To start off our Interview with a Criminal Justice Professional series, we will first introduce Jenna Salacuse. Jenna has been a paralegal in the state of Delaware for the past five years.
How did you become interested becoming a paralegal?
I went to school for Criminal Justice, but after graduation becoming a police officer no longer appealed to me. I had several friends and family members that were attorneys, yet law school didn’t “speak” to me either. I found my place in the paralegal profession after testing the waters in the corporate world.
What type of training or education best prepared you for your work as a paralegal?
My training in the Criminal Justice field helped me tremendously, but it not a requirement. An associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree is, however, required by most law firms. In addition to a college degree, I completed a paralegal certificate program at the University of Delaware. Most firms will also require a paralegal certificate in addition to a college degree. I highly recommend a certificate program because the coursework is specific to the duties you will have as a paralegal and that type of hands on experience is invaluable.
What is an average day at work like for you?
An average day means drafting and filing lawsuits, drafting documents to opposing counsel or clients, attending depositions, and/or meeting with clients to complete interrogatories. Interrogatories are detailed questions from opposing counsel as means of discovery.
What do you like most about being a paralegal?
While I do enjoy the heavy client contact that I have, I also enjoy the balance that I have working independently. Legal research and fact checking are my favorite tasks. It means that I may be the first person in the firm to learn of a new statute or a change in the law. It is then my responsibility to draft a memo and inform all attorneys.
What advice do you have for those who are interested in becoming a paralegal?
My advice is to study a major that is close to the legal field or used in conjunction with it. This would include criminal justice, law, english, communication, business, international relations, journalism, or political science. Then I would suggest spending one year attaining a certificate or an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. Large firms prefer to hire staff members that are well rounded. I would also recommend completing the state and/or national boards to become a registered paralegal. I feel that since paralegals work under the license of an attorney, it is our responsibility to be well educated and informed as to not infringe on the attorney’s license and create an infraction worthy of Office of Disciplinary Counsel inquiry.
Learn more about How to Become a Paralegal.
Do you or anyone you know work in criminal justice and want to be featured in our blog? Fill out this simple questionnaire and help inspire others to pursue their dreams of working in criminal justice.
