Prefer to watch the video interview: https://youtu.be/l99EN275AYI

In this episode of the Paralegal Coach Podcast, Ann Pearson sits down with Jacob Reeder, Director of Operations at Kalikhman and Rayz, a Philadelphia law firm. In the interview, Jacob challenges a common belief many new paralegals carry: that you need the "perfect" first job, the exact experience level, or even a paralegal certificate, to build a successful legal career.

Jacob shares how he entered the legal world unexpectedly, starting at the front desk with no formal paralegal training. Rather than waiting for an ideal title or role, he focused on executing every task well, improving small systems, and proactively solving problems. Within a year, that mindset helped him move from receptionist work into paralegal responsibilities, and over time, into operations leadership.

Together, Ann and Jacob unpack what makes someone stand out in a law firm: not flashy credentials, but reliability, process thinking, and an ability to make the work run more smoothly for everyone downstream. They also discuss why small firms can offer unusually powerful growth opportunities, especially for people willing to learn multiple parts of the business and help build systems from the ground up.

Jacob's career shows that you can build a paralegal career and beyond, even if your first role is a receptionist, file clerk, or admin support.

Doing basic work carefully and consistently (mail, scanning, document organization, intake support) creates reliability, and reliability earns opportunities.

Instead of trying to "get credit" for tasks, Jacob focused on outcomes: faster access to documents, fewer bottlenecks, smoother trial prep, and fewer questions from attorneys.

In a smaller firm, you may gain exposure to work and responsibilities that would be siloed at larger firms, building skills faster and more broadly.

Ann reinforces a core professional advantage: people who solve problems proactively (without waiting to be asked) become indispensable.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/

In this episode of the Paralegal Coach Podcast, Ann Pearson continues the Paralegal Survival Toolkit series by addressing one of the most common and quietest causes of burnout for new paralegals: saying yes to everything because you think you have to.

Ann explains how the desire to prove yourself, avoid disappointment, and appear capable often leads paralegals to overcommit, work unnecessary late nights, and sacrifice both accuracy and personal well-being. Through a candid story from her early career, she illustrates how failing to pause and clarify deadlines resulted in missed personal moments, avoidable mistakes, and work that wasn't even truly urgent.

Overcommitting out of fear or guilt results in rushed work, mistakes, exhaustion, and missed personal priorities - without actually increasing your value.

Before accepting new work, consider what you're already responsible for, what requires more time than expected, and whether the new task should take priority over existing deadlines.

Voicing your workload professionally doesn't make you look weak. It makes you appear organized, reliable, and strategic.

Effective boundaries often sound like deadline clarification, timeline adjustments, or offering partial solutions — not outright refusal.

Saying yes thoughtfully - to work you can complete well, on realistic timelines - is what truly builds credibility and long-term career success.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/

In this episode of the Paralegal Coach Podcast, Ann Pearson continues her Paralegal Survival Toolkit series with a skill she calls career-saving: courageous communication. Ann explains why silence, while tempting, is the most expensive mistake a paralegal can make. Drawing from a powerful real-world story from her time as a paralegal manager, she illustrates how two capable paralegals nearly derailed a major arbitration and their own careers, simply by not asking for help soon enough.

As part of the larger Paralegal Survival Toolkit, this episode reinforces a core message: while legal work will always be complex and demanding, paralegals who communicate early become the calm, trusted center of even the most chaotic cases.

Get a copy of the 40-page companion guide to the Paralegal Survival Toolkit Series here.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/

In this episode, Ann Pearson tackles one of the most common and most discouraging experiences for new paralegals: being thrown into the role with little to no onboarding. Ann calls it the "sink or swim" training model, and she reassures listeners that feeling lost or unprepared isn't a reflection of their ability.

Instead of waiting for a better onboarding system, she introduces her FAST Learning Method: a four-step framework designed to help new paralegals self-onboard quickly, confidently, and strategically.

This episode also ties directly into the free Paralegal Survival Toolkit, which includes worksheets and templates for implementing the FAST method.

The lack of onboarding is a system problem, not a you problem:
Most new paralegals are thrown into the role without training. Feeling unprepared is normal, widespread, and solvable.

Ann's FAST Learning Method accelerates your learning curve:
Familiarize: Get a high-level understanding of people, systems, preferences, and workflows before you dive in.
Ask Early: Prevent mistakes by asking clarifying questions at the start of every project.
Shadow Smartly: Observe not just what experienced paralegals do, but why they do it.
Track the Wins: Build confidence by documenting your daily progress and learning.

Experienced paralegals ask more questions, not fewer:
Asking early, targeted questions shows initiative and prevents rework, misunderstandings, and wasted time.

Self-onboarding is possible with the right framework:
Even without a structured training program, new paralegals can quickly gain clarity, competence, and confidence using FAST.

Download the free Paralegal Survival Toolkit:
This episode's tools, including checklists, templates, and prompts, are available at ParalegalToolkit.com and pair with this and upcoming episodes.

You are not behind, you're just new.
Mastery takes time, and progress compounds quickly when you organize your learning and acknowledge your growth.

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/

In this episode, Ann Pearson gets straight to the heart of the biggest challenge paralegals face managing an overwhelming workload. Skipping the usual intro, Ann dives right into why so many paralegals feel behind before their day even begins, and why that feeling has nothing to do with their competence.

Drawing from her own early-career story of last-minute assignments and impossible timelines, Ann explains the real reason paralegals struggle: no one ever teaches them the systems and structures needed to stay ahead of the chaos. To change that, she introduces a four-step blueprint that helps legal support professionals move from reactive to proactive workload management.

Ann also walks listeners through the first section of her new Paralegal Survival Toolkit, a free eight-part resource designed to help paralegals build clarity, control, and confidence in their daily work. As the episode unfolds, she reassures listeners that while the legal workload will always be heavy, the overwhelm doesn't have to be.

Workload overwhelm is normal and fixable:
Feeling behind is not a personal failing; it's part of the legal profession. What can change is your system for handling the workload.

Prioritize by impact, not urgency:
Inbox urgency is often an illusion. Instead, look for items tied to court deadlines, client deliverables, strategic decisions, or workflows that move a file forward.

Map the work before you start the work:
Most overwhelm happens because tasks aren't broken down. A project like "prepare discovery responses" contains 8 - 10 steps. Mapping creates clarity and reduces stress.

Verify deadlines and assumptions every time:
Asking clarifying questions isn't being difficult - it's being professional. Confirm deadlines, expectations, and whether a draft or final version is needed before you begin.

Eliminate micro time wasters to reclaim hours:
Small inefficiencies, repeated searches, rewriting emails, constant notifications, lack of templates, or unclear instructions add up quickly. System fixes unlock weekly time savings.

You can't change the workload, but you can change your control over it.
Heavy workloads are unavoidable, but overwhelm isn't. Skills and systems, not more hours, are what make the difference.

Get the free Paralegal Survival Toolkit.
The downloadable toolkit includes the workload clarity checklist, prioritization prompts, and a project-mapping template. It supports this episode and the seven episodes that follow.
Access it at ParalegalToolkit.com.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/

In this milestone episode host, Ann Pearson, introduces listeners to a fresh direction for the podcast! Spoiler alert: check out the new name of the podcast show.

She dives into a topic few paralegals admit out loud: the fear of asking questions on the job. Drawing from decades of experience and countless messages from paralegals who hesitate to speak up, Ann breaks down why this fear develops, how it limits professional growth, and what it costs you in your daily work.

She also reveals an exciting behind-the-scenes project: Ann AI, a private, secure AI tool trained exclusively on her teaching materials, built to give paralegals a judgment-free place to ask anything.

Asking questions is a performance strategy not a weakness: avoiding questions leads to more guessing, rework, anxiety, and slower professional growth. Thoughtful question asking is part of being an effective paralegal.

Ann's five-step framework to ask better questions: Look for the answer first, provide context, offer your best guess, ask for the "why" when appropriate, and group non-urgent questions together.

There is now a safe space for paralegals to ask anything: Ann AI. Ann introduces a secure, private AI trained entirely on her courses, coaching, and frameworks to help paralegals navigate challenges they may feel uncomfortable asking a person.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/

In this episode of the 'Paralegals on Fire' podcast, host Ann Pearson delves into strategies for thriving in a paralegal career versus merely surviving. She shares her insights from years of training paralegals, highlighting the distinguishable traits between those who excel and those who just get by.

Ann also discusses her current projects, including the forthcoming Rise Legal Support Mastery Program and an attorney training course collaborated with a law firm in Chicago. She also addresses the importance of continuous personal and professional growth, mentorship, and avoiding workplace negativity.

Ann emphasizes that thriving is a choice and encourages paralegals to take ownership of their careers.

• Survive vs. Thrive: Thriving paralegals go beyond doing what's required - they take initiative, grow their skills, and actively shape their careers instead of just getting by.

  Career Ownership: Success comes from taking responsibility for your professional development, not waiting for feedback or promotions to drive improvement.

  Excellence in Action: Thriving paralegals create systems, checklists, and habits that ensure accuracy, consistency, and high-quality work every time.

  Going Beyond the Job Description: The best paralegals anticipate needs, offer solutions, and seek ways to add value beyond what's expected.

  Leadership and Mentorship: True professionals lift others up, avoid negativity, and lead by example - even without a management title.

  Long-Term Impact: A thrive mindset early in your career leads to greater confidence, satisfaction, and earning potential over time.

  Evolving the Profession: Ann's upcoming programs (RISE and Litigator Launch Pad) aim to elevate both paralegals and attorneys through skill-building, collaboration, and excellence.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegals-on-fire-podcast

In this enlightening episode of the Paralegals on Fire Podcast Show, host Ann Pearson shares an inspiring conversation with Lisa Abbey in this episode of Paralegals on Fire. Lisa, a seasoned paralegal specialist at the U.S. Attorney's Office, discusses her passion for the profession, emphasizing continuous learning and finding one's niche. She offers advice for paralegals feeling stuck or undervalued, stressing the importance of mastering technology, expanding knowledge, and seeking passion within the legal field. Gain insights from Lisa's journey from medical malpractice to her current role, highlighting experiences that shaped her fulfilling paralegal career.

• Continuous Learning: Pursuing knowledge and mastering technology in your practice area are crucial for standing out in the paralegal field.

• Finding Your Niche: Identifying and engaging with a practice area you are passionate about can vastly improve job satisfaction.

• Building Trust: Gaining respect and trust in the workplace hinges on showcasing your value, making your skills indispensable to your team.

• Professional Growth: Participating in educational opportunities and professional associations like NALA and the ABA can enhance your career trajectory.

• Looking for Positives: Emphasizing the importance of deriving positive takeaways from every job experience, even challenging ones.

Get more free paralegal resources: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources

For all of our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegals-on-fire-podcast