Meeting the Moment

with public access kiosk devices that provide the public with access to AOC legacy and Odyssey case management data,” Wilson wrote. “If home Internet is not available, Internet accessible computers can be found at most public libraries along with access to the online AOC Odyssey case management system.”

Despite their frustrations, Porter and Kohari remain optimistic that the system will bene t the courts, attorneys, paralegals, and the public when it begins operating smoothly.

“I think that with some tweaking to speci cally tailor the trainings to how the portal actually works, it could be a great tool for folks,” Porter said.

And while Kohari recognizes it might take time to get the issues resolved, she is committed to keep trying.

“I’m just going to keep uploading les and hope for the best,” she said.

Teri Saylor is a freelance writer in Raleigh, N.C. Contact her at terisaylor@gmail.com

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Continued from Page 28 sections.

“It’s a pretty-good sized panel, and we tell our prospective interns in advance what they’ll be facing,” she said. “ e reason I chose to do it this way is because not only do we get to interview and evaluate the interns, they have a chance to ask questions of paralegals who have been in the business for a long time. A er interns come on board, mentors are available to show them the ropes and help them feel welcome. ey quickly become part of their rm’s family, attending rmwide and local o ce activities.

“Once a month, we have a rmwide happy hour on a giant Zoom call and we talk about what’s going on,” Denoyer said. “I encourage it because it’s a great way for them to learn our rm culture, and how an o ce works.”

Recently Denoyer joined the Paralegal Advisory Committee at Durham Technical Community College, a group that provides guidance and advice to the paralegal program faculty and administrators and helps ensure that the program meets the needs of students and the community.

Precious Vines Harris, director of the Durham Tech paralegal technology program says enrollment, at around 80 students, is strong. She regularly elds requests for interns coming from law rms across the Triangle area of North Carolina, the Attorney General’s o ce, and a variety of businesses and nonpro ts.

“We have a good mix of students who are

 Continued from Page 32 chapter of NALS, the National Association for Legal Support Professionals. Visit www lspsc.org to learn more.

■ Ward and Smith attorney and paralegal chaired 2023 4All Probono day of service looking for real work experiences to match what they are learning in class,” she said in a phone interview.

Attorneys and paralegal across North Carolina convened virtually and in person on March 3 for the 4All Probono day of service.

Harris and Durham Tech have been working with Ward and Smith from the beginning. Next month the college is convening a partnership collective to cultivate relationships with business and industry.

“Building alliances and creating relationships will help us learn where employers have gaps and how we can help meet their needs,” Harris said.

A boost in confidence

Courtney Holliday and Paris Jarmon are former Ward and Smith interns who landed full-time jobs at the rm in New Bern.

Holliday is a legal administrative assistant in the rm’s Business Law Section. She says her internship gave her a boost of self-con dence and a head start when she started her professional career.

“I felt I had an advantage since I have been able to work with other paralegals rsthand and learn from them while completing my degree,” she wrote in an email. “During my internship, I had projects in every practice area of the rm, so it also helped me learn what areas of law I enjoyed working in.”

Jarmon also appreciated the practical work experience. She is a real estate legal administrative assistant.

“It wasn’t as though we were shadowing the other paralegals at Ward and Smith, but we were actually given assignments that professional paralegals do on a day-to-day basis,” she wrote.

In addition to bringing in college interns,

Ward and Smith attorney Jeremy Wilson and paralegal Stephanie Crosby are co-chairing this year’s initiative, which the rm calls one of the “most extensive pro bono legal projects in the state to help those in need.” e day is a collaborative e ort between the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Foundation to provide free legal services to those who cannot a ord it.

Wilson and Crosby are coordinating with local organizations throughout the state. eir e orts includein helping recruit

Ward and Smith is planning ahead, with a program that exposes high school students to careers in law.

Working with area high school career counselors, the rm recruits kids to help out in its o ce services department, work in records and reception and spend time in the mailroom.

“ is spotlights the professions in the legal eld that high school students don’t necessarily think of,” Denoyer said. “You may think jobs in law mean becoming an attorney or maybe paralegal, but you don’t know all the other positions we have at a law rm and we hope someday they’ll be interested in working at our rm.

For Denoyer an ideal paralegal intern is open and inquisitive.

“Sometimes our interns come in with their minds made up, and it’s interesting to learn how their opinions evolve over time,” she said. “For example, some come in thinking they will hate family law and then go out loving it. is experience opens their minds.”

And for most of the students, their internship reinforces their decision to become a paralegal.

Holliday says her experience made her feel more secure in her career choice.

“I enjoyed working here as an intern and I was thrilled to be o ered a full-time position because I was dreading leaving the rm a er my internship ended,” she wrote. “Working with fulltime paralegals and helping with projects rsthand got me excited about lling a paralegal role myself.”

Teri Saylor is a freelance writer in Raleigh, N.C. Contact her at terisaylor@gmail.com volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students from across North Carolina to provide free legal assistance in matters such as family law, immigration issues, eviction, and others.

“One call can be a lifeline for someone facing an otherwise impossible situation,” Stephanie said in a report on the rm’s website. “It’s why initiatives like 4ALL are so important, and it’s been a pleasure to be part of the e ort. I encourage every attorney, paralegal, and law student to donate their time.”