At DBL, we recognize the incredible dedication, expertise, and hard work that paralegals bring to the legal profession every single day. On this Paralegal Day, we wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for the invaluable contributions our paralegals make to our team, our clients, and the legal field as a whole.
Paralegals are often the unsung heroes behind the scenes, ensuring that every detail is meticulously handled, every case thoroughly prepared, and every challenge met with professionalism and precision. Their efforts allow our attorneys to perform at their best, and together, we achieve success for our clients.
At DBL, we believe that paralegals are not just support staff—they are essential partners in the legal process. Their dedication to legal research, case management, client communication, and ensuring compliance with complex legal procedures does not go unnoticed. They play a critical role in upholding the high standards that DBL is known for.
Today, we celebrate them and the impact they have on the lives of our clients and the success of our firm.
Happy Paralegal Day from all of us at DBL Law!
Hi, I’m Lauren. Hi, I’m Jillian. We’re paralegals at DBL Law’s Covington office.
I’m Jasmine Barber, and I’m one of the nurse paralegals at DBL’s Covington office.
Hi, I’m S. Watkins, and I work for DBL in the Covington office. When I was in high school, we had a career day where a paralegal came to my class to talk about her work. I didn’t know what a paralegal did at the time. I knew I wanted a career in law but wasn’t sure what exactly. I also had a very introverted personality, so I wasn’t keen on being in the spotlight. Hearing her talk about her work—how she got to go to trials and all the exciting things she did—I thought, “That might be the career for me.”
Becoming a paralegal wasn’t something I envisioned while growing up, but I knew I wanted to be in the legal field. When I was 19, I started working my way into it, joining a law firm downtown and immersing myself in the experience. That’s when I realized that being a paralegal was the right path for me.
After spending over a decade working in ICU, I was ready for a change. I stumbled upon legal nurse consulting during a casual conversation. It wasn’t a career I had initially considered, but after doing some research, I knew it was the right fit for me. Now, nearly a year into this new role, I’ve found it to be the best choice for me. I’m a helper by nature, and I love being able to support attorneys with various tasks.
The best part of being a paralegal isn’t just about the title; it’s about the people I work with. I have great coworkers, and we share a close bond. The job is about getting the work done and enjoying the process and the people alongside you.
Being promoted to paralegal manager at DBL has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me, as it validated my career path. Another highlight was passing all my certified paralegal exams on the first try. Together, these accomplishments have helped me grow and witness the progression of my career.
Preparing other nurses for depositions is a significant part of my role. It can be a tense and uncertain experience, but knowing I’ve been in their shoes brings them comfort. It hasn’t been long since I was a nurse, so I understand their perspective and can provide a point of reference and calmness.
Recently, I faced one of the most intense discovery deadlines of my career. We had a plaintiff’s attorney request emails related to a specific case, and our client, a large organization, sent me the email files for hundreds of employees. I had to sift through each one to find only the emails relevant to the case, all under a tight deadline. With the support of my coworkers, we managed to meet the deadline. Without them, it would’ve been impossible.
Another challenging deadline came when I was preparing for a deposition with a surgeon, and two hours before he was due to arrive, I had some additional urgent tasks added to my list. Without teamwork, meeting these deadlines would be a much harder endeavor.
One phrase I often hear that irritates me is, “This is an attempt to collect a debt.” Similarly, legal terms like “overly broad” and “unduly burdensome” can feel grating, especially when opposing counsel uses them. But in litigation, you have to take things in stride and remember that we’re all just doing our jobs.
When I started in litigation back in the early 2000s, I worked on the plaintiff’s side with a wonderful attorney who’s still a friend of mine. He once told me, “You can’t understand how the system works until you experience it,” and he took me along to every motion hour, deposition, and mediation. That hands-on learning experience showed me what it takes to have a career in litigation and helped me understand how paralegals can support attorneys through the process.
Since joining this field, I’ve sometimes felt the pressure of imposter syndrome, but a compliment from one of the attorneys—that my work is “beyond my years”—really helped me overcome it. It reminded me that I truly belong here.
Someone even joked that I was the “First Lady” of the Covington office because of my attire, saying I looked very presidential.
Happy National Paralegal Day!
