CFCC alumna journeys from paralegal pursuit to law partnership

Jessica Humphries, a CFCC alumna, began her academic journey at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Political Science. After completing her degree, she decided to take a break before pursuing law school.

Drawn to the Wilmington area, Jessica relocated and enrolled in Cape Fear Community College’s Paralegal Technology program. She saw the program as a strategic step to enhance her qualifications. In an effort to enhance her resume and add to her relevant academic background, Jessica hoped to gain practical experience in the legal field by working as a paralegal.

“I knew there was a paralegal program at CFCC,” commented Jessica. “I believed that the training would help me get a paralegal job. I wanted to work for a few years and build my resume, adding valuable experience to it for when I applied to law school.”

DIVERSE LEGAL TRAINING

Unsure of which legal path she wanted to take, Jessica decided to cover her bases by getting certificates in both civil litigation and real estate. After finishing her studies at Cape Fear, she landed her first job at a family law firm. There, she was able to put her civil litigation skills to good use, helping out with drafting the paperwork for various court motions and pleadings.

Later, she switched gears and joined another firm, this time working on cases that involved digging into suspicious insurance claims. It was a bit of a change, but it gave Jessica a chance to use what she’d learned in a whole new setting.

PARALEGAL TO PARTNER

After a couple of years as a paralegal, Jessica decided it was time to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. She was accepted into Campbell Law School, where she dedicated herself to earning her law degree.

Upon completing her studies, Jessica returned to Wilmington, eager to begin her career as an attorney. She found her place at the law firm Hamlet Law, where her hard work and dedication paid off, leading to her recent promotion to partner within the firm.

“The training that I received at CFCC has benefited me in my career as well as in law school,” Jessica concluded. “Having been introduced to the concepts and documents before law school, they weren’t unfamiliar to me. The paralegal training also made me an attractive candidate to law firms because I required less initial training compared to other new attorneys.”

Learn more about training for a career in Paralegal Technology .