We were lucky to catch up with Pamala Brooks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Pamala, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
This topic is a sore one for me, simply because I have been in this situation more times than I would have liked throughout my career. I naturally carry myself with the utmost poise and class, which has often surprised those who do not “look like me.” I have encountered professionals (who do not look like me) in my field who have felt the need to speak to me using ebonics, or some other such slang that they ignorantly equated to “black dialogue.” This was insulting, considering that I was one of the most qualified and educated individuals in the room. Yes, I am a proud African American woman, and yes, there are certain terms and phrasing that are unique to our culture, and we do use certain phrasing in our interpersonal interactions with one another. However, it is very offputting and uncomfortable to have someone, not of your cultural group, attempt to relate to you by utilizing “black slang,” as their primary means of communication with you. It makes matters worse when this occurs in a professional setting, where they obviously did not address any of your professional counterparts in that manner.
My outward appearance, i.e. brown skin, braided hair, and gender have at times played a role in preventing me from obtaining meaningful work or equal pay due to other’s individual prejudices and biases about those who look like me. For instance, I had a job interview for a paralegal position over a decade ago, and the attorney interviewing me never even looked at me during the entire interview. He stared at my resume throughout the duration of the 5-10 minute interview, and he never once asked me about any of my qualifications or experience. The only thing he asked me about was if I had any children, and how I paid for my health coverage to deliver my child. I was beyond insulted by the question, which only got worse when he asked if I was on welfare or used Medi-Cal (in California) to deliver my baby. I can assure you that the question was not asked of any other applicant waiting in the lobby. This type of racial bias has even caused me to lose jobs because my counterparts felt that I did not belong there, though I produced exceptional work.
I have encountered this sort of roadblock many times in my career, and though this was very hard and imposed unnecessary challenges for my success, it has also created a sort of resilience within me as well. No one should ever have to encounter the things I have encountered, and I feel very strongly about this. As such, I made it my mission to find a way to help others avoid these pitfalls. One way is to inspire more people who look like me to get into this field so that we can prove “them” wrong. I have always had a fighter’s spirit and a fire within me to let my work speak for me. That attitude has gotten me far and prompted my journey to become an entrepreneur. Being turned down and mistreated makes your will stronger and makes you more determined to succeed, against all odds. I started my business because I wanted to take control of the reigns and not have to rely on anyone to hire me, just to meet a racial quota.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
The most exciting part about being a paralegal is the opportunity to help others. I strongly believe this is my purpose, to help others. This is because it comes so naturally to me. I enjoy bringing peace of mind to clients experiencing life-changing legal battles. They are often worried about their case and are upset or stressed about the process. I pride myself on being able to take the worry out of going to court. I do this by assuring them that they are not helpless and that they do have a say-so in how things are going to go in their case. I pour into my clients and genuinely want the best for them. This is the heart and soul of my business, Brooks Notary & Litigation Support (BNLS). I am a freelance paralegal, document preparer, and Notary Public, with a heart. Aside from drafting documents, and assisting attorneys with managing their cases, and/or practice, I also teach classes online. I currently have a notary public course available on Udemy, with a paralegal course currently in the works. I enjoy sharing knowledge, networking with like-minded professionals, and growing within my field.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In my paralegal journey, my first strongest attribute is gumption. I am very ambitious and headstrong, which is almost mandatory to be a successful paralegal. This is because the legal field requires a bit of courage and resilience due to the fact that we are often fighting on behalf of others. If you lack the courage to combat an opposing point of view, you’re going to have a hard time finding success in the legal industry. For me, gumption is built into my DNA, which helps me navigate difficulties and challenges, in both my personal and professional life. Your level of determination is important. Another necessary skill one must possess is leadership. In the legal industry, you will often have to take a lead role in managing a case, which includes interviewing clients, and collecting evidence, to name just a few things. I have always been a natural leader, which has helped me with taking charge of running a business. I urge anyone to practice their leadership skills. Step up at work sometimes, or if that is too big of a leap, read articles or take courses on leadership to help you strengthen this skill. Finally, one must be able to listen carefully and communicate effectively. This field is very information-driven and requires that you have the attention span to retain large quantities of information and summarize it for others. Practice this skill because it will be the most requested of you, in the legal field.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I usually welcome the pressure because I like to face it head-on and conquer the challenge. It’s rare, but when I feel overwhelmed, I stop, take a break, breathe, and reevaluate my plan of action. You have to be able to see your way out of any situation. You must see the end goal, the victory, the finish line. If you can’t see that in any given scenario, then the feeling of being overwhelmed can take over, and create fear and doubt in your ability to overcome. Listening to music helps clear my mind and enhance my ability to concentrate. Be sure to find the thing that works best for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/brooksnotary
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooksnotary
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooksnotary
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamalabrooks/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/brooksnotary
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Brooksnotarylitigation
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brooksnotary
Image Credits
Photo Credits Tiare Rush
