Graduate Profiles- Chuck Winans '07

More on Chuck...

Chuck’s duties, as a paralegal with Anthony J. Peraica & Associates, Ltd., include the following: general support for Mr. Peraica and three full-time attorneys and preparing and propounding discovery for personal injury, contract dispute, divorce, child custody and child support cases.  Chuck has, in, addition, worked on a few criminal defense cases, and has become extremely proficient at preparation of and electronic filing of Chapter 7 bankruptcies.

When asked what he’d tell a new student entering the Paralegal Studies Program, Chuck offered this advice, “Try to approach all of your studies in a professional manner, as though it's a full time job.  When you enter the job market, do not depend merely on sending resumes via e-mail to recruiters.  Make phone calls, search law firm websites for job openings (full or part time; permanent or temporary).  Be diligent!  The people you want to meet with and work for are extremely busy.  Don’t wait for them to come to you.  If possible, do an internship in conjunction with the program.” 

Chuck offers this additional advice, “The Paralegal Studies Program at Roosevelt gave me the essential tools I needed to work in the legal field.  That said, it’s just like any other job.  Show up! Every day!  On time!  Work hard!  Be self-motivated!  Be diligent with your schoolwork, your job search and your job!  If you don’t know the answer, do not be afraid to ask someone who does.”

What Chuck most enjoys about working as a Paralegal (with Anthony J. Peraica & Associates, Ltd.) is the “challenge of it all.” He works for a full-service law firm that does a little bit of everything.  Chuck declares, “In the morning, I might prepare a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Petition.  On the same day, in the afternoon, I might prepare discovery documents for a divorce or personal injury case.”

Comparing the 'culture' of law firms and corporations, Chuck believes that, “Law firms (large and small), are corporations.  You have clients who pay money for services.  Paralegals and Attorneys provide those services; however, unlike buying the services of a plumber (just as an example) each case is different.  The outcome of a lawsuit is never guaranteed from the start, and the costs involved in a lawsuit can almost never be completely predetermined."

Chuck’s future career plans include "becoming increasingly more knowledgeable about different areas of the law and legal procedures." In addition, he’d like to "develop the ability to make more decisions, independently, (under the guidance of an attorney, of course)."

Chuck enjoys being a professional photographer when he’s not working and has been recognized, nationally, for performance and music photography. He prefers to spend what little spare time he has with his wife and two-year-old daughter.

Chuck met his current employer, Anthony J. Peraica,  at a Career Fair shortly before graduation, and pursued the position for a few weeks before being hired about three weeks after graduation. Chuck recalls, “I followed up with phone calls, scheduled a meeting with Mr. Peraica, and was offered a position on the spot!” According to Chuck, he was “extremely diligent and somewhat lucky.”

Chuck is still with Anthony J. Peraica & Associates, Ltd., but his responsibilities have changed, somewhat.  Initially, he was hired as the second paralegal with Anthony J. Peraica & Associates, under the lead paralegal that had been with the firm for nearly 20 years; however, about a month after he was hired, the lead paralegal resigned, giving two weeks notice.  With one month’s experience, Chuck was suddenly the only paralegal in the office.  He had to learn procedures quickly. According to Chuck, “Thank goodness for form books and online research resources!”

College of Professional Studies