A Publication of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
November 2022
DARING TO DREAM
The close-knit staff at Church World Service in Greensboro gathers at the end of the workday. From left: Said Zeyar, Jelena Milisav, Iva Panayotova, Samir Seddiqi, Noman Farid, and Elizabeth DeFrance. Photo by Teri Saylor
Afghan refugee builds new life as a paralegal in Greensboro ■ BY TERI SAYLOR Khovaja Samir Seddiqi knows what hope and resilience feel like when your life is suddenly defined by grief and uncertainty. He lost everything when the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government amidst the United States military withdrawal in August of 2021. Today, he is a paralegal in the Greensboro office of Church World Service, a global organization that helps meet the immediate needs of refugees from dangerous zones seeking asylum in the United States. Despite everything Seddiqui has gone through, he considers himself lucky to have a job and an opportunity to help other Afghan refugees even as he labors through his own struggles. “When someone says they had nothing, I totally came to the United States like that,” he said, while sitting in the CWS offices in downtown Greensboro on a sunny afternoon in October. “I stepped into this country with the clothes I was wearing when I left Afghanistan and $5 in my pocket.” Just over a year ago, Seddiqi had everything going for him. A successful entrepreneur in Kabul, he owned Saddiqi Software Services and had started the Afghanistan Progressive Youth Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching English and computer skills to young Afghans, with a focus on helping women. Fluent in English, as well as Dari and Pashto, two languages spoken in Afghanistan, he also worked for the U.S. Government as an interpreter and with defense contractors in a variety of roles, including supply chain management and office administration. In the chaotic final days as Afghan people clamored to board planes to leave their country for safer places, Seddiqi worked alongside troops at the airport until the last minute. “I helped the Marines with the evacuations for 10 days and did my part as an interpreter,” he said. “There was a great need to interpret an as the situation worsened.” He secured a spot on one of the last planes out. His mother and two of his sisters were able to leave the
country too. Still living in Afghanistan and in hiding are his father, two brothers, and another sister. “We all saw the really horrible images in the news of what was happening and watched the evacuation of over 80,000 Afghan allies,” said Megan Shepard, CWS office director. Most came directly to the United States where several military bases hosted them while their cases were being processed. From there, they traveled to resettlement agencies across the country, like CWS.
CWS helps refugees
In addition to its Greensboro office, CWS has a presence in Durham, Charlotte, and Asheville. in 1980, Congress signed into law the Refugee Act, formalizing the refugee resettlement program as we know it now — a humanitarian lifesaving program that the U.S. government implements and contracts with national agencies to support the arrival of refugees, Shepard said CWS is one of those agencies. In North Carolina, CWS welcomes refugees who are arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions program, helping them with everything, including picking them up at the airport, securing housing, getting kids enrolled in school and English classes, getting them connected to healthcare, helping them find jobs and generally restart and rebuild their lives in the United States. “Hundreds of Afghans came to the Triad, and even more arrived in other cities across North Carolina,” Shepard said. “Many of them came with little to nothing.” Seddiqi was in that category. “I lost everything you can imagine — my money, my house, my company, and part of my family,” he said. “No one wants to be a refugee, but this was a situation where there was no other option. I leave or get killed. I left everything and I don’t know what has happened to it.” With his mother and two sisters, Seddiqi first landed in the Washington, D.C., area and was soon offered a job. But instead of starting his employment, he and his family were sent to Greensboro. A year has passed, and the culture shock is palpable.
Overheard at the Water Cooler Page 17
Adapting to life in Greensboro
The Kabul Seddiqi knew was a bustling city of nearly 5 million people. Greensboro, a medium-sized city of 300,000 was no place he wanted to be. But over the recent months, he has come to love his new home. “The first few days, it was very hard. I wanted to stay in D.C. but I had no choice,” he said. “Greensboro is a nice place, and I have learned it’s not large cities and buildings that matter. People matter, and it matters for a community to be welcoming to a person who has lost everything.” To a visitor, Sediqqi, sitting in a private office with a warm smile on his face, appears comfortable and well-established, but his friendly calm demeanor can’t completely erase his stress and concern for his family — those who fled Afghanistan with him, and those who are still there. His sisters are 18 and 16. One is in high school, and the other is taking English classes with her mother. All are still adjusting to their new lives in the United States. Still in Afghanistan are his father, two brothers and another sister. He constantly worries about them and holds out hope for a future reunion in the United States. Along with rebuilding his life, Seddiqi has had to rebuild his dreams. He learned about CWS online and joined the team as an interpreter. But the agency quickly noticed his drive and his skills and education — he has a degree in information technology from Behzad Institute of Higher Education. He also had demonstrated his leadership within the newly established Afghan community in Greensboro, providing interpretation services for those who could not speak English, and helping other refugees settle in, Shepard said. “We learned he had a lot of interest in the legal services side of things and had significant experience completing his own paperwork and navigating through the immigration process,” she said. “So we moved him into a paralegal position where he works as an integral part of our immigration legal services team.”
Paralegal job allows him to help others
While Seddiqi never imagined he would be a
Q&A Jasmine Williams ◆ Page 18 Traci B. Wolfe ◆ Page 19
■ See DREAM Page 16
DREAM / DARING TO DREAM paralegal, it’s a role he has embraced, and he looks at his job as an open door to new opportunities. He has mastered his role through on-the-job training, working with attorneys and supervisors, and real clients with real cases. His duties include typical paralegal services, consulting with clients and preparing applications for their asylum. He points to a stack of files on his desk, and explains they contain client documents for cases he is working on. “I summarize cases, prepare reports for our attorneys, and schedule appointments,” he said. I also help gather information, draft legal documents, and manage cases.” Shepard calls him “fantastic.” She is moved by how much he cares about his community, and as a bonus she and her colleagues at CWS have learned much about Afghan culture. It has been really exciting to have been introduced to a new Afghan community here in the Triad,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful culture and the people have so much to offer.” She’s also grateful to have Seddiqi on the CWS staff. “He brings so much knowledge and compassion,” she said. “And he’s just so committed to serving the Afghan community here and has been a good advocate for himself and for other Afghans.” Last October, he was one of six Afghans in American communities across the nation recognized as 2022 Champions for Change for their efforts to help refugees fleeing the Taliban find safety in the United States. For Seddiqi, it is all about understanding what his fellow refugees are going through. “I understand how hard it is for other people experiencing the same thing I did, and I am motivated to work hard for my community and for other refugees,” he said. “I know English and I also speak their language, and now I’m doing what I can to try to make their lives a little easier.” While enjoying success at work, the ability to support his family in Greensboro, and his new friends, Seddiqi can’t hide from the uncertainty he and other
■ Continued from Page 15
refugees are facing in their new, homes, where they have an immigration status for just two years. Most Afghans who have relocated to the U.S. were admitted into the country on temporary humanitarian parole without lasting protections for work or residency. Afghans who left behind their homes, jobs, and families are now under a cloud of uncertainty with the prospect of their parole expiring. The Afghanistan Adjustment Act, a bi-partisan bill introduced in Congress last year would provide a pathway to lawful permanent residency for many of them. “We and other partners have been pushing for Congress to pass this legislation,” Shepard said. “It is understandable that there would be a lot of stress and worry about what happens next because it is not an option for people to return at this point because it’s just too dangerous there.” She added the uncertainty around their immigration status is difficult, and it’s challenging for us as a service provider too because we don’t have the answers to what’s going to happen either.” Seddiqi finds solace in helping others. It is in his DNA. “My work is more than just a job, it is about helping people,” he said. Even in his home country, he was helping others through his nonprofit, which offered tutoring services and focusing on educating women and girls to learn English and computer skills and make them ready for jobs. “It was all free for students, and it did not cost them a single penny, because I used my own money to fund it, even without help from the government,” he said. “We were empowering young people of Afghanistan for a better future, better jobs and a better life.” The organization served over 700 students, and Seddiqi does not know if any of them were able to get out of the country. He’s not sure he will ever go back. “Afghanistan is not a place to live anymore if you are a democratic person who has a free mind and wants to use your voice,” he said. “There was always the fear of being persecuted or killed.”
Samir Seddiqi fled Afghanistan when it fell to the Taliban with nothing but the clothes on his back and $5 in his pocket. Today he and some of his family members have settled into a new life in Greensboro, N.C. as he works as a paralegal for Church World Service to help support them. Photo courtesy of Samir Seddiqi
A year after arriving in the United States, Samir has dreams. Maybe he’ll form a start-up business like he had in Afghanistan. Maybe he’ll start another nonprofit or become a lawyer. “I have my own life here now, and I really worked hard for that,” he said. “I also have my Afghan community and lots of friends here and in Greensboro.” He also applauds other Afghans who have lived in the Triad area for many years and have reached out to the newcomers to share their experiences and provide guidance. “The United States is the greatest country on Earth,” he said. “There is no fear of being persecuted or killed. Instead, there is joy and I’m happy to have the opportunity to serve the community.” He holds out hope he and his family will be granted asylum the rest of his family will make their way to Greensboro too. “I lost everything I had, and I’m sure one day I’ll get it back and be successful in the United States,” he said. “I never stop dreaming.”
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Overheard at the Water Cooler
Connecting in a virtual community in a post-pandemic world In April of 2020, while many of us were reeling at the changes happening in our world due to the pandemic, Gabriel Couture was writing about the importance of virtual communities. Gabriel says virtual communities can provide “a sense of belonging and community; an ■ BY CAMILLE STELL experience that empowers participants to turn to their peers for authentic and relevant knowledge-sharing conversations. Our participants need to feel like they’re a part of something relevant and impactful – a community that is worth exploring and getting to know.”
What is the benefit of a virtual community?
Consider the Facebook groups you have joined. Perhaps they reflect your hobbies or your vacation interests. I’m a member of several photography groups on Facebook though I still can’t take a great sunset picture. I’m also a member of North Carolina day trips because these are some of my favorite adventures – driving across North Carolina and discovering local art and the best diner in the county. However, another important benefit of a virtual community is its diversity of ideas, creativity, and differing perspectives.
Legal Communities
Bar associations listservs were forerunners of the online community. Consider the North Carolina Bar Association or the North Carolina Advocates for Justice – many would say the listservs are among the most important member benefits. The ability to reach out to hundreds of lawyers who do the same thing you do and ask a question with the understanding that you may have an answer within minutes – now that’s a value add! As a matter of fact, the North Carolina Bar Association has even begun using the word community to describe their sections, divisions, committees, and interest groups. Lawyerist is a popular online community. They describe themselves as “a resource hub for starting, running, and growing a healthy small law firm.” Leading Law, virtual community formed by Lawyers Mutual Consulting, is a community of lawyers, paralegals, law firm leaders, legal professionals, legal technicians, business partners, law students, and law school innovators who are influencing the direction of the modern practice of law. How to Choose a Virtual Community What is your purpose in joining? I joined the Facebook photography community not because I am a photographer, but because I aspire to be. I also love art and nature and the group I joined combined those interests. Another reason to join a community is the members and networking opportunities. The NC / SC Paralegal Facebook group is a great resource for asking career advice and virtual networking for job opportunities. If someone has seen you post high-quality content and you are searching for a job, it’s likely if they have a position open they would be willing to connect you. Benefits of the community are important. You may be interested in the job board, or the skills tips and best practices that are shared. Or you may enjoy the opportunity to gather for virtual
NOVEMBER 2022
Virtual communities have become a crucial gathering place post-pandemic. Photo Pexels.com
events such as the Leading Law monthly Roundtable where the business of law is the topic and the participants are solo, small, and medium law firms inside and outside of North Carolina.
The New “In-Person”
A few years ago, I introduced the Managing Partner Summit, a live event held in Raleigh welcoming Managing Partners and other law firm leaders to an all-day, educational program focused on the business of law. Each year, the program highlighted a keynote speaker, followed by panels of local lawyers and legal professionals sharing their best practices to running their law firms. In 2020, we were one week away from the event when the world began shutting down due to the pandemic. The 2020 Managing Partner Summit was rescheduled for fall. And then rescheduled for 2021. Finally, with no end to the pandemic in immediate sight, we created the virtual community, Leading Law. The idea was to replace the live event, and to make the concept of the event more accessible and to create a community of legal professionals any of whom might be available online at any time. I’ve experienced feedback from attendees at the in-person event that it is hard to replicate that experience in a virtual community where people are not gathered in the same place at the same time. I certainly feel the same way. Live events are still the most fun and beneficial for me as well. However, having an option of attending some events in person through bar and other professional associations, but having virtual communities to rely on as well seems like the best of both worlds to me. It’s also easier on the budget to be a part of a virtual community. If I’m participating in the community, I have no travel time, no travel budget, and no lost hours for travel. I love appearing in person at professional events and I have no plans of stopping that, but I can be involved in more collaboration opportunities by participating in a virtual community.
CAROLINA PARALEGAL NEWS
Participation is often not time sensitive. I can open the Mighty Networks app to view Leading Law after dinner and post a question. Over the course of the next few days, I’ll receive responses and have time to analyze solutions. While multiple video calls a day can be exhausting, I do feel virtual communication is the the new “in-person” form of communication. Take today for example, I chatted with clients about the weather, admired fall foliage out their office window, and my cat paid a visit onscreen for a moment. While not in the same room, we were participating in the same experience. Leading Law benefits include: • Exclusive content and conversations you can’t find anywhere else • Monthly Leading Law Roundtables with facilitated discussions led by industry experts • Connecting with people who share your interests, who do the same things, or who care about the same topics • Advice for more well-informed decisions about building and managing modern law firms and clients • The ability to swap stories, experiences, and ideas around our shared mission • Finding a little inspiration, thought-provoking conversations, and expert perspective each and every day. • Sign up for Leading Law at lawyersmutualconsulting.com. Find a virtual community that meets your needs. Get involved by posting questions, asking for advice, and engagement with other professionals. Membership in a virtual community can help you to build a modern practice and expand your referral base. I love the encouragement and support I get in the virtual communities where I participate. It’s almost like being at your favorite conference anytime but perhaps a little more manageable. Camille is the president of Lawyers Mutual Consulting & Services. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@lawyersmutualconsulting.com or 919.677.8900.
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Q&A: Jasmine Williams
Jasmine Williams finds her calling as a paralegal She went on to receive an associate degree in paralegal studies from Altierus Career College while working fulltime and raising her children. She is now the senior paralegal at Jeffries Law Firm in Orangeburg, where she has worked since 2012, focusing on personal injury and workers’ compensation. “I met attorney Jeffries in my first job, and I
I guess you could say that once I got my foot in the door, I never walked out, and my life has been moving forward ever since. Jasmine Williams When Jasmine Williams landed a job as a legal assistant at The Law Office of Carl B. Grant, she admits she was so nervous when she started, and had no idea she would fall in love with her profession. “I guess you could say that once I got my foot in the door, I never walked out, and my life has been moving forward ever since,” she says. The 39-year-old mother of three grew up in Westchester, N.Y. and moved to Orangeburg, S.C. in 2001. She attended Lyndon B. Johnson Job Corps Center in 2005, where she earned her GED along with a trade certificate in business administration.
loved her personality and her strong-willed desire to help people,” Williams says. “I vowed that if I was ever offered the opportunity to work for her, I would do just that.” Motivation: My daily motivation outside of my family is my desire to help those in need. I believe that when you are injured and your world has been literally turned upside down, you should seek a law practice that will listen to you and express genuine concern about not only the injuries sustained but the mental anguish and emotional instability that comes along with the loss of a job or ability to provide for your family. The people are my motivation. I begin my day with the following statement: “You are here to help your neighbor. You are here to listen. You will make a difference today. You will make someone
smile.” With this, I am motivated to give every day my all. Skillset wish list: I’d love to obtain the Professional Paralegal certification from NALS. It would build confidence and provide evidence that I have the necessary knowledge and understanding of the profession. I believe we should always take advantage of opportunities to further our education, and it is always wise to consider ways of bettering yourself. My desktop: My desktop is messy and for me, there is organization in chaos. I know where everything is and what it’s for. I task everything on my PC calendar. However, I am also a firm believer in the use of paper. I must have post it notes and handwritten reminders. I have portraits of my family, my degree, and notary public certification, and an oversized picture of the scales of justice on my wall. A hot cup of coffee is also a must-have and always on my desk. I might have been: If I was not a paralegal, I would pursue a psychology degree and administer therapeutic services to mental health patients. I am a firm believer that we all just need someone to talk to and if we can talk and listen, we might be able to save someone from hurting themselves or someone else. Favorite music: I listen to all types of hip-hop, pop, country, gospel, R&B and rock music. Lately, I’ve had a fascination with smooth jazz, especially at the office. The sounds of a saxophone playing in the background when I’m typing a chronology or completing discovery responses really makes it easier to focus. Spare time activities: I am the youth director at my local church, so my spare time consists of working with the kids to ensure that they are learning and growing spiritually. We host fundraisers, perform community service, and encourage our young entrepreneurs to push forward with their business ventures. I also have a small business called Night Twinklers, creating custom solar décor and resin designs.
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NAME Virginia G. Adams Collins Barwick Asa L. Bell Jr. Richard T. Boyette Jacqueline R. Clare Thomas M. Clare James L. Conner II Kate Deiter-Maradei Paul T. Flick Patricia L. Holland Joseph T. Howell J. Anderson Little Michael E. McDaniel Robert A. Meynardie Karen Britt Peeler James S. Schenck IV Reagan H. Weaver Barbara B. Weyher Scott M. Taylor Marshall A. Gallop Jr. Ralph W. Meekins S. Kent Smith Jessie M. Conley W. Lewis Sauls Sherman Lee Criner William A. Blancato Kenneth P. Carlson Jr. William H. Freeman Ellen R. Gelbin
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Q&A: Traci B. Wolfe
Traci B. Wolfe finds her passion as a paralegal
Traci B. Wolfe In 2018, at the age of 51, Traci B. Wolfe returned to college and earned an associate degree in legal studies from Purdue University. She had already experienced two full careers and was in the middle of her third when she decided to go to school. Born in Hickory, N.C. Wolfe worked in a furniture factory most of her life until she moved to South Carolina in 1992 where she began managing a home health agency. In 2008, that agency
shut its doors, leaving Wolfe at a crossroads. Then she discovered her new passion in the law. “The home health agency’s owner, who was a friend, put in a good word for me with an attorney with the Cromer and Mabry Law Firm who was looking for a paralegal,” Wolfe says. “He mainly handled employment law matters, and even with no legal experience, I went on the interview and was hired the same day.” Wolfe continued to work for the firm until Benjamin Mabry’s death in 2014. She followed the associate attorney who worked with her to Callison Tighe and Associates where she stayed for six years. “Then in 2020, I joined a team that left CTR and started Burnette Shutt and McDaniel, where I currently work,” she says. When the firm brought in a family law attorney, she jumped in full force to learn family law. The year she received her degree in legal studies, she joined the Legal Staff Professionals of the Midlands and is in her second year as president. “I have also held multiple leadership positions in the paralegal profession on the state and local levels,” she says. “In 2019, I obtained my Professional Paralegal certification through the NALS certification program.” Wolfe has been married to her husband, Kenneth for 34 years and has a blended family of two girls, one boy, and a son who is now “an angel the family lost when he was 18 years old,” she says. She also has eight grandchildren, two dogs, Bailey and Gracie, and one “grandpup” named Trevor. Inspiration: The attorneys I work directly with play a big part of my drive and my success. Also, helping clients through one of the toughest experiences of their life is a driving force for me.
I am an enabler, and proud of it. I cherish the relationships and bonds I develop with our clients. Favorite work activity: That’s a tough one, in family law it would be finding out all I can about the opposing party to help assist the attorneys. For employment, it would be discovery. I love to ask questions and convince the other side to give up what they have. I guess you could say I am nosey. My superpower: That is an easy one. My superpower is dealing with people and getting them to talk with me. The attorneys in my office say I use my “Traci Magic” to get things done. On leadership: If you work in the legal field, you already are in leadership. You must manage attorneys and multiple cases each day. Serving the paralegal profession as an association leader will give you the opportunity to develop new skills and sharpen the skills you already have. Limiting yourself to simply serving as a member, you have a reduced impact on how your association moves forward. Leadership gives you a stronger voice in how your association moves to the next level. Goals: I am not one to goals. In 2018 we lost our 18-year-old son. From that January day, I live each day the best I can. If I am blessed to wake up in the morning, I will make the best of the day that was given to me. I also strive to ensure that both professionally and personally, people know how much I appreciate them and care about them. Work/live balance: I don’t have work/life balance, and that is okay. I chose to wait until I was over 50 years old to become a workaholic. I love my job. I love my friends and my connections with the Legal Staff Professionals. We share the same passions, and we get each other. Working in the legal profession is tough, it drains you mentally. It is great to have likeminded colleagues that understand. We work hard and play hard when we need to.
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