taking a lunch break, taking your vacation days is also vital for your overall well-being and mental health. Being a paralegal is stressful. Beyond stressful most days. Managing your mental health and stress levels becomes increasingly important if you’d like to have a happy and long-term paralegal career.

Several years ago, I decided to start

planning a girl’s trip for myself and my daughter. We planned a beach vacation, researched the area, made reservations and had something incredibly fun to look forward to later in the year. By the time the trip rolled around, I was able to completely unplug and allow myself to relax, focus on family and put work on the back burner, temporarily at least. I can tell you, it was the most relaxing trip I’ve ever taken and when I returned home, I was 100% refreshed and ready to tackle work in a more meaningful and fulfilling way. So bottom line here – use those vacation days!

5) ATTEND MORE CLES

Continuing legal education contributes to our growth in the legal profession and beyond. One place you can start looking for CLEs is your local paralegal association and then check out the national paralegal associations for their CLE offerings. If you have an American Bar Association membership, you can also search for free CLEs which are usually available on demand. Maybe you have always wanted to learn about a different area of law, CLEs are the perfect opportunity for you to gain that knowledge. Although most CLE events are still being held virtually, if you get the chance to attend and an in-person event, it’s a perfect networking opportunity. Learn, connect, and build lasting professional relationships in the legal profession. 6) TAKE ON A LEADERSHIP ROLE

Taking on a leadership role, whether at your current job, in your community, or in a paralegal association, can give us a sense of fulfillment and purpose in our careers. You may not be given the opportunity, but did you know you can create it? Check out your paralegal organization and see if they have any openings on the board and ask what the requirements are to fill that role. Chances are you have exactly what they need and the diversity you bring.

For leadership opportunities at work, sit down with your office manager or attorney and express an interest in taking on new leadership tasks. Find small ways to create value for yourself. Make a list of helpful billing tips and share them with other paralegals at your firm. Especially new paralegals. Do you frequent a number of websites each day for your job? Make a master list that you can share with others. Did you hear about an upcoming CLE that sounded interesting? Share that with the attorneys and paralegals at your firm. Did you stumble upon an interesting legal article? Talk about it with someone from your office and get their input and perspective.

No matter the leadership role, learn as much as you can, share your knowledge and expertise, and use your transferrable skills to excel in that position. 7) INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

The new year is a great time to take a look at your 401K. Could you increase your contributions in 2022? Is this the year to open a Roth IRA? Taking an assessment of your financial health each year can never be a bad thing. Start small and increase your contributions by at least 2%. A small difference today and make a very big difference down the road!

Another great move is talking with a financial advisor. It can be a little uncomfortable at first. But once you are able to share your financial goals, you will be able to put a real plan into place and begin seeing tangible results.

8) INCREASE NETWORKING

If you have not yet jumped on the LinkedIn bandwagon, you might consider diving in this year. Now more than ever, attorneys and paralegals are becoming very vocal about their practice areas and daily problems they face. The question becomes, how can you make a difference?

The first step is simple. Start growing your network. Connect with fellow paralegals and co-workers. Connect with former co-workers, clients and friends from high school and college. Take it a step further and connect with paralegals you

don’t know throughout the state or commonwealth in which you are located.

Looking to connect with other paralegals online? I would encourage you to check out the Perfectly Paralegal group, which can be found on both LinkedIn and Facebook. There are literally thousands of paralegals in this group and they are very vocal about discussing all things paralegal. It can also be pretty entertaining at times. It is definitely a wonderful group for networking! Thank you to Linda McGrath for creating such an awesome way to connect!

Lastly, identify areas where you are strong or well versed. Do you have information or experience that might help others? I would encourage you to start writing an article about that particular topic. Do you have tips on billing hours? Keeping track of files? Answering discovery? Write an article! Share your wisdom! Other paralegals will genuinely appreciate your voice.

NOTE THAT UPDATING YOUR RESUME DOESN’T HAVE TO BE WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB

9) UPDATE YOUR RESUME

Have you acquired a new skill? Received an award? Joined a board? Have your attorneys delegated more substantive legal work to you recently? Have you done work outside of your original job description? Have you officially completed a training or obtained a new certification? This would be the perfect opportunity for you to update your resume. Note that updating your resume doesn’t have to be when you are looking for a new job. I would recommend keeping your resume updated and make sure you don’t forget to add any critical skills that might eventually land you the role you’ve been dreaming about. As technology grows, we do the same. We no longer need the Sunday paper to look at job ads. We can just pop online and check indeed or google and we will be inundated with opportunities. LinkedIn has quickly become a game changer in the resume world. Your LinkedIn page should basically be an interactive resume where a potential employer can learn more about you. While updating your paper resume, be sure to also update your LinkedIn profile as well.

I would also encourage you to let others review and critique your resume. If you are a paralegal, you likely know a ton of other paralegals and attorneys. Ask one of them to take a look at your resume and get their feedback. Their insight and observations could make all of the difference!

Finally, and on behalf of all HR managers out there, I would also like to add: Please spell check your resume. This is 100% the fastest way to never get a call back.

10) STAY POSITIVE

It can be a challenge to stay positive with everything going on in our world, but we can change how we handle the news. Start by focusing on the things that are in your control. Set some goals for yourself. A sense of accomplishment can certainly help us have a more positive outlook.

Remember to celebrate the small wins and practice gratitude. Lastly, don’t forget to share the good news with others because they too can use some motivation and inspiration.

Whether you tackle one or all of the above new year’s resolutions, you will have taken steps to make some positive changes in your career and in your life. We hope that you have an amazing and prosperous 2022! AMANDA MOSBAUGH is an OSBA certified paralegal from Cincinnati, Ohio (Go Bengals!!). She practiced as a litigation paralegal for 17 years before joining Trustpoint.One as a Director of Business Development in 2017. For the past 7 years, she has also served as Vice President and Director of Marketing & Events for the Cincinnati Paralegal Association.

BERLINDA BERNARD, CP® Berlinda Bernard is a Certified Paralegal and founder of Quintessential Pillar Paralegal Consulting, LLC. Before starting her own business as a freelance paralegal and consultant, she spent 12 years using her education, skills, and professional experience to provide quality legal support to attorneys in law firms, corporate in-house departments, and government settings. She has worked in various areas of law, including labor and employment law and bankruptcy law. Berlinda has published several blog articles promoting professional growth for paralegals and educating lawyers about paralegals to help them work smarter. Berlinda is a member of several paralegal associations, where she continues to share her knowledge and insights.