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Paralegal Interviewed:

Paralegal Interviewed:. Sami K Hartsfield, ACP Advanced Certified Paralegal With 6 Advanced Paralegal Specialty Certifications. Specialty Certifications. NALA Advanced Specialty Certifications: Trial Practice Discovery Contract Management Entity Medical Liability

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Paralegal Interviewed:

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  1. ParalegalInterviewed: Sami K Hartsfield, ACP Advanced Certified Paralegal With 6 Advanced Paralegal Specialty Certifications

  2. Specialty Certifications NALA Advanced Specialty Certifications: • Trial Practice • Discovery • Contract Management • Entity Medical Liability • Individual Medical Liability • Social Security Disability • Also West Law Next Certified

  3. Educational Background Legal Secretarial Course in 2004 AAS in Paralegal Studies in 2007 Center for Advanced Legal Studies (Houston) Paralegal Internship at Lone Star Legal Aid Paralegal Internship with Texas 14th Court of Appeals under Chief Justice Adele Hedges in 2007 Pre Law Institute University of Houston (Summer 2008) BS in Political Science in 2011 University of Houston Downtown summa cum laude

  4. Work Experience Experience as civil litigation paralegal: Personal Injury Medical Malpractice defense Social Security Disability Family Law Workman’s Compensation Experience in transactional law: Probate Real Property

  5. Work Experience Law Firm Webmaster/ Social Media & email Marketer Current Work: Senior Paralegal at Consumer Law Firm Helps Clients Resolve Debt Problems Firm Specializes in Client Defense, Violations of Fair Debt Collections, Consumer Fraud Problems Freelance Ghostwrite for Personal Injury Firm Writes Legally Blog® Recent Published Articles: “What is a FOIA request & how do I make one?” 2/2012 National Paralegal Reporter “Discovery Fundamentals Top Ten” 1/2012 for the Institute for Paralegal Education

  6. Typical Job Duties in Current Work Client Interviews Factual Investigation Writing: Pleadings, Articles, Briefs, Blogs Recently drafted Summary Judgment Legal research Assembling Witness & Expert Lists, Exhibits Document Production Management

  7. Paralegal Career Enjoys client contact, interviewing clients & collaborative work with attorneys • Likes use of improved technologies, devices for efficiency, proficient with web design • Likes to Argue • Developed public speaking skills through Toastmaster participation • Likes variety and diversity within paralegal and law • Likes use of writing and analytic skills in paralegal work

  8. Recommended Methods to Find Paralegal Work Primarily by Networking! She is a Member of: National Association of Legal Assistants State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division Litigation Section Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association American Association of Notaries Electronic Data Extraction Network

  9. Paralegal Career & Education Advice • Seize further educational opportunities • Develop public speaking skills & writing skills • Find a Paralegal Mentor • Join Paralegal Organizations as an active member Network with others in legal services • Volunteer for Legal Service Organization (Lone Star Legal Aid) to improve learning & build relationships • Emphasize any previous expertise that is useful in Paralegal work • Concentrate on legal area that is interesting to you

  10. Interviewing Advice • During interview- use listening skills more than speaking skills • Be confident • Dress conservatively- but wear something to instill self worth, confidence • Resumes: Let another paralegal critique your resume • Find area of law that is interesting, focus on learning, gaining experience in that specialty topic • Eliminate areas of law that are not of interest

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