Celebrating National Legal Assistants Day

Today we would like to tip our hats to those skilled persons who, without them, would make life very difficult for a lawyer…..our legal assistants! In this case, we are referring to our paralegals and administrative assistants to be exact, and what better day to honor them but on National Legal Assistants Day?

After assisting lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, researching legal precedent and much more, a legal assistant’s job is never done. Here at Collins & Lacy, it is no different. We value our team, and to honor them, we wanted to share some quick takeaways from some of our own paralegals and administrative assistants!

Helen Bradberry – Administrative Assistant
Years at Collins & Lacy: 18
What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“The biggest reward to my job is the end result. I love talking with people and helping them get through the process.”

 What are you most proud of either professionally or personally?
“I am most proud of my family and how I’ve raised my girls. Every family has its ups and downs but in the end, I know I have done a good job when I see how my girls treat others and go out of their way to please.”

Vickie Randall – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy: 17
What did you want to be growing up?
“I wanted to be a nurse.”

 What do you enjoy most with your career?
“I enjoy the medical aspect of my job the most. I love being able to conduct informal conferences and settling cases out of court around the state. 99.9% of the people I meet at the conferences are so nice and so appreciative. Stan (Lacy) is the best boss anyone could ask for!”

Kimiko Noble – Administrative Assistant
Years with Collins & Lacy: 3 years
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
“A teacher! I remember teaching an imaginary class to my doll babies.”

 What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“I find working with my attorneys and the responsibilities attached really rewarding.”

Cathy Burton – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy: 6 ½ years
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
“A probation officer. I majored in criminal justice in college. When I graduated, there were state and county hiring freezes, so I started working as a legal assistant at a law firm.”

 What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“Finding strong evidence to defend claims and reduce damages.”

Lori Ann Rogers – Administrative Assistant
Years at Collins & Lacy: 2
What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“My reward is that I enjoy what I do. If you can’t enjoy your job and be happy while you are working, then you need to find another job. I enjoy what I do and enjoy working for Collins & Lacy.”

 What are you most proud of either professionally or personally?
“I am most proud of my family. I have a wonderful husband, who is also my best friend, and two great kids (that are not kids anymore). I am definitely blessed in many ways.”

Lisa Styles – Administrative Assistant
Years at Collins & Lacy: 3 ½
 What are some of the biggest rewards of your job?
“Work well done in a challenging environment gives me great satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.”

What is something you are proud of either professionally or personally?
“Earning my degree in court reporting.”

Reid M. Eaddy – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy:   2
What drew you to pursue a career as a paralegal?
“My father was a lawyer, my brother is a lawyer and I have a sister who works as a paralegal, so I am comfortable around the law and lawyers.”

What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“The biggest rewards to my job are putting the pieces of the puzzle together through research and investigation and presenting that             information to my attorneys in a way that allows them to be totally prepared.”

Monica McGee – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy: 1

What drew you to pursue a career as a paralegal?
“I knew that I loved research and the law. In the early 1980s, paralegal was an up and coming career.”

 What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“I enjoy the challenge, the learning that never ends, and the people I work with.”

Richard Glover – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy: 6 months
What drew you to pursue a career as a paralegal?
“I was drawn to a career as a paralegal through a desire to do productive work.”

 What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“The biggest reward of my profession is being part of a professional team.”
 

Margaret “Hydie” Kirkland – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy: 8 weeks
What drew you to pursue a career as a paralegal?

“I worked for a time at the SC Court of Appeals as an Administrative Assistant to the Honorable Randall T. Bell, who encouraged me to grow and learn everything I could about my profession.”

 What are some of the biggest rewards to your job?
“Hands down, the most rewarding thing about my job is being of good use and doing meaningful work. An attorney I once worked for shared this poem with me and it wholly sums up my desires not for just work, but for those with whom I do such work.”

Sandy LaRue – Paralegal
Years at Collins & Lacy: 1 month

What drew you to pursue a career as a paralegal?
“I’ve always been interested in the law and a professor at USC encouraged me to look into the paralegal field.”

 What are some of the biggest rewards of your job?
“I like working as a team on interesting cases, providing the support needed at all stages of litigation.”