The newsletter summarizes upcoming events for paralegals, highlights a mental health advocacy organization called NAMI, and provides tips for overcoming holiday blues. It also profiles legal trailblazers and recommends a book on paralegal ethics. The main article discusses a three-pronged approach to dealing with holiday blues involving eliminating unhealthy comparisons, accepting what you can't change, and volunteering to avoid loneliness.

1. Paralegal Rainmakers Digest
Monthly Newsletter of Paralegal Rainmakers
December 2012 Volume 1 Issue 4
Mental Health Issue
Overcoming Holiday Blues P.1
Legal Trailblazers P.2
Rainmakers Spotlight P.3
Upcoming Events P. 3
5 Tips for Career Success
There is no magic formula for career
success. It must be planned for. Use
these tips to ensure success in 2013.
1. Plan for Where you Want to Go
2. Stay Positive
Overcoming Holiday Blues 3. Have a Can Do Attitude
4. Elicit the Support of a Mentor
The winter season ushers in cold weather, holidays, and for some individuals it also brings
5. Be Open to Change
on the blues. This condition is often associated with what is referred to as seasonal affec-
tive disorder. Whether this depressive state is triggered by a feeling of loneliness, a feeling
of not measuring up, or the decrease in sunlight hours it is a condition that is real and can Rainmakers Virtual College
hijack an individuals attempts to have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. In order,
Rainmakers Virtual College Winter
to effectively deal with this joy sapping condition you must understand that you’re in con- Session is now open for registration.
trol not your emotions. The following three pronged approach can be implemented to The Winter Session is scheduled for
take back the reigns of your emotional state so you can enjoy all the awesome experiences 1/25/13. This one day educational
that this season brings with it. This is not a hit or miss approach , a magic formula, or an event is a great way to earn CLE
credits, network on-line, and/or
attempt to substitute for the advice of a mental health professional, but will prove to be an
learn about emerging issues within
effective method to dealing with the holiday blues.
the legal industry and paralegal pro-
fession. Speaking sessions include
Most occurrences of holiday blues are brought on not because of a serious mental illness,
cloud computing, intellectual prop-
but because of self deprecating self talk that goes along with feelings of loneliness, un- erty, paralegal ethics, and more.
healthy comparisons, and wanting something you don’t have, or more of something that Visit www.rainmakerscollege.com to
you don’t believe you have enough of. That being said following is the three pronged ap- learn more.
proach that will help to avoid or eliminate the holiday blues. (Cont’d on page 2)

2. Legal Trailblazers
Thinking outside the chambers
Webster’s Dictionary defines a trailblazer
with one word. A Pioneer. The postulation
that most legal professionals within the
Paralegal Rainmakers Spotlight
U.S. legal system follow the legal formal-
ism school of thought makes the existence
of legal trailblazers rare. Some may argue
that our legal system is the sum total of
individuals that have different ideals, back-
grounds, and follow different schools of
thought, but the fact that citing cases is Overcoming the Holiday Blues
such a huge part of how an action is to be (Cont’d from page 1)
resolved demonstrates that legal profes- The first aspect of this approach is elimi- This month in the Paralegal Rain-
sionals rarely deviate from established nating the mental chatter that goes along makers spotlight is all of the NAMI
practices and rulings. This seems to be a with making unhealthy comparisons. Un- advocates that work tirelessly to
deal with mental health issues in
paradox considering that the legal system healthy comparisons involve viewing
the criminal justice system.
was basically constructed to solve disputes, where you are in relation to a co-worker,
NAMI works with state legislatures,
and those tasked with solving those dis- family member, or friend that may have law enforcement, and the court
putes are in essence called on to advocate what you would like to have in your life. system to implement effective
for those that they represent. Embracing an attitude of gratitude elimi- ways to deal with the mentally ill
individuals within the justice sys-
nates the temptation to make unhealthy
tem. It is estimated that 16% of
It is with this notion that legal trailblazers comparisons. The second aspect of this individuals that are incarcerated
are applauded for their efforts when it approach is not to buy into the lie that you suffer from some kind of mental
results in the effective delivery of legal illness. Although, there are de-
are alone. Even if you have no family or
bates about whether individuals
services. When the tendency to place the you’re apart from family and friends you’re that have mental illness should be
goal of getting the corner office or a part- never alone. There is always someone subject to the same punishment as
ner position is placed over justice, posi- somewhere that would enjoy your compa- those that do not, the fact that so
many individuals that are incarcer-
tion and prestige trumps the effective de- ny. A quick solution to getting stuck in a ated are suffering from a serious
livery of legal services. Trailblazers chal- rut due to feeling alone is to volunteer. mental illness brings into question
lenge arcane practices and systems. They During the holidays there are a number of whether there are adequate meth-
ods to deal with mentally ill individ-
stand in the midst of naysayers to bring organizations that can use a helping hand.
uals.
forth great policies, programs, businesses, The last part of this approach is to accept
Mental Illness is an epidemic that
and organizations in an effort to make our what you can’t change. Oftentimes what oftentimes goes untreated, and it
justice system do what it was created to brings the most unhappiness in life are results in serious issues for the
do. To make changes. To break down bar- situations that we have no control over. individuals that suffer from it and
the community. There is a lot of
riers. To demolish hindrances. To estab- The saying “grant me the peace to accept work to be done to address this
lish what our great nation was founded on. the things that I cannot change, the cour- serious issue. If you are interested
A justice system based on principles that age to change the things that I can, and the in supporting NAMI visit their web-
allow for the equitable and just appropri- site at www.nami.org and go the
wisdom to know the difference” will prove
advocacy page to learn more about
ation of laws so that all within our great to be the most effective medicine in curing getting involved.
borders can pursue happiness unhindered the holiday blues and the negative self talk
and unapologetically. that leads to this depressive state of being.

3. Upcoming Events
Agility
February 14, 2013 Live Webinar CLE : Avoiding Subtle UPL Traps
More information available at http://agilityparalegalsandiegoca.com/mortgage-bankruptcy-services
Legal Tech Show
January 29-31, 2013 Legal Tech New York
More information available at www.legaltechshow.com
Lorman Education
January 29, 2013 Live Audio CLE: Much Ado About Bluebooking: A Paralegal’s Guide to Legal Citation
More Information Available at http://www.lorman.com/audio-conference/390902
Rainmakers Virtual College
January 25, 2013 Winter Session
More information available at www.agilityparalegalsandiegoca.com
Paralegal Rainmakers Digest
The Paralegal Ethics Handbook addresses December 2012 Issue 4
considerations for in-house, corporate, freelance,
administrative, governmental, and regulatory law
paralegals, as well as for paralegals working in
the area of alternative dispute resolution.
Paralegal Rainmakers
The handbook was written by The State Bar of
Texas Paralegal Division but contains rules and
regulations for all 50 states and Washington D.C.
9175 Judicial Drive
ISBN 13: 9780314603296 San Diego, CA 92122
Click on the image to purchase or visit
store.westlaw.com 888-734-5554 ph
www.prainmakers.com