Category Archives: Portfolio

Melia Rokosh
Rap: 63
Class: Math/ TYKTW

Name of your host: Marnie Rokosh
Relationship to you: Mother

The interview:

1) What is your job title: Paralegal (Plaintiff personal injury law)

2) What is your job description:

• Meet and interview new clients;
• Interview experts, liability and collateral witnesses;
• Legal research;
• Working with precision and within time limitations;
• Provide direct assistance to the lawyers and clients;
• Day-to-day contact with ICBC adjusters and opposing counsel;
• Organizational skills and ability to manage voluminous cases;
• Effective communication skills, both written and oral;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion and confidentiality;

3) What are the duties and/or tasks you perform at your job:

• Exceptional interviewing techniques and preparation of witness statements;
• Prepare and interpret legal documents;
• Obtain, produce and list documents including assessment of privileged documents;
• Prepare quantum assessments including review and summarize medical documentation;
• Summarize Examination for Discovery transcripts;
• Summarize clinical, employment, ICBC and WCB records;
• Analyze court rules; draft pleadings and interlocutory applications;
• Investigative and analytical skills;
• Mediation preparation including preparation of mediation briefs and trial preparation;

4) What qualifications do you have for the job in the following areas:
a) Training: She obtained her training while working on the job at a law firm. She worked as a legal administrative assistant for many years before becoming a paralegal.

b) Education: She attended Capilano University for three years for paralegal course.

c) Experience: Over 20 years of working in law firms, mostly in the area of Plaintiff personal injury.

d) Skills and attributes (personal qualities): See answer in question 3 above.

5) What are some of the things you like about the job?

It is very challenging and rewarding when assisting people who have been involved in motor vehicle or slip and fall accidents. This position enables her to problem solve and to assist the lawyers

6) What are some of the things you dislike about this job?

At times, it can be boring and repetitive. She also sits in an office for most of the day.

7) How do you anticipate this job changing in the next 5 years or so?

She doesn’t anticipate any changes.

Student Reflections:

1. Give three reasons why you would like this job (be specific):
a) The job Pays well
b) Helps clients get the amount they deserve for car accidents.
c) The job good health benefits

2. Give three reasons why you would not like this job (be specific):
a) To me it is the most boring job EVER!!!!
b) You have to sit in an office all day long and that can contribute to back and neck pain.
c) It is a very competitive job.

3. Is this job for you? Why or why not?

I do not like the idea of sitting at a desk all day long and drafting documents. I would much rather be moving. Being a paralegal, you also have to go to trails and sit through the lawyers talking for around 1 hour straight which can be very boring. When I grow up I would like to be a doctor, being a doctor and being a paralegal are two completely different jobs and I think a doctor is best for me.

4. Explain the value of the TOKTW experience in relation to your ideas about your post secondary (after high school) plans (education?, training?, travel?, work?).

The TOKTW experience helps kids see the different opportunities that they have. It can help for the decision of if they do or do not want to pursue a career in that field. It also gives kids a pretty good understanding of what their parents do during the day when we are at school.