By Zachary Westmoreland I. Introduction Access to legal services remains one of the most persistent challenges facing the American legal system. Across the country, courts, regulators and policymakers are examining new ways to deliver legal services to individuals who cannot afford traditional representation. One of the increasingly discussed approaches involves allowing trained paraprofessionals and paralegals […]
By Lakisha Chichester Lajon E. Frederick (“LJ”) is a North Carolina Certified Paralegal at Fresh Start Family Law. LJ has an undeniable passion for family law and client support. When LJ reflects on her decades-long paralegal career, she does not describe it in terms of titles or positions. Instead, she talks about the families she […]
By Kelly Lynch As legal practice continues its steady shift toward digital platforms, notarization is evolving alongside it. In North Carolina, electronic and remote notarization are now established components of legal operations under Chapter 10B of the North Carolina General Statutes.[1] For paralegals, this development raises an important professional question: Is becoming an electronic notary […]
By Martin A. Ginsburg A Guide to Thriving Personally and Professionally Let’s be honest: if work-life balance truly came down to boundaries, we’d all leave the office at 5 p.m., shut down a work computer that never left the desk and enjoy uninterrupted dinners without the ping of a client email or a late-night text […]
By Lakisha Chichester Zachary Westmoreland is a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal working in the Real Estate Finance Practice Group at Winstead PC, a Dallas-based law firm with national practices serving clients across the country. Zachary works at the Charlotte office, where he supports a team that primarily serves as lenders’ counsel on transactions […]
By Martin A. Ginsburg In an era defined by relentless digital evolution, law firms are entrusted not only with safeguarding justice but also with safeguarding data. From confidential client files to privileged communications and sensitive financial records, legal practitioners hold a treasure trove of information that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting. The consequences of a breach […]
By Zachary Westmoreland In my experience working with estate planning, estate administration, and real estate attorneys, I have found that the discussion and use of Lady Bird Deeds, also known as Enhanced Life Estate Deeds, often divides practitioners in North Carolina. Some attorneys use them regularly and view them as effective tools for estate or […]
By Sarah L. White The holidays are about more than finding the perfect gift or recipe, hanging decorations, or counting down the days until time off. They are about connection, gratitude, and community — and for that, we celebrate each of you. As a Division family, we are here to support one another, to celebrate […]
By Johana Sanchez Every paralegal learns about confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, and never giving legal advice. These are the non-negotiables that keep our legal system fair and our clients protected. But beyond these, each of us brings something extra to the table—our own sense of right and wrong, the values we learned growing up, […]
A Career Rooted in Growth: From Law Firms to Fortune 500s and Everything in Between By Lakisha Chichester Yolanda Smith is a paralegal extraordinaire. Her paralegal career spans more than 25 years across law firms, state government, a university and Fortune 500 corporate legal departments. In 1997, she began her paralegal career by working for […]