1. 800. 973.1177
PROFILE
Profile: Siobhan Smith; Corporate Paralegal; Steptoe & Johnson, LLP [by Regan Morris] Corporate paralegal Siobhan Smith comes from a long line of legal professionals and says there was never any doubt that she would pursue a career in the law. LawCrossing speaks to Smith about her career and the secrets to her success; she was recently named one of the top paralegals in the nation by legal author Carole Bruno.
Smith’s father was a judge; her brother is a
Other parts of corporate law in Britain are
research. It’s very interesting to me. It might
prosecutor; her mother worked in a law firm;
more efficient than in the United States. Fil-
not be interesting to the rest of the world,
and several of her cousins are attorneys. At
ings can all be done online, and the process
but I love it.”
age 18, Smith said she knew she wanted to
is centralized through Companies House.
join the family business.
In the United States, one would have to file
Smith has been with Steptoe since 1991,
with an individual state depending on the
aside from a 10-month stint when she was
company’s location.
lured away by another firm. Steptoe missed
Smith’s first legal job was in the account-
Smith, and she missed it. When the firm
ing department of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP. During college, she earned her paralegal
“Here, you have Companies House. That’s
certificate as she pursued a Bachelor of
where you form your company. It’s very con-
Science and eventually moved to a paralegal
venient,” she said. “The language differences
Smith was thrilled to learn that she had been
position within the firm.
are great. It’s been challenging, but very,
nominated as one of the top-15 paralegals
very interesting. I love it.”
for Carole Bruno’s book. The paralegal
Smith intended to go to law school, but she
called and asked her to come back, she did.
manager and several partners at the firm
also wanted to start a family and worried
Smith, like many legal professionals, initially
nominated her. What’s the secret to her suc-
about juggling the long hours of an attorney
wanted to pursue a career in criminal law.
cess? Be open-minded, get the job done, and
with the demands of raising children. While
But when she discovered corporate law, she
keep smiling.
many of her colleagues and family still urge
knew she’d found her niche.
her to attend law school, Smith said the
“I would say the number-one thing is to “I bounced around in all different practice
communicate with everyone around you and
areas, and I loved litigation. The hundreds
to keep it really short and sweet,” she said.
“I get my legal fix from nine to five, and then I
of boxes were a little daunting. And it just so
“Attorneys don’t want to hear how awful it
go home to my kids. In my mind, it’s the best
happens that at one point, they had this very
was or how hard it was for you to get the fil-
of both worlds because I don’t know too many
large transaction, and the corporate para-
ing through. They want to hear the filing was
lawyers who get to leave at five every day,”
legal at the firm at the time asked if I would
made on this date, evidence is on the way.”
she said.
consider helping her even though I had no
paralegal profession is a perfect fit for her.
Normally based in the DC office, Smith has
corporate experience,” she said. “I jumped
If you complain about how difficult your job
on it and loved it. And I decided that was it.”
is, you’re unlikely to rise through the ranks
been working from the firm’s London office
and get more responsibility, she said.
for the last eight months and plans to stay a
In corporate law, Smith said she felt she was
few more years. While the U.S. legal system
getting more responsibility and she doesn’t
“Stay positive and keep smiling. Out here in
is based on English Common Law, there are
have to deal with as many documents, which
Britain, the same thing goes, and I think it’s
many differences between American and
she disliked while in litigation practice.
true in any profession,” she said. “People
British corporate law. For example, appoint-
just don’t want to hear your stories; they
ing a company director in the United States
“I was doing much more substantive work as
want to know what the problem is and how
is simple and does not require government
a corporate paralegal than I was in any other
you propose to fix it.”
agency. In Britain, the process, which Smith
practice area,” she said. “And in corporate
says can be “convoluted,” involves numerous
law, I actually draft documents. I coordi-
forms.
nate the transactions, and I do a lot of great
PAGE