The Paralegal Voice

We’re at an interesting and dynamic point in time for immigration law, with Supreme Court rulings and presidential executive orders reshaping the field and challenging the system’s status quo. The administrative area of immigration law is especially difficult for legal professionals. In an immigration hearing, the judge is essentially on the same “team” as the prosecutor, and because immigration policies are largely under the federal executive branch, the rules seem to shift every four years with a new presidential term. Guest Nikki Mehrpoo is a former judge, a scholar, and the first and only California dual certified legal specialist in immigration and Workers’ Compensation law. She is a lawyer as well as a professor of law at West Los Angeles College. She recently created the MedLegal Professor, a project dedicated to the ethical use of AI technologies in the field of law and medicine. In this timely episode of Paralegal Voice, Mehrpoo unpacks recent Supreme Court rulings, executive orders, and even the use of AI facial recognition that are reshaping the field of immigration law. As a legal professional, what we think we know may be subject to change day by day, ruling by ruling. Mentioned in This Episode: Previous appearance on Paralegal Voice, “Digging Into California Workers’ Compensation (Plus, Career Advice From a True Pro)” LAPA Noem v. Perdomo, SCOTUSblog coverage “Immigration Officers Intensify Arrests in Courthouse Hallways on a Fast Track to Deportation,” Associated Press “ICE Awards Clearview AI $9.2M Facial Recognition Contract,” Biometric Update “Nevada Judge Takes Creative and Unusual Approach to Combat AI-Generated Fictitious Citations,” LawNext “The EU Artificial Intelligence Act” Clearview AI NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest and professional legal recruiter Tracey Perkins says in 2025 every paralegal professional should know the importance of technology, especially AI. But she stresses the best paralegals always manage the tech and never let the tech manage them. AI is a tool that can spur efficiency, but it will never replace the mind and analytical skills of a skilled paralegal professional. In the rapidly advancing world of legal tech, grit matters. You’ve got to keep up. Pushing yourself through even the toughest challenges builds the professional you are destined to become. Perkins is a paralegal professional, educator, and legal industry recruiter who has driven herself forward for more than 20 years. She brings the lessons she learned to every aspect of her life and strives to share each one with every student and every job seeker. Plus, learn insider tips for when you’re applying for a new position: Don’t include photos on your resume, learn to professionally format everything. Time is money, so get to the bullet points and focus on clear, concise communication. No fluff, no fillers. (And please, no silly email addresses, keep it professional). Hear Perkins’ golden rules for building professional relationships and her pro tips for your LinkedIn page. Get fired up and get hired. Mentioned in This Episode: CliftonStrengths assessment NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Linda McGrath-Cruz worked as a paralegal professional in private practice and in-house (including Royal Caribbean) for 28 years, and she’s a leader for the Paralegal Navigating Perilous Waters cruise, a CLE paralegal conference that takes place on a cruise ship (how cool is that?). She is currently the program coordinator and a full-time faculty member in the paralegal program at St. Johns River State College in Florida, a hands-on, real-life program that helps students get jobs and then get the job done. She is also the founder and leader of the social media program Perfectly Paralegal, a community that offers resources, support, and continuing education to paralegal professionals nationwide. We all need NALA continuing ed credits, but why not make it a family vacation on a cruise ship? Courses on the Perilous Waters cruise are arranged to provide both credits but also leave time for networking, sharing tips, and having fun. Make it a family trip, a friends group outing, or a company event. Learn while you sail. Whether it’s in the classroom or on the high seas, McGrath-Cruz is dedicated to sharing what she’s learned with practical teachings that make you better and advance your career. Get excited and get involved. Mentioned in This Episode: Paralegals Navigating Perilous Waters Cruise, March 6, 2026 St. Johns River State College Paralegal Program NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA CP exams NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s new for NALA in 2025? Get the scoop from guest Vanessa “Vinnie” Finley, the CEO of NALA since 2019. There’s plenty of news about the upcoming NALA conference and new initiatives to help you be your best professional self. 2025 is no ordinary year for NALA as the paralegal association celebrates 50 years. Start with the latest on the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo, July 10-12 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Earn continuing education credits, network, learn new skills, and hear about NALA’s plans for the future. Early bird registration ends May 7. Plus, dig into NALA’s newest national survey on utilization compensation and learn about trends in pay, billing, and benefits. You’ll also hear about new limited licensing programs, AI, and trends across the field. And we’ll talk about NALA’s new Resource Navigator, pulling together vendor information and the newest in tech, and a new collection of relevant articles and updates on NALA’s free Paralegal Brief page. Even more? How about a review of NALA’s work with affiliates and students nationwide and an upcoming free webinar on billable hours. This special episode has it all. Mentioned in This Episode: Vanessa Finley, prior appearance on Paralegal Voice, “The Year Ahead For NALA, Plus A Preview Of The 2024 Conference” Vanessa Finley, prior appearance on Paralegal Voice, “The NALA Paralegal Jobs Report: Get Paid What You’re Worth!” NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 NALA Resource Navigator NALA Paralegal Brief Get involved with NALA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Natalie Athas is an experienced international paralegal for a Southern California law firm. She set out to become a nurse but wound up getting into the legal profession and found her place. She worked her way up through a number of positions, starting at the ground floor. Funny how things work out. Hear about the typical day of a busy paralegal serving a litigation team. She travels extensively as part of her job, mentoring new paralegal groups for her firm around the country. “My day is like a box of chocolates,” she says. “I never know what I’m going to get.” As she worked through the ranks, Athas took advantage of every opportunity to take on new tasks, from making herself an “essential employee” during the COVID pandemic, coming into the office while others worked from home (even doing the “COVID Cleaning” of door handles and keyboards) to learning Zoom trials and filling in when other branches of the firm are short staffed. This episode is a great guide to self-propelled career advancement and becoming so essential to your firm’s operations they wouldn’t even think of leaving you behind if they downsize. Stay visible, put in the hours, and build your skills. These are tips for success you don’t want to miss. Mentioned in This Episode: Trial Director OnCue trial presentation software NALA, The Paralegal Association NALA Conference & Expo 2025 Los Angeles Paralegal Association California Lawyers Association Orange County Paralegal Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what it takes to pass the NALA Certified Paralegal (CP®) certification exam? Let’s break it down and set you apart in your field. You can do this. Guest Lori Young is a full-time faculty member at the College of the Canyons in California and a part-time instructor at the University of California Santa Barbara. She has been a paralegal professional for more than 25 years and specializes in legal tech, contract law, estate planning, and helping students just like you prepare for and pass the CP exam. Young knows firsthand the ins and outs of the CP exam. She freely admits she failed it the first time, so she’s been there, done that, and knows what it takes. She buckled down and passed, then helped develop a curriculum to help others pass the exam the first time. She offers tips and inspiration for anyone considering taking the plunge. (Spoiler: Taking a prep course can give you the confidence you need). In California, CP Exam test prep programs are free at community colleges, but they’re also available at a very low cost online for those outside the state. Certification can boost your career, elevate your performance, increase your confidence, and make you more valuable to your team. Bottom line: the CP designation opens new doors. No more putting it off. Lori also offers her first hand experience with the recent California wildfires. The College of the Canyons became an evacuation center for the community and served as a center for the Incident Command team. She urges paralegal students to become more involved in their communities via volunteer opportunities and working with legal clinics to assist those impacted by disaster. Mentioned in This Episode: NALA Certified Paralegal (CP®) program NALA CP practice exam Certified Paralegal Exam Test Preparation Program, College of the Canyons NALA Conference & Expo 2025 NALA, The Paralegal Association Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Digital information management is a delicate balancing act, connecting the moving parts of a busy legal operation with the information technologists who manage the data. How do you pull an entire office together and manage and leverage all that information? Guest Stephanie Clerkin is the Director of Litigation Support at Korein Tillery and a 2024 recipient of the Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award, which celebrates e-discovery and legal technology leaders who make noteworthy contributions to the fields of e-discovery, legal tech, information governance, cybersecurity, and data privacy. The award is named for the late Gayle O’Connor. Hear some of the secrets of bringing people together around technology (even dragging along some of the stragglers who have “always done it this way”). You’ll learn to adapt to different styles, demonstrate the value of efficient data management, and sometimes do more with less. Legal tech and data management never sleeps. Helping everyone – from support staff to senior attorneys – keep up is a challenge. Finding a mentor, establishing a work life balance, and mastering technology test us all, but Clerkin has tips you can put to work now. Mentioned in This Episode: Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award announcement Relativity e-discovery platform Relativity certifications Make-A-Wish Young Professionals NALA Conference & Expo 2025 NALA, The Paralegal Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest Cheryl Nodarse, ACP, talks about her goals as the new president of NALA. With her background as past NALA vice president and secretary, Nodarse has a clear vision for the national organization of paralegal professionals. NALA’s relationship with affiliated associations takes a spot at the top of Nodarse’s agenda, as well as developing the relationships between paralegal educators and students. Plus, 2025 marks NALA’s 50th anniversary and the first National Paralegal Day. Nodarse and hosts Jill Francisco and Tony Sipp also discuss a new era of “breakaway careers” for paralegal professionals and how the skill set and education positions them well in an increasingly complex and digital world. Doesn’t matter what the job title is, a foundation in paralegal work applies to so many interesting career paths. Your skills are in demand. As the profession changes, as opportunities arise and evolve, Nodarse has her sights set on helping NALA stay involved and help guide the profession forward. This is a great time to be a part of NALA. Mentioned in This Episode: National Paralegal Day, August 6, 2025 List of NALA Affiliated Associations “Rule Change To Allow Paraprofessionals To Offer Limited Legal Services Proposed By Top Texas Court,” ABA Journal Paralegal Association of Florida, Palm Beach Chapter NALA, Facts and Findings NALA Conference & Expo 2025 NALA, The Paralegal Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices