Perry Binder's Blog, page 44

Professionalism and Humor for Paralegals

Join us during Paralegal Week in Georgia:

Wednesday, June 13th, 12:00 - 1:30

Lunch and Learn: Professionalism and Humor, by Perry Binder, J.D. – no charge

Sponsored and hosted by: Esquire Solutions

PARALEGAL REGISTRATION: complete online form




Location

Esquire Deposition Solutions

2700 Centennial Tower

101 Marietta Street

Atlanta, GA  30303


















Topics include:




Do we need an Attorney to Paralegal “Bill of Professionalism Rights”?

  1.   L. isten to your
Paralegals

 2.    I. nspire and
challenge them with interesting work

 3.    G. ive hope to
everyone in the firm

 4.    H. eap compliments on
Paralegals for quality work

 5.    T. each to your
strengths as an attorney



6.     B. e patient with your
Paralegal

 7.    U. nderstand that new
Paralegals lack your knowledge of the law

 8.    L. earn from your Paralegals

 9.    B. e willing to walk in
your Paralegal’s shoes

10.  
S. ee to it that your Paralegal’s professional
aspirations are a law firm priority

Adapted from Perry’s L. I. G. H.
T.  B. U. L. B. Moment for Attorneys
working with Paralegals

College Motivator #99 - Studying Abroad is a Life Changing Experience!

COLLEGE
LIFE MOTIVATOR #99




If
possible, study abroad for a summer or semester.  You’ll learn more about life and yourself
than you will at your home institution.









GSU Law class, May 7-31, 2012


Piazza della Repubblica, Florence Italy



I had the privilege of teaching Introduction to Law and bringing 19 Georgia State University undergraduate students to Florence to CEA's classrooms.




Topics included:


I.    The U.S. and Italian Court Systems

II.  Criminal Justice Issues in the U.S. and Italian Courts

III. Business Law Issues in Italy and the U.S., including Social Media and Privacy in the Workplace, Intellectual Property, and Domain Name Disputes

IV.  Civil Justice Issues in Italy and the U.S.





Random quotes from students on what they learned about themselves:


- Witnessing the possibility of everything life has to offer

- Being around such great, successful and motivating peers taught me a lot about myself - They pushed me and showed me that I can be better

- My exposure to the courthouses and guest speakers and trip to Italy has expanded my horizon

- The determination to never settle for the bare minimum has become a part of me

- Determination can outweigh fatigue and fear - struggling to do what you know you are capable of is one of the most rewarding experiences I could partake in

- The people we met had a great impact on me; I want to do something international - this experience has given a new path for me

- While in Italy, I became more familiar with the intellectual property side of the law - I could put my passion for fashion and litigation to use


- I have learned that I am blessed to be where I am in my life right now



For photos and schedule of class trips/speakers:

http://perrybinder.blogspot.com/

College Classroom Motivator #41: Intelligence is wrapped in many packages.

COLLEGE
CLASSROOM MOTIVATOR

#41




Intelligence is
wrapped in many packages.  “Book smarts”
is only one measure, but you still need to strive for good grades.  The best way to figure out how to study is to
attend class and observe what topics are important to professors.  Those subjects usually wind up on their
exams.








QUICK
STORY FROM THE CLASSROOM




Intelligence is
wrapped in many packages.




As
I sat in class during the first year of law school, I was confused at times
when others raised their hands and offered wild legal theories.  What I discovered after the fact is that
classroom discussion leaders do not always perform as well on exams as the shy,
silent student who doesn’t utter a peep all semester.




Regardless,
I don’t equate good grades with intelligence. 
One psychologist, Robert Sternberg, identifies three types of
intelligence in his Triarchic Model:




• Componential
Intelligence – analytic, academic abilities to solve problems

• Experiential
Intelligence – creativity and insight, the ability to invent, discover, and
theorize

• Practical
Intelligence – street smarts, ability to adapt to the environment




I
once wrote a letter of recommendation for a student who received a “C” in my
course because after many discussions outside of class, I recognized that he
had the practical intelligence to succeed in his chosen profession.




This story is
the basis for Motivator #41




Copyright 2012 99 Motivators for College Success

Career Motivators: Do what you love but don’t let your career choices jeopardize anyone you love. Including...

... Yourself.




CAREER
PATH MOTIVATOR




#10


Do what you love but
don’t let your career choices jeopardize anyone you love.  Including yourself.  Translation: Take care of others but don’t
forget to take care of yourself, sometimes before others.  Listen to our airline flight attendants: “Put
your own oxygen mask on first before assisting others with their masks.”




QUICK
STORY BEFORE PICKING A CAREER PATH




Do what you
love but don’t jeopardize anyone you love. 
Including yourself.




Recognize
and assess the risks in every major decision you make, and how they affect
those around you.




When
I left the full-time practice of law to teach, I was single and had no
children.   Would I have made such a
career transition if I had a spouse and two kids at the time?  I’d like to think so because in the end,
career satisfaction is one key to personal fulfillment.  Some opportunities are rare and don’t come
around often.  The difficult part is
learning whether to jump at or pass on an adventure when your responsibilities
require the support of those around you, and dictate a closer look at the risk
and reward.




This story is the basis for Motivator #10




99 Motivators for College Success book (2012)

College Motivator #12: Figure out if you are a “structure” person or...

 ...someone who can self-motivate at any given time.




CAREER
PATH MOTIVATOR

#12
Figure
out if you want predictable structured working hours, or if you are motivated
to work until the job gets done.  Also,
figure out whether you are willing to work during hours when most people
play.  (such as a real estate agent or
someone in the hospitality field)







QUICK STORY BEFORE PICKING A CAREER PATH




Figure out if
you are a “structure” person or someone who can self-motivate at any given
time.




Years
ago, I briefly did freelance work full-time and found it difficult to motivate
myself day in and day out.  In that
environment, you have to create a regimen and stick to it with discipline. 




I
like some structure in my daily routine, but not too much.  Classes bring that framework

to my work
life.  For me, just knowing that I need
to be at a certain place on time brings me certainty, clarity, and
anticipation.




This story is
the basis for Motivator #12




99 Motivators for College Success

College Motivator #73: Live Life with No Regrets, but...

COLLEGE LIFE
MOTIVATOR

#73


Live
life with no regrets but understand the consequences of your decisions. 
Your professors should understand that you need to miss class to attend
a job interview.  However, you will still
be responsible for getting class notes and making up any required work.







QUICK
STORIES FOR COLLEGE LIFE




Know the
consequences of no regrets.




I
had a student who said there was a “pie in the sky” casting call for some
production, but it meant getting in line and waiting for hours at a downtown
hotel.  And missing my class.




I
simply told her that she could go, but was responsible for getting class notes
from a fellow student.  I believe in
going after opportunities, even when it means sometimes doing the irresponsible
thing, like telling a professor that you need to ditch class for a pipe dream
of a chance at something big.




I
learned that lesson as a law student, when I was clerking at the U.S.
Attorney’s Office.  A movie was being
filmed downtown starring Robert Redford, and they needed extras to fill up an
old minor league baseball stadium. 
Instead of playing on green grass, I did the responsible thing by going
to work that day.




Years
later, every time I see The Natural, I say to myself: “If only I called
in sick that day.”  Thankfully, this is a
minor regret.  It serves as a lesson to
me about risk taking and understanding the consequences.  Be a risk taker in your college life, but
know where to draw the foul line.

99 Motivators for College Success in Patch

Book Gives Tips for College Success



Johns Creek resident and GSU professor Perry Binder says he wants to see students succeed, and that's why he's written a second book. 


"The jump from high school to college is a huge adjustment, and that's where my book comes in," he says. "99 Motivators for College Success gives bite-sized tips and quotes on how to succeed in the college classroom, in picking a major, and in adjusting to college life. The book also offers guidance on how to study for multiple choice exams and write model essay exam answers"

Binder adds, "It is also for the parents of students to better understand what’s expected of children in college, and the pressures they face from professors, peers, and family members." 


Continue reading at:  

http://johnscreek.patch.com/articles/book-gives-tips-for-college-success

Never crush anyone’s career dreams (Excerpt, 99 Motivators for College Success)

CAREER PATH MOTIVATOR

#4




Don’t let anyone crush your dreams.  However, the riskier your dream, the better your backup plan must be.







QUICK
STORY BEFORE PICKING A CAREER PATH




Never crush
anyone’s dreams.




When
I was a little kid, I dreamed about playing professional basketball.  In third grade, we had to write an essay on
what we wanted to be when we grew up.  I
wrote that I wanted to be 6’10” and play in Madison Square Garden.  When the teacher handed back my paper, she
laughed out loud and said: “You can’t do that!”




That
was the first time someone had crushed my professional dream.  The teacher may have been right about the
6’10” part, but this molder of young minds lacked the understanding of what
negative reinforcement can do to little kids. 
She also lacked the understanding that height isn’t everything for a
basketball player.  Teachers, especially
in the impressionable K-12 years, are my personal heroes.  Yet they need to be dream builders, not dream
destroyers.  It’s healthy to discuss
rational backup career plans, but why spoil youthful exuberance which could
flower into the unexpected?




            Postscript:  When I was 25 years old, I got to play
one-on-one with 7’4” center Mark Eaton of the Utah Jazz, that year’s NBA
Defensive Player of the Year.  I’ll leave
the game results to your active imagination.




This story is
the basis for Motivator #4







99
Motivators™ for College Success



© 2012 Perry
Binder, LLC




Click here to purchase on Amazon

99 Motivators for College Success book: High School Graduation Gift

This book is not just for high school and college students - it's also for their parents, as a guide to the pressures facing students in college life, classes, and career choices.




Available on Amazon - on Kindle soon (click here)




Main Sections:

I. Motivators for Success in Picking a Major or Career Path (Motivators 1-33)

- Quick Stories Before Picking a Career Path

II. Motivators for Success in the Classroom (Motivators 34-66)

- Quick Stories from the Classroom

III. Motivators for Success in Adjusting to College Life (Motivators 67-99)

- Quick Stories for College Life



Other Sections include:

- Read the Contract! (and other Lessons)

- Graduation

- Epilogue: L.I.G.H.T. B.U.L.B. Moments for New Professors and Teachers

Appendix:

- How to Study for Straightforward Multiple Choice Questions

- How to Approach "Application" Multiple Choice Questions

- How to Write a College Essay Exam Answer

- Bonus: How to Write a Law School Essay Exam Answer

- Books that Motivate Professor Binder




Available on Amazon - on Kindle soon (click here)