How did Nickerson prepare for her current career? "My paralegal courses were helpful, although at the time I took them there was a lot of 'theory' and not much 'practice.' Since I have become Coordinator of the Paralegal Program.

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Peggy Nickerson: Paralegal and Professor, Fulton, MO
[By Judith Earley]
Former public school teacher Peggy Nickerson was ready for a career change after staying home with her children. After
reading about a legal assistant program at William Woods University in Fulton, MO-located about 30 miles from her home-she
became the first “nontraditional” student in the program, which was a daytime program held on campus. “From the first course,
I was in love,” said Nickerson.
Now she is an assistant professor in the “I receive gratification when my students find I made sure there was a law office procedures
legal studies department at William Woods jobs they love and the attorneys who hire them course implemented,” she said.
University and also serves as the coordinator rave about what assets they are to the practice.
for both the paralegal studies program and Many of my students have gone on to be “My life/work experience as being a basically
the juvenile justice program. “I teach a crackerjack paralegals and, yes, lawyers.” ‘nosey’ person and a teacher gave me the
minimum of four courses per semester in both characteristics that a paralegal needs,”
programs. I am also a freelance litigation and How did Nickerson prepare for her current Nickerson continued. “I can work with all
domestic relations paralegal in my spare time career? “My paralegal courses were helpful, kinds of people, and being nosey allows me
through my business, Nickerson Paralegal although at the time I took them there was a to be a persistent fact-gatherer, researcher,
Services, LLC,” she said. lot of ‘theory’ and not much ‘practice.’ Since and client ‘hand-holder’ in addition to being
I have become Coordinator of the Paralegal cognizant of confidentiality issues.”
Nickerson began teaching paralegal courses in Program, I have made sure that almost
the evenings at a community college while she all courses contain a practical-application According to Nickerson, one of the most
worked in a personal-injury litigation law firm. component so that students will get training important issues facing the law community
“I then was asked to teach a class at William in drafting, etc. I didn’t know anything about today is access to legal representation.
Woods University. A year or so later, I was timekeeping or what a law office was all about “Paralegals provide the means for some
asked to teach half-time in the WWU program when I started work at a law office. Therefore, clients to access legal services by assisting
and then became a full-time faculty member the attorney in representing clients at lower
about 13 years ago,” said Nickerson. “When Q. What do you do for fun? billable hours while also assisting the law
I began teaching half-time, I resigned from A. I am a beach person. Anything or any practice in leveraging profits,” said Nickerson.
the law firm and began doing some freelance place with salt water and sand! Give me
work setting up mock juries/focus groups for a beach chair and a good book, and I’m
personal-injury litigation attorneys and doing happy.
some freelance domestic work for family law Q. What CD was most recently in your CD
attorneys.” player?
A. Jazz! Old jazz, new jazz, classic jazz,
Nickerson said that she absolutely loves to teach smooth jazz!
and that she loves the law. “I have the best of both
worlds...teaching law to both traditionally aged Q. What is the last magazine you read?
A. Newsweek and Coastal Living.
students and adult nontraditional students. Since Nickerson said that over the last 20-plus years,
I earned a graduate degree in library science with Q. What is your favorite TV show? she has seen the paralegal profession grow in
an emphasis in legal bibliography, I am the legal A. Antiques Roadshow and Ugly Betty. recognition. “When I used to have my students
research instructor, and I really enjoy seeing ask random people what a paralegal is, they
the students’ ‘light bulbs’ light up when they Q. Who is your role model?
would get responses that ranged from ‘a
finally begin to think like legal researchers and A. My father, a retired surgeon, who is
handicapped person’ (paraplegic) to a ‘pretend
find relevant statutes and cases to support their the most positive-thinking person I know.
Never gets upset about anything. Maybe
lawyer.’ Today, paralegals are recognized by
position.” the public as professionals who assist lawyers
that’s why he’s still going at age 91.
in providing services to clients.”
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In Nickerson’s opinion, paralegal associations school a long time ago,” said Nickerson. “After professional both on the job and off the job,
bring tremendous value to the community all, I don’t get called at three in the morning have a curiosity for everything, and be willing
of paralegals. “Association with other because the client’s son got arrested for DWI!” to be a lifelong learner.
paralegals can raise the standard of skills
through networking and continuing education Portia LeFebvre, J.D., was a professor and On the Net
seminars. Associations also advance the colleague of Nickerson, and is the person she
profession through a kind of self-governance. said influenced her significantly in her life and William Woods University
Networking, learning, raising professionalism, career. “She started out as a paralegal, then www.wmwoods.edu
and activism in guiding the profession are became a lawyer and paralegal educator. She
all important functions of professional had a love and excitement for the law and the Legal Studies Department at William Woods
associations,” she said. profession that rubbed off on everyone around University
her,” said Nickerson. www.wmwoods.edu/Info.asp?439
Nickerson said that she loves being a paralegal
and would not change a thing if she had her Nickerson’s advice for students who are City of Fulton
career to do over. “I chose not to go to law preparing to become paralegals is to be a fulton.missouri.org
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