Welcome to ‘the Faces of the Paralegal Society of Ontario’ Series (by Doug Taylor)
Tell me about your role as Student Director, what's it like to be a volunteer with the PSO?
“It was great, very fulfilling. To be able to help colleagues and to be there to serve in the role as a mentor, made me feel happy that I was helping other people. When you are helping others, it helps you develop a greater sense of self.”
How would you describe the PSO to a new student?
“The PSO offers opportunities for networking, get-togethers, outings, barbeques, and free events. Start as a volunteer. I actually volunteered when I lived in Orangeville, and that’s how I got interested in what I am doing now and that’s what opens the doors. Yes, you are not getting paid but you have a chance to meet potential employers.”
Why do you support students becoming involved with the PSO?
“It is about the people. You have an opportunity to meet so many great people with great minds and great ideas. I learned from my colleagues, it really makes you grow. At the end of the day, these people are your connections if you ever need anything. If you need advice for anything, you have someone there to help you out. The PSO is there for the students and for Paralegals who are already established in the community. These are the people that you are going to be spending most of your time with. It gives you a competitive advantage when you enter the workforce. It opens the doors for potential employment opportunities.”
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about the PSO?
“The PSO works with the regulating body, the Law Society of Upper Canada. The PSO has a hand in creating and deciding the future of the profession. The PSO advocates for Paralegals, providing a unified voice.”
By Doug Taylor, http://about.me/dougjtaylor | Paralegal Studies BAA Program, Lakeshore | ORIGINAL iNTERVIEW: August 13, 2013
Located in Beirut, Christine Abi‐Najem is thriving in her career as a Paralegal. Christine is practicing in the field of trademarks and patents with the regional firm Cedar White Bradley (cedarwhite.com).
A typical Paralegal practitioner? Not quite! Christine Abi-Najem is anything but typical.
Humber College Paralegal Degree Program graduate, Christine Abi-Najem, reflects on her time serving in the Student Director role with the Paralegal Society of Ontario.
Serving in the role as the very first Student Director, Christine Abi-Najem recently shared some reflections from her time with the Paralegal Society of Ontario (PSO) and talked about the future of the Paralegal profession
Christine’s journey to the role of Student Director with the PSO, started with an introduction to the organization by Humber College professor and Ontario Deputy Judge, Peter Libman. “It sounded interesting and after attending one of the conferences, I became involved. It was then, that I realized that the PSO did not have a representative for Paralegal students. Paralegal students represent a new generation of Paralegals every year that enter into the practice.” Having identified an opportunity to serve, Christine created and defined the role. She then brought the idea forward to the PSO executive board. The executive board voted to create an additional member, in the non-voting role of an elected Student Director. Christine recalls, “The moment I was voted in as the PSO Student Director was pretty awesome.”