1. 800. 973.1177
LEGAL STAFF TRAINING CORNER
Profile: Louise McGuire, Paralegal, Vollmer, Rulong & Keating [8-09-04 by Regan Morris] From a waitress to a paralegal in eight years, Louise McGuire is now looking to go even further -- her love of the law has inspired her to go to law school. One of many who seek to join their bosses after starting out as a paralegal, McGuire explains why she thinks working at a small firm is advantageous to her future.
Eight years ago, Louise McGuire was a wait-
law at night ever since. She finished her first
sion. Doing the basic stuff that people need
ress wondering what to do with her life. She
year of law school fourth out of a class of 74.
- closings on their home, writing a will. I just
worked as a secretary after high school and
Last year, she ranked ninth.
think that would be a great service. To be a family lawyer, that does all the little stuff for
soon after started in the restaurant business, serving drinks to doctors, artists, profes-
Now, her dream is to finish school, gain
sional athletes, writers and lawyers - lots of
some experience at a big firm, and eventu-
lawyers. Today, at 33, McGuire is a paralegal at
you.”
ally open her own firm. While many attorneys
While she earned an A+ in her recent trial
groan about the years of study, McGuire wor-
advocacy class, where students practice
ries that she is addicted to academia.
arguing cases, the thought of litigation intimidates McGuire.
Vollmer, Rulong & Keating in Pittsburgh and one of the top ten students in her class at
“To be honest with you, if I hit the lottery, I
Duquesne Law School. Next year, she will
would try to get into med school,” she said.
“It’s one of those things that makes me a
graduate and hopes to join a bigger firm.
“But I think at this point it would be a little
little nervous,” she said. “I’m kind of com-
ridiculous if I just kept going to school. I
petitive so it might be something I’m really
McGuire says it was her experience in the
should actually get out there in the real
good at in real practice. I’m not sure. But I
service industry that made her want to be-
world at some point.”
remember being just really gung ho, thinking
come a lawyer.
‘I’m winning this,’ and I did.” While her primary work as a paralegal has
“It was the best education I received,” she
been in corporate and bankruptcy law, she
McGuire says the key to working and study-
told LawCrossing. “I met… and talked to so
envisions a move into family law.
ing fulltime is having an understanding and
many interesting people, so many bright
supportive employer. “Our office is so small,
people. And I think it really set a fire under
“I’ve never worked in that area at all, so my
so actually most of the work that I do is more
me to do something more with my life.”
interest is rooted in my psychology back-
like what a young associate would do at an-
ground. I think I just like the idea of helping
other firm. So I have probably more respon-
She started studying part-time and got her
people on a more personal level. But I’ve
sibility than paralegals do at big firms.”
undergraduate degree in psychology at Point
heard it’s pretty hellacious, so I don’t know.
Park College. A regular customer, Charles
Somebody’s got to do it. It does interest me.”
Vollmer, recognized her skills and hired her
She’s taking a day class next semester and will come to work late on Mondays, for
as a paralegal in January, 1997, based on her
She envisions her future practice as the legal
office skills and winning personality.
version of a primary care physician, offering basic legal services to families.
“From working [for] a period of time, being
example. “They’re wonderful,” she says of the firm. “People have told me paralegals can make
more secure, talking on the phone with attor-
McGuire, who is engaged to be married to a
so much more money somewhere else, but I
neys and feeling comfortable with the work I
business and bankruptcy attorney, says she
have so many benefits that aren’t monetary
was doing, I started thinking I could [become
is an idealist and eternal optimist with the
working at Chuck’s office. It wouldn’t make
a lawyer]. Because, initially, I think I lacked
drive to venture out on her own.
any sense for me to leave.”
“Just like a general family practitioner. It
But she does plan to leave eventually, with
doesn’t really exist, but that’s what I envi-
her firm’s support, and perhaps one day
some confidence.” She has been working full time and studying
PAGE 1
LEGAL STAFF TRAINING CORNER
she’ll be the founding partner of the Louise McGuire law offices.
PAGE 2
1.800. 973. 1177