According to this article from The Legal Intelligencer, the most common areas of employment litigation involving paralegals include failure to pay overtime, sexual harassment, violation of family and medical leave laws, and retaliation against whistleblowers.

1. Overtime Pay. The bottom line is that non-supervisory paralegals should get paid overtime for all hours worked over 40 hours per week.
   
2. Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment typically takes two forms: quid pro quo sexual harassment, where the paralegal's terms of employment are contingent upon complying with a supervisor's sexual requests and come-ons, and "hostile work environment" harassment, where unwelcome severe or pervasive mistreatment is based on the employee's gender and adversely changes the tersm and conditions of employment. Paralegals are protected against retaliation for filing a reasonable, good faith complaint of harassment.
   
3. Medical and Maternity Leave. Paralegals who work for a law firm with 50 or more employees within 75 miles of the employee's worksite may be eligible for family and medical leave protection under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which also provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for a birth or adoption, or to care for a family member's serious illness or the employee's own serious health condition. Employees are eligible after 12 months of continuous employment, so long as they have worked 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months.
   
4. Whistleblowing. Various state and federal laws provide limited protection to employees who expose unlawful conduct.

The layoffs keep coming. Cooley Godward Kronish axed 52 lawyers and 62 staff yesterday, citing the economy. The practice areas most affected by the layoffs are corporate, transactional, and public securities.

However, Cooley just finished up a strong year, with 14 percent growth in revenue. Profits per partner were down 7 percent, though.

(Source: Law.com)

Think you might be the next to go? Read Top Five Ways to Prepare for Layoffs.

Paralegals are not recession-proof, and the recent layoffs at firms across the United States, even at firms that made a profit, only drive that point home. When the writing is on the wall, and it's only a matter of time until the dreaded pink slip lands on your desk, it helps to be prepared. (And as paralegals, we know all about being prepared.)

1. Update your resume. Right now, before the axe falls, because the last thing you are going to want to do is hunker down at your computer and try to think of your accomplishments.
   
2. Clean up your office. This doesn't mean walk out today with a big box of all your stuff, but do start bringing your non-essential items home: books you're not using, the extra pair of shoes under your desk. If anyone asks, you're streamlining to get ready for the next big project.
   
3. Get a USB thumb drive. Back up anything personal that's on your work computer, and if you need to work on personal matters at the office, save it to the thumb drive. You may not have access to the computer system after you're let go.
   
4. Update your professional address book. After the axe falls and you've regrouped, you're going to want to contact everyone in it.
   
5. Create a post-layoff budget. Know how long you can be out of work for before your savings run out, and see where you can cut costs. This isn't something you're going to want to do after the layoff.

Wanda Evans was recently elected Paralegal of the Year by the Cumberland County Paralegal Association. Evans is a paralegal with the law firm of McCauley & Person LLP.

The Service Member of the Year for fiscal year 2008 is Pfc. Alicia Lyman who serves as a paralegal for the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion. Lyman is originally from Naples, N.Y. and has been stationed at Fort Gordon since November 2007. She has always volunteered for additional work to help others. She is a to- tally poised, mature and dedicated Soldier. Future plans include attending the University of Tampa for Rerserve Officer Training Corps in fall 2009, attending law school, and applying to become a Judge Advocate General Corps officer. When asked why she decided to join the Army, she said she enjoys adventure and being active.