Ann Burns’ journey to becoming a paralegal student at Â鶹Éç is rooted in her passion for the legal field and desire to expand her knowledge. Originally from Rochester, New York, Ann began her career as a corporate paralegal after completing a paralegal program recommended by her employer. After relocating to Richmond, Virginia, she pursued a career in real estate to combine her interest in transactional work with her love for connecting with people. However, she continued to feel a strong pull back to the legal field. Ann chose ANU’s paralegal program for its flexibility, which allows her to balance her studies with work and time spent with her family and her three beloved dogs Cabela, Lola, and Gaelen. Her dedication and commitment to the program earned her recognition as one of Term 242’s Term Trailblazers by her professors!
While Ann has already been through a paralegal education prior to joining ANU’s certificate program, she says it was “nothing like [ANU’s] program.” One of the biggest reasons she enjoyed her education here is because of the connection she has felt with her professors and fellow students. “The interaction with the instructors, even through Zoom – I will say, you guys have really mastered that online platform and being able to really communicate,” she explains. “We might work on something, and it didn’t really feel remote. So it was great!” The biggest benefit to earning her certificate is that it added to her already existing education and experience. “It is really great to have the update in technology… and the learning, the being entrenched in it as intense as the program is… it really does prepare you for those situations in a work setting where it’s crunch time and you’re dealing with this, and you know there’s an end in sight so you can get through. And learning things that I didn’t know, because I did corporate [law]. And I worked for a criminal defense attorney a long time ago, so it wasn’t really anything I remembered.”
Ann’s professors imbued her with the knowledge she needed to branch out in her career. While she came in with experience from her career, two professors taught her so much more. Dean of the program Wendy Notz and Sheri Clark have made a real impact on Ann’s education.
“What I appreciated is Dean Notz, her class – like learning so much and having that early really helped build a foundation,” she described. “And Sheri [Clark] always brings learning and humor, like stories that help you learn. [They were] a really good combination… you hear them in your head afterwards.”
Since she’s finished her program, Ann says, “I miss it! I miss the classes! I like learning.” When it comes to her future now that she has completed her certificate, she plans to work in person in a real estate firm. “I do best with challenges that seem overwhelming, but I like to chip away at something… I like different kinds of projects,” she explained. She wants to work within these two career fields that she has come to enjoy – law and real estate – while interacting with people. “I wouldn’t mind working remote but still being [involved with people]. Like having everyone get together – it doesn’t bother me if it’s virtual.”
Would she recommend ANU to those looking to earn their higher education?
“I would definitely!” She explained that while she worked for her previous employer, she was working remotely. However, they didn’t have the work ironed out. “I’ve told people how [ANU] has mastered… [remote work]. It’s seamless! Even the online textbooks – where that’s not something I normally would like – it worked!”
Her advice to new students: “Get ready, put the time in and study. Just because it’s remote – you have to treat it like you’re there – nobody is going to force you… Take it seriously and don’t be afraid to participate in class and ask for help. I think working with the other students is a good experience because everybody – we all have such different backgrounds.”
