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William Matlock
Litigation Paralegal,
Fein, Pearson, and Emond, P.C. |
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Graduates discuss their careers
Before I entered the paralegal program, I drove
a truck for an overnight delivery service, delivering
and picking up freight. After sustaining a back injury
I could no longer do that type of work.
Because I have
always had an interest in the law, I decided to seek
my Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies.
I now work in a law firm with
7 full-time attorneys, 5 full-time paralegals (4
of whom are Elms graduates), 3 legal secretaries,
1 MVA claims specialist (another Elms graduate) and
1 workers compensation claims specialist.
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Almost all our work is in the area of personal injury,
but our firm also handles other tort cases such as
employment discrimination, as well as some real estate
work. If you were to ask me what a typical day is like,
I would have to say that it is impossible to describe
a typical day. No two days are ever alike and I have
never been bored.
What I like best about my job is the variety. In
addition to client interviews, document drafting, and
investigation work, I assist at depositions, arbitrations,
and trials. One of the unique features of our firm
is that we own a twin engine airplane and use it for
taking aerial photographs of accident scenes. These
photos sometimes become critical exhibits during trials.
To
do this job well you need to have compassion, patience,
and be able to listen to people. Attention to detail
is critical, especially when drafting documents. The
documents I send out have to look perfect so that the
opposing side knows they are dealing with professionals.
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Martha
McLaughlin
Manager -
Technology Contracts
The Walt Disney Company
New Technology Division |
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The education I received at
the Elms gave me a solid foundation in a wide variety
of legal areas and exposure
to legal technology.
After graduation, I worked for a
large law firm in Chicago as a banking transactions paralegal.
I saw an article in a paralegal newsletter about new
technology being a growing field for paralegals. At the
end of the article was a posting for a position with The
Walt Disney Company. I applied and got hired because
of my education and prior experience. |
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| At The Walt Disney Company I draft and negotiate agreements
that are software related, including software licenses,
professional service agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.
For example, if Disney wishes to purchase software, I
draft the software license agreement for my supervising
attorney's review. Every day there is a different angle
or argument, so no two days are the same. Sometimes after
completing a software licensing agreement, I get to see
the produce, such as an arcade game, and test it out!
It's exciting to see the description I wrote in the agreement
match the actual end product. |
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