Celebrating the Paralegals Behind the Scenes at Kimbrough Law
October 23 is National Paralegal Day, a day to recognize the skilled professionals whose work is an essential part of a successful legal team.
At Kimbrough Law, our paralegals do much more than manage documents, deadlines, and details. They work closely with our attorneys and clients throughout the planning process, helping keep matters moving forward and making sure important details don’t fall through the cracks.
But what does being a paralegal really look like, especially in a law firm focused on elder law, estate planning, and helping families navigate some of life’s most important decisions?
In honor of National Paralegal Day, we asked two members of our paralegal team, Stephany Magyari and Tabetha Clark, to tell us a little about how they found their way into the profession, what their work at Kimbrough Law involves, what they enjoy most about it, and what they would tell someone considering a career as a paralegal.
Here’s what they had to say.
Stephany Magyari: Finding Her Way to a Career She Had Always Wanted
For Stephany, the path to the profession was a little bit of choice and a little bit of chance.
Years before joining Kimbrough Law, she had hoped to become a paralegal. But while raising young children, completing the necessary schooling simply wasn’t practical at the time. The idea stayed with her, though.
When she later interviewed with Kimbrough Law attorney Hailey Brock, she happened to mention that earlier ambition. The position she was interviewing for wasn’t a paralegal role, but Hailey told her there might be an opening for one in the future.
About six months after joining the firm, she began training as a paralegal. Now, two and a half years into the role, she says, “It has been everything I ever hoped it would be!”
Starting the Day Ready for What’s Ahead
Much of Stephany’s work involves estate planning. She helps prepare documents such as wills, powers of attorney, deeds, and trusts and occasionally assists with VA pension applications.
Her day usually begins with the firm calendar.
“I start off every day by reviewing what is on the calendar that day,” she explains. That might mean pulling deeds needed for an initial consultation or making sure documents are ready and presentable for a signing appointment.
The routine helps her anticipate what the attorneys, staff, and clients may need throughout the day.
And then there’s one other essential part of the morning: “I grab a cup of coffee and hit the ground running!”
Finding Satisfaction in the Details
While some people might find the detail-oriented nature of legal documents intimidating, it’s one of the things Stephany enjoys most. Drafting and reviewing documents are her favorite parts of the job, and she has a particular favorite.
“My favorite documents to prepare are typing up the legal descriptions on deeds,” she says. “I really enjoy being in a role where I can work independently and still be able to help out the attorney at the same time. It truly is the best of both worlds for me.”
Stephany’s Advice: Proofread Everything
For anyone considering becoming a paralegal, Stephany passes along the same advice a paralegal friend once gave her:
Proofread everything.
“Read something once—such as an email, even one going out to team members—and then read it again before sending.”
Attention to detail is an important part of the profession, but so is a willingness to keep learning.
“This is a role where attention to detail really matters, and being willing to learn will help you achieve your goals!”
Tabetha Clark: Taking the Leap Into a New Career
Tabetha’s path to becoming a paralegal began in a very different field.
Before entering the legal profession, she worked in the medical field. She enjoyed the work, but eventually realized it wasn’t where she wanted to spend the rest of her career.
“I came to a moment in my life that I knew I had to decide which direction I wanted, as I was not getting any younger,” she says.
The legal field had always interested her, so she decided to take the leap. Tabetha returned to school and earned both an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree to pursue a career as a paralegal.
Estate Planning, Asset Protection, and VA Benefits
At Kimbrough Law, Tabetha works extensively with estate planning and asset protection, including drafting documents for clients.
She also has a specialized role within the firm as its VA Specialist, helping eligible clients obtain VA pension benefits and assisting existing VA clients with maintaining those benefits so they can receive the maximum amount for which they qualify.
That combination means her work may be familiar from one day to the next, but the people and circumstances rarely are.
“I cannot say that there is a typical day, as our clients come from all walks of life,” Tabetha says. “The work is the same, but not the people we provide services for.”
The Best Part: Seeing the Relief
For Tabetha, one of the most rewarding parts of being a paralegal is seeing what happens when complicated legal or financial concerns begin to feel manageable for a client.
Whether she is working with someone on VA benefits, estate planning, or asset protection, she sees firsthand the relief that can come from knowing someone knowledgeable is helping.
She has watched VA clients experience that relief when the firm has helped them obtain additional financial support through their VA pension benefits. She sees it in estate planning and asset protection clients, too, when they know their affairs are in order and their loved ones will have a clearer path forward after they are gone.
“That relief is the best part of my job,” she says.
Tabetha’s Advice: Find the Right Fit
For someone considering becoming a paralegal, Tabetha emphasizes that there isn’t just one kind of paralegal career.
“There are so many fields a paralegal can serve in,” she says. “Find the field that defines what kind of paralegal you want to be so that you enjoy it every day like I do with Kimbrough Law.”
