When Lindsey Paulson earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology, she had her career mapped out and her next step was to attend law school. But, after learning about USF’s Paralegal Certificate, she discovered a new passion for financial law and learned about ways she could enter the field before attending law school.
Discovering a passion for law
She didn’t set out to work in the legal field. Early in her USF career, Paulson took a few criminal law courses that introduced her to court structures. One class in particular, Racism in American Society, helped her learn how court foundations are built in the U.S. and the context for systemic issues in the country.
That interest led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminology, which she completed in 2023.
That’s when she faced a big decision and some important self-reflection: was she ready to attend law school? She met with her advisor and had candid conversations – and she admitted that she wasn’t really ready for that. Her advisor suggested that she explore USF’s Paralegal Certificate while she considered this big decision.
Paulson said that USF’s paralegal program stood out due to its self-paced format and the opportunity to learn expert insights from a sitting judge. She also liked that it was affiliated with her alma mater. And that it covers many different areas of law, including federal, criminal, financial, immigration, and more.
She jumped in.
Paulson learned all the foundational skills she’d need as a paralegal, such as document preparation, filing, legal research analysis, civil and criminal rules of procedure, and client interviewing and investigation.
She even learned about the importance of client communication, something that she once assumed was intuitive.
“Knowing how to interact with clients in a legal setting is a lot different than other professional settings – as a paralegal, you must be very nuanced in your conversations to comply with legal ethical standards,” Paulson said. “For example, as a paralegal, I cannot provide legal advice directly to clients. Doing so could be considered the unauthorized practice of law and could have serious consequences for my attorney.”
Paulson’s favorite project was the case study included in the Essential Skills segment of the certificate. She and her classmates had the opportunity to choose from about 50 different cases to study. She drafted documents and conducted legal research regarding the case from start to finish.
She also appreciated the one-on-one feedback she received from Judge Nicholas Lopane.
“That was really valuable feedback that I couldn’t imagine getting at any other program,” Paulson said. “Once the case study was completed, I had a full trial binder prepared that was immensely helpful for my entrance into the legal field.
She said that another big benefit of USF’s program was access to legal databases such as LexisNexis, which typically costs thousands of dollars for yearly subscriptions.
Gaining real-world experience
As she neared the end of her classes, Paulson landed a paralegal position at Gina Rosato Law Firm, a local firm specializing in personal bankruptcy and personal injury cases. She noted that this credential helped her stand out in the competitive Tampa Bay job market as she was searching for this role. “It carries significant weight in the field,” she said
Her typical week includes everything from client intake to document review, preparation, filing, and working with the federal bankruptcy court.
“The paralegal program prepared me to do all the roles of civil federal procedure,” Paulson said. “This is my first job in the legal field, and I felt fully equipped with the skills I needed to be successful.”
Looking ahead
Paulson says that, should she ever decide to continue her education, she now feels well-prepared to attend law school.
“Earning this paralegal certificate gave me confidence,” she said, noting that it also allowed her time to evaluate what she really wants – and is ready – to do next. “It’s a great option if you want to work in the legal field, but you don’t necessarily know in what capacity.”
Visit the website to learn more about how USF’s Paralegal Certificate can help you launch your career or deepen your expertise in law.