Paralegal Spotlight: Anna Skaggs’ Journey to Becoming a Paralegal

By Peggy M. Pardue on behalf of the Communications Committee

Anna Skaggs is a North Carolina Certified Paralegal who was certified in 2016. She works for Collins Family & Elder Law Group in their Charlotte office.

Anna has been a Paralegal for her entire career and started her journey when she was just 19 years old. She will be celebrating 31 years in June of this year. Anna says, “when you know, you just know.” She had been considering law school but decided to look at the paralegal field. From the moment she sat in her first class at Marshall University, she never looked back or doubted that she made the right career choice. She is so thankful for the teachers, mentors, and attorneys who supported and guided her, and truly loves this work.

Anna’s first summer internship was with a small father/son law firm in Charleston, West Virginia, where they specialized in criminal defense and personal injury but also handled some wrongful death, medical malpractice, and workers compensation.  This internship morphed into a full-time position. The firm offered her a very flexible, hybrid schedule for the first three years, which allowed her to maintain her full-time student status and complete her paralegal degree. When Anna relocated to North Carolina in 2010, she transitioned to family law. Anna says, “there was a learning curve, but now I only wish I had started working in family law sooner!”

We took the time to connect with Anna and ask some questions to better understand who she is and what she enjoys. Below are her responses:

What are your major duties as a Paralegal?

After the initial client consultation, I am involved in every aspect of our cases until final resolution, including closing the file. My duties include, but are not limited to maintaining relationships as a continuous point of contact (clients, opposing counsel, court staff, etc.), maintaining electronic and physical files, calendaring/scheduling all filing deadlines, hearings, and conferences, drafting correspondence as well as pleadings, assisting with trial and / or hearing prep (from issuance of subpoenas to creation of exhibits), tracking litigation phases, assisting in training new associates assigned to my team, and providing input on new firm policies, procedures, and preferred vendors, including case management software.

What did you never think you would be doing that you are doing now? (It does not have to be work-related.)

Sporting Band Mom and Volleyball Mom gear and loving every minute of it!

Favorite podcast, favorite Netflix (or other streaming service) series?

From Crime Junkie to Culpable, Swindled, and Serial, I love all things true crime podcast!

What are you reading right now?

“5 Gears: How to Be Present and Productive When There is Never Enough Time” by Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram and “The Girl in the Leaves” by Robert Scott with Sarah Maynard and Larry Maynard.

What do you do to relax (and why)?

I am a work in progress when it comes to relaxing. My downtime looks different than most because I find it difficult to just idle. So, sometimes it is as simple as turning off notifications, putting my phone on Do Not Disturb, or listening to music. I guess I am still trying to find my “thing,” but until then, there are always naps. I do love naps!

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

Hands down, it’s being a mom. It is the hardest and coolest job I have ever had. I would like to note, however, that somebody should have prepared me for going from “Mama” to “Mom” to “Bruh.”

What’s the best thing to happen since you started working as a paralegal?

The best thing was coming full circle to work with Christine Houston again. She is a fabulous leader who takes the time to make sure each of her teammates’ voices are heard. Active listening is definitely her superpower! It is a great feeling to be on a team that is actually a team. We work hard and have a great time doing it!

What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming a paralegal?

Look up the definition of support. Learn it. Embrace it. Do it! Never stop learning about yourself, your team, your peers, technology, and the law. Whatever “the best” looks like to you, be that. Be prepared for everything. And, for heaven’s sake, learn how to pack a trial bag. Never, ever let your lawyer leave until they are “loaded for bear.”

What do you think will change in the paralegal field over the next five years?

I believe more states will invest in more comprehensive paralegal education and adopt limited licensing opportunities allowing paralegals to provide legal services to individuals who may not have access to or be able to afford them.

If you weren’t a paralegal, what would you be doing instead?

I would be a retired naval aviator. Maybe not Top Gun, but definitely an exceptional aviator.

How would your co-workers describe you?

This is always an awkward question for me. I hope they would describe me as knowledgeable, genuine, consistent, and reliable with a killer work ethic. Second only to my fluent sarcasm and sense of humor, of course!

What do you do when you aren’t working?

When I am not working, I have this little side gig where my girls are living their best lives, and I’m their ride. The pay stinks and the hours are long, but the benefits cannot be beat.

What has been your biggest obstacle in life and how have you mastered it?

The biggest obstacle for me is balancing home life and work life. It is a delicate dance that I have not mastered yet. My hope is that it feels effortless and appears seamless to my homies and my workies.

The division appreciates Anna for participating in the Paralegal Spotlight. Thank you for taking the time to read her story!

 

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The Paralegal Division Blog is managed by the Division’s Communications Committee. Via the blog, the Communications Committee provides information written by attorneys, paralegals, and other experts designed specifically for paralegals in the areas of substantive law, ethics, technology, paralegal practice advice, and more. If you are interested in signing up to submit a blog post on a future date, you can do so here. When you are ready to submit a blog post, you can do so by using this form.

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