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Brian Baxter: Legal Assistant at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, PLLC, in Washington, DC [By Charisse Dengler] As a legal assistant at Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, PLLC, in Washington, DC, Brian Baxter’s primary role is to prepare, file, and prosecute design applications, and he couldn’t be happier with where his career is at. When asked if there was someone who influenced his career the most along the way, Baxter named his parents.
“My parents have influenced my life greatly,”
When asked what he felt helped prepare him
“The legal assistant profession is so broad,
he said. “Just a few of the things they have
for the legal assistant profession, Baxter
and it is helpful to have a good idea of your
imparted to me that I constantly draw on are
said it was the prior experience he acquired
options in your work and to have a broad
‘always do a great job,’ ‘be professional,’
working in public libraries and law firm
scope of your job in the context of what
‘there are no dumb questions,’ ‘be prepared,’
libraries that helped the most.
others do at other firms.”
“The research and exposure to the many
Baxter’s advice to aspiring legal assistants is
‘keep trying,’ [and] ‘be responsible.’” Baxter’s favorite part of his job is working on
resources have greatly helped me in my day-
to be resourceful, ask questions, and be open
the different aspects of preparing patents.
to-day tasks,” he said.
to new opportunities. In his own career, if
He enjoys the fact that there is always room to grow in the area of patent law, and he likes learning new things every day. However, he did say that sometimes his job can be difficult, especially when he’s given a project that is due right away. “These are always the hardest because you never know if you’ve missed something,” he said. “The clock is against you, and sometimes you are not sure if you were expected to find anything. Sometimes it’s a search to confirm that nothing exists.” As for some of his biggest triumphs, Baxter said he has enjoyed the two times he has gotten to go to trial-times during which he worked “like a dog” but got to be there to celebrate the wins. He said another emotional highlight was the first time he
In addition, he feels that being part of a legal assistant association can help a legal assistant gain skills and further his or her career. “You never know it all, and it helps to learn from other people’s experiences,” he said. Q. What do you do for fun? A. Play and watch sports, projects around the house. Q. What CD was most recently in your CD player? A. Earth, Wind & Fire. Q. What is the last magazine you read? A. This Old House. Q. What is your favorite TV show? A. I am not a big TV-show person. Aside from sports, I am probably a news junkie and enjoy PBS specials.
saw a product that he had gotten a patent for hanging on a rack in a store; it helped him to see the end product of his hard work.
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he hadn’t been open to new opportunities, he wouldn’t be where he is today. “I’ve had a unique path that I didn’t really plan, and I am not sure if anything needs to be changed or altered,” he said. “I am pretty satisfied with the way things have gone for me.” On the Net Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, PLLC www.skgf.com/index.php Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox, PLLC’s Firm History www.skgf.com/about_us.php?page=about_ us&section=history Washington, DC www.washington.org
Q. Who is your role model? A. My parents are my role models.