Paralegal Studies A.A.
When considering a journey to law school, Bucks County Community College may not initially come to mind as a first step. Yet for Paralegal Studies graduate Loretta Golding '11, it was the smart choice. Although law was always Loretta’s aspiration, she opted to start at Bucks due to its excellent value, convenient location, and flexible schedule. She appreciated the ability to tailor her classes around her job and complete her degree at her own pace.
Loretta’s end goal was clear, but she was unsure of the best major to get her there and her path took unexpected turns. She began as a Liberal Arts major and transitioned to Business Administration before ultimately discovering her passion in Paralegal Studies. There, she found the course material engaging and the faculty members, notably professors Heather Costello and Chris Simcox, to be knowledgeable and inspiring.
Loretta extended a rewarding Bucks internship with Legal Aid of Pennsylvania into a subsequent volunteer position, with exciting results. The constant exposure to court personnel provided numerous networking opportunities for her. Prior to her Bucks graduation in 2011, a courthouse friend recommended Loretta to interview with a family law attorney he knew. She agreed to the interview and accepted a job offer as a family law paralegal where she “hit the ground running,” recalling a piece of advice about beginning new jobs Professor Costello often shared with students.
Over the 8-year period in this role, Loretta gained the confidence to transition to Law School. She initially attended night classes at Holy Family University while working, earning her bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 2016. Less than a year later, she was enrolled at Rutgers School of Law and had taken a new job as a forfeiture paralegal at the U.S. Attorney's Office, where she remained until she graduated in January 2021. Today, Loretta is a practicing family law attorney in Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
Loretta understands the difficult balancing act many students experience as they go through school and urges students to be open-minded and resilient and, if necessary, to endure.
“I spent the majority of my life as a student balancing work and school. By the time I went to law school, I had a husband, two dogs, and a baby. Sometimes life’s circumstances require us to work harder than other people to get what we want. That is okay. These are the times that make you stand out. You will never regret the moments when you try…but you will always regret those times you don’t.”
She also encourages students to view these tough times as opportunities for personal growth that can reflect positively to future employers.
“When you go to job interviews, employers don’t only want to know you were a great student, they want to know you are a hard worker and are willing and able to withstand the storm.”