1.800. 973. 1177
PROFILE
Kathleen Leroy: Placement and Internship Coordinator for the Division of Extended Education, California State University, Los Angeles [Charisse Dengler] Drawing upon her background as a teacher, Kathleen Leroy is using her paralegal certificate to ensure that paralegal students at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), get a top-notch education.
“In my position at CSULA, I have the
“I approached the then-coordinator with an
As a teacher and a paralegal, Leroy is
opportunity to continually look for ways
idea for a lab class which I called ‘Litigation
particularly passionate about continued
to make the student paralegal’s learning
Skills for the Paralegal.’ I had been working
education, and she advises students to
experience more practical and interesting,”
on the idea for about two years and worked
remain teachable and continue learning
she said. “I am constantly on the lookout for
up a class which was based on projects
throughout their paralegal schooling and
new and inspiring instructors who actually
that I had been given to do on the job and
their careers.
work with paralegals, instructors who know
which I felt could be taught in school,” she
their area of the law and can teach it in a
said. “I taught that class for two years and
“I learn something new almost every day,”
practical way to the students.”
was eventually asked to be the co-program
she said. “I believe that when a person stops
coordinator.”
learning, they start moving backwards in
Leroy—who is Placement and Internship
life.”
Coordinator for CSULA’s certificate program
In her position at CSULA, Leroy is involved
in paralegal studies as well as a paralegal for
in the areas of instructor recruitment,
When it comes to the day-to-day
Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker,
internships, and graduate career
responsibilities of being a paralegal, Leroy
LLP—believes that paralegal education
development. She believes that the paralegal
appreciates a work environment that
programs are intrinsically valuable to the
program in general has improved immensely
challenges her.
legal field as a whole.
since she was a student.
“I believe that the certificate programs hold
“Our instructors at CSULA are 100% better
are usually very intelligent and most are
the future for new paralegals,” she said.
than when I attended the program at CSULA
hardworking,” she said. “The attorneys I have
“It used to be that a paralegal’s education
many years ago,” she said.
worked with demand excellence and a high
“I like working with attorneys because they
was in the hands of the attorneys who they
degree of competence from their paralegals.
worked for. If the attorney was interested in
One thing Leroy strives to deliver in her role
This keeps me on my toes. I like that I am
teaching the paralegal, they were very lucky
at CSULA is a paralegal curriculum that is
seen as a professional and as a member of
and learned a great deal. If, however, the
relevant and timely.
the team.”
explaining, then the paralegal would not have
“In addition to making classes practical
Leroy said she decided to go to work for
an opportunity to improve skills and obtain
at CSULA, we are trying to improve the
Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker,
experience.”
technical skills taught to the students. We
LLP, after hearing that the attorneys at
are committed to bringing the teaching of
the firm were interested in upgrading the
Leroy first became involved with the CSULA
litigation automation into the classroom,”
paralegals’ responsibilities. With her history
division of extended education when she
she said. “There is a fully appointed
at CSULA and her extensive experience as an
enrolled in its paralegal program as a
computer lab available, and we encourage
educator, she thought she might be able to
student. After working in elementary
our instructors to teach any computer skills
lend a helping hand.
education for 12 years, she was ready for
related to their area of the law. We are
a change. Once she had completed the
also developing a lineup of classes which
“The attorneys here are some of the best
program and worked as a paralegal for a
will cover the new developments in legal
I have ever worked with, and they are
while, she got an idea that would combine
automation areas.”
interested in paralegals,” she said.
attorney was not interested in training and
her new profession with her old.
PAGE
continued on back
PROFILE
Over the past 20 years, Leroy has worked for a long list of large Los Angeles firms, including O’Melveny & Meyers, Lillick & McHose, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, and Bowman & Brooke. “My first really exciting career experience was as lead paralegal in a very large litigation matter at Lillick & McHose,” she said. “The matter was a breach of contract case against an egg farm in Ventura County by a multinational Japanese corporation. L&M represented the Japanese firm, who were the plaintiffs—which was rather unusual.” “It turned out to be an extremely fast-paced litigation,” she said. “The complaint was filed in federal court in early February, and the trial was set for November of the same year. All of our documents were in Japanese and had to be translated and reviewed by a team of attorneys.” Leroy said it was also an emotional trial for L&M because it was the last one it would try before merging with Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, the largest merger of two firms up to that date. “The trial was physically exhausting, but a great experience,” she said. “I was in the courtroom every day preparing documents for the witnesses. Each night, we would prepare for the next day in court. The eventual outcome was great and resulted in a multimillion-dollar plaintiff verdict for the Japanese firm.” Leroy, who lives in a wooded area of La Crescenta, CA, near the Angeles Crest Mountains, plans to continue working toward improving paralegal education. She is a woman on a mission, combining her talents for the benefit of the profession; and she won’t stop until she’s convinced that paralegal students at CSULA have every resource they need to achieve their full potential.
PAGE
1. 800. 973.1177