Tag Archives: paralegal

Legal Secretaries by Julia Wojdacz

Virtual Paralegal Services and Every Day People

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I get calls quite often from every day people who want help with the following:

  • Preparing court papers;
  • Researching cases;
  • Preparing a Motion to Dismiss;
  • Helping the individual answer Interrogatories or Production for Documents;

I do not like to turn business away BUT in the state where I live, which is Missouri and the previous state where I lived Mississippi, a paralegal is prohibited from doing any sort of legal work without the supervision of an attorney!  The American Bar Association which oversees most of the attorneys across the country, besides your local bar association, takes practicing law without a license as a very serious offense.  There have been paralegals and virtual paralegals who have attempted to do this in the past and their businesses have been shut down, along with a hefty fine!

If you have a legal question PLEASE consult an attorney.  They have the experience, the schooling and the know how to see if you even have a case.  Most of the time they will give you a consultation for a reduced price or sometimes even free.  Do not try to skirt around the law because 9 times out of 10 it will come back to bite you in the butt! :-).

Legal Secretaries by Julia Wojdacz

Paralegal and Transcription

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I started as a legal secretary over eleven years ago. When I started in the law office it was part-time as a receptionist. Over a period of time, I worked my way up to being a legal secretary. Suddenly, the attorney came in and gave me a tape and said “here, please transcribe this and do whatever it is on there.” I thought to myself, “what?!” “What is a transcript?” “What do I do with it once I’m done?” I wish that someone back then would have been around to inform me of what transcription was, and what I was supposed to do with it.

As a graduate from a college with my Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies, I find that the college that I attended said nothing about a paralegal needing to know transcription. So, I have set out asking paralegal students if they knew they were supposed to know transcription. You would not believe how many of them look at me dumbfounded and asked “Transcription, what is that?” “How do you do transcription?” “What is the purpose of it?”

Even with the electronic age and quite a few attorneys creating their own work, there is still a need for transcription. Attorneys may interview a witness from a car accident, it needs to be transcribed into something that the attorney can use. Defense Attorneys may have to have a jail-house taped conversation of one inmate calling someone on the “outside” transcribed, or a transcript of something that went down on the inside from a recording.

There is a misconception that transcription is easy to do, that anyone can do it. I’m sorry but I disagree! I have set out to prepare paralegals and to teach individuals how to prepare concise, good quality transcripts.

Transcription is an “art form” not just anybody can do it. You have to be able to capture the context of what the person is saying, but still have correct punctuation and grammar. The School of Transcription is your continuing education to teach new paralegals and individuals the art form of transcription. Won’t you join us today to learn the “right way” to do transcription? Classes are starting soon. Seating is limited! Don’t wait! Start your membership today! Click on