Editor's Note
By Heidi Beginski, Board Certified Paralegal, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas
Board of Legal Specialization
By the time I sat for the specialty exam for paralegals, one of my contact lenses had folded itself
into a taco shape, and my homemade flash cards (color coded, even!) on causes of action, the new (at the time) venue
rules and I can’t even remember what else were falling out of every purse, drawer and vehicle I got anywhere near.
The one thing that kept me motivated was the fact that I decided to learn.
I decided to learn about the rules, the canons, the procedures, and the personalities of the legal community.
I had been a good student, and I had always been an avid reader. It never occurred to me that I could not learn
something if I just threw myself into it. I took that dedication and decided to apply it to improving my career.
When I finally started to understand paralegalism and its role in the provision of
legal services, it was as if a door had opened in my life. I was proud that I could actually pass the specialty exam,
and to think that I had done it all just by hard work and
determination!
I believe that if you challenge your mind, it will keep it broader, sharper and livelier as you age. Plus, the
benefits are more than just the satisfaction that comes from having risen to a challenge.
The goal to learn everything about paralegalism is not a battle I will ever win, but every investment I make
seems to grow with a steady rate of interest. And membership in the PD continues to offer new opportunities for
learning!
|
