Illiana Maistri

I would really attribute my success to my younger self, who worried so much and had no idea what the future held for me. I did not always know that this would be the route for me - even in my early years of college, I did not know that I would stabilize myself in the legal field. Looking back now, I can see how far I've come from that uncertain place, and it reminds me that you can really accomplish anything that you put your mind to. I don't just say that in terms of motivation - I truly mean that when I tell it to other people, especially aspiring paralegals who reach out to me on LinkedIn.

The best advice I've received is to incorporate the advice from others with your own dreams and your own passion. I talk to so many people in this field, and while it's great to take advice from people who have been in your shoes, I feel like sometimes too much can throw you off. You have to think for yourself while still being open to learning from others. I would also say don't be afraid to network, to talk to people who have been in your shoes, and to educate yourself. Networking is absolutely key in this field.

I would tell them to utilize your resources, for sure. Don't be afraid to use the community within your network. And give it your best shot - you have to start from somewhere. You just have to want it badly enough. I love meeting women within my field because there are so many opportunities, there's so much that's offered to you, you just have to go out there and find it. I have a lot of students that reach out to me on LinkedIn who are aspiring paralegals, and I'm so happy to tell them the things that I wish I had, or I wish someone would tell me when I was in their shoes.

The opportunities in this field are incredible - I think being a paralegal is probably one of the biggest preparations for an aspiring law student or attorney. What better way is there to really solidify that this is the career choice for you besides working under an attorney? Especially working under a well-experienced attorney, you can learn so much. I have been under our managing partner for just a few months, and I have learned such an extensive amount of information from him. It's great for mentorship, it's great for teaching you responsibility, and how a lawyer thinks. As for challenges, the competitiveness is definitely a big one nowadays. A lot of people say that after COVID, everyone wants to go to law school now, so they say this is one of the most competitive application cycles yet. Even obtaining a paralegal position is very competitive as well. I do know a lot of people who have been able to obtain one without any paralegal credentials, but I would advise an aspiring paralegal to get those credentials, get a certificate or even better, the certification, because it'll definitely help open doors to not only the paralegal field, but just the legal world in general if you are looking for a long-term career in law.

Dedication is really important to me, and I say that because one of the things I really wanted to do was graduate from college, as I would be the first person in my immediate family to do so. I really wanted to do it for them. Taking responsibility is also crucial - I've been financially managing my household since I was young, so responsibility has always been a core part of who I am. And having discipline is essential, for sure. These values have carried me through working full-time while completing my paralegal studies and my legal studies degree, all while maintaining a 3.96 GPA. It definitely was a difficult journey and I did face a lot of obstacles and challenges along the way, but when you look back, you realize that you can really accomplish anything that you put your mind to.