tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8747384309265771890.post4768805157159926621..comments2011-10-29T14:52:08.054-04:00Matt Lipskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12132977881875656369noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8747384309265771890.post-42999978575596273572011-10-29T14:52:08.054-04:002011-10-29T14:52:08.054-04:00I was a real world paralegal for 15 years in medical malpractice for the senior partner of a major Fort Lauderdale law firm. All the attorneys I&#39;ve worked with over the years knew how to say thanks and did, never expected coffee, and routinely discussed complex legal issues with me. We had each others&#39; backs. I wrote tons of motions in limine, memos of law, summary judgment motions, did witness interviews, trial prep, jury instructions, verdict forms, and even read depo testimony on the witness stand for experts who couldn&#39;t be present at trial. None of that is the practice of law because it was all done under the supervision of a licensed attorney and because I never, ever advised anyone on legal issues. <br /><br />For the record, a 3L has no business teaching a practicing paralegal about UPL because a 3L is also not licensed to practice law. <br /><br />Becoming a lawyer is a terrific accomplishment; staying professional and polite throughout your legal career is however the better accomplishment. Senior attorneys don&#39;t like egos and the paralegals you will rely on will like it even less. Since paralegals are tasked with showing new lawyers the ropes, you&#39;d be protecting your own interests if you start by having a better understanding of the paralegal role. Serving coffee is only something colleagues might do for each other as a courtesy; working at 2 in the morning was only ever something that resulted from a judge&#39;s order or a witnesses&#39; late flight schedule, or a client&#39;s arrest; it was never a power play or whim. <br /><br />You guys really do have a lot to learn. Just relax and stay respectful of everyone. A lot of your successes will depend on someone down the line giving you a hand: whether it&#39;s opposing counsel giving you that discovery extension, the expert who rearranges her schedule to appear at depo, or the judge who agrees to hear your emergency motion. Get it? No one gives breaks to a &quot;dickwad.&quot;Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8747384309265771890.post-17990637455375737702009-01-29T15:46:00.000-05:002009-01-29T15:46:00.000-05:00This is brilliant. I want a paralegal.Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061658315166998894noreply@blogger.com