Episodes

  • What’s New NALA, With CEO Vanessa Finley (Plus NALA’s 2026 Convention)

    What’s New NALA, With CEO Vanessa Finley (Plus NALA’s 2026 Convention)
    Jun 11 2026
    In a truly fun episode, co-host Jill Francisco is back with co-host Tony Sipp and longtime friend of the podcast, Vanessa (Vinnie) Finley, CEO of NALA, The Paralegal Association. Finley dishes on all that is new this year at NALA for its members and shares insider details about the upcoming 2026 NALA Conference & Expo, July 16-18 in Denver, Colorado. The theme is “Transforming today’s paralegals into tomorrow’s leaders.” The paralegal profession is growing by leaps. Demands are increasing, technology is transforming the profession, new areas of practice are opening up, and nothing is as it was. Get insights into exciting new developments and roles for paralegal professionals, network with your peers, and get ahead. (All while you can earn up to 41 hours of CLE, including a keynote address from Michael Houlberg, JD, leader of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System.) Don’t miss this year’s conference and be sure to catch a Major League Baseball game at Coors Field, the absolutely dazzling home of the Colorado Rockies. And if you’re flying in, you don’t need a rental car, the Denver A Line, “the train to the plane” brings you directly from the airport to downtown Denver’s Union Station. Mentioned in This Episode: NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Email NALA Conference & Expo 2026 NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal Program College of the Canyons Certified Paralegal Exam Study Courses New NALA CP Practice App and Other Tools National Paralegal Day Visit Denver Eat Denver (Independent Network of Restaurants) Denver Grand Hyatt Denver Union Station Denver A Line, "The Train to the Plane" Denver 16th Street Free Shuttle Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Paralegals Should Be Millionaires! How a Rural Paralegal Built a Business and a Movement

    Paralegals Should Be Millionaires! How a Rural Paralegal Built a Business and a Movement
    May 14 2026
    Guest Jaclyn Foster was a paralegal struggling to make ends meet in rural Wisconsin with a new baby when she started her own paralegal services business, online only, out of her home and out of desperation. It took off, generating six-figure revenue and ultimately being acquired just three years later by a larger company, giving her the breathing room to pursue her passions. She founded the Paralegals in Business Society, dedicated to helping others in the field start and run their own paralegal businesses while serving a market that needs those services. Foster is watching and navigating a sea change in the paralegal profession. E-filing, remote work, and new systems are driving the field forward along with the entire legal industry. The COVID-19 pandemic turned the paralegal industry upside down, and for those who adapted, it’s for the better. For freelance paralegals ready to level up, hear how there’s a better way to specialize, solve problems, and get out there. Go beyond resumes and office politics and take charge of your career. Hear how Foster taught herself the business, from marketing to scope-of-work contracts and built her life outside the traditional confines of the law firm paralegal practice. Yes. You. Can. As she says, “There is always a way to figure this out, and paralegals are the best at doing this.” If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Who am I to start a business,” ask yourself instead “Who am I not to.” Mentioned in This Episode: “Paralegals Should Be Millionaires: Stop Settling. Break Boundaries. Create the Life You Deserve,” by Jaclyn Foster, on Amazon NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • The Adrenaline Rush of High Stakes Defense, Poring Through Modern Discovery

    The Adrenaline Rush of High Stakes Defense, Poring Through Modern Discovery
    Apr 9 2026
    Dig into the stressful life of a paralegal professional working in a high-stakes defense litigation firm. Guest Amy McGuigan is a senior paralegal with the San Francisco firm of Swanson & McNamara LLP, a firm that specializes in trial and appellate law. She’s no stranger to the stress of cases where literally a defendant’s life is on the line. She’s always been into stressful jobs, from her start as an overnight 911 dispatcher to her work in a California public defender’s office to her current position working on criminal defense cases. Life as a criminal defense paralegal isn’t for everyone, but for McGuigan, that’s part of the excitement and the challenge. “It’s like a puzzle,” she says. “I just love to go through the discovery process and find that one thing.” McGuigan shares how she focuses on the process and logical progression of a case, compartmentalizing the legal aspects. She’s mindful there are victims involved, but understands her role is to ensure the accused receive the best defense possible, the process of the law is followed, and no detail is overlooked. Work in a defense firm is never dull, McGuigan explains her involvement in forensic evidence examination, including metadata, e-discovery, cell phone and search engine histories, fingerprint evidence, and the detailed examination of evidence that could swing an entire case. If you’ve been considering a career as a paralegal professional in the high-stakes world of defense litigation, this is the episode for you. Mentioned in This Episode: Women in eDiscovery Women in CyberSecurity San Francisco Paralegal Association Bar Association of San Francisco Paralegal Section “Both Sides Use Trove of Cell Data at Alex Murdaugh Trial” “Lawyers for Alex Jones Turned Over Evidence That Contradicted His Testimony” NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Understanding the Intersection of Wellness, Mindfulness, and Tech

    Understanding the Intersection of Wellness, Mindfulness, and Tech
    Mar 12 2026
    In this jam-packed episode, host Tony Sipp welcomes four outstanding paralegal professionals and educators to share tips on balancing mindfulness, wellness, and self-care in today’s world of rapid tech advancements. If it seems like the profession is bolting forward at light speed, you’re not wrong. It’s important to take care of yourself. Let tech work for you, not wear you down. At times, you need to plug back into yourself before you plug into the latest technology. With a race to incorporate that latest in AI, it is important to keep learning, but also to learn how to embrace “the power of the pause,” taking a moment to step back. Don’t just survive, thrive! Mentioned in This Episode: American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) AAfPE Legal Luminaries podcast Paralegals on Fire podcast Adam Grant, speaker Los Angeles Paralegal Association NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • The Smartest Person in the Room? The One Who Asks and Learns

    The Smartest Person in the Room? The One Who Asks and Learns
    Feb 12 2026
    Guest June Hunter is a trained paralegal professional and legal technology trainer with a 35-year career in legal services that spans the profession’s growth from the days of physical, paper files to today’s legal tech AI revolution. Hear how Hunter has come to feel that paralegal professionals are “the best project managers in the world,” juggling clients, lawyers, tech tools, and court schedules and deadlines. The paralegal profession is no longer limited to helping process legal documents. Technology has expanded the field into so many new areas and specialties. The best part about today’s tech tools, including AI, is that in the long run, it can save clients money, increase efficiencies, and solve ethical issues involving billing. Hunter’s message: be eager to embrace and master the latest technology throughout your career. The smartest person in the room is the person who’s not afraid to ask questions and learn new things. Mentioned in This Episode: San Diego Paralegal Association San Diego Legal Secretaries Association Los Angeles Paralegal Association MCLE, California Minimum Continuing Legal Education A History of Microsoft’s “Clippy” NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • Building a Successful Paralegal Career, Step by Step. Yes You Can.

    Building a Successful Paralegal Career, Step by Step. Yes You Can.
    Jan 8 2026
    Once you’ve landed your first job as a paralegal professional, what next? How do you build your career, advance into management, and leverage affiliations and activities within local and national associations as you pursue your goals? Guest Angela King is a successful paralegal manager at the national law firm of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Over more than two decades, she has advanced from a law firm volunteer to a file clerk to legal assistant, then paralegal professional, and now paralegal manager at a national law firm overseeing dozens of paralegal professionals. At each step, being active with paralegal associations helped her advance her skills and network. It starts with learning, and it extends to helping and mentoring. King explores how a conscious push to improve and learn at every stage built her career and how you can create your own path to professional success. Mentioned in This Episode: National Capital Area Paralegals Association National Federal of Paralegal Association IPMA, International Practice Management Association IPMA Conference and Expo Los Angeles Paralegal Association NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • How the Legal Workplace Is Evolving and What it Means for You!

    How the Legal Workplace Is Evolving and What it Means for You!
    Dec 11 2025
    How is the legal profession evolving, and what does it mean for your career? In this episode, host Tony Sipp welcomes a very special, nationally renowned, guest, Chere Estrin for a look into the future of the legal workplace. Estrin is a guiding force in the legal profession and a nationally recognized voice on career development in the field. She’s the CEO of Estrin Legal Staffing, the author of 12 books, and the creator of the podcast Lawfully Employed and The Estrin Report blog. Hear how to adapt and stand out and what traps you need to avoid in the new world of law. AI has jolted the industry, but it’s not just about technology. Paralegals are being tasked with increasingly complex duties, you’ve got to keep your skills current and show initiative every day. Estrin provides insights and advice you can use now, whether that’s in your current job or when searching for your next step. The moves you make today can make or break your career. Start “future proofing” your life and getting ahead now. Mentioned in This Episode: The Estrin Report, blog Lawfully Employed, podcast “If I Lost My Job Tomorrow, Here’s How AI Would Fix My Resume Before Lunch,” by Chere Estrin “Hot Flashes, Cool Resume: Still Billable. Still Brilliant. Resumes for Legal Professional Women Who Aren't Done Yet,” by Chere Estrin “Power Plays” by Chere Estrin Other books by Chere Estrin, Amazon.com Previous appearance on the Legal Talk Network, Lawyer 2 Lawyer: “Paralegals: The Backbone of the Law Practice” International Paralegal Management Association (IPMA) IPMA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • How Freelance Paralegal Professionals Boost Law Firm Efficiencies

    How Freelance Paralegal Professionals Boost Law Firm Efficiencies
    Nov 13 2025
    Ever think of hanging up a shingle and going it alone as a freelance paralegal services provider? It can be done and there is a demand. Working in a firm isn’t your only option. Guest Corrin Swintosky is a freelance paralegal professional at her own company, Lucid Legal Support LLC, who specializes in helping small and midsize law firms increase efficiencies by providing extra help with criminal law cases as needed. A former probation officer, Swintosky’s passions include helping expunge criminal records, getting offenders back on their feet and get their lives back on track after minor offenses and missteps. Even a minor mark on a person’s record can create barriers to housing, employment, voting, and everyday life. Hear how Swintosky as a one-person show balances tech and business skills, how she learned to work side-by-side with attorneys, and how she leans confidently into her expertise. Mentioned in This Episode: “New York Clean Slate Act Takes Effect on November 16, 2024, With New Obligations for Employers Running Criminal Background Checks,” LawAndTheWorkplace.com “It's Time for a Federal Clean Slate,” The Clean Slate Initiative NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins