Bridging Paralegal Studies to Legal Administration

“During our initial meeting, we were able to get acquainted with De Anza paralegal students and answer questions about how they can transition in legal management roles. I was able to share my personal journey, which was very exciting for students to hear,” shares Darcy Diaz, executive director of Ropers Majeski PC and current President of the Silicon Valley Chapter.

In May 2026, moving from virtual dialogues to campus engagement, the chapter joined the De Anza College Career Fair and Networking Event as an official vendor. ALA leaders met face-to-face with paralegal studies students to introduce the legal administration pathway. The event demystified law firm business operations, provided insight into professional credentials (such as the Certified Legal Manager (CLM)^® designation), and opened doors for student career exploration.

By combining career mentoring, leadership workshops, site visits and interactive networking events, the program expands students' horizons beyond traditional legal support roles into law firm operations and leadership.

“At the career fair, students were eager to learn how to get a foot in the door for legal management opportunities. To help support their next steps, we hosted a drawing and awarded the winner a free student membership to our local ALA chapter. It was a fabulous event!” Diaz says.

Building on this momentum, the next major milestone is a hands-on Resume Writing, Mock Interview Workshop and Networking Event (tentatively scheduled for early November 2026). This event will be hosted jointly by De Anza College’s Paralegal Studies Program, the Silicon Valley Chapter and other prominent Bay Area law firm leaders. This collaborative workshop will bring local paralegal studies students into a professional law firm environment. Participants will receive tailored resume critiques, practice interview skills with active firm leaders and gain real-world exposure to the daily operations of legal administration.

The success of Pathways to Leadership relies on clear, actionable outcomes: (1) Pipeline Creation: Pairing students with executive mentors for long-term career guidance; (2) Real-World Exposure: Offering site visits, job shadowing and hands-on professional development workshops; and (3) Confidence & Leadership: Empowering students with the knowledge that their paralegal skills are strong foundations for executive leadership in the legal industry. I hope my project serves as an inspiring blueprint for how ALA members and chapters can leverage Growing Seeds funding to make a lasting, tangible impact on the next generation of legal management professionals.