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PROFILE
Denise M. Cunningham: Paralegal; M. Lynne Osterholt, Attorney at Law; Louisville, KY [Charisse Dengler] Louisville, KY, a city boasting such quirky celebrities as Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and John Colgan, the inventor of chewing gum, is also home to Denise Cunningham, a paralegal for M. Lynne Osterholt, Attorney at Law.
It’s there, in the nation’s 16th largest city,
Cunningham, like most in the legal field,
are also very civic minded in Louisville and
that Cunningham keeps busy in the small
enjoys winning and says winning a case is
take part in many community activities.”
firm which specializes in family and criminal
always an emotional highlight for her. Cunningham’s advice to budding paralegals
law. Between doing her paralegal work, performing various management duties, and
“We had a very difficult 114-plaintiff medical
is a reflection of her positive experience with
keeping the firm’s books, this “Louisvillian”
malpractice case several years ago that
the Louisville Association of Paralegals.
is a jack of all trades, and she wouldn’t have
ended very successfully. That was the best
it any other way.
day of my career,” she said. “There was a
“My advice to students would be to get
very significant criminal element that got us
involved with their student paralegal
Cunningham first met Osterholt while she
involved at the very onset and, subsequently,
association and also join the local paralegal
was working in the Public Defenders Office,
turned into a huge medical malpractice
association so they will have support when
and when Osterholt started her own firm
case.”
needed. Also, learn about all the different areas of the law where paralegals can
and asked Cunningham to come aboard as a paralegal, she couldn’t refuse. She’s now
Cunningham first became interested in law
work—corporate, government, and law firms.
been with Osterholt for 26 years and still
in college; and after graduating from the
They are all so different,” she said.
enjoys it immensely.
University of Dayton with a B.S., she worked in government for a short time.
Cunningham values real-world education as much as traditional education and feels that
“I like the area of law and the diversity of each case,” she said. “I also like the
“I found paralegal work to be challenging and
the combination of both helped prepare her
ambiance of a small firm; it allows for more
interesting,” she said. “I went to night school
for the field of law.
flexibility and doesn’t seem to be as tense
at the University of Louisville and obtained an
as the larger firms. The larger firms do offer
A.A.S. in paralegal studies. I’ve always liked
“My education made me disciplined. It
more support staff and amenities, but I am
the work and the profession.”
also heightened my ability to reason when preparing for a project. My life experiences
used to this environment and like it.” Since becoming a paralegal, Cunningham
taught me tolerance and patience, and I think
In fact, it is the lack of a large support staff
has been a founding member and the 1995
both those qualities are important in the law
that allows Cunningham to be a part of
President of the Louisville Association of
business,” she said.
many different aspects of the firm, and this
Paralegals, an organization she is proud to
is something she enjoys. Having various
be a part of.
When asked if she would have done anything differently during the course of her career,
responsibilities in different areas gives her position a variety that makes the job more
“The Louisville Association of Paralegals is
Cunningham said, “I would have probably
interesting.
an excellent local paralegal organization.
gone on to finish law school, but I like my
We have been in existence since 1978 and
job and the responsibilities, as well as the
“Probably because we do not have a large
have a highly developed network,” she said.
wages.”
support staff, I sometimes feel the pressure
“Our newsletter, Para*graphs, is exemplary,
of wearing several hats; but I still enjoy my
as well as our seminars and luncheons. Our
Overall, Cunningham enjoys her position as
several responsibilities in management as
board, as well as our committee chairs, is
a paralegal and the different challenges she
well as working on a large project,” she said.
very dedicated and always stands ready to
faces daily, but she is also aware that times
assist our members in any way possible. We
are changing and bringing new challenges.
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PROFILE
She feels that staying abreast of new developments in the field of technology is important for those working in the field of law, as well as all other fields. “Technology is moving fast, and I think it is very important to keep up with the everchanging technological advances happening today. Those who oppose the technological change within the world will ultimately be left behind and in the dark,� she said.
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