Gary B.

After 25 years practicing law, I have opted for a calmer and more flexible career as a freelance paralegal. I have extensive experience researching and writing - having written more than 450 appellate briefs and 1,000s of trial/appellate court motions. In 1998, I received the Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award, which was quite an honor. Throughout my career, I thought outside the box - looking beyond traditional approaches to issues. My novel arguments succeeded in expanding precedent and winning relief. For example, when faced with a client convicted of murder and sentenced to death for murdering his wife while she testified in their divorce trial, shooting her attorney and his attorney, shooting at the judge and chasing the bailiff around the courthouse perimeter, I decided to embrace the facts. My colleagues thought I was insane-insisting I focus on a documented mental health issue. My approach won my client a new trial by convincing the MO Supreme Court that trying him in a courtroom directly above the crime scene was unduly prejudicial. This was the first win for failing to change venue due to unproven prejudice in MO. While practicing as a solo attorney, I wore many hats. I often served as my firm’s legal secretary, business manager, legal assistant/paralegal, law clerk, fact investigator and IT troubleshooter. This gave me a solid appreciation of the various roles in a law practice and honed my skills as a calendar manager, client handler, billing agent and multi-tasker. My writing has largely, but not exclusively, been in the legal arena. In college, I twice served as copy editor on the yearbook. As a freshman, I wrote a story on a very popular “non-traditional” student in his mid-80s. That article place third in the Columbia University Gold Circle Awards. My writing is crisp, grammatical and logical, and my editing can be ruthless (without being harsh). If you are an attorney in need of paralegal or administrative assistance or an individual need in need of writing/editing assistance, I am ready to help! Keep in mind, though, that as a paralegal, I cannot give legal advice to individuals, which has caused some disagreement.