Episode 12: Lessons from a Paralegal Journey

Transcript

Tara Edwards 0:01

Hello, my name is Tara, and welcome to Sister-in-Law, the Paralegal Journey, a podcast about the careers behind the case files. Whether you work in law, work alongside the legal profession, are thinking about a career in this space, or simply want an honest look at the paralegal journey, you're in the right place. Welcome back to Sister-in-Law, the paralegal journey. In last week's episode, I sat down with Christine Savoy, an Alberta based paralegal with more than 20 years in the legal profession, who eventually built her own independent practice. As I was listening to Christine share her story, parts of it really resonated with me, especially that idea of your career evolving alongside your life. And one thing that really stood out in that conversation is that a legal career doesn't just grow through opportunity. It grows through the skills you build, the experiences you gain, how you adapt, and the choices you make when life shifts in a different direction. In today's episode, I wanna talk about 10 lessons that we can learn from Christine's journey. As you listen to this episode, I want you to ask yourself, am I building a career that fits my life or am I trying to fit my life into my career? Christine left us with a lot to think about, so here are 10 lessons we can take from her experience. Even if they don't resonate with you right now, they may later in your career. One start broad. Early in your career, exposure matters. The more areas of law experience, the more clarity you gain about what you enjoy. And just as importantly what you don't, you're not expected to have it all figured out at the beginning. Your job is to learn, observe, and be open to different types of work. Two experience creates direction. The work you're doing right now may not feel like your long-term career path, but it's building your foundation. Every file, every task, every challenge is teaching you something about the law, about clients, and about how you work. Over time, those experience start to point you in a direction. Three careers evolve. Careers in the legal profession, rarely follow a straight line. Sometimes your career path shifts because of opportunity. Sometimes it shifts because of life. Either way, change isn't a setback. It's part of how your career develops. Four, building something takes time. Whether you're building skills, confidence, or something of your own, none of it happens overnight. Christine didn't go from working in a firm to running a business instantly. It was gradual. Give yourself time to grow into the next stage of your career. Five. Expect doubt, and then keep going. There will be moments where you question your career path. That's normal. Doubt doesn't mean you're failing. It usually means you're doing something new or stepping outside your comfort zone. The key is to not let those moments stop you. Six. Know your scope. Understanding your role as a paralegal, especially in provinces where paralegals are not regulated, is critical. Knowing what you can do and cannot do protects you, your clients and your reputation. It also builds trust, which is essential if you're working independently or directly with clients. Seven. This is a people business. Legal work isn't just about documents or procedures, it's about people. Clients are often coming to you during stressful or emotional moments in their lives. How you communicate, how you listen, and how you manage expectations will shape their experience just as much as the work itself. Eight, every client has a story. It's easy to think you've seen it all, but every situation is different. Two files may look similar on paper, but the people behind the files are not. Staying grounded in empathy helps you provide better service and avoid assumptions. Nine, say yes to learning. Some of the most valuable opportunities in your career will come from moments where you step forward. Saying yes doesn't mean saying yes to everything, but it does mean being open to growth. Sometimes one small opportunity can lead you in a completely different direction. Invest in your growth. Whether it's courses, mentorship, networking, or involvement in organizations like the Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals, Ontario Paralegal Association, or British Columbia Paralegal Association, each of these plays a role in expanding your skills and your opportunities. The more you invest in yourself, the more options you create for your future. And as the legal landscape continues to evolve, your learning should evolve with it. It. All of these lessons, whether it's gaining experience, adapting to change, or continuing to invest in your growth, they're not just about where you are right now. They're about what you're building for your future. And sometimes the way we think about a career can open that future up. So let's reframe the question. Instead of asking, am I ready to completely change my career? Try asking what skills and experiences am I building right now, that could create opportunities later because career shifts don't happen all at once. They happen through the skills you build, the experience you gain, the opportunities you take, and how you choose to adapt. At the beginning of this episode, I asked you to reflect on the question, am I building a career that fits my life or am I trying to fit my life into my career? Because that answer doesn't just shape your next step, it can shape where your career can go. Before we finish today's episode, I wanna leave you with two things for you to try this week. One. Take a moment and ask yourself, what am I learning in my current role that could be useful somewhere else? Even if you don't see it yet, there's something there. And two, identify one opportunity this week, whether it's big or small, where you can step forward. So examples of this would be like asking a clarifying question within your current role. So if you work with a lawyer and there's something that you're just not understanding, asking a clarifying question so that it connects the pieces for your job role. Volunteer at your firm for something or try something new outside of your department. When I was leaving a law firm, the corporate department needed some help to update their minute books and, I updated the corporate minute books for that department and that's how I had my first interaction with the corporate world. Two firms later, I became a corporate paralegal and CORES level one and two certified. You never know what happens when you try something new outside of your department, how that skill may transfer later. In the next episode, I'll be sitting down with Melanie Schon, an Ontario licensed paralegal and a partner at a law firm with offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Calgary. We'll be talking about the early stages of her career, what it really looks like to grow in the paralegal role, and how she navigated becoming a partner within a law firm. It's a conversation about showing up for yourself, building confidence over time and how your role in this profession can evolve in ways you may not expect. If this episode resonated with you, I invite you to follow the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify or Amazon Music, and connect with me on LinkedIn. Let me know where you're at in your journey. This is Sister-in-Law, the paralegal journey. Welcome to the conversation.