1. 800. 973.1177
FEATURE
Meredith Steirer; President, Cleveland Association of Paralegals; Cleveland, OH [Charisse Dengler] Meredith Steirer says she tries to live life to the fullest with no regrets, and she’s not kidding. Among working as a senior paralegal at Swartz Campbell, LLC, heading up the Cleveland Association of Paralegals, and jetting off to foreign lands, Steirer’s life is so full that it is practically spilling over.
Steirer, who has been a paralegal for eight
“On any given day, I sort through 100-plus
“Having trained that person for many hours—
years, has worked at Swartz Campbell,
emails, multiple telephone calls, in-house
we got to know each other. Eventually,
LLC—a firm specializing in toxic tort and
requests and assignments, breakdown
we became friends. This made it difficult
asbestos cases—since it opened in April
billing percentages, check an online docket,
when I had to evaluate work product and
2002. Upon graduating, she worked as a file
review medical records, network, train new
performance,” she said. “What I have learned
clerk and then a legal secretary in the areas
and old personnel, maintain 90,000-plus-
is, if you are courteous and nice and conduct
of collection, medical malpractice, personal
file databases, take telephone conferences,
yourself in a professional manner, then
injury, and appellate law.
etc.,” she said.
usually compromises can be met and there
Steirer admits that at first, she was
However, the variety of tasks doesn’t seem
disappointed at the process she had to go
to bother Steirer, who says she enjoys the
Over the course of her career as a paralegal,
through to get a position as a paralegal, but
flexibility of her job.
Steirer has experienced numerous emotional
are no hard feelings.”
highlights.
now she sees the process as beneficial. “The Swartz Campbell Cleveland office is “I can honestly say that because I held those
a satellite office; so I have the backing of a
“In 2001, I was the only paralegal
positions, it made me the diligent paralegal
big firm, while still working in a small firm
(accompanied by three attorneys) to be flown
I am today,” she said. “It is imperative to
environment,” she said. “I get to perform an
to a high-powered meeting in Chicago,”
realize that every position is an important
array of responsibilities, duties, tasks, and
she said. “In 2002, I co-authored an article
one and, at some point in your life, you are
assignments that most paralegals do not.”
with the managing partner of my firm that
going to need help from people in those
went out to 250-plus clients. In 2004, I was
positions. Understanding, respecting, and
Steirer, who found her current job through an
elected to be president of my local paralegal
getting along with people in various positions
advertisement in a local newspaper, decided
association. In 2006, I was nominated for
makes your job all the more easier, not to
to become a paralegal because she wanted
Legal Assistant Today’s Paralegal of the Year
mention builds a solid reputation for you as a
to be able to support herself without going to
Award, as well as the NFPA Paralegal of the
working professional.”
college for a long period of time.
Year Award and NFPA’s Local Outstanding
In fact, she even encourages recent
“Having watched my three older sisters all
graduates to work as legal secretaries.
graduate from college and be unemployed
Steirer urges future paralegals to get
for six to eight months, I knew I had to pick
involved in their local paralegal association
“I highly recommend working as a legal
a field that was high in demand and would
as soon as they get out of school, advice that
secretary before an entry-level paralegal,”
also pay well,” she said. “The paralegal
she wishes she would’ve followed herself.
she said. “You’ll learn more than you know,
profession was my answer.”
Leadership Award.”
and you will be promoted to paralegal faster.”
“I became a member of my local association Steirer says one of the more difficult
as soon as I graduated, but I never got
challenges she has faced as a paralegal
involved. I feel if I would have been more
For Steirer, an average day at the office is a
occurred when she was promoted to
active, it would have opened up more job
study in the art of multitasking.
senior paralegal and was given the task of
opportunities for me, as well as enlarged my
overseeing another paralegal.
network,” she said.
PAGE
continued on back
FEATURE
However, Steirer has since made up for lost time and currently serves as President of the Cleveland Association of Paralegals, where her duties include, but are not limited to, being supervisor, advocate, liaison, and visionary for CAP. She prepares the association’s agenda, reviews and approves all written materials, writes or delegates a column for the newsletter, and oversees the daily operations of the association and its board members. “In my opinion, a local paralegal association brings a huge value to an individual as well as the community,” she said. “It not only keeps you in touch with what’s going on in your community and your fellow colleagues, [but] it also keeps you aware of what’s going on at a national level. It broadens your network and opens more doors professionally and personally than you could ever do on your own.” Steirer, an experienced traveler, has already visited Spain, Hawaii, Ireland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caicos/Turk Islands, the Mexican Riviera, Belize, and Peru and is currently looking forward to exploring Africa this summer. In addition, she is an animal rights activist and an avid gardener, and she has no plans of slowing down. “Between work, CAP, and my social life, I keep pretty busy,” she said, “…and, I’m happy to say, I couldn’t imagine my life any differently.”
PAGE
1.800. 973. 1177