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?

Self Reflection

How do you think you are doing so far in your senior project and why?  AE, P, AP, CR, or NC
I think so far I'm somewhere between an AP or a high CR. I still have to find my service learning and turn in my second interview.

What one thing do you think you have done well on and why?
I think I've done pretty good research. I'm caught up on my research and it is all organized in my binder.

What is one thing you would like to improve on and why? 
Finding research for science fair. I've been having trouble lately, and until I find some good research I'm kind of stuck.

Science Fair Proposal

1. What is your hypothesis?
If a paralegal has an education or certification, then employers will be willing to pay them more than a paralegal who has no education or certification.

2. Identify the dependent (produced), independent (manipulated) and control variables in your hypothesis.
Dependent: paralegal starting salary
Independent: level of education/certification
Control: employers

3. What is the connection between your science fair project and your senior project EQ?
My EQ is about being hired as a paralegal, and my science fair project is about starting salaries.

4. How will you perform the experiment?  Include the equipment you plan on using.
I will use data that professionals have made available and organize it in a chart/graph.

5. Which category will your project be listed under?  
Behavioral Science

What I've Learned So Far

1) What have you learned how to do since you started working on your senior project?
I've learned how to effectively organize a bibliography so that it helps with research instead of just keeping track of what you've researched.

2) Post evidence of this accomplishment.  

3) What research helped you to do this and how?
There was no specific bit of research that helped me do this. Every piece of research helped me learn how to create and use a helpful bibliography like this.

Independent Component 1 Plan Approval

 (1) Write a description of what you plan on doing for your independent study component.

I will be sitting in on my mom's paralegal classes. I will take notes on what goes on in the classes.

(2) Describe in detail how you think your plan will meet the 30 hours or work requirement.
I'm will attend at least 30 hours of classes.

(3) How does your independent study component relate to your EQ?  
The classes I will be attending are for people working towards getting their degree in paralegal studies. 

Defining the Essential Question

(1) What is your EQ?
What is the best way to become a litigation paralegal?

(2) Define the words in your EQ to make sure we are on the same page regarding what your EQ means.
Best: Which of the answers would be most helpful in getting hired as a litigation paralegal
Become: Begin working at a law firm or law office
Litigation paralegal: A litigation paralegal is a person who helps an attorney research cases and helps prepare for trials.

(3) What are some possible answers to your EQ so far? 
-  Knowledge of the whatever field of law the attorney you want to work with specializes in
- Understanding legal procedures
- Ability to research precedent related to the case at hand

(4) What has been your most important source and why? 
My most important source has been paralegaltoday.com. I have found several very useful articles on this site, and all were written either by paralegals or attorneys. These articles have explained various aspects  of the paralegal career, including the types of paralegals you can find, certification, and advice on helping attorneys once you've started.

Second Interview Questions

If my service learning is with a paralegal:

1: Are you a certified paralegal? 

2: If yes, where did you get your certification? If no, how did you become a paralegal?
3: How long have you worked as a paralegal?

4: What sort of work do you find yourself doing most?

5: What do you think are some of the most important skills required to be a paralegal?

6: How involved are you in the different cases that come to your office?
7: Are you planning on continuing your law career by going to law school? If so, do you think that working as a paralegal has given you an advantage over other potential law students?

If my service learning is with a lawyer:

1: Where did you go to law school?

2: How long have you been practicing law?

3: What steps do you think are important in winning court cases?
4: Do you have any experience working with a paralegal?

5: If yes, how does he or she help you with your court cases? If no, is there any specific reason?