VGCC Paralegal student co-authors handbook
A student in the Paralegal Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College is already making her mark in the legal world.
Megan N. Finch of Louisburg is the co-author of the new “ Practitioner's Handbook for Civil Superior Court ” for North Carolina’s Division III, an area that includes 11 counties around the Research Triangle region. The handbook, which is the first of its kind in the state, is designed to inform attorneys and their paralegals of the proper protocols for legal filings, court calendaring and other legal actions specific to civil superior court, including how procedures differ in various locations within the division.
The lead author on the document is Ella S. Wrenn, Trial Court Coordinator for the Ninth Judicial District, who was the supervisor for Finch’s internship through the college’s Work-Based Learning (WBL) program. Finch interned with Wrenn, who is based at the Franklin County courthouse in Louisburg, through the fall 2014 semester.
Wrenn laid the groundwork for the opportunity when she approached VGCC Paralegal Technology program head/instructor Antoinette C. Dickens about starting an internship. Dickens then recommended Finch. Wrenn enlisted the student in a project that had been on her mind.
“I had the idea to create this handbook, but I’d never had enough time to devote to it,” said Wrenn, who has been in her position since 1980. “I needed another person who could be dedicated to the task for a considerable amount of time.” She found such a person in Finch. “Megan said, ‘It doesn’t matter how long it takes, I’m going to finish it,’” Wrenn recalled. They collaborated via e-mail for much of the time. “She was great at taking direction and just running with it,” Wrenn added. The pair also gathered input from other court system staff.
Once it was complete, the handbook was approved by senior resident superior court judges in the division. Wrenn went on to present it to a group of new superior court judges from across the state during training at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government. She reported that the document was well-received and will now serve as a template for the state’s other divisions.
“Megan played an integral role in this project,” said Dickens. “She researched, collected, analyzed and compiled the information to be used for this handbook, which will help paralegals, attorneys and ultimately their clients throughout North Carolina. I am so very proud of Megan and her accomplishments.”
Finch found the internship, including the handbook assignment, to be an educational, enlightening complement to her classroom studies. “I learned that I actually like the civil side of the law better. Previously, I had thought I would be more interested in criminal law,” Finch said. “I recommend that all students take advantage of work-based learning, because I learned so much and gained so much experience.”
Finch enrolled in the VGCC Paralegal program’s first class in 2013. She had worked in the food service industry for several years but wanted a more stable profession with a better income. Finch had considered driving to Durham for Paralegal training but was delighted to learn that VGCC’s program would be offered at the Franklin County Campus in her hometown. A Dean’s List student, she is now set to be among the program’s first graduates in May.
For more information on the Paralegal program , call Antoinette Dickens at (252) 738-3609 or (919) 496-1567, ext. 3609.
Above: From left, VGCC Paralegal Technology program head/instructor Antoinette Dickens, student Megan Finch and Ella Wrenn, seen here at the college’s Franklin County Campus. (VGCC photo)
