{"id":96,"date":"2011-08-12T10:25:48","date_gmt":"2011-08-12T15:25:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/litigationparalegals.net\/MobileWarRoom\/?p=96"},"modified":"2011-08-12T18:07:39","modified_gmt":"2011-08-12T23:07:39","slug":"real-world-lesson-special-guest-post-by-janabeth-f-taylor-r-n-r-n-c-litigation-paralegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/litigationparalegals.net\/MobileWarRoom\/2011\/08\/12\/real-world-lesson-special-guest-post-by-janabeth-f-taylor-r-n-r-n-c-litigation-paralegal\/","title":{"rendered":"Real World Lessons, special guest post by Janabeth F. Taylor, R.N., R.N.C.\/Litigation Paralegal"},"content":{"rendered":"

REAL WORLD LESSONS
\nby
\nJanabeth F. Taylor, R.N., R.N.C.\/Litigation Paralegal<\/p>\n

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails.”
\n-Unknown<\/p>\n

The beauty of the law is that it is dynamic\u2014it changes as society changes. The law adapts to technological developments, to shifts in social values, and to the problems of modern society. The key to succeeding in this dynamic legal environment is that we, too, must learn to adapt\u2014to adjust our sails.<\/p>\n

As I write this, I think of my fellow paralegals. I cannot help but see myself nineteen years ago, as a new graduate of the University of Oklahoma Law Center- Legal Assistant Division program. This program was very rigorous, and a highly regarded program. as well as one of the few in the Nation then accredited by the American Bar Association.
\nBack in 1992, I was working part-time in a law office while teaching nursing full time, with a few weekends of hospital work thrown in the mix to keep in touch with the \u201creal world of clinical nursing.\u201d The rest of my \u201cfree time\u201d was spent with studying and attending classes at the University of Oklahoma Law Center.<\/p>\n

In anticipation of graduation, I sent resumes to several law firms looking for the perfect place to begin my new career.<\/p>\n

One firm stood out in my job search. This firm was over 100 years old, and had attorneys with very different backgrounds and experiences. I was fortunate to be hired by this firm. Although I did not realize it at the time, working for this firm would be a life-changing and career developing experience for me.<\/p>\n

I worked with five different attorneys, each with his own style and personality. Very early<\/p>\n

I learned that part of my job was to adapt to their differing approaches and preferences. I was often \u201cadjusting my sails\u201d to accommodate them.<\/p>\n

I was asked to work in areas of law that were unfamiliar to me. I had to learn to listen, to ask questions, to think creatively, to accept criticism, and to adjust my sails.<\/p>\n

Some of the most important lessons I learned were not ones from a textbook. Among these \u201crealworld\u201d lessons were:<\/p>\n