Carolina Paralegal News Paralegal news for North and South Carolina
By Teri Saylor
Born in New Jersey, Julie King has lived in North Carolina since she was 6 years old, long enough to feel like a native. She lived with her family in Cary until she was 13 then moved to Wilmington. She graduated form UNC-W with a degree in sociology/criminal justice. She lives in Raleigh now and works as a litigation paralegal with Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog. Despite her early interest in the legal field, her path to becoming a paralegal held a detour.
“In school, I was always drawn to classes related to the legal field, which influenced my criminal justice studies,” she said. “I was interested in the paralegal field upon graduation, but with no experience and limited opportunities, I ended up working in the banking and insurance industries for several years.”
After deciding it was time to pursue her interest in the legal field, she attended Meredith College’s evening paralegal program where she earned her paralegal certificate.
CPN: Describe your current job with Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog. How long have you been there and what do you do?
JK: I have been with Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog for 17 years. I work with five attorneys in varying practice areas. I handle cases involving trucking and commercial transportation matters, professional liability defense matters, insurance coverage matters, product liability and premises liability matters, and retail and hospitality matters. Due to the varied practice groups I am involved with, each day brings new challenges and I enjoy that aspect of my job.
CPN: What inspires you to get up and go to work every day?
JK: My coworkers. I know that sounds cliché, but the support of everyone I work with makes all the difference. I also enjoy what I do on a daily basis.
CPN: What would you consider is your super power?
JK: Speed. It allows me to work for five attorneys and get things done in a timely manner. I tend to do everything quickly and sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down.
CPN: Name one famous person you’d like to meet, and why?
JK: This has been the most difficult question to answer! I would like to meet Kelley Earnhardt Miller, co-owner of JR Motorsports. She has been very successful in running a business in a male denominated sport, while balancing motherhood and life in general. She is very relatable and down to earth, sharing stories of her everyday life on her podcast.
CPN: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
JK: Retired, living somewhere on the coast!
CPN: What are some of your favorite activities to pursue when you are not working?
JK: I am the mother of a competitive gymnast, so I spend a lot of time in the gym watching my daughter practice and compete. When I am not doing that, I love to run. I have run five half-marathons.
