THE JSL MONTHLY
JURISolutions' March Employee Newsletter
A WORD FROM OUR CEO
As a proud member of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Pennsylvania Chapter of CEOs Against Cancer, JURISolutions has made a corporate commitment to helping to our employees and their families stay healthy. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so with that, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone in the JURISolutions family to proactively think about colorectal cancer prevention. According to the ACS, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the general population of the United States. It is expected to cause almost 50,000 deaths in 2016 alone. Although these statistics are sobering, the good news is the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping year after year in large part due to proactive screening. This cancer, like many others, is curable with early detection, but deadly if discovery is delayed. Given that there are often no symptoms in the early stages of this disease, the only way to detect it early on is through proactive screening.
In support of JURISolutions’ commitment to employee health and to kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, I decided to lead the pack and be the first to get my screening done. Like most people, I was less than eager to undergo the procedure. However, I am happy to report that my angst was not warranted. The procedure was simple and pain free. The worst part of the entire process was not eating solid food for 24 hours. In hindsight, that seems like a pretty small price to pay to save a life! So, as I share this, my hope is to encourage everyone to speak with their physicians about a plan for colorectal cancer screening. I would also ask that you encourage everyone you love to do the same.
OFFICE UPDATES
Meet Our Team
Each month, we will feature one of our fantastic JURISolutions team members so that you can get to know us a little better! This month, we would like to introduce you to BJ Williams, Director of Recruitment & Attorney Development Best Practices with JURISolutions.
Q. As a key member of the Recruitment Team, define your role at JURISolutions and explain how has it evolved over time.
A. I first started recruiting for JSL back in 2013. Since then, the legal marketplace has changed significantly. These changes have influenced our team’s recruiting strategies, our engagement with clients and legal professionals, and the types of projects that these clients and SMEs partner together on. These changes have helped propel me into my current role as Director of Recruitment and Attorney Development Best Practices. In this role, I am responsible for developing, monitoring and assisting our recruitment team in following our company's recruitment best practices. Our goal is for our recruitment processes and procedures to be routinely followed by our entire team here at JSL. This ensures that our candidates experience the most fluid and efficient processes, and provides our internal team with an operational foundation that allows us to confidently work with our clients. In addition, I am involved in the management of the recruitment team on a day-to-day basis.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, I'm still a recruiter and, therefore, I am actively involved in connecting our clients with highly qualified legal professionals to support their legal needs. This requires me to be involved in the full life-cycle of recruitment, working hand in hand with our sourcing and account management teams. During this life-cycle, one of my primary goals is to build long term relationships with anyone I come in contact with.
Q. From a recruiting perspective, have you noticed any legal trends in the last couple of months that may have an effect on the industry in 2016?
A. The legal market is an ever evolving and shifting industry and it is our job at JSL to stay ahead of the curve. By doing so, we are able to see trends early and we can make sure our clients’ needs are easily addressed while also engaging with our contingent legal professionals. Some of the trends I’ve seen over the last few months include a difference in the types of industries that are in a hiring upswing as well as the types of professionals/skill-sets required by these industries. Organizations in the financial services, life sciences and technology sectors have all seen tremendous changes over the last few years and are primed for increased legal workloads. There is also an increased need in practice areas such as commercial transactions, regulatory/compliance, IP and privacy. These needs are not just for attorneys—our clients are seeking qualified paralegals, legal assistants, contract specialists and compliance professionals too.
Q. Based on the current disruption in the legal industry and JURISolutions’ CYLA service line, what advice or wisdom would you share with legal professionals considering a nontraditional legal career and/or path?
A. First and foremost: be open to it! I know that's easier said than done, but if your friends and colleagues are working with companies like JURISolutions on a daily basis, why not you? Working with a company like ours can provide you with flexibility that you would not otherwise have in a traditional path. And, at the same time, a company like ours can provide you with the opportunity to do sophisticated work for some of the largest worldwide and regional companies, firms and government entities. In fact, many of the projects and engagements that JURISolutions partners with our clients on rival the sophisticated and challenging work one would expect in a traditional legal career path. If you are unsure as to whether or not a nontraditional path is right for you, then give us a call and we can talk about your options. Our recruitment team is always happy to make new connections and assist those looking to transition into new and exciting career paths.
Legal Support Job Fair in DC
Small Business Alliance Meeting at U.S. Space & Rocket Center
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama hosted a Small Business Alliance Meeting on February 19th at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, located at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Hundreds of representatives of large and small business prime contractors, subcontractors and NASA organizations from across the country, including JSL's own Kristal Morris, were in attendance.
Kristal enjoyed her first visit to the Davidson Center for Space Exploration and appreciated the opportunity to network with some great new contacts!
Diversity Alliance for Science West Coast Conference 2016
This past month, Diversity Alliance for Science hosted its 4th Annual Networking Conference and EXPO Event in Long Beach, CA. The two-day event featured government officials, top-level pharmaceutical executives, CEOs of diverse scientific and clinical enterprises, and inspirational guest speakers, such as Bill Rancic, the first winner of the TV show, “The Apprentice.”
Rachel O'Hara attended the conference on behalf of JURISolutions and thought it was a very beneficial event. “I have to say that DA4S did an amazing job putting together the West Coast Conference this year. Never have I attended an event (and I attend many!) with such impactful speakers—and, the intimacy of the event really allows attendees to get to know one another and make truly lasting connections.”
Presence: A TED Talk with Amy Cuddy
On February 24th, JURISolutions’ Helen Heenan and Stella Weiss Fleming attended a TED Talk given by Amy Cuddy, a Social Psychologist, while on tour promoting her new book, Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges.
Her presentation focused on an excerpt of the book about posture. She encourages "power posing,” which is based on the idea that your body position influences others and even your own brain. She states, “small changes in body language change your body chemistry,” and her research suggests that standing in a posture of confidence even when we don’t feel confident can have an impact on our chances for success. You can watch a recording of her TED Talk here.
The JURISolutions Behaviors Program - Part 10
This month, Bob Peterson, Esq., Senior Recruiter for Attorney and Paralegal Development at JURISolutions, introduces Part 10 of The JURISolutions Behaviors Program, where he explains behaviors 19 and 20. Our Behaviors Program is an initiative we implemented more than a year ago to help promote the behaviors that we feel are key to the success of our organization. We invite you, a JURISolutions team member, to join us in sharing JSL's vision and help us continue striving for excellence.
To read about our Behaviors Program, visit our blog and use the password, "Behaviors".
The 411 with Leigh Novack
Episode 11: Interview Conclusion - Ask for the Job!
Leigh Novack has been a leader within JSL's recruitment team for more than 15 years. In her role, she focuses on attracting, sourcing, and identifying top legal talent throughout the United States. Leigh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Policy & Administration from the Pennsylvania State University.
Join us each month to get the latest job seeking tips from one of the industry’s finest recruiters. You can contact Leigh at lnovack@JSL-HQ.com with any recruiting-related questions or feedback you may have, and who knows? Maybe your comments will end up on the next episode of The 411 with Leigh!
Do you have any accomplishment you want to share with us? Let us know by filling out the following form!
Health and Wellness Corner
JSL's Relay for Life Team Fundraiser
Relay For Life events are life-changing cancer fundraising events that help communities across the globe fight cancer and raise awareness. Cancer has touched many of us here at JURISolutions, so we decided to fight back by raising funds and walking in our local American Cancer Society Relay For Life event.
As a team, we are taking action to help eliminate cancer as a major health problem. At our Relay event, we will take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society in their lifesaving mission.
Please consider visiting the JURISolutions pledge page to join our team or make a donation. Just click on the appropriate orange button on the right-hand side. Saving lives from cancer starts one team, one participant, and one dollar at a time.
Kidney Cancer Awareness Month
Last year, more than 1.3 million new cancers were diagnosed in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 50,000 of these individuals were diagnosed with kidney cancer. But there is hope: More than 200,000 kidney cancer survivors are living in the United States right now. Recent advances in diagnosis, surgical procedures, and treatment options will allow even more patients to live with the disease, while continuing to maintain their normal schedules and lifestyles. Learn more about kidney cancer by clicking on the below links:
Colon Cancer Awareness Month
March is also Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and studies project that about 50,000 may die from it in 2016. But this disease is highly preventable, and you can start by getting screened beginning at age 50. With the information below, you can begin to determine how you can make lifestyle changes that will further help to prevent this disease.
Have you hit the big 5-0? It’s time to get tested!
Are you or is someone you care about 50 or older? Then it’s time to talk with a healthcare provider about getting screened for colorectal cancer.
The American Cancer Society® recommends that everyone 50 and older be tested regularly. If you have family members with colorectal cancer or colon polyps, you should ask about getting tested at an earlier age.
Many people aren’t getting the tests that could help save their lives because they’re afraid the tests may be embarrassing or painful.
The fact is, these tests are rarely embarrassing or painful. Some of the tests, such as a colonoscopy, can help doctors find polyps. Polyps are small growths in the colon that can develop into cancer over time. A colonoscopy is often recommended because it looks at the entire colon and because, if a polyp is found, it can be removed during the procedure. A colonoscopy is done while you are sedated (often asleep), so it’s not painful. Stool tests are another option, and you can do these tests in the privacy of your own home. Click here to watch a short video about these and other colorectal cancer screening tests.
Preventing colorectal cancer, or finding it early, doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Simple, affordable tests are available. Don’t wait – talk to your health care provider today.
To learn more about the steps you can take to help detect colorectal cancer early, visit cancer.org/colon or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
About JURISolutions
Website: jurisolutions.com
Location: 1600 Market St, 38th floor Philadelphia, PA 19103
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Jurisolutions
Twitter: @JURISolutions