CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 MY SPECIALTY
case. He said he wanted to die with
dignity and not burden his family. I
worked tirelessly on his case, trying
to get things approved as quickly as
possible. Though he has passed on, I do
remember his deep appreciation for the
work I did on his case. That case was a
career highlight for me because I felt I
really did make an impact on the man’s
life. There is no award or promotion
I have ever received that has ever
compared to the feeling of winning that
case. These types of cases have made all
the difference in my life and career.
What do you enjoy most about this
specialty?
I most enjoy witnessing the
transformation that often happens with
the domestic violence victims I serve.
When I can help with their
metamorphosis — watching an
individual go from victim to survivor
— it is a powerful reminder of the
resilience of the human spirit and the
will we all have to thrive. That is why I
decided to use my paralegal education
and work experience to serve others,
left my traditional private sector
paralegal role, and took a leap of faith
to work in the non-profit world.
What are some of the challenges you
face in this practice area?
Without a doubt, it is trying to make
sure my clients stay safe. I spend a lot
of time safety planning and strategizing
to help keep clients stay safe from their
abusers. There are also the challenges
that come with the secondary trauma
that we advocates who work with
domestic violence and sexual assault
victims often cope.
How can paralegals break into this
practice area?
I would suggest paralegals first start
by volunteering at a local domestic
abuse shelter or sexual assault crisis
center to see if this would be a place
they could work. Funding for legal
assistance for low income people and
domestic violence is at a critical low,
so it is more important than ever that
paralegals help assist those among us
who are the most vulnerable.
What are your favorite practice
specialty resources?
I have many, but a few are: End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin (www.
endabusewi.org); Wisconsin State Law Library-County Legal Resources
(http://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/county.php); National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (http://www.ncadv.org); National Criminal Justice
Reference Service (https://www.ncjrs.gov); National Network to End
Domestic Violence (http://nnedv.org); and Legal Momentum, the women’s
legal defense and education fund (https://www.legalmomentum.org).
I’m also tracking the progress of Senate Bill S.1111, the “Violence Against
Women Veterans Act,” which was introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 11,
2017. (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1111?q=%7B
%22search%22%3A%5B%22Violence+against+women+act%22%5D%7D&r=1).
“I most enjoy witnessing the
transformation that often happens
with the domestic violence victims...
watching an individual go from
victim to survivor... is a powerful
reminder of the resilience of
the human spirit...”
Do you have any favorite paralegal practice tips you can share?
A general tip would be to anticipate the needs of your clients or your
supervising attorney so that you are always prepared and a step ahead.
Before I leave for the day, it is my practice to look at the next day’s calendar
and lay out my files or any work in the order of the appointments on my
calendar. It helps keep me structured. The next tip is to network and find
out who the players are in your area of expertise — not only are you going
to need advice from your professional peers, but I guarantee at some point
they will likely need you too.
What would you tell paralegals considering a career in the nonprofit
sector?
I believe paralegals need to recognize their value and worth and the
incredible need for our profession to keep pushing forward in the private
sector, public sector, and in the nonprofit world. I have found an incredible
need for paralegals in the nonprofit world, where our paralegal skills can be
utilized to bridge the gap between the needs for legal services and a lack of
funding. I implore my colleagues at large to help change this.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
Wisconsin has amazing natural resources and an incredible state park
system. To date, I have camped at 18 of the 47 state parks, and my goal is to
eventually camp at all 47!
www.ParalegalToday.com Q4 - 2017 21
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