In this deeply moving and unique conversation, Ann shares the story of Tina Johnson—a career paralegal, mentor, leader, and advocate who was diagnosed with ALS in 2024. Because Tina has lost her ability to speak, every answer in this episode was written by her, by hand, and is read aloud so her voice can still be heard.

Inside this episode, you'll hear:
✔️ How Tina found her calling in the paralegal profession
✔️ The emotional and professional impact of losing the ability to communicate
✔️ The strength it takes to keep showing up in the face of uncertainty
✔️ How the paralegal community has rallied around her
✔️ What Tina wants her legacy and her message to be.

This episode is a reminder of why this profession matters and how powerful one voice can be—even when it can no longer be spoken.

If this conversation moves you, please consider supporting Tina and her family through the GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/fac4d97f9

For all our paralegal podcast episodes: https://paralegal-bootcamp.com

If you've ever wondered what licensed paralegals actually do, and how they're changing access to justice, this conversation pulls back the curtain.

In this episode of Paralegal Real Talk, guest host Linda Odermott sits down with Sean Ferraro, one of Oregon's first landlord-tenant licensed paralegals and the operations manager for the CLEAR Clinic in Portland. CLEAR provides free legal services to tenants and community members navigating housing issues, criminal record expungement, immigration matters, and more. Along the way, Sean offers practical advice for anyone considering the profession, especially those wondering how to break into the field without prior experience.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

✔️ What the CLEAR Clinic does and how legal aid clinics serve communities in crisis
✔️ How licensed paralegals are helping expand access to legal services
✔️ Why attorney bottlenecks can slow down cases and how licensed paralegals help solve that problem
✔️ The challenge of getting legal experience when you're just starting out
✔️ Why volunteering can open unexpected doors

If you're curious about licensed paralegal programs, access to justice work, or alternative pathways into the legal profession, this episode offers an inside look at a rapidly evolving part of the field.

https://paralegal-bootcamp.com

If you're a paralegal who's ever thought: "Maybe I should start my own business…"

This episode is your reality check, and maybe your inspiration.

In this candid conversation, Ann sits down with Leah Miller, a former litigation paralegal who became a firm administrator, then CFO, and eventually launched her own fractional CFO company serving law firms nationwide.

But this isn't a "quit your job and chase your dreams" story.

It's an honest discussion about:

✔️ What it really takes to leave a stable law firm job
✔️ The financial risks most paralegals underestimate
✔️ Why connections won't automatically bring you clients
✔️ The income reality of year one in business
✔️ How LinkedIn can change your trajectory
✔️ Why understanding firm economics makes you more valuable

https://paralegal-bootcamp.com