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Episode 21 | Interview with Kristine Jeffels | Instructor at Bow Valley College

What does it really take to build a successful career in Canada's legal profession?

In this episode of Sister-in-Law: The Paralegal Journey, I sit down with Kristine Jeffels, instructor at Bow Valley College and mentor with the Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals, for an honest conversation about career growth, mentorship, and the evolving role of legal assistants and paralegals in Alberta.

Whether you're a legal assistant student, an experienced legal assistant, an Alberta Paralegal, or simply exploring a career in law, this episode offers practical advice you can apply throughout your professional journey.

Together we discuss:

⚖️ What separates successful legal assistants from those who struggle

🎓 How mentorship can accelerate your legal career

📚 Why continuing education never stops in the legal profession

🤝 The transition from legal assistant to paralegal

🏛️ The future of paralegal regulation in Alberta

💼 The skills Alberta law firms are looking for today

🚀 How confidence, not experience, often becomes the biggest obstacle to career growth

Kristine also shares the advice she has given students for nearly two decades, including why every legal professional should always carry a pen and notebook and how simple habits can set you apart in a law office.

If you've ever questioned whether you're ready for your next opportunity, this conversation will remind you that the experience you've already gained may be exactly what prepares you for it. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

📍 Connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know your biggest takeaway from today's episode.

⭐ If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with another legal assistant or paralegal who could benefit from today's conversation.

About Sister-in-Law: The Paralegal Journey

Sister-in-Law: The Paralegal Journey is a Canadian podcast hosted by Tara Edwards, an Alberta Registered Paralegal. Each episode features conversations with legal assistants, paralegals, lawyers, educators, and industry leaders from across Canada who share practical advice, career insights, and real-world experiences.

Whether you work in law, work alongside the legal profession, are thinking about a career in this space, or simply want an honest look at the paralegal journey, you're in the right place. Because every experienced paralegal was once the person asking their first question. Here, we're all about learning, growing, and supporting one another along the way. So, welcome to the conversation.

⭐ Follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

💼 Connect with Tara on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-edwards-vandenberg-arp-78607033