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1. PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Blanche Berkowitz: Paralegal, Schell Bray Aycock Abel &
Livingston, PLLC, Greensboro, NC
[By Judith Earley]
Corporate paralegal Blanche Berkowitz practices her profession at Schell Bray Aycock Abel & Livingston, PLLC, in Greensboro,
NC—a law firm that specializes in business/corporate law, including real estate and trusts and estates. There, she handles all
aspects of business law support to the attorneys and clients in her firm. Berkowitz has been a corporate paralegal for 23 years.
She decided to become a paralegal after dollars,” said Berkowitz. “There has also success. “Specific classes in my area of
teaching elementary school in New York for been a boom in technology. We are a 24-hour expertise also helped,” said Berkowitz. “And
four years. “I was a teacher and decided service everywhere now, no longer just in in my case, being a teacher gave me the
to get my certification as a paralegal so the big cities. Clients place more demand required communication skills.”
that I could enter the business world,” said on immediacy.” She added that she believes
Does Berkowitz have any advice for students
Berkowitz. the most important issue facing the legal
who are preparing to become paralegals?
community is the question of ethics and
“Complete an internship—either paid or
Berkowitz relocated to North Carolina in remaining steadfastly above the law.
unpaid—in the area of law you would like to
1997 when her husband received a job
work. Meet other paralegals who are doing
transfer. A proactive move on her part According to Berkowitz, for the individual
what you want to do, and research what you
assured that she too had a position waiting paralegal, professional associations provide
desire to do,” said Berkowitz. If Berkowitz
for her. “I faxed my resume [to Schell Bray opportunities for continuing education and
could do things all over again, she said that
Aycock Abel & Livingston], was granted an networking and a venue to air opinions
she would go to law school and become an
interview, and was hired prior to our actual and find solutions to common problems.
attorney. “I still can,” added Berkowitz, “but
move,” said Berkowitz. And for the paralegal community as a
the desire has left the building!”
whole, associations are a way to give back
For Berkowitz, one of the more difficult to the community through activities and
Berkowitz lives in the nearby community
challenges she faces is the time crunch. a cooperative spirit. “They are a vehicle
of McLeansville, where she keeps active
“[It’s a challenge to handle] last-minute to promote the professional standard of
by hiking, playing tennis, and walking
emergency assignments on top of an paralegals, give credence to the profession,
Beethoven, her 75-pound Airedale terrier/
already-full workload,” said Berkowitz. and to keep the legal community informed,”
wolf hound mix. She practices tai chi chuan
said Berkowitz.
and yoga as well. Berkowitz is the proud
Along with her legal duties, Berkowitz said
mother of two young men, one a doctor
that she enjoys both her work environment Berkowitz has been a North Carolina Bar
and the other in his last year of pharmacy
and her co-workers. “Since I deal with Association-Legal Assistants Division
school. She is also passionately interested in
[business] entities, I have to be emotionally Council member for the last three years;
working towards peace on earth and stopping
driven by the people I work with and for,” she’s a past survey chairperson and current
global warming.
said Berkowitz. “Over the years, some of the treasurer. She is also the North Carolina
high points of working there have been going Paralegal Association mid-year seminar
ON THE NET
through the hardships and joys in life with my co-chairperson and has been a past ethics
co-workers.” chairperson; a Guilford Paralegal Association North Carolina State Bar
Executive Board member since 1999; and a www.ncbar.com
Over the course of her career as a paralegal, North Carolina Certified Paralegal, certified
Berkowitz said she has seen the legal by the North Carolina State Bar. Guilford Paralegal Association
industry become more cost-efficient and www.guilfordparalegalassociation.org
more cautious when it comes to billing. Berkowitz credits her organizational skills
Schell Bray Aycock Abel & Livingston, PLLC
“I believe we are more mindful of client and analytical thinking for her career
www.sbaal.com
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