The Indispensable Paralegal: Your Guide to Getting It All Done

This book is definitely something needed in this world. A book which breaks down what goes through the life of a career paralegal and what is needed to succeed and survive in a profession which is often mistaken as a regular day job. Whether you are a person with little or no experience as a paralegal or someone who has been doing it for a long time, you can appreciate this book.

I wish I had had this twenty-two years ago when I first stepped into the legal field. This would have prepared me for all the big and little things I had to face and figure out alone. [It’s]an empowering guide, full of important, need-to-know information. For those of us who want to enhance our skill set to become a ‘indispensable paralegal,’ this is a must-read book… READ IT! Keep it at the corner of your desk, as one can learn various tricks of the trade from Candess Zona-Mendola.

We finally have a great book for the real forces of nature in the practice of law—paralegals. This book is a must-read for paralegals. It probably wouldn’t hurt for lawyers to read it as well.

Every successful attorney we know owes much of their success to hard-working, dedicated paralegals. This is such a wonderful and informative book; it’s a must-read for anybody who is, wants to be, or works with paralegals.

Candess shares what it takes to get a case ready from the cockpit. Her book is a practical step-by-step guide to help paralegals understand their important role in the litigation team. A case is only as good as the evidence developed in the pre-suit and litigation process. With this book, paralegals, new and old, can hone their skills in getting a case ready for trial.

Real paralegals are worth their weight in platinum. But not if you or the attorney you work for thinks of paralegals as secretaries or clerks or coffee automatons—or anything less than skilled, knowledgeable, 100 percent reliable colleagues. Many an attorney wastes their paralegal by ignoring their true potential. Too many paralegals think of themselves as subordinate assistants, and settle into the dreary career of everything that title implies. Candess Zona-Mendola is the remedy. She teaches what paralegals can and should be, and how to get there. I’ve been in many trial-prep strategy meetings where the paralegal was little more than a note-taker, fact-reminder, or custodian of the snack tray. But I also know many great paralegals are working with attorneys who know their value—not as underlings but as skilled, wise colleagues. Start yourself on that path—lawyers on the path of realizing the value a great paralegal (if you’d just let ‘em and encourage ‘em). For paralegals, would-be paralegals, and attorneys, this book is a great first and giant step in the right direction. A paralegal who does not know how to strive to be great is like a lion who thinks he’s a poodle.

There are many secrets to winning big verdicts. Here’s one of the most important ones: A great paralegal is more important than a lawyer. Behind every great trial lawyer, there is an equally great paralegal. Really good paralegals make us shine. No one wins big verdicts alone. They help us do our best work. Candess understands what it means to be a great paralegal. She lives and breathes it. Her book can help you become a great paralegal, too.

Zona-Mendola captures the essence of what it’s really like to work as a paralegal and provides a road map for how to perform at the highest level. Brilliant and much needed.

Finally, a publication that really provides practical insight for elevating your paralegal skills from good to great!

Candess is truly “worth any four lawyers.” I have very real experience of being part of her trial team twice. And both times, I have witnessed her pulling everyone’s weight, plus fresh baby paralegals with little to no trial experiences. Without a great paralegal, every hour of trial is constant struggle. This is truly one of the best knowledge books on being a paralegal and working in the legal field. Nothing can really express or capture what an amazing superwoman Candess is. She has every one of her colleagues’ utmost respect.

Candess is an extremely knowledgeable paralegal. She understands the stress of the job, especially during trial, and is always there to assist other teams if needed. She is dedicated, bright, and always finds a way to encourage others to dig a little deeper, rest, replenish their minds, and go back to the assignment at 110 percent. [Her] book brings the true role of a paralegal to light. Our day-to-day job is more than just following a docket or printing out documents. It’s a dedicated craft that takes patience, fortitude, motivation, and a widening skill set to master. Enjoy the read as you begin your quest to become a top-tier paralegal (like Candess)!