Episode 149: Imagine a World Where Everyone Has Access to Justice: An Interview with Michael Houlberg
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Release Date: 03/25/2025
What To Do When You're Not Ready To Retire, But You're Tired Of the Long Work Hours
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
In this episode of Paralegals on Fire, Ann Pearson answers a question submitted by one of her longtime email subscribers—a seasoned litigation paralegal with nearly four decades of experience who’s ready for a change but not quite ready to retire. Drawing from her own background and insights from the industry, Ann offers practical advice on career paths that allow experienced paralegals to leverage their skills while achieving better work-life balance. Ann highlights several alternative career options outside of Big Law, including in-house corporate legal departments, litigation vendor...
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Why This State Supreme Court Justice Wanted the Job Might Surprise You
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Guest host, Linda Odermott, joins us for another great interview in her Paralegal Real Talk contributing series, where she gives us a deep dive into the latest happenings with paralegal licensing, access to justice, and the impact on the paralegal profession. In this episode, Linda interviews Colorado State Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart. Justice Hart speaks frankly about the access to justice problem and the importance of being in the room if you want to get started on making a change in your state. You don't want to miss this motivating and inspiring episode! Key Takeaways: ...
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Episode 155: How Much Is Your "Free" Time Worth?
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: In this episode, Ann dives into the critical topic of why paralegals should stop working for free and highlights ways to ensure their talents are valued appropriately. Kicking off with an introduction to the pressing issue of unpaid labor, Ann points out that while gaining visibility in the legal field is essential, professionals must avoid giving away their expertise without compensation to for-profit companies. Key Takeaways: Paralegals should not provide their expertise...
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Episode 154: I Hate to Be the Bad Guy - But Billing Your Time is Part of Your Job
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Why does it seem like your supervisor cares so much about getting your billable hours in on time? I get it - billing your time can be a drag. But it is your job. I'm going to be the bad guy for this episode. Stick with me! Billable hours can also be a powerful career tool! Tune in to learn: Why your time entries are under the microscope every month How billable hours directly affect your career growth and earning potential Ways to shift your mindset to stop dreading time tracking and start owning it This episode is brought to you by Raise the Bar Media - a weekly newsletter for legal...
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Episode 153: Avoid These Or Risk Stalling Your Paralegal Career
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
What’s *really* holding back your paralegal career? Spoiler alert: It’s probably not your boss. In this solo episode, I’m diving into five sneaky career stallers that might be quietly sabotaging your growth—and what to do about them. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, this episode is your wake-up call to shift gears and reignite your paralegal career path. Grab the free 3-Step Roadmap for new litigation paralegals: SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT This episode is brought to you by Raise the Bar Media - a weekly newsletter for legal professionals that...
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Episode 152: 5 Things Every Litigation Paralegal Should Know Before Their First Trial
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Are you a new (or fairly new) litigation paralegal? Get the Paralegal Boot Camp's FREE strategic guidebook here: Going to trial for the first time as a litigation paralegal? Deep breaths! This episode is for you. In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 most important things that every litigation paralegal should know before their first trial to help you. And even if you've already been to trial, maybe you need a refresher or want to hear a funny trial war room story! SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT This episode is brought to you by Raise the Bar Media - a weekly newsletter...
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Episode 151: Paralegal Mistakes - How to Recover and Grow After Them
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
The AI Boot Camp for Legal Professionals is open for enrollment! Go to to learn more! In this solo episode, Ann talks about paralegal mistakes. Let's face it: mistakes happen. Especially when you're new in your paralegal career - or juggling a dozen high-priority tasks at once. We all make mistakes. What matters most is how we react to them. In this episode, Ann shares real-world stories of paralegal mistakes (including her own!) and more importantly, how to recover, rebuild trust, and grow stronger from them. Key quote from Ann: One mistake doesn't define you. And if you did get fired...
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Episode 150: The 4 B's of a Well-Rounded Paralegal
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Announcement: Join Ann in the free AI Masterclass on Saturday, April 19th: In this episode, we dive into an inspiring conversation with Christina West, a seasoned paralegal and blogger. Ann and Christina discuss the significance of becoming a well-rounded paralegal, drawing from Christina's diverse experiences across different fields of law. Prefer to watch the podcast episode's video interview: Key Takeaways: Be in the Know: Diversifying your legal knowledge enhances employability and adaptability in different legal settings. Be a Part of Something Bigger: Engaging in...
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Episode 149: Imagine a World Where Everyone Has Access to Justice: An Interview with Michael Houlberg
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Episode Summary: Join guest host Linda Odermott as she interviews Michael Houlberg, Director of Special Projects at the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS). IAALS is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our justice system more just. They believe that justice and access to the justice system can be a reality for everyone. This episode highlights IAALS' forward-thinking approach to addressing the access to justice crisis through innovative projects such as regulatory reform initiatives, community justice...
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Episode 148: Paralegal Career Tips + An Invitation to Join Me
Paralegals on Fire! with Ann Pearson
Sign up for the five-day Bootcamp Challenge at In this episode, Ann announces an exciting opportunity—a free five-day Bootcamp Challenge starting soon—offering paralegals a chance to fast-track their career growth easily and effectively. She curates six insightful tips, compiled from top paralegal minds, designed to nurture growth, adaptability, and invulnerability to common industry pitfalls. Key Takeaways: Embrace Multiple Career Paths: Stay open to different practice areas as your first job might not be the right fit. Maintain Composure: Project calmness under...
info_outlineEpisode Summary:
Join guest host Linda Odermott as she interviews Michael Houlberg, Director of Special Projects at the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS).
IAALS is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our justice system more just. They believe that justice and access to the justice system can be a reality for everyone.
This episode highlights IAALS' forward-thinking approach to addressing the access to justice crisis through innovative projects such as regulatory reform initiatives, community justice worker programs, and alternative licensed professional programs.
To learn more about IAALS and their projects: https://iaals.du.edu/
About the Guest:
Michael Houlberg is the Director of Special Projects at IAALS, focusing on family justice and regulatory reform work, and promoting greater accessibility, efficiency, and fairness to everyone involved in the legal system. Mr. Houlberg graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2015. He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Brigham Young University and is a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology.
Paralegal Boot Camp sponsors the Paralegals on Fire! Podcast Show.