Institute for Legal Studies

Roundtable Provides Students with Opportunities to Hear from Legal Professionals

In October 2010, nearly 50 Paralegal Studies students on the Louisville campus took advantage of the opportunity to hear from paralegal practitioners, including Sullivan graduates, from the local legal community. The students attended the 19th annual Paralegal Roundtable Discussion sponsored by The Institute for Legal Studies at Sullivan University. The annual event gives students the chance to meet and network with legal professionals who are willing to share their time and expertise.

All paralegal students could attend

Students were especially fortunate this year as two roundtable discussions were conducted – one for the day division and one for the evening division. The four legal professionals participating in the day division roundtable discussion were:

• Nicole Baker, a Litigation paralegal working in the corporate healthcare arena at Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare, Inc.
• Sara House, a 2008 Sullivan Paralegal Studies bachelor’s degree graduate, who is a paralegal in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Unit.
• Ann Ives, paralegal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
• Sandi Preston, paralegal working in the local office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The four legal professionals participating in the evening division roundtable discussion were:
• Jonda Gaudin, 1989 Sullivan Paralegal Studies associate degree, works as an Estate Planning/ Administration paralegal at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP.
• Stephanie K. Jones, president of the Louisville Association of Paralegals is a paralegal at the Stoll Keenon Ogden law office working primarily in Medical Malpractice Defense/Insurance Litigation.
• Melissa Reynolds a Government paralegal is working at the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence/Child Abuse Unit.
• Carolyn Vose, a 1984 Sullivan Paralegal Studies graduate, works in Zoning and Land Use law at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP.

All of the speakers took turns explaining their roles and functions at their respective places of employment. The speakers covered such topics as their job title, area of law practiced, specific job responsibilities, work environment (contact with other paralegals, judges, attorneys, law clerks, secretaries, etc.), positive/negative aspects of the job, and opportunities for advancement.

Roundtable drew rave reviews

Students attending the roundtable discussion were able to ask questions, and were provided with honest and direct answers from the speakers. Below are some student comments:

“Answered a lot of the expectation questions that exist entering a new field.”
Jeffrey Hinton

“I learned there are many different areas paralegals can work in besides law offices.”
Casey Kerns

“I learned more of how my job as a paralegal would actually be. It gave me insight into the career.” Megean Woodrum

“Different views of Paralegal responsibilities and the reality of the career.”
Gabrielle Bass

“It makes me look forward to employment after graduation and made me feel more comfortable applying for jobs right now.”
Jirrodda Berry