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Phyllis Tidwell: Paralegal for Vinson & Elkins, LLP, in Houston, TX [By Charisse Dengler] As a paralegal for Vinson & Elkins, LLP, Phyllis Tidwell is mainly responsible for managing complex litigation cases. In addition, she serves on the firm’s pro bono advisory board, where she works with an attorney on cases from the area Volunteer Lawyer Association, and she also coordinates and manages the firm’s Innocence Project work.
Tidwell, who has been a paralegal for 23
“I’ve worked with some of the best attorneys
was a very private person, and few people
years now, said she fell into the paralegal
in the business, and I have the best support
knew at that particular time,” she said. “He
profession by accident. Her first job after
staff,” she said. “I’ve worked on great
told me that I had to learn to balance my life-
college was with an international marine-
teams and some interesting cases. Equally
that I had to get the work done but that my
product company that she was put into
important to me, I’ve been able to work on
son should always be my first priority. I took
contact with by an employment agency.
some pro bono and community projects and
that advice to heart and applied it to the rest
During her time with the company, a
been given an opportunity to give back to the
of my life. I worked whatever hours I needed
Middle Eastern oil platform exploded, and
community. My job has also given me the
to get the job done, but I can honestly say
a paralegal was sent out to get information
flexibility that I needed as a single parent.”
that I never missed my son’s extracurricular activities. I learned to manage my time both
about the types of products Tidwell’s company produced. Tidwell was assigned
Tidwell’s son, Philip, is 21 and is currently
professionally and personally. Sometimes
to assist the paralegal, and she was very
attending Texas Southern University. He is a
that meant sacrificing the huge raises and
interested in the type of work the paralegal
huge part of her life.
bonuses because I didn’t have the highest hours, but time spent with my son and
was doing. “He and I are very close, and I’ve had to
ensuring that he had stability in his life was
When her company began laying people off
learn to let go and let him grow,” she said.
more important to me.”
after the explosion, Tidwell went back to her
“Sometimes I think that he hasn’t heard me,
previous employment agency, which sent
and then he surprises me and responds to
Tidwell has bachelor’s and master’s degrees
her to Vinson & Elkins to interview for a
a situation [in a way] that shows me that he
in sociology, and she feels that her education
paralegal position. She recalled her interest
was listening after all.”
helped prepare her for dealing with all types of people in all types of situations. It also
in the type of work the paralegal she met had done, and after some encouragement from
Throughout the course of her career, Tidwell
helps her to control her stress levels and to
her cousin who had worked as a summer
has always put her son first, before her
maintain a professional and positive attitude
intern with Vinson & Elkins, she interviewed
professional responsibilities and goals, and
that reflects well on her firm.
for and accepted the position.
she is extremely thankful for the attorney who hired her and the compassion he has
“I’ve come to an understanding that my work
“Initially, I didn’t like the work because I
shown her and her son. During her first trial
reflects not only me but [also] the attorney
started out page checking, and I kept telling
at the firm, she was not only learning how
in charge and, ultimately, the firm,” she
myself that this wasn’t what I went to college
to prepare for court, but she was also going
said. “My pastor teaches, ‘Find out who’s
for,” she said. “In hindsight, I’m glad that is
through a divorce. The attorney was nothing
in charge, find out what they want you to
where I began my career because I gained
but understanding about her needs to bring
do, and then do it.’ I’ve applied that simple
insightful knowledge about the litigation
her son to the office or leave to go get him
principle to my life, especially at work.
process and, specifically, the discovery
from daycare, and she has never forgotten
Another principle is that I can’t control
process from the beginning through the end.”
the kindness he showed her.
people or their reactions and responses to
Some of Tidwell’s favorite parts of her
“After the trial and my evaluation, the
is myself and my reaction/response to people
job are the people, the flexibility, and the
attorney told me that he had no idea what I
and situations. My goal is always to give my
diversity of the assignments she gets to
was going through regarding my divorce and
best and provide the best work product that
work on.
subsequent problems after the divorce. I
will reflect well on the firm.”
situations. The only thing that I can control
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Neighborhood Centers, Inc.
On the Net
autobiographies and historical books, and
When asked if she had any advice for
State Bar of Texas
volunteering. In addition, she is a member
paralegal students, Tidwell said, “Ask
www.texasbar.com
of Mt. Corinth Missionary Baptist Church,
questions, ask questions, ask questions.
a member of the Paralegal Division of the
[Have] patien ce with people. Control
State Bar of Texas, a committee member
your response and reaction to others and
of the Texas Friends of TransAfrica Forum,
situations. And lastly, we can’t all be Erin
and Ripley House Advisory Board Chair for
Brockovich.”
Tidwell currently lives in Houston, TX. In
1. 800.973.1177
her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading
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TransAfrica Forum www.transafricaforum.org Vinson & Elkins, LLP www.velaw.com