Building a Career-Launching portfolio with AI has answered and explained various questions that have guided me to comprehend what I need to work on moving forward. When it came to using AI, the first AI text generator I used was Bard because it was the first one on the list provided by Instructor Pullman to find our information. The second AI text generation I used was ChatGPT since the format was comprehensible and had engaging feedback. I believe that both these AI platforms aided me in my search for learning and preparing my career-launching portfolio because they provided information I overlooked.

When it came to writing the prompt the one that Instructor Pullman provided was helpful as a starting point, but I made sure to be specific with details such as my degree, the state I want to work in, and a specialization in Family Law. Adding specific details impacted the results I received because it gave elaborative knowledge. 

Prompt Used :

•  I created a side-by-side comparison chart for ChatGPT and Bard after receiving an abundance of information. It was helpful to separate the differences between the two and identify what useful information I did not previously already know. Based on both AIs, there were multiple similarities in the information provided, but Bard was more structured and specific with their response compared to ChatGPT.

Side-by-Side Comparison: 

Follow-Up Questions:

1. How Can I Gain Real-World Experience In My Chosen Field?

• The chosen field is a position as a paralegal, and the advice I received from ChatGPT was an emphasis on gaining real-world experience to enhance competitiveness in the job market. I would need to seek internships with law firms specializing in family law. Internships will allow me to have experience with real cases and the opportunity to work closely with legal professionals. 

• Other Real-World Experiences that ChatGPT Suggested Were:

  • Volunteer Work: Contribute to the community whilst gaining practical experience.

  • Networking: Leads to opportunities when attending conferences or legal networking events.

  • Law School Connections: If there is a law school nearby, I can connect with students or professors who may have information on internships.

  • Court Observations: Attend court proceedings related to family law cases.

• Bard mentioned internships and provided additional details on their duration and potential compensation. Informal options included freelancing to build my portfolio and demonstrate skills, as well as shadowing a professional in the field for a day. 

• Additional Tips from Bard:

  • Take Online Courses and Certifications to enhance my knowledge and skills.

  • Be Proactive and reach out to companies directly to express interest in potential openings. 

2. What National Organization Does My Field Have?

   – ChatGPT and Bard specified national organizations for paralegals such as the National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA.) The NFPA is the largest paralegal association in the U.S. It offers certifications such as the Certified Registered Paralegal (CRP) and Registered Paralegal (RP.) NFPA offers valuable resources such as education programs and career development webinars. 

• Bard:

• Bard points out that the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), which is another paralegal association, offers networking opportunities and job boards. Additionally, the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Paralegals is an organization where the ABA’s committee develops policies and promotes ethical standards for paralegals. A specialty organization is the American Bar Association Family Law Section which is a national organization within the ABA dedicated to serving lawyers, associates, and law student members across the U.S. and internationally. This organization advocates for improvement in family law and connects family law professionals.

• 3. What Networking Opportunities Does my industry offer?

  • Bard:

    • State Bar of Georgia Paralegal Division: Attend events and meetings hosted by the State Bar’s paralegal division which is how I can meet established paralegals in the field.

    • Paralegal Professional Development Events: Workshops and webinars for paralegals that offer opportunities to learn from experienced professionals. 

  • ChatGPT: 

    • Industry Webinars and Webcasts: Participating in these events, gives opportunities to interact with speakers and attendees.

    • Online platforms and Forums: Engage in online networking platforms and social media groups dedicated to paralegal professionals. 

4. How do make the best use of LinkedIn?

– After reading the article from lndeed titled “How to Get an Entry-Level Job (Plus Top Jobs and Salaries),” several tactics were stated to make the best use of LinkedIn. These tactics include:

• • • building my resume with internships: Volunteer opportunities.

    • Speak with recruiters at job fairs: Take notes.

    • Emphasize your skills on your resume: Resume can speak for you. 

    • Customize your resume and cover letter for each position: Prioritize and put key skills needed for an entry-level position.

    • Use career office services: Colleges will help place students after graduation.

    • Post your resume to job sites: Job sites can offer guidance.

    • Update your social profiles: Ask past supervisors to leave a recommendation.

    • Network: Attending network events is critical because you let others in your field know that you’re searching for an entry-level job. 

• A few other suggestions made by AI were to participate in LinkedIn Live Events and share relevant content related to family law or legal technology.

   

  5. What Specific Type of Legal Technology Will Paralegals Utilize?

  • Legal Forms Libraries are digital repositories of standardized legal forms which will save time and ensure consistency in document creation.

  • Legal Billing Software: 

    • Paralegals working on billing and invoicing tasks may use legal billing software to track billable hours, generate invoices, and manage client billing information. 

      • Westlaw or LexisNexis: Paralegals may conduct basic legal research using these platforms to find relevant case law, statutes, and regulations. 

      • Project management platforms such as Asana or Trello: Aids paralegals to manage tasks, track progress, and collaborate with colleagues on various projects.

 Ideas AI suggested which I haven’t yet included:

• Bard: Highlight niche areas within family law: Am I interested in child custody, adoption, divorce mediation, or elder law?  

• Emphasize English degree skills such as highlighting strong writing and analytical abilities. 

• Leverage a sociology background because understanding social dynamics and human behavior can be beneficial in family law.

• Chat GPT: 

• • Legal Research Automation Tools that automate legal research processes including natural language processing

• • Explore digital dictation and transcription services to streamline the process of converting spoken words into written text, which will be useful for preparing legal documents and case notes.

 

Additional suggestions offered by AI included leveraging AI-powered analytics platforms to provide predictive insights which will be an advantage to strategize more effectively. Leveraging my analytical abilities, such as experience with analyzing texts and arguments from my English courses, can be applied to legal documents. Other suggestions included starting a legal blog to showcase my understanding of the field and my passion for communication. Utilizing my GSU alumni networking to build valuable connections was a prominent suggestion. Attend legal writing workshops to further hone my writing skills in the context of legal documents and language proficiency, which is to learn a second language commonly spoken in the community where I plan to work.

Based on the given skills, such as time management and attention to detail,  I knew the importance of each one except Empathy and Emotional Intelligence. It’s a skill that I have overlooked because I focus on the other specifics such as what I need to do instead of the emotional aspect. What I already knew were the skills to demonstrate such as effective communication, both written and verbal, organization, and strong writing skills. Most jobs prefer those who have experience in the field which is why I understood the importance of having an internship in the field and networking with others in the field. The artifacts to showcase were another source that I was aware of which includes references, a resume, and a portfolio. 

What I learned is to also think about emotional skills because of the sensitivity of the job. I have not taken advantage of the resources around me, such as the Georgia State University Career Center, and have not been proactive enough. Networking with GSU’s law school is one plan I never thought of when it comes to connecting with law students or teachers who can provide me with guidance. Additionally, I learned about organizations in my field such as the National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA) and the National Association of Legal Associations (NALA) which are organizations I can seek and learn from. I learned multiple different types of legal technology which I didn’t consider such as billing software and legal forms libraries. 

I need to start attending legal networking events and join organizations, such as the Georgia Association of Paralegals to stay updated on job opportunities and attend court observations. I do not currently have connections when it comes to the legal industry which is what I will focus on and continue my pursuit to get an internship at a law office. Considering where to get a paralegal certification is another action I need to start. Taking on the task of updating my LinkedIn is one objective, but also becoming more familiar with the kinds of legal technology is significant to me. Being aware of legal technology through workshops will be an advantage because it demonstrates that I did my research beforehand and it will make me better prepared. 

 At this point, I’m feeling one step ahead with the more career research we do. I’m reminded that I still have a lot left to do but it’s an inevitable continuous process. I feel as though I grew another mindset and that my brain grew with knowledge with this assignment. Another thought I want to mention is that I’m certain that I can learn the skills and earn all the qualifications but when it comes to starting, I don’t have much on my resume which is why I’m glad we had this assignment so that I know what to look for. Utilizing AI was useful in seeing what different information I could obtain but I’m aware that my path to my career can’t always go to plan. Overall, the AI technology that I preferred was Bard because it went beyond and gave me plenty of information to go by. I will say that I will not be 100% relying on AI because it’s good to keep researching other sources other than AI. I’m relieved that I used more than one AI because ChatGPT wasn’t as concise as Bard. One quote from Bard that stood out to me was “Every experience, even if it’s not directly related to your field, can teach you valuable skills and broaden your perspective.” I believe that quote resonated with me not having much experience in the paralegal field.

 

Sources:

1. HOW TO GET AN ENTRY-LEVEL JOB (PLUS TOP JOBS AND SALARIES)

2. LINK TO CHATGPT IMAGE USED

3.  LINK TO BARD IMAGE USED

4. CANVA TEMPLATES

5. ADDITIONAL SOURCES USED WERE CHATGPT AND BARD

6. LINK TO IMAGES USED IN BLOG