19 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2022 and I prevailed in a trial, arbitration, or mediation. Litigators tend to be adventurous, and we seek the thrill either in the courtroom or the great outdoors. Excitement Paralegal work provides great opportunity in the profession and does not require an advanced degree. The fast pace of litigation appealed to me from the beginning. “What is the difference between being a paralegal and an attorney?” Simply put, in my view, “Paralegals conduct factual research while attorneys apply that research to the theory of their case.” A paralegal does more than “privilege reviews” in dark conference rooms. Prior to e-filing, I rushed documents to Multnomah County Courthouse and to federal court, in my “litigation track suit.” Attorneys giggled when I returned from court, documents filed with seconds to spare. As somebody who recreates and liti- Play has always been an integral part of my life. My lifetime mantra is “work hard, play harder.”The Pacific Northwest is well known for its outdoor recreation activities making it my primary reason to relocate here from central Wisconsin. After earning a Bachelor of Science in recreation management, I opted to work in the file room at a large firm in Portland. The file clerk position provided better pay, benefits and time off than the permanent part-time, entry-level positions available in the recreation management field. The firm I worked at, Perkins Coie, allowed me to take Friday afternoons off to windsurf or travel for rugby. During that year, I relished having extra time to recreate, knowing I would never ascend beyond filing if I remained at that firm. After a career ending injury playing rugby, I shifted my focus to a career in litigation and accepted a litigation project assistant position at a different law firm. Prioritize Maintaining a work-life balance has always been priority for me. It may have been one of the reasons I chose to be a paralegal rather than endure the rigors of law school. For most of my career, I manRizk carving swell at Spring Creek Fish Hatchery on the Columbia River (Photo credit: Bob Stawicki) aged my week’s workflow allowing me those two treasured weekend days enjoying the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood or Central Oregon. My favorite Mondays were those where I was so tired from the weekend, I had to sit down at work just to rest. Obviously, recreation takes a backseat during trial or other important litigation. Due to technology allowing me to work outside of the office, I have been known to do trial preparation from the golf course or facilitate settlements on the mountain bike trail. One of my associate attorneys at Rizk Law did have to tell opposing counsel, “Jill is out golfing today, but I will let her know you called.” While slashing a large swell windsurfing the Columbia River Gorge or winding through tacky, single-track in Central Oregon, I felt euphoric. Over time, I could not recreate as aggressively as I did in my twenties, but the thrill remained. As a litigation paralegal, I experienced that same euphoria after the attorneys See Outdoor Ventures p 20
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