The Empowered Paralegal

At the suggestion of a reader I have set up a Facebook page for The Empowered Paralegal to provide a place for social networking by paralegals interested in the issues raised in this blog, especially those new to “real” networking and in need of some support. I am not real sure how to best use Facebook in this regard, so your input will be much appreciated. However, before you start visiting the page at work read Lynne Devenney post at Practical Paralegalism, Social Media Hazard: Don’t Get “Dooced” from Your Job.

I hope to be back a bit later today with a more substantive post.

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ABAJournal.com reports

At a recent meeting, the Florida Board of Bar Examiners voted to review applicants’ social networking sites on a case-by-case basis, focusing on those who have demonstrated problem conduct in the past, reports the Florida Bar News.

Asked by the group’s Character and Fitness Committee whether all Florida bar forms should require applicants to list their social networking sites and grant access to the FBBE, however, the board decided to keep a low profile, according to the article.

Apparently, the board plans to avoid an upfront request to all applicants for access, explaining in a report (PDF) to the Florida Supreme Court that “in reaching this policy, the board reasoned that if applicants are required to provide access to their social websites, they are likely to delete any derogatory material before staff has the opportunity to review it.”

Forewarned is forearmed. Obviously, this applies to the attorneys who may be considering hiring a paralegal rather than paralegals. But, if the Bar is doing this to them, what are the chances they won’t think of doing it to their paralegals? What happens in Vegas, should stay in Vegas. Don’t put it on Facebook, mySpace or similar sites.

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The New York Times reports ” Volunteering Waning in Recession, Report Says:”

By STEPHANIE STROM   Published: August 26, 2009
As the recession took hold, most Americans cut back on volunteer work and other civic activities, according to a survey conducted for the National Conference on Citizenship.

That finding undercuts anecdotal reports of volunteers’ flooding nonprofit groups as unemployment has increased and suggests the challenges faced by the Obama administration, Congress and foundations working to encourage greater volunteer service and civic participation.

“They’re not saying they’ve stopped volunteering, but they are cutting back on the time spent on volunteering and civic engagement,” said David Smith, executive director of the National Conference on Citizenship, which conducted the survey as part of a study titled America’s Civic Health Index,

It is quite understandable that in a recession people tend to “hunker down.” When times are tough, especially for those without a job, even the costs of gas or bus fare to the volunteering site must be considered. But I would argue that cutting back on volunteering is exactly the wrong thing to do for professionals looking for work. As discussed in a previous post, for example, volunteering can provide excellent opportunities for networking and fulfilling ethical obligations.

In addition, doing good for others makes you feel better about yourself. The decision to do something beneficial to others with your time puts you in charge of that time rather than letting your circumstances be in charge of you. These two “attitude adjustments” will go a long way towards helping you find employment or retain the employment you have.  After all, other factors being equal the employee with the professional attitude is more likely to be retained than the one with out.  These attitude adjustments will also take some of the sting out of the unemployment period.

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Speaking of California, the April 2009 Fresno Paralegal Association Newsletter
has an excellent article by Vicki Voisin of the Paralegal Mentor entitled “Are You Sabotaging Your Career.” In the article Vicki warns of some of the pitfall of social networking websites:

You are, in essence, dropping clues right and left about yourself and you may be offering too much
information. Many companies (that includes law firms) now use social networking sites to screen prospective hires. They may also use them to check on the behavior of current employees. A simple entry of a name in the Google search box can reveal all kinds of information…some of it may be embarrassing.
Social Networking isn’t just about you. You really have little control over who sees your information. Your contacts have access to it. Their contacts have access. Those contacts have access. You can see how the web widens.

Vicki’s point cannot be overstated. Whenever I’m about to have significant professional dealings with someone new one of my first steps is to do an internet search for information about that individual. Interviewing a new candidate for a position in my office – a person who will have access to confidential information, be the primary contact with my clients and have access to client trust accounts – certainly qualifies as “significant professional dealings.” Consider the likelihood of hiring someone who’s Facebook profile picture show them well “under the influence” at a Jimmy Buffet concert. While a potential employer may understand and even approve of the events that led up to the picture, most employers would question the professionalism and discretion of a person who posts that picture as their first and best impression.

Vicki suggests

Your online presence is a virtual resume. Craft your profi le very carefully so you reveal only positive information. Don’t use a screen name that gives a poor impression. Don’t post pictures or videos you wouldn’t want your mother to see. Delete any photos your friends might post that show you drinking and partying. If any off -color comments are associated with your posts, delete them immediately. Choose your Facebook friends and followers on Twitter wisely. You don’t have to accept every request.

Does this mean you can never have fun or at least never share that fun with your friends? Not at all. However, keep in mind that you have a professional life and a personal life. Keep the two separate even on Facebook, mySpace and Twitter.

There is, of course, a tie-in between Vicki’s story and Chere Estrin’s story discussed in a previous post, “Who Is in Charge of Your Career?” Some of these same issues are also discussed in real-life networking contexts in “Martinis and Professionalism.”

The bottom line is that Facebook cannot sabotage your career, but you can. You should be in charge of your career both on and off the internet.

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Taking a cue from Melissa H. at Paralegalese I’ve posted a couple of times on networking. Now the ABA Journal has a post entitled, “Reluctant to Network? Try These Tips and ‘Starter Questions’ “ by Debra Cassens Weiss that includes this advice which also applies nicely to paralegals:

Lawyers who are reluctant to network often voice fears that they don’t know how to make conversation, or that the conversations they join are shallow and boring.

Lawyer coach Debra Bruce says lawyers will find it easier to break the ice if they come equipped with starter questions to get the conversation rolling. Writing in the Legal Intelligencer, she lists several examples…

Lawyers don’t need a snappy comeback or brilliant insights during these conversations. But it is important to listen and ask follow-up questions. Afterward, lawyers can send articles to the people they meet on the subject of their conversations.

Bruce offers other tips. One of them: Go to networking events with the goal of helping other people, even if it’s pointing them to the restroom or suggesting an online resource. Another tip: Networking is about building relationships, so lawyers will need to make repeat appearances.

One comment to the Weiss’ examples agrues against using a starter dealing with politics. I agree.

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In the June, 2009, issue of Paralegal Perspectives, the North Carolina Bar Association newletter for the Paralegal Division, Teresa Bowling notes in “Chair Comments,”

Volunteering for pro bono legal work is part of professionalism. It is encouraged, if not required, by most ethical codes. See, for example, Section 1.4 of the NFPA Model Code of Ethics, “A PARALEGAL SHALL SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND DELIVERY OF QUALITY LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING PRO BONO PUBLICO SERVICES.”

It also provides “newbies to networking” an opportunity to ease into networking both within and outside of the legal system. Volunteers have a common purpose for gathering that provides a focus for communication minimizing the need for “small talk.” It can provide a forum for testing and developing networking skills that can later be applied in more difficult situations.

By the way, apropos of this blog’s continuing discussion of the use of the terms “paralegal” and “legal assistant”, as previously reported happening in Michigan, the North Carolina Bar recently changed the name of this organization. Bowling reports,

At its final meeting last year, the NCBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the Division’s request to change its name from the “Legal Assistants Division” to the “Paralegal Division.” This name change was to better reflect who we are and how and where we work as paralegals in North Carolina. A welcome, yet unintended, benefit was an increase in membership by those who did not understand that we were, in fact, a paralegal organization.

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Melissa H. at Paralegalese has a very good post on Networking for Newbie. When you get done here stop by there for the post and the comments.

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