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PROFILE
Profile: Jan Ezell, paralegal, Alston & Bird in Atlanta [by Regan Morris] Who says big firms are staid? LawCrossing speaks with paralegal Jan Ezell about her ever-changing career at Alston & Bird in Atlanta and why the firm is considered one of the best places to work.
Corporate paralegal Jan Ezell has been
for extensions this year to comply with provi-
trips for the entire company. This year, the
with Alston & Bird for 20 years, and she has
sions of the Act that kicked in this year. The
company is going to Charleston, SC, for the
witnessed major changes in the firm. When
changing laws are a challenge for Ezell.
weekend.
150 attorneys. Now there are more than 700
“I suppose it could be intimidating, but I think
The firm provides Certified Legal Education
in the Atlanta-headquartered firm.
it’s good to have the challenge and to grow
meetings and training, but does not require
professionally,” said Ezell.
CLE certification. Ezell said her lack of a
she started with the firm, there were about
paralegal certificate has not been a problem,
Ezell, 44, has done some litigation work, but she prefers corporate law.
If you’re interested in becoming a corporate
but could be in other firms and many corpo-
paralegal, Ezell recommends taking some
rations. But Alston & Bird is so big, it feels
financial courses.
like a corporation.
said. “I think it gives paralegals a lot more
“It would probably be helpful to have some
“It’s become more like working for a corpora-
opportunity to have a lot more responsibility.
business background, accounting courses, or
tion than a law firm, and that just happens, I
I don’t do the same thing the lawyers do. I
whatever because you do work with financial
think, when you get to be this big,” she said.
don’t get involved in the negotiation of docu-
statements,” she said. “We work closely with
ments, but it can be pretty heady stuff.”
the big accounting firms, which are involved
Ezell has taken advantage of the firm’s tuition
when we do SEC filings and then sometimes
reimbursement.
“Our firm really does a little bit of everything, but I definitely prefer the corporate side,” she
A political science major at Auburn University
involved when we do mergers and acquisi-
in Alabama, Ezell worked in law firms part
tions.”
“If you take classes that relate to what you do, the firm reimburses you for half of the tu-
time throughout college. That experience and a few law classes convinced her she wanted a
In 2003, Alston & Bird was ranked third in
ition and supplies, etc.,” she said. “I took two
legal career. She started as a legal secretary
Fortune’s list “The 100 Best Companies to
accounting courses and a corporate finance
and considered going to law school.
Work For”—the first law firm ever to make
course at Georgia State University a couple of
the top five. In 2004, it moved up to number
years ago. It was really enjoyable.”
Originally from San Antonio, TX, Ezell moved
two. The firm’s ranking slipped to 36 in 2005.
to Atlanta shortly after college and worked as
Working full time and studying two nights a
a secretary for Alston & Bird. After about a
Ezell credited the casual atmosphere, com-
year, she was promoted to corporate parale-
pany perks, and amenities with the firm’s
gal, learning the craft on the job. She enjoys
success. The firm has a day care center,
“I just really didn’t have a life outside work
the sophisticated business of her job and has
partial tuition reimbursement, and approach-
and school,” she said.
taken corporate accounting classes at night,
able bosses.
week was a bit overwhelming, Ezell said.
But the courses paid off, especially given that
subsidized by the firm. “We’re casual,” she said. “There’re no more
she had a liberal arts education, with little
“Even after doing it for 20 years, I do feel I’m
suits and pantyhose around here and hasn’t
finance background.
still challenged,” she said. “And I think it’s
been for several years. It’s not a real formal
just because laws change. Obviously, there’s
place. You call everybody, even the managing
“We do general corporate work, mergers
been a lot of change with respect to public
partner, by their first names. But we repre-
and acquisitions—either seller side or buyer
companies, with the Sarbanes-Oxley [Act], so
sent very sophisticated clients.”
side—some securities work, initial public offerings, secondary offerings,” she said. “I was
things are always changing.” The firm, which has approximately 100
thinking about law school and have thought
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is the 2002 corporate
paralegals, has monthly lunches, quarterly
about it over the years, but at this point, I’m
governance law. Many companies have asked
get-togethers, CLE meetings, and weekend
not going to pursue it.”
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