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PROFILE
Paralegal Finds a Perfect Fit [by Regan Morris] Wendy S. Cathers was recently named “Rookie of the Year” by Legal Assistant Today magazine. LawCrossing speaks with the Richards Layton and Finger paralegal about her accomplishments and her decision to switch careers and become a paralegal.
Wendy S. Cathers wanted a profession, but
earned her bachelor’s degree in Decem-
tion. A major part of her role in the orga-
she didn’t know what to do with her life. She
ber. She left her job as a legal secretary
nization is helping paralegals network and
had worked as a secretary and in customer
and joined Richards Layton and Finger as a
access the latest information on changes and
service for credit card companies, which
paralegal. She persuaded her new employer
trends in the profession.
involved taking phone calls from often irate
to change the title from Legal Assistant to
customers. She says it wasn’t fun or very
Paralegal.
fulfilling.
“We’re trying to lead the members of our association into getting as much knowledge and
“I was instrumental in our firm changing the
getting as up to date with the current trends
reference from legal assistant to parale-
and regulations and just everything that’s
gals,” she said. “For me, it’s the proper
going on within the legal community here in
“I’ve always liked the law, and I was at a
recognition. I don’t see myself as a legal
Delaware and across the country,” she said.
crossroads in my career. I had worked as a
assistant. When I was working as a secretary,
“We offer training seminars to our members.
secretary. I had worked in customer service,
oftentimes I would call myself a legal as-
We have monthly luncheons where we have
and I wanted something in between, where I
sistant because I was assisting the attorneys
people come in and speak to us. In March,
was more involved in what was going on day
and the paralegals with what they needed to
we host a student day in which we have local
to day,” she said. “And I actually took one of
do. I see paralegal as more as a career and
paralegal students come in from the area
those career placement tests. You go to the
as a higher status per se.”
schools, as well as high school students
She wanted a job she could love, but what?
bookstore and buy one of those ‘what do you
come in who are interested in the profession.
want to be when you grow up’ kind of books,
Ms. Cathers was elected to the board of the
They shadow a paralegal for the morning,
and I figured out where my strengths were,
Delaware Paralegal Association soon after
and then they come to the luncheon, and we
where my weaknesses were.”
earning her degree, which is why her leader-
have an open forum question-and-answer
ship skills have been applauded.
session.”
make a great paralegal. The test must have
She says her work as a corporate and gen-
And best of all, Ms. Cathers no longer won-
been fairly accurate, because after just one
eral litigation paralegal has fulfilled her need
ders what to do with her life.
year as a paralegal, Ms. Cathers won the
to be heard and contribute instead of doing
Legal Assistant Today “Rookie of the Year”
more rote, menial work with little say in the
“I enjoy my job very much. There hasn’t
award.
decision-making process.
been a day yet where I’ve dreaded coming
Ms. Cathers, 35, said she was selected for
“I wanted some control over what I do, not
different. There’s always a new twist, a new
her leadership and dedication to the para-
just do this, do that, do this, do that type of
turn, a new way of presenting something, a
legal profession and to her firm in Wilming-
work,” she said. “Something where I can
new way to look at it, so it’s an ever-chang-
ton, DE. A friend and former colleague who
actually get in and contribute and be a part
ing area, but the core base facts of law are
worked with Ms. Cathers while she was a
of what’s going on, when my opinion is asked
always the same.”
legal secretary nominated her for the award.
and it matters.”
After taking the personality test, Ms. Cathers
Ms. Cathers, who moved to Delaware at 26
enrolled in the paralegal studies program
after getting married, is now the Director at
ticular area of the law or continue in a broad
in 1998 at Widener University, where she
Large for the Delaware Paralegal Associa-
litigation capacity. For now, each case is an
The results showed that Ms. Cathers would
into work. Law is the base, but every case is
Ms. Cathers says it’s too early in her career
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to decide if she wants to specialize in a par-
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