Law Career

Everyone knows behind every great attorney is a team of loyal and dedicated secretaries, assistants, investigators and paralegals. Each brings his own strengths to the table and together, a great team can play a significant role in a lawyer and his firm’s success. Paralegals are an intricate part of a law firm.

A paralegal, or sometimes “legal assistant” is one who is qualified via training, education and/or previous work experience within the legal sector. That experience comes from a law firm, a corporation, a government agency or anywhere else where a lawyer is responsible for the work that’s being done. They are highly qualified and accept many responsibilities throughout the course of their careers. Their work is substantive and significant and quite often, they put in as much as their lawyers do.

While each state has its own educational and experience requirements, paralegals are not a replacement for a lawyer (although some feel as though they are at times), says A. Harrison Barnes, attorney and founder of LawCrossing.com. There are, however, different certification levels that include various certification processes. Some of those associations include:

” The National Association of Paralegals (NALA)

” The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

” The American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI)

Since the late 1960s, the American Bar Association, or ABA, has “endorsed the use of paralegals and established the first committee on paralegals in the country”.

According to A. Harrison Barnes, paralegals are generally given their tasks by the attorneys they work for and will vary on a daily basis, from one law firm to another and from lawyer to another within the same firm. They review client files, organize files, conduct various legal research efforts, type pleadings, notices and witness statements and will often sit in on meetings between lawyers and their clients. They often work as a liaison between the attorney and clients and will generally ease the load on the attorneys they’re assigned to.

Paralegals are not synonymous with administrative assistants. They are usually privy to information secretaries and other assistants do not have access to. They accompany lawyers to court and ensure the files are organized so that the lawyers can present the different cases. They ensure witnesses arrive to the courtroom on time and they meet with these clients to ensure they’re aware of what’s being expected of them.

Many law firms agree the addition of a paralegal allows them to reduce costs, thereby reducing the fees that are passed on to their clients. Since the paralegal will work as a “go between” with the lawyers and clients, it’s usually a more satisfying experience for the client as he feels as though he’s being “kept in the loop” at all times; a practice a lawyer who’s working without the benefit of a paralegal might not be able to provide.

Salaries will vary, as well. An experienced paralegal can expect to make an impressive salary. Even those recently certified paralegals discover their salary negotiations are smooth. It stands to reason the more experience, the most impressive the salary.

For those considering a change of pace, opting for a career as a paralegal is both rewarding and challenging, says the LawCrossing.com founder.

Even as April showed a drop in U.S. retail sales of various video games and associated products, there are still many jobs available for those wishing to be the first to test new products. Not only that, but experts say the industry is strong and these jobs are going to be increasing in availability. Is it the gravy job you’ve been looking for? EmplymentCrossing.com founder and career coach A. Harrison Barnes says, “Not necessarily”. Let’s take a look at what goes into the perfect employee who tests video games for a living:

It’s actually quite competitive. This is why it’s important to get a head start. Consider a game design education or at least be willing to start on the ground floor and work your way up.

It’s an uncertain industry, even with its growth potential. Once a market becomes saturated with the latest “must have” console, the industry as a whole usually hits a plateau, says A. Harrison Barnes. This means there may times throughout one’s career that he is unemployed for periods of time. Still, there are always those new and better systems coming down the pipe, it’s just that makers know how to time the releases.

The video game makers are human. They worry a new release won’t garner the response they’re hoping for, so it’s not uncommon for them to overthink their product lines. “They can’t predict the future and the gaming industry is tough”, says the EmploymentCrossing.com founder.

Believe it or not, the gaming industry, due to its “escapism” factor, does well when the economy’s in a slump. People won’t to run away from life for a little while and often, these video games provide that solution. That doesn’t mean the industry as a whole crashes once the economy improves, it just means it’s another factor to keep in mind.

Different companies require different educational backgrounds; what worked for one might not even be considered a plus on your resume to another company.

Finally, many Americans have discovered they have a better career opportunity overseas. While some are fine with relocating to Asia, many of us simply don’t want to leave home. That’s OK, most Americans are traditionally “home bodies”. Again, it’s just another factor to keep in mind, says the EmploymentCrossing.com founder.

If it’s a career in this industry you want, there’s no reason not to pursue it, provided you can balance those downtimes against the upswing of the industry. Then again, many careers are like that. Often, it’s simply a matter of deciding what you’re willing to sacrifice and how hard you’re willing to work for your own version of a dream job. Just be sure to consider all of the pros and cons.

We’ve all seen the arrogant manager who feels a bit entitled because he has the reserved parking space and earns considerably more than those who report to him. But do these perks and higher salaries result in these clueless supervisors treating their employees unkindly and in some cases, down right mean? One researcher, Sreedhari Desai, says yes. A. Harrison Barnes, career coach and Hound.com founder says the combination of ego, entitlement and arrogance can culminate into an impossible supervisor who’s anything but what a leader should be. Desai says the more compensation is increased for some executives, the meant they get and how far down the proverbial food chain you are determines how poorly you’re treated.

Desai and two co-authors, Jennifer George of Rice University and Arthur Brief, a senior at the University of Utah, wrote “When Executives Rake in Millions: Meanness in Organizations”. The Hound.com founder says the paper is revealing and unflattering to some executives who recognize themselves, whether they admit it or not. This makes it difficult for new employees who come in wide-eyed and ready to make their mark. They’re faced with fair warnings from new co-workers and as a result, tend to approach the meanie manager with a large degree of caution. “No one wants to start a new career that way”, says A. Harrison Barnes.

It’s true. A recent study showed more than 85% of college graduates who were preparing to enter the job market cited interactions with management as their biggest stress factor. “Every new employee who’s barking on his career wants two things: to get along with his supervisor and to make a good impression”. An intimidating boss can make both efforts nearly impossible, says the Hound.com founder.

So what’s a new employee to do when he realizes he’s now reporting to the boss from hell? Barnes says it’s important to not allow yourself to become a victim or allow any bullying. You’re there to do a job; if you can effectively pull this off on a daily basis, you should try to stay out of the line of fire and keep your eye on the ball. That said, he also reiterates that no one wants to go to a job each morning with knots in their stomachs and dreading the day ahead. For some, the solution is to get out fast before an ego-driven boss poisons every aspect of your life. While waiting it out at times can result in seeing the bully asked to leave the premises (or if karma’s involved, being publicly fired), it’s a gamble, especially if it’s already taking a toll on your work and personal life.

Bottom line, says Barnes, is that only you know your breaking point. It’s a tough decision, especially if it’s a job you’ve envisioned since you entered college. Regardless, it’s not the only dream job. Maintain your perspective and maturity, and you’ll come out ahead and who knows, maybe even you’ll find yourself in a management job with an advantage: you already know what not to do.

Ah, you landed the job with the company that you’re sure will be the one hosting your retirement party in thirty years. All the sacrifices, the interviews with other potential employers that went nowhere and the collective dues you’ve paid along the way are finally paying off. Now it’s just a matter of getting to Monday morning and walking through the door for the first time. Here are a few tips that will get you started on the right path with a new job, courtesy of A. Harrison Barnes, employment coach and Hound.com founder.

1. Get up early! Getting up a half hour early in the mornings allow you to get the day started without the frustrations we feel when we’re running late. Too many times, those frustrating mornings lend to the entire day being nothing more than a series of aggravations. Those few minutes gives you time to contemplate on the day ahead and drinking your morning joe with no sense of urgency.

2. Remain consistent with your lists. Some of us aren’t list makers while other of us would be lost without those To Do lists on our BlackBerry or even those quick handwritten notes we keep close by. Lists keep us focused and grounded in terms of our priorities. It’s a great habit to develop, says the Hound.com founder.

3. Go into your new job completely organized. Clean out your purse or computer bag, your car and the junk drawer in the kitchen. The more organized you are, the better balance you’ll find in your life as a result – including the transition to a new career.

4. Exercise is crucial, not only for that first day at the new job, but for our lives as a whole. Exercise keeps brain fog at bay and our bodies in shape. Remember, energy is like money; you have to spend it to make it. This is another fine way to take advantage of those few minutes in your mornings, says A. Harrison Barnes.

5. Make a commitment to yourself that you’re finally going to take that evening class or complete those credits lacking for your degree. It’s an important accomplishment for you on many levels and does wonders for your confidence. Not only that, says Barnes, but it also increases your negotiation powers. Now’s the time – you’re beginning a new chapter in your professional life and this bodes well with your objectives.

6. Stick to your goals of building an emergency fund, building your savings or increasing your contributions to your 401(k). Money’s not everything, but the peace of mind it provides when we know we have a few dollars in the bank allows us to rest at night.

7. Finally, just as you defined a new morning ritual, be sure to create a block of time in the evenings when you go from career to home life. Unwind, decompress and maintain your commitment of keeping them separate.

Don’t forget that while your career is important, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the ride in the process. There’s nothing that will burn us out faster than when we become stifled in our jobs.

Composing the perfect thank you letter is very important in your quest for a new career. There’s a lot to consider and if you think otherwise, try sitting down and putting one together in ten minutes. There are so many considerations:

” Email or traditional postal service?

” Dear “First Name” or Dear “Mr. Doe”?

” A professional card or a note on your monogrammed stationery?

Actually, these questions aren’t that difficult, but it does require a bit of forethought if you’re going to pull it off with any level of confidence. Here’s what career coach and EmplomentCrossing.com founder suggests:

Go with the traditional mail service. Email feels too…convenient. You want your interviewer to know the interview was important enough that you handwrote (yes – always handwrite your thank you notes for everything in your life – wedding gifts, interviews and when showing appreciation for someone attending your dinner party) the note, put a stamp on it and dropped it into the mail. Also, and contrary to what some folks believe, it’s not necessary to fill the card with your thoughts. You want to ensure your interviewer knows a few things:

a) You appreciate his or her time

b) You are more confident after the interview that this is a position that would benefit the company and yourself if chosen

c) That the interview was important enough to send a thank you note – even if you both know you’re not right for the job

The reason you want to send a note if you’re not right for the position is you never know when the interviewer will run into a colleague that evening and over drinks mention the fact she interviewed a great candidate who wasn’t right for the accounting position, but that she feels would be a perfect fit in the colleague’s company as a buyer. It’s called networking. Take advantage of the possibilities it opens up for you in your career.

Another point the EmploymentCrossing.com founder makes is to avoid the phone call thank you. Most employers and interviewers agree that it falls short of its intent and it’s even annoying for a candidate to think that their day is less important than receiving a phone call for a “quick thanks for your time yesterday”. It never works – never, ever.

Finally, there’s just something graceful about a handwritten note that’s sent through traditional channels. If it’s a job you really want or one that you know will make you happy – it’s in good taste to send a note. It doesn’t have to be an overwritten group of run on sentences that say the same thing over and over. A simple:

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your time last Tuesday. The interview further convinced me that I’m on the right track. I know I said it then, but I want to reiterate my belief that I can make a significant contribution to XYZ Company.

Again, thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sign the card, include your contact information, address the envelope and send it. It’s really that simple.

Wrapping up your college education? Maybe you have another year? Now is the time to begin your job search. Regardless of whether it’s an internship with a law firm, a summer job or if you’re focusing on which law firms you believe will be the best fit after graduation, it’s never too soon to start looking, according to LawCrossing.com founder A. Harrison Barnes. “Despite the seemingly good news on the recovery efforts throughout the country, the job market is still touch and go and will likely remain so, at least in the short term”, says the career coach. In fact, Barnes reports many college students who don’t begin their summer job search by March or April will likely discover there’s not much left. And those that are left are likely ones that presented challenges others didn’t want to tackle during their “downtime” in the summer months.

So what should you do if you discover your well planned process comes a bit too late? The LawCrossing.com founder suggests you move forward with your plans anyway. Even if you’ve discovered there are no internships left and those perfect summer jobs are already taken, you never know when something will come up. “Your peers may get an invitation to spend their summer on a cruise; this, of course, won’t mesh with their part time jobs, especially if they’re working in a law firm“, says Barnes. That might be your opening, but you’ll never know if you don’t get your name front and center with the partners.

It’s also important to remain flexible. You won’t always get what you want or are anticipating, regardless of whether it’s a full time position that allows you to practice brilliant law or a that part time summer job that will put spending money in your pocket. The goal is to approach it with enthusiasm and take advantage of the learning opportunity that’s sure to present itself. It’s those positive attitudes that can make or break your day – not to mention those you work for and around.

Is your resume serving its purpose? You might benefit greatly from the help a professional resume service can provide. LawCrossing.com offers a superb service that is effective, accurate and sure to get your resume to the top of the stack. It’s a small investment that’s worth considering, especially if you’re working against time.

Finally, A. Harrison Barnes says the most important lesson you can take away from a situation such as this is the knowledge that next year, you’ll already know how important it is to start early. He suggests you learn from it and move on – wiser for having the experience. And while the money’s always important, don’t lose your focus on the many opportunities you’ll have to do good for others. Not taking anything for granted is one of those life lessons many of us struggle with; and there’s no better time to learn it than when you’re interning for a law firm.

With so many focused on the health care reform, it can be easy to miss another ongoing debate that’s also taking up a lot of lawmakers’ time. Specifically, medical malpractice suits are being dissected. One report states there are already special courts that exist where bankruptcies, worker’s compensation cases and tax cases are handled by attorneys specializing in these areas. A. Harrison Barnes, attorney and founder of LawCrossing.com said in a previous article the number of physicians opting to err on the side of caution is on the rise.

Malpractice lawyers work to ensure the rights of their clients who have suffered the consequences of wrong diagnoses at the hands of their physicians. Many professionals and lawmakers agree the both the medical and legal fields would benefit from a nationwide malpractice court system. Still, not much has changed in recent months in that the Obama Administration, along with many Democrats, remain vehemently opposed to such a system. But what, if anything, would be the advantage for the average American citizen? A. Harrison Barnes says the most important benefit would be the almost sure reduction in health care costs. It’s not only the LawCrossing.com founder, however, that takes this stance. The Congressional Budget Office calls the potential savings “huge”. Many analysts have even said more than $50 million could be saved over the next ten years in medical tort reforms. Health care costs lowered, lower malpractice insurance premiums for doctors and hospitals and savings to insurance companies since many physicians would no longer feel as though they had to order the whole realm of tests in their efforts of avoiding lawsuits: the justifications become clear.

These changes are long overdue. No one is quite sure where the problem lies or why this new legislation seems to find itself on the back burner again and again. The fact is, these changes should occur sooner rather than later. As we near the breaking point, and with all signs pointing to a health care reform that only suggests a shaky foundation, unless something happens soon, we’re all in for less than quality healthcare – worse than it already is.

So what advice does A. Harrison Barnes have for those contemplating new challenges in their legal careers? With the potential to forever change the way healthcare is administered in this country, this particular specialty promises to present challenges and rewards for those wishing to make a difference. As far as those closest to the reform measures agree the time has come.

It’s important to realize the Medicare program would benefit greatly from medical malpractice reform. Finally, those supporters of the reform measures are quick to point out the goal is not to protect those medical personnel who practice irresponsibly or illegally; and in fact, is intended to highlight those who jeopardize their patients’ lives to ensure they’re held accountable. The true goal of the reform is to guarantee medical treatment is made available to every American and to provide doctors the freedoms to practice medicine with fewer reservations with the decisions they make.

The copyright lawyers are responsible for the maintenance or proliferation of copyright protection laws for creative works such as books, films, music or photography. The copyright attorneys may either work for an individual or book publisher, film studio proprietor, or any other large concerns. The copyright attorneys, trademark attorneys, and patent lawyers deal with inventions, ideas of the proprietor and creative products.

According to A. Harrison Barnes, the CEO of legalauthority.com, the copyright lawyer stays focused on their practice areas and assists the clients in attaining copyright protection. The lawyers also take sides of their clients in case any dispute arises regarding ownership of and utilization of material that has copyright protection. There have been several steps laid down by A. Harrison Barnes for becoming a copyright attorney.

Those aspiring to become a copyright lawyer can undertake courses relating to intellectual property rights or IP in the law schools. Students taking up this course will need to study subjects like entertainment laws, copyright laws, and licensing and intellectual property rights. The law students can join organizations that bear trademarks of their own, these institutes or organizations deliver trade mark law classes providing a comprehensive approach to the discipline of intellectual property rights says A. Harrison Barnes the CEO of Legalauthority.com. The students need to prepare themselves for the Bar Examination. Apart from this, they can also gain specialization in the field of their choice by appearing for the Master of Laws degree. To gain first hand knowledge in the field of copyright law, you can join as an intern. The law student will become familiar with DRM or (Digital Rights Management), advanced copy right protection methods, and cryptography.

The professional copyright lawyers must have a sound technical background. You can gain technical knowledge if you have an engineering background or come from the field of information technology and information sciences. A Master’s degree in Computer Engineering or Electrical is preferred. Entrance to the Trademark Office and US Patent, USPTO is always encouraged by A. Harrison Barnes. Knowledge congregation from the telecom industry can provide added advantage. The students from these backgrounds can easily comprehend the technologies surrounding modern copyright litigation says A. Harrison Barnes. Once you have completed your graduation, you have to apply for Juris Doctorate or J.D program. The law students while in their law school can expand their business contacts by meeting several new legal professionals. Once the J.D program is cleared, the law students are required to prepare for their Bar Examination, before they start practicing. The Bar Examination helps them to focus on state, federal law, inter state and other legal issues.

The copyright lawyers need to be highly skilled and specialized says A. Harrison Barnes. They must be well versed with the domestic as well as overseas procedures and policies. The copyright attorneys are required to possess interpersonal and sharp communicative skills. They need to be extremely loyal towards their clients and make sure atht they are not disclosing any of the confidential information about the client to either any attorney or outsiders. The lawyer must have strong analytical capabilities. At times the copyright attorney may be required to work under pressure; they must be very diligent while handling pressures.

In this age of information and technology, there has ushered in wide range of changes in the field of copy right law. The technological advancement, together with this the World Intellectual Property Organization or (WIPO) treaty brought about new set of challenges for the copyright lawyers. The age of internet and downloads have opened up new avenues for making some extra money.

The qualified and professional copyright lawyers must be able to make a sound difference between work-for-hire and copyrighted work, says A. Harrison Barnes. Before suing workers in a company or studio the copyright attorney may be required to study the case thoroughly. The lawyer also has the responsibility of dealing with complexities involved in copyright contravention; another growing problem is the advancement of digital technology. The copyright attorneys are required to guard earnings, profits and creative rights of the writers and individuals. The creative works of the individuals though copyright protected can be shared on the digital realm. The attorneys are required to inscribe on papers on legal matters which are posted by the social networking sites, video sharing sites or DVD copying sites.

In accordance with the statistics revealed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, large numbers of graduates from the reputed American law schools are coming into the legal profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the copyright lawyers can earn $70,000 to $150,000 annually.

In today’s competition, it is very important to know how to keep your career on the right track. Getting a suitable job is quite challenging and you need to do a lot of things to fine tune your career path. This article gives you some useful tips.

Creating an effective resume

The most important aspect is to invest your time in creating an effective résumé that will hook the attention of the employers. You should create a compelling profile that gets noticed. Barnes suggests that you use relative keywords in your resume that match the skills and interests that are advertised in the job profile and upload them on job sites.

Tap the right opportunities

Attending job meets is a good way of networking and in the words of Barnes, this helps you chance upon helpful resources by maintaining a relaxed, and professional attitude. Visiting job boards and research companies is yet another way to fine tune your career, as is exploring the opportunities offered by reinvention in an economy that has slowed down. With the ever expanding need for acquiring a good job, it is imperative that you tap the right opportunities coming your way, for which you should work hard.

Networking

You must always stay in touch with your professional associates and friends to stay updated with the latest happenings. With the rapid expansion of technology, networking has become an easy task. You must be active on social networking sites and stay abreast of the latest career opportunities. A. Harrison Barnes, CEO of Hound.com, says networking is crucial for maintaining right job search procedures.

Be Alert and Aware

Once you are through with your job application, talent is of paramount importance, as this is the very thing that you need to put into use in case an opportunity arises. A job search is practically useless if you lack competitiveness and talent. It is the relationships we engender that help in accelerating the results when need arises.

Why should you be alert in the field? A. Harrison Barnes tells you that you need to be aware of the changes that are taking place in the professional world. You should also be aware of the best employers and industries that are available to the job seekers. Other than the available employment opportunities, Barnes suggests that you should take a look into your choices that are permitted by your skills and work experience. Marketability is important and this is why you need to frequently update yourself with the new kinds of education and vocational courses. It always helps to be a constant learner as it puts you in close communication with what is current in your area of expertise.

Focus on Self Development

You must stay technologically advanced as well as network with the job seekers in your industry. A. Harrison Barnes suggests that you stay open to suggestions and possibilities. Consider both personal as well as professional options for self development. Think about what you can do and what you want to do. You also need to hone your personal and inter personal skills to make it happen. You must focus on creating the right kind of strategies for ensuring that you create the right relationships, which help accelerate results in case you need them in the future.

Stay Updated

The key aspect to remember if you are contemplating a shift or change in your career is to keep yourself updated with the changing times. This is important, according to Barnes, as it is the age of technology and there are revolutions taking place everyday in every field. In fact, you don’t want to be left behind by being ignorant of these changes. Changes that are coming in your field of expertise will acquaint you with the growing needs of the industry as well as the new concerns that are arising everyday. Transition is a tough nut to crack.

Keep learning and improving

It is also important to be a learner as it helps you to be aware of the needs of the industry and employment sector. In fact, there may be lots of opportunities available against your education and skills. A. Harrison Barnes is an ardent advocate of “knowledge is power”. Ensure that your skills remain updated and for this, you need to adapt yourself to certain tools that are essential for improving your performance and to manage your career. Even when you are stuck in a dead end job with nothing to build on, you can still make the best use of learning.