The Paralegal Voice

• From Paralegal to “Paraleader.” What Legal Recruiters Look For.

  Guest and professional legal recruiter Tracey Perkins says in 2025 every paralegal professional should know the importance of technology, especially AI. But she stresses the best paralegals always manage the tech and never let the tech manage them. AI is a tool that can spur efficiency, but it will never replace the mind and analytical skills of a skilled paralegal professional. In the rapidly advancing world of legal tech, grit matters. You’ve got to keep up. Pushing yourself through even the toughest challenges builds the professional you are destined to become. Perkins is a paralegal professional, educator, and legal industry recruiter who has driven herself forward for more than 20 years. She brings the lessons she learned to every aspect of her life and strives to share each one with every student and every job seeker. Plus, learn insider tips for when you’re applying for a new position: Don’t include photos on your resume, learn to professionally format everything. Time is money, so get to the bullet points and focus on clear, concise communication. No fluff, no fillers. (And please, no silly email addresses, keep it professional). Hear Perkins’ golden rules for building professional relationships and her pro tips for your LinkedIn page. Get fired up and get hired. Mentioned in This Episode: CliftonStrengths assessment NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• AI Is Here, How Will Paralegal Professionals Remain Vital?

  AI is coming, and it may be coming for your job. Guest Dan Lear, vice president of partnerships at the digital case management company InfoTrack, shares how paralegal professionals can adapt and remain vital. Spoiler, you can’t ignore the AI revolution, but you can learn, evolve, and deliver insights and human skills that AI simply can’t match.  File, case, and data management has come a long way, from physically moving boxes of paper filings to electronic management, and Lear has done it all, from moving paper files to his current position legal tech. Along the way, Lear advanced from a file clerk position to a career as a paralegal professional, then earning his law degree. Now he’s exploring and embracing AI capabilities. Having worked as a paralegal, Lear understands how vital the profession is to the practice of law, at times even “training” newly minted attorneys as they transition from learning the principles of the law to actually getting the job done.  As Lear explains, lifelong learning, networking, and building strong connections will become increasingly important moving forward, whether you’re a newcomer to the field or an experienced veteran.  Mentioned in This Episode: “Behind the Curtain: A White-Collar Bloodbath,” Axios “Tech CEO Warns AI Will Eliminate Jobs. What Can You Do to Protect Your Career?” ABC7 Los Angeles “The Free-Time Paradox in America,” The Atlantic Claude AI ChatGPT / OpenAI Google Gemini Off The Record NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• From Classroom to Social Media to Cruise Ship? New Ways to Learn.

  Guest Linda McGrath-Cruz worked as a paralegal professional in private practice and in-house (including Royal Caribbean) for 28 years, and she’s a leader for the Paralegal Navigating Perilous Waters cruise, a CLE paralegal conference that takes place on a cruise ship (how cool is that?).  She is currently the program coordinator and a full-time faculty member in the paralegal program at St. Johns River State College in Florida, a hands-on, real-life program that helps students get jobs and then get the job done. She is also the founder and leader of the social media program Perfectly Paralegal, a community that offers resources, support, and continuing education to paralegal professionals nationwide. We all need NALA continuing ed credits, but why not make it a family vacation on a cruise ship? Courses on the Perilous Waters cruise are arranged to provide both credits but also leave time for networking, sharing tips, and having fun. Make it a family trip, a friends group outing, or a company event. Learn while you sail.  Whether it’s in the classroom or on the high seas, McGrath-Cruz is dedicated to sharing what she’s learned with practical teachings that make you better and advance your career. Get excited and get involved. Mentioned in This Episode: Paralegals Navigating Perilous Waters Cruise, March 6, 2026  St. Johns River State College Paralegal Program NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA CP exams NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Be a Legal MacGyver. Learn More, Create Solutions

  Guest Huascar Matos is a paralegal professional and the new president of the International Practice Management Association (IPMA). He has a varied background including a degree in Spanish and time in the fashion and art industry. After an unusual and unexpected path, he has found himself as a director of paralegals at the firm of Foley & Lardner.  It’s an exciting time for the IPMA as members consider international expansion, the “elephant in the room” of artificial intelligence, and the evolution of a constantly changing profession. AI may shake up the game, but Matos reminds us the legal profession is never static, enduring the shift from paper to e-discovering, the addition of computer capabilities, and other technologies.  Paralegals, Matos says, will adjust and adapt as they always have. Being part of an organization such as IPMA helps paralegals understand new trends and learn new skills. Robots are not going to take over your job, but AI could help you do it better.  Hear about Matos’ own career path and the advice he has for those new to the profession. Stepping up, volunteering for new duties, and learning as you go will build your career and get you noticed. Don’t put yourself in a box. Be a “legal MacGyver.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 50 Years of NALA! Get the Scoop on 2025 From NALA CEO Vanessa Finley

  What’s new for NALA in 2025? Get the scoop from guest Vanessa “Vinnie” Finley, the CEO of NALA since 2019. There’s plenty of news about the upcoming NALA conference and new initiatives to help you be your best professional self.  2025 is no ordinary year for NALA as the paralegal association celebrates 50 years. Start with the latest on the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo, July 10-12 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Earn continuing education credits, network, learn new skills, and hear about NALA’s plans for the future. Early bird registration ends May 7.  Plus, dig into NALA’s newest national survey on utilization compensation and learn about trends in pay, billing, and benefits. You’ll also hear about new limited licensing programs, AI, and trends across the field. And we’ll talk about NALA’s new Resource Navigator, pulling together vendor information and the newest in tech, and a new collection of relevant articles and updates on NALA’s free Paralegal Brief page. Even more? How about a review of NALA’s work with affiliates and students nationwide and an upcoming free webinar on billable hours. This special episode has it all. Mentioned in This Episode: Vanessa Finley, prior appearance on Paralegal Voice, “The Year Ahead For NALA, Plus A Preview Of The 2024 Conference”  Vanessa Finley, prior appearance on Paralegal Voice, “The NALA Paralegal Jobs Report: Get Paid What You’re Worth!”   NALA, The Paralegal Association  NALA Conference & Expo 2025 NALA Resource Navigator NALA Paralegal Brief Get involved with NALA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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