“I started my career as a parole agent in West Philly for seven years. I went to school for criminal justice but ruled out working in a forensics lab or law enforcement. I took a parole class followed by an internship and ultimately it became my job. Being a parole agent taught me how to talk with people and have empathy. I helped people re-enter society and reconnect with the world. Sometimes the people I supervised just needed someone to talk to outside of their family and friends, and I was that person. I made a difference. Two years ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to move to Pittsburgh with our baby daughter. We had a family member close by who wanted to provide daycare—a huge help! I was ready for a job change, one that was still close to the legal world but with a more structured setting, and I found that as a paralegal with Voce. As a parole agent, I needed to be organized, manage my time well and stay adaptable—all still important as a child welfare paralegal. Learning to write motions was all new to me, but I’ve really appreciated the respect and patience of from my coworkers while I was learning. We’ve grown close as a team through some difficult situations and working alongside people you value both personally and professionally is part of the reason I come to work each day. Life’s been quieter since having my daughter, but I still have a love for football (go Packers), reading and travel. I’ve been to South Korea twice and to Iceland on a girls’ trip. New Orleans is on my bucket list to visit next with my husband.”
April, Paralegal in Allegheny County
