Three Column Chart

Three Column

Senior Project Reflection

Positive Statement: Once I was actually giving my lecture, a weird sort of calm came over me, and I actually had a bit of fun lecturing. I felt pretty proud that I was able to keep a fairly calm pace and make good eye contact.

Questions: 
a. I would give myself a P for my 2-hour, because I completed all the tasks but I didn't really have anything special in my presentation
b. Overall I would give myself an AP because I turned in a lot of things late.

What worked: Service learning. I had a lot of trouble finding service learning at first, but once I had that settled  the experience was great. Having never had a job before, I was able to experience what a work environment was like, and being in a law office taught me a lot that research hadn't.

What didn't work: After a while, research got pretty old. I started having trouble finding good sources and sources that didn't get repetitive.

Finding Value: I think that having completed the senior project, I will have at least a little bit more confidence when walking into professional situations. I still get intimidated by people I view as professionals, but now I can look back at service learning and remind myself that I've done it before and people are generally nice and willing to help.

2 Hour Presentation

Lesson Plan can be found here on google docs

Service Learning

    Literal

• Description of duties: I helped Richard Padilla by proofreading documents, organizing files, and making copies.
• Contact: Richard Padilla, (626) 580-2010

    Interpretive

• The most important thing I gained from service learning was the knowledge that the atmosphere in a lawyer's office is more laid-back then I thought. It helped me get rid of my mental image of lawyers, so instead of stuffy old men in suits I can think of a lawyer and see an actual person.

   Applied

• My service learning helped me answer my EQ by allowing me to see what actually went on in a legal job. My research, and even attending a class could only teach me so much. By being in the office and observing the people working I was able to see what really went into the job.     

Independent Component 2

Log is here on google docs

Literal:
a) I, Ariel, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
b) I did 30 extra hours of service learning with Richard Padilla in El Monte.

Interpretive:
In doing more service learning I was able to see more of the working environment for lawyers. I did tasks similar to what a paralegal would have, such as copying files and organizing them into binders.


Applied:
This helped me answer my EQ because it gave me even more of an opportunity to observe the lawyers in the office. I was able to listen while they talked to each other. I have heard them discussing new laws going into effect and how that will affect the city, and asked them about those laws.

Helping 2013

Who did you interview: Daniel Leon

What day and time: Thursday at first break

(1) What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?

He wants to do something involving mechanics because he likes cars.

(2) What do you plan to do to complete the 10 hours of service learning (working with an expert) which is due prior to senior year starting? 

He plans to work with a mechanic. He has already talked to someone and is ready to start the 10 hours.

(3) What do you hope to see or expect to see when watching the class of 2012 present their two hour presentations?

He doesn't have any expectations right now. He just wants to get a feel for what the project will be.

(4) What questions do they have about senior project?  What additional recommendations would you give the 2013 student about senior project?  Be specific and note what you told them.

Since he doesn't really know anything about the project yet, he didn't know what questions to ask. I told him that he should make sure he has service learning for the 50 hour requirement set up, because he mentioned that he wanted to work with a different mechanic.


_________________________

Who did you interview: Elizabeth Rodriguez
What day and time: Thursday at second break


1) She isn't sure what she wants to do yet. She said she's interested in engineering, but isn't sure exactly what she could do for that.


2) Since she hasn't decided on a topic, she doesn't know what to do. She thinks that if she does go with engineering then she might be able to go to someone up at Cal Poly.


3) She doesn't know what to expect. She transferred here midyear so I don't think she's completely gotten the feel for Ipoly and I doubt she knows much about senior project.


4) She didn't have any questions, but since she's interested in engineering I told her about the engineering 2 hour I went to last year. I mentioned that that one was about things like making sure the street lights work efficiently but that there are plenty of other types of engineering. I also told her to try to figure out what she's going to choose soon so she can get the 10 hours out of the way and not have to worry about it.

Answer #3

EQ: What is the best way to be a public agency paralegal?

Answer 3: Keeping up with changing laws

Evidence:

• You need to understand a law to be able to implement it
• New laws might contradict old ones
• If both you and the lawyer keep up with the laws, you might get a more complete understanding of it

Source:

• Purthur's class
• Roles, Responsibility, Ethics, and Required Skills.
• Litigation Corner: Time To Shine

Answers

Answers:

1) Education or training

2) Adjust your working style to the lawyer

3) Keeping up with changing laws

The Product

My product has been a closer relationship with my mom. I've never really gone to her for help for school, but I have been able to go to her for help finding articles for research and suggestions on what to focus on. She has also been able to help me with my presentations.

Independent Component 1

Log of hours

Literal:
I, Ariel Diaz, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work. I sat in on two of my mom's paralegal classes, Legal Analysis and Writing and Civil Procedures Pretrial.

Interpretive:
I spent a little over 30 hours sitting through legal classes. I learned about the documents and procedures that paralegals have to go through on a daily basis. A lot of what I learned backed up some of what I've found out through research, but ultimately I found the class more helpful because everything could be backed up with more explanations and examples immediately.

Applied:
My EQ is all about becoming a paralegal. A great way to get started is to take classes to get a degree or certification. Now that I have sat in on some classes, I understand both some aspects of the law better, and the process to getting a degree/certification for paralegals.

Service Learning

Where are you working for your service learning?
I am working at El Monte City Hall.

What is your contact?
 The El Monte City Attorney, Richard Padilla.

Summarize the services you have performed to complete the 10 hour requirement
 So far I have just been going through boxes of old files, looking for extra copies that can be thrown away.

Answer 1

Answer: If a person gets their paralegal certification, they will have more success in being hired.

Evidence/Sources:
1. NALA
NALA is one of the top US paralegal associations, and its main concern is providing a certification program for paralegals. They believe that certification shows that a paralegal is credible.

2. MT SAC Paralegal Courses
I spoke with my mom, who is working towards her degree in paralegal studies, and she told me that many of her class books say that a paralegal cannot be billed without certification. This means that instead of the fee coming from clients, as with an attorney, an uncertified paralegal would be payed out of pocket.

3. Paralegal.edu
James Scheffer is the Admissions Director for the Center for Advanced Legal Studies. He has written an article on the terms certified vs certification, and in it he says that "Attorneys are encouraged by their State Bar Associations to promote continuing education and excellence among their paralegals." This means that proof of training and education, such as certification, would help ensure that paralegals can meet the expectations.

ESLR Blog

1. Effective User of Technology
While doing my senior project, I learned how to navigate college databases and use excel in order to make a working bibliography.

2. Effective Learner 
I had never really used excel before, so I have learned how to work with it. I have also learned a lot about paralegals and am able to explain what they do to others.

Third Interview Questions

1) How long have you been a paralegal?
2) Did you have any education or training before you were hired?
3) Do you have any advice for people who want to become a paralegal?0
4) What type of work do you find yourself doing?
5) A lot of my research shows that paralegals do a lot of the leg work for lawyers. If this is true for you, does it ever make you feel like you should just go to law school and become a lawyer yourself?
6) Do you think certification or training is important if you want to be a paralegal?
7) Do you think a paralegal is a good long-term profession?
8) What is the professional environment like as a paralegal? Do you feel lawyers give you respect?
9) Is there anything about the job that bothers you?
10) Do you expect to continue with this career for the foreseeable future?