1. 800. 973.1177
PROFILE
Profile: Patricia Gustin, Certified Legal Assistant and Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, Harrisburg, PA [by Regan Morris] Paralegal and fire investigator is a unique blend. And Patricia “Pat” Gustin is a unique character. LawCrossing speaks with Ms. Gustin about her varied and colorful career.
Pat Gustin was always drawn to law enforce-
Coordinator.
“I take the cases for the expert from start to finish. It’s from when the incident happened
ment. She considered a career as a police
until the time of trial. And maybe even some-
officer. Then she considered becoming a
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business
corporate paralegal. But the “who done it”
from Penn State in 1986 and worked as a
times during the trial, depending on what
aspect of investigations was her real passion.
legal assistant and then became a state grant
kind of information comes out of the trial.”
Her thirst for facts and knack for solving
program manager, with responsibility for
problems have worked well in her unique
14 nonprofit organizations and an $825,000
Ms. Gustin builds her “Bible” of a case by
business as a freelance paralegal and fire
annual budget. That unit lost its funding, and
reading all the documents involved in a case,
investigator.
Ms. Gustin decided it was time to move to the
doing a fact review, and, if she is investigating
private sector.
the physical fire scene herself, she writes an
Ms. Gustin became a paralegal for love of
opinion on the fire.
the law. She became a fire investigator by
Ms. Gustin, 50, returned to the legal field full
chance—and she loves both.
time in 1996 when she started working free-
Investigating a fire scene requires photo-
lance for UBA Fire Inc., which investigates
graphic skills and drafting skills too, because
In 1996, Ms. Gustin began working as a
the origins and causes of fires and explo-
the investigator may have to draw a diagram
freelance paralegal for an expert witness,
sions. UBA’s clients include multi-national
of the scene.
focusing on complex litigation involving fires
manufacturers, gas pipeline companies, gas
and explosions. She was handling more and
distribution companies, public utilities, at-
“No two cases are alike either, so that’s what
more cases and fact reviews for them, and it
torneys and insurance companies.
makes this fascinating,” she said. “I freelance
was noted that Ms. Gustin would make a good inspector. She jumped at the chance. “I really enjoy the investigation field, and as I
for them (UBA). It’s kind of an unusual posiMs. Gustin also does contract work for at-
tion. I also offer my services to attorneys as
torneys, but UBA was and remains her chief
well, and I’ve done jobs for a couple different
client.
solo practitioners. One deals with ethics law
said before the paralegal skills, they just fall
and the other one just wanted some research
into line,” she said. “You have dig to the bot-
“I’m very strong in the product liability litiga-
done. But my specialty really is product liabil-
tom of the floor at times. I don’t care about
tion area,” she said. “A lot of our cases, cases
ity, along with the fire and explosion cases.”
the dirt. I’m there to solve a puzzle. Believe
that involve fire and explosions, many times
me, you get dirty, honey, you do. I swear my
involve a product or a service. What an origin
Ms. Gustin, who often writes articles for
coveralls could stand up by themselves a
and cause investigator does is they go out to
“Facts and Findings” and has been active
couple of times.”
a fire scene, and, based on your investigation,
in various paralegal associations, said she
you need to pinpoint what your area of origin
was honored and surprised to be included in
Ms. Gustin, who grew up in Harrisburg with
would be, that would be what location in the
the upcoming book, “Lessons From the Top
seven siblings, started her career in the
house or what location in the building the fire
Paralegal Experts.”
1970s as a secretary and stenographer for
may have started.”
the state of Pennsylvania. She worked for a
Ms. Gustin said fire investigation and para-
state welfare fraud investigation unit, work-
She does not investigate arson fires—that’s
legal work go hand in hand but that the fire
ing her way up to various legal positions
for the public sector, police and fire depart-
investigation world can be difficult to break
with the state for 23 years. She was eventu-
ments.
into. She was lucky in that she worked with
ally promoted to Agency Regulatory Review
PAGE 1
investigators each day as their legal support
continued on back