Interview With Elizaveta Blasser, VCPS Graduate

Many students have enrolled in our school with aspirations for new opportunities and for expanding their horizons in the field of law. Elizaveta V. Blasser, our 2004 Student of the Year, has done just that. Born in Russia with a passion for law, she decided to pursue her education in a foreign country and chose Virginia Center for Paralegal Studies, VCPS, and its online educational component, Online Center for Paralegal Studies. Elizaveta, now 27, has excelled in her legal studies and Internship program. She is now employed with a prestigious law firm in the Washington, D.C. area.  In an interview with Elizaveta, she discusses her experience at VCPS and how it aided her:

VCPS: Elizaveta, what was your educational background before coming to the United States?

Elizaveta: I attended Juridical College of Moscow State University, Moscow State University, law faculty, Law Institute of the Ministry of the Interior of the Russian Federation, and I graduated in 2002 as a Lawyer specializing in Civil Law.

VCPS: What further education did you receive outside of Russia?

Elizaveta: I received certificates from language schools in France, Germany, and Ireland.  I attended the London School of Journalism.  Then came to the United States and graduated from the Virginia Center for Paralegal Studies (VCPS).

VCPS:  Now that you have graduated from VCPS, where are you presently employed?

Elizaveta:  I am currently a legal assistant in patent prosecution for Greenblum & Bernstein, P.L.C. in Reston, VA. I am responsible for organizing and monitoring the attorneys' workload, completing daily docket, drafting documents to be filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, communication with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, ordering necessary documents.  I am also responsible for billing duties, such as creating/proofreading drafts and final debit notes, keeping track of attorneys' time sheets and shares, reviewing incoming correspondence and drafting outgoing correspondence, attending selected daily meetings, processing files through the various departments, ensuring that the firm's procedures for different clients are followed, using the firm's computer databases. 

VCPS:  That sounds like quite a bit of responsibility, how do you think VCPS aided you in being able to handle those responsibilities?

Elizaveta:   The VCPS program helped me master such important qualities such as: good oral and written skills, typing, computers, ability to work in a stressful environment, attention to detail, good organizational skills, and the ability to get along with other employees in the firm 

VCPS:  Were their any classes in particular that especially helped you?

Elizaveta:  For me personally, working with patent law, Ethics, Oral and Written Communications, Legal Research, Law Office Management, Computer helped me most.  Other courses were very important but I don't use that specific knowledge at work, although I feel my broad knowledge of law is crucial to understanding the field of law.

VCPS:  What was the most influential aspect of the VCPS program for you?

Elizaveta:  The opportunity given by VCPS to intern in a real law office specializing in a variety of cases was incredibly important.  Unlike most students, I had previous work experience in the legal area, but in a different country with a different legal system, back in Russia, Moscow. The chance to test newly obtained theoretical skills in life was of great value. One learns so much faster and everything starts making sense, especially for such courses as civil litigation, criminal law, family law, estate planning, and torts.  Learning with actual examples helped me to grasp the ideas much better and more quickly.  Another important plus of studying at VCPS were field trips we took to local courts, bankruptcy hearings, and I even had the chance to visit a jail.  I learned a great deal from my internship and field trip experiences and interning gave me the self-confidence to start my legal career.

VCPS: What are your goals for your future?

Elizaveta: I have been employed at this firm for only 5 1/2 months, but have recently been promoted.  Now I have the additional responsibility of being in charge of all billing for our many Germanic speaking clients (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).  I would like to obtain more experience in patent law, including patent litigation.  I desire to continue my education and one day hopefully attend a U.S. law school and become an attorney.

VCPS was able to provide Elizaveta with the proper training and skills to begin her legal career. I am sure that Elizaveta will have continual success in her future, as well.  Many other VCPS students have attained similar success on their own legal career path.  VCPS continues to attain their goal of providing a strong education for paralegals that prepares students for the legal world.