Paralegal uses certification to open doors

Cynthia J. Mascio, a paralegal at the largest full-service law firm in California, knows quite a bit about certification.  She has earned numerous professional credentials, including those that have taken her from being a “certificated” paralegal to one who is professionally certified. And she’s now on her way to a new specialist credential unique to the electronic-discovery field, the Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS).

“I will be able to use certification to open doors to other opportunities,” said Mascio.

Although her work as a paralegal for Rutan & Tucker LLP in Orange County is focused on employment law, she says that like many other legal specialties, her field is rife with challenges related to e-discovery.

 “The litigation we have is the same as anywhere else. Everything is electronic now, so you have to know how to work all these different software programs.”

The appeal of certification

That’s why Mascio holds mastery certificates in several litigation software programs, and why she welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate her competence in the e-discovery field through a recognized credentialing process. She faced a similar challenge once before as a paralegal.

“There is a difference between being a certificated paralegal and a certified paralegal,” she said. “A certificated paralegal is one who went to school and earned a [paralegal] certificate. Being a professionally certified paralegal means you passed a rigorous two-day exam.”

“It’s like the bar exam that attorneys take. I had to learn the law,” she added.

Mascio not only sees opportunities for herself as a CEDS, but said she is grateful that there is an e-discovery certification program for other professionals in the field, whether they’re attorneys, paralegals or some other specialist.

 Valuable credentials

Mascio said the CEDS certification is something her employer and their clients will appreciate just as much as she does.

“When they see that I’m a paralegal, they see I really care about what I’m doing and took the time to be certified.”

And certified she is. Mascio is a strong believer in the value of specialized training. Since earning her paralegal certificate from the University of California, Irvine, in 1982, she has continued to obtain professional designations to advance her career.

“I like to challenge myself,” she said.

More recognitions

In 2000, she earned the Certified Paralegal (CP) credential from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). A year later she became a California Advanced Specialist (CAS) – Litigation, and in 2007, she obtained the Advanced Certified Paralegal - Discovery certificate from NALA. She was named Paralegal Superstar in September 2009 by Paralegalgateway.com.

Last year, Mascio received three further professional recognitions. In July, she was named an American Alliance Certified Paralegal (AACP), a designation based on strict formal educational and professional experience qualifications. That same month, she won the NALA Affiliate Award, which recognized her contribution of time and skill to bar associations in planning educational programs and community volunteer efforts.

And in December, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Orange County Paralegal Association for her dedication to advancing the paralegal profession and her participation in local service organizations.

Already familiar with the field

Mascio’s work prior to joining Rutan & Tucker, includes nine years as a paralegal at the Irvine, Calif., offices of Morrison & Foerster LLP. She is also treasurer of the Law Practice Management & Technology Section of the California State Bar.

She is a charter member of ACEDS, having joined in September 2010. Once she saw the CEDS Exam Preparation Manual, which she received when she registered for the test, she made a few discoveries of her own.

“I’m learning that I know e-discovery,” she said.