Chapter 15

Mary E. Rolland
Bankruptcy Paralegal
Frilot LLC
1100 Poydras St.Suite 3600
New Orleans, LA 70163

In 1990, while working as an office manager of a safe company in Boston, I first heard of the paralegal profession. An assistant to the Chapter 13 Trustee, Joseph M. Szabo, who came in to get keys duplicated, asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a paralegal. The next thing I knew I had accepted a job offer and was researching paralegal studies programs.

Once I received my paralegal certificate from the National Academy of Paralegal Studies in 1992, I immediately joined the Massachusetts Paralegal Association to learn about my new career. During the next seven years at the Chapter 13 office, I experienced many challenges as the Trustee of the Western District was removed from office and several United States Trustees served as interim until a new Trustee appointment could be made. In addition, during this period, Judge Labian, Judge Gabriel, and Mr. Szabo passed away leaving a quite a void in our hearts and legal community.

By 1997, I started my own business, Freelance Paralegal Services, utilizing the knowledge of what I learned at the Trustee’s Office to assist attorneys in the preparation of Chapter 7 and 13 petitions, adversarial motions, amended plans and various other legal documents. Personal reasons brought me home to Louisiana in 2002, and although I revisited the idea of self-employment, I accepted a position as senior paralegal at Heller, Draper, Hayden, Patrick & Horn, LLC in 2003. My current employer, whose practice focuses on Chapter 11 Bankruptcy has helped me complete my knowledge of Bankruptcy Law.

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

• In 1996, my employer, Denise M. Pappalardo, nominated me for the Massachusetts Paralegal Association’s Outstanding Paralegal Award.
  
  
• In 1999, I initiated the start-up of the Bankruptcy Section of the Massachusetts Paralegal Association and then chaired the position from 1999 through 2001. I created the First Step Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project in 1999, a program that assisted victims of domestic violence with bankruptcy filings and served as Project Director from 1999 through 2003.
  
  
• In 2000, I was awarded Paralegal of the Year 2000 by the Massachusetts Paralegal Association.
  
  
• In 2001, I was awarded a certificate and pin from the Massachusetts Paralegal Association’s Pro Bono Section for pro-bono work.
  
  
• I assisted in the creation of a Freelance section of the Massachusetts Paralegal Association in 2001, and actively participated in the seminars, meetings, and networking for and by freelance paralegals from 2001-2002.
  
  
• From 1996 to 2001, I was the owner/president of my own business, Freelance Paralegal Services. Although, I did not have employees, I provided training and hands-on experience to paralegals new to the profession, assisted many in updating their resumes and finding employment, and helped raise their confidence level by introducing them to pro-bono work through the First Step Pro Bono Bankruptcy Project.
  
  
• In my current employment, at Heller, Draper, Hayden, Patrick & Horn, LLC, I have raised the level of professionalism for paralegals by reinstating paralegal meetings, updating the paralegal case listing, participating in the American Judicial Bankruptcy Assistant Seminar, and fostering membership in the New Orleans Paralegal Association.
  
  
• In 2003, I joined the New Orleans Paralegal Association and in 2004, I accepted the position as membership co-chair.
  
  
• Throughout my career of fifteen years as a bankruptcy paralegal, I have excelled in my performance evaluations for every position I have held.