ISSN 1945 8789 November 13 2008 Vol. I, Issue 16 Published bi-weekly on Thursday. Subscribe to this ezine and receive your Special Report titled 'Is Your Computer Talking Behind Your Back?' To change your subscription, see the link below. Member: NALA The Association for Paralegals and Legal Assistants Paralegals/Legal Assistants Section State Bar of Michigan

Hello, Subscriber!

• Welcome!
• A Note from Vicki
• Did You Hear?
• Feature Article: Want to Change Practice Areas?
  
• Events and Appearances
• About Vicki
  

Welcome new subscribers! It's wonderful to have highly motivated paralegals and other professionals who want to create lasting success in their personal and professional lives join the Strategies community.

The Seven Secrets will finally be revealed! I've been talking about the seven secrets that will increase your billable hours ever since Strategies was launched last April. I'd say it's time to stop the talk and walk the walk! Seven Secrets That Will Increase Your Billable Hours will be launched on Thursday, December 11th at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Spend 60 minutes with me and learn how to make time work for you, not against you. You'll be working smarter...the result will be an increase in total hours recorded and billed. See additional details below.

The monthly Q&A Calls continue to generate lots of interest and I'm overwhelmed by the great information my guests have shared. One of the calls inspired today's feature article Want to Change Practice Areas? Check out the great tips below.

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, you'll receive the the next issue of Strategies one week from today. The feature article will focus on protecting your job in these times of economic uncertainty. Be sure to pass this on to your friends so they can subscribe by next Thursday...no one will want to miss these must-do strategies.

I'll 'see' you in two weeks. Until then, I remain...

Dedicated to your success!

Vicki Voisin
The Paralegal Mentor




Do visit www.paralegalmentor.com where new subscribers can access the special report titled 'Is Your Computer Talking Behind Your Back?' This report is available at no cost and offers inside information on how the careless use of technology can result in the disclosure of confidential client information and/or privileged documents and information.

The Paralegal Mentor Blog is now available. I'll be looking forward to your comments as I post more information and pictures there.

The next Paralegal Mentor Q&A Call will be on Tuesday, November 18th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. The topic: Everything You Need to Know About Expert Witnesses. My special guests for the evening will be Christine Porter ACP (Portland OR) and Tita A. Brewster ACP (Las Cruces NM). They've spent their careers in litigation and will knock your socks off with their war stories, strategies and tips. I'll share some ethics guidelines,too. Click here to register for this f.r.e.e forum. Be sure to sign up even if you can't be on the call, because I'll provide a recording to everyone who registers. You have nothing to lose! Pssst...You say you don't work with experts? Well...my advice to you is that you never know where the future will take you and this great information may come in handy should you change practice areas.

Do you love your job but feel the itch for a new challenge? The answer may be as simple as moving into a new practice area...perhaps from litigation to intellectual property.

I can hear you now: 'Vicki, That sounds easy, but it's not! All my experience is in litigation!' My answer? 'I said the answer was simple, I never said anything about easy. This is doable, though, and you can do anything you decide to do.' Now that we've had our conversation, let me offer a few strategies to make that new challenge a reality:

Don't think you have to change jobs to change practice areas. Be sure to look for opportunities to make this change right where you're currently working. You don't want to give up the seniority, benefits and privileges you've earned (and also the friends and relationships you've established) unless you absolutely have to. Think about being the little fish in the big pond...or low man on the totem pole...this is not where you want to be.

Take advantage of continuing education opportunities.Never say you're not going to a continuing education event because you don't practice in that area. Instead, go to everything available because you never know when you might land there. This is especially true when you think you might like to cross the bridge into another area.

Network, network, network!Did I say 'network'? You bet! Within the firm, this is where you'll hear about new opportunities and form relationships that might get you recommended for the change. Outside the firm, you'll find opportunities that might be happening elsewhere. Your network will also offer suggestions such as what skills you'll need for the new practice area and what you'll need to learn to get there.

Find a Mentor. This is the person who will guide you and advise you as you take on your new challenge. Perhaps this is a person who is working in the new practice area or a person who made the leap in the past. Listen, learn...and appreciate the knowledge this person has to offer.

Volunteer to do some work in the new area of interest. Ask to assist at trial or to work on a file in the new area. Take on even the smallest job because you will learn from everything you do. You may have to use your own time to do this but it will be worth it in the end.

If your firm offers in-house training, be there!You would be a silly goose if you missed opportunities that are (a) f*ree, (b) usually done during the work day, and (c) say you are serious about learning! Don't pass up this 'abc' strategy!

Get advanced certifications. Do you want to work with contracts and know just enough about the Statute of Frauds to be dangerous? Take an advanced certification course! NALA offers web-based advanced certifications in a several different areas, with more being offered all the time. There are other certification programs available...explore every avenue. This is a slick way to get the credibility you need for your new area of interest.

Ask for what you want. If you don't ask, you don't get! Be sure your managing partner or HR Director knows you are interested in moving to a new area. Stress that you are NOT unhappy where you are, but that you're looking for a new challenge and want to be kept in mind should the opportunity crop up. Be subtle, but let that person know the steps you've taken to learn the ins and outs of the new practice area.

Your challenge: Whether you're interested in a new practice area or not, you need to keep yourself positioned to change if necessary. Think about what area you'd like to work in IF you moved from your current area. Think about where you want your career to be in one, five and ten years. What will challenge you and keep your job interesting? Examine the strategies offered and choose one or two you can begin working on today. If you have a plan, you can take steps to reach your goal.

© 2008 Vicki Voisin, Inc.

Do you want to use this article in your newsletter, e-zine or website? You can, so long as you include this entire blurb with it: Vicki Voisin, also known as The Paralegal Mentor, publishes the bi-weekly ezine ‘Strategies for Paralegals Seeking Excellence’ where she offers tips for paralegals and others who want to create lasting success in their personal and professional lives. Get tips and information at no cost at www.paralegalmentor.com.

Want to book Vicki to speak at your next teleseminar or live event? Contact her at support@ParalegalMentor.com.



Vicki Voisin, also known as The Paralegal Mentor, is the creator of Strategies for Paralegals Seeking Excellence, a program for paralegals and others who want to create lasting success in their personal and professional lives. She is a nationally recognized author and speaker, widely known for her paralegal training seminars, as well as her unique approach to ethics training for legal staff. More information about Vicki is available at www.paralegalmentor.com.


You may absolutely share this newsletter with people you think might enjoy it. When doing so, please forward it in its entirety, including the contact and copyright information. Thanks and enjoy!

Vicki Voisin, Inc.
PO Box 743
Charlevoix, MI 49720
support@ParalegalMentor.com
www.ParalegalMentor.com

You are subscribed as . Subscribed in error or wish to unsubscribe? Follow this link to be removed from our mailing list.

© 2008 Vicki Voisin Inc. All rights Reserved