Email - Counseling@midlandstech.edu

Terry Kelley, Midlands Technical College, Class of 1992.

Interviewed by: Kenetta Pierce

Meet Terry Kelley, our latest Featured Professional, Vice President and co-owner of Carolina Legal Associates. For more than 11 years, Carolina Legal Associates has specialized in legal staffing of attorneys, paralegals and all legal support staff for law firms, corporate legal departments and some governmental entities, on a permanent and contractual basis, throughout the state of South Carolina. Carolina Legal Associates (CLA) currently operates two offices in Columbia and Charleston.

Terry, a 1992 Paralegal Studies graduate, finds her profession very rewarding. “When we find our clients that perfect candidate for their office, and find our candidates that perfect job they’ve been looking for… it’s very fulfilling when it all comes together!” Prior to attending MTC, Terry had been employed in the legal field for more than ten years. As the workforce evolved, she realized the importance of furthering her education in order to make herself more marketable. And that she did—all the way to entrepreneurship!

In 1996, when she and her business partner, Marsha Silver, President of CLA, started the Columbia office, they were one of the first agencies to introduce contract attorneys. Law firms now realize the value of using contract attorneys for special projects. Then, in 2002, they opened their 2nd office in Charleston. CLA has placed thousands of employees throughout South and North Carolina.

Their staff is experienced in a wide range of areas such as litigation, real estate, securities, estates and trust, environmental law, corporate transactions, bankruptcy, labor and more. Applicants must go through an extensive interviewing and screening process as they consider only those candidates with the highest academic and professional credentials.

Thinking back, Terry enjoyed the flexibility of MTC’s program: “Working full-time and having two small children…MTC was offering great legal classes which were being taught by some of the best instructors and that were offered at times that I could attend around my busy schedule. The paralegal studies and my previous work experience as a paralegal and manager have helped me greatly in understanding our clients’ needs.”

Terry offers encouragement to students in the Paralegal program. “People skills are very important. You can’t be afraid to talk to people. Even when you’re not “officially” working, you should be networking everywhere you go. You never know when the person you’re talking with may be a potential client or candidate.”

Terry currently resides in Columbia and travels frequently between the Columbia and Charleston offices.