PARALEGAL PROFILE
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Rachel R. Keyo: Paralegal at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Boston, MA [By Judith Earley] Rachel R. Keyo describes her mother as a truly strong and amazing woman who instilled in her the truth that there is nothing she cannot accomplish.
And it is with that conviction that Keyo excels
Keyo said that she truly loves her work as
in the seats next to her entire family. I felt
as a paralegal working within the corporate
a paralegal. Although she enjoys all of the
so honored to be there. I found myself crying
and securities group of the Boston office of
corporate assignments she is given, she
at the end of the ceremony,” said Keyo.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP, an international
most enjoys private equity/private placement
law firm with more than 1,500 attorneys and
work and Blue Sky assignments. On the flip
Another skill set that Keyo brings to the
professionals working in 29 locations across
side, one of her most difficult challenges is
table is her fluency in French and Haitian
the United States, Europe, and Asia.
dealing with attorneys who do not know how
Kreyol. Her language skills have allowed her
to properly utilize paralegals within their
to serve as a translator when meeting with
firms.
clients and at administrative hearings while
Keyo assists attorneys and shareholders and has
working in a small law firm.
a wide variety of U.S. and international clients. “Many times, attorneys will handle Her assignments involve day-to-day
assignments that a paralegal can do. This
Keyo said that she considers her
operations, general corporate maintenance,
to me is an inefficient use of time and money
membership in the Massachusetts Paralegal
acquisitions, divestitures, structuring, and the
that we bill to our clients,” said Keyo.
Association quite valuable. It keeps her current with changes in many areas of
financing of various business transactions. Keyo’s compassion and dedication are not
the law, provides her with a networking
“I am also responsible for managing the
limited to her work at the office. Shelter
forum of colleagues, and allows her to
formation of entities, preparing initial
Legal Services Foundation, Inc., is an
support and promote her profession. Her
corporate documents, closing certificates,
organization that provides legal services to
advice for students who are preparing to
managing due diligence requests, and
homeless and low-income individuals. Keyo
become paralegals is to gain experience by
executing closing sets, in addition to
volunteers at the organization’s legal clinics,
volunteering with pro bono organizations and
preparing Blue Sky securities filings with the
which are conducted at shelters in Boston
joining paralegal associations in their states.
Securities and Exchange Commission and
and Cambridge. “Working on pro bono matters and
various state securities divisions,” said Keyo. “While working on client cases, I met some
volunteering to assist attorneys in providing
The law has always interested Keyo, but she
truly amazing people who often at times
legal services played a major role. These
was not certain she wanted to become a lawyer.
knew more about the law process than
experiences taught me to interact with
myself and the supervising attorneys,”
clients, pay attention to detail, manage my
“While attending Northeastern University
said Keyo. “These people were filled with
time, and become very organized,” said Keyo.
and participating in their co-op program,
gratitude for all the work we did for them.” On the Net
I was hired to work in a small law firm as an entry-level paralegal. I truly enjoyed
Clients express their thanks in many ways.
the assignments and my responsibilities.
For example, Keyo handled an immigration
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
That position confirmed my interest in the
case for a woman seeking to obtain her
www.gtlaw.com/home.aspx
paralegal profession,” she said.
residency card so that she could become a citizen.
She found her current job through legal-
City of Boston www.cityofboston.gov
recruiting and placement firm Beacon
“Following many years of preparation and
Hill Staffing, which forwarded her resume
process, she was granted citizenship and
Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc
to Leanne Plant in the Boston office of
invited me to the ceremony where she would
www.shelterlegalservices.org
Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
be sworn in as a United States citizen. I sat
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