If you’ve ever wondered what licensed paralegals actually do, and how they’re changing access to justice, this conversation pulls back the curtain.
In this episode of Paralegal Real Talk, guest host Linda Odermott sits down with Sean Ferraro, one of Oregon’s first landlord-tenant licensed paralegals and the operations manager for the CLEAR Clinic in Portland. CLEAR provides free legal services to tenants and community members navigating housing issues, criminal record expungement, immigration matters, and more. Along the way, Sean offers practical advice for anyone considering the profession, especially those wondering how to break into the field without prior experience.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
✔️ What the CLEAR Clinic does and how legal aid clinics serve communities in crisis
✔️ How licensed paralegals are helping expand access to legal services
✔️ Why attorney bottlenecks can slow down cases and how licensed paralegals help solve that problem
✔️ The challenge of getting legal experience when you’re just starting out
✔️ Why volunteering can open unexpected doors
If you’re curious about licensed paralegal programs, access to justice work, or alternative pathways into the legal profession, this episode offers an inside look at a rapidly evolving part of the field.
About the Guest
Sean Ferraro is one of the newest licensed paralegals in Oregon’s licensed paralegal program. As the CLEAR Clinic’s Operations Manager, he helps run the tenant advocacy and eviction expungement program. He is also involved in the criminal record relief program.
Sean received his AA in Paralegal Studies from Portland Community College and his Bachelor’s Degree from Portland State University.
Meet the Podcast Guest Host
Linda Odermott, RP and Oregon Certified Paralegal, has extensive experience working on access to justice initiatives and regulation reforms, particularly in licensed paralegal programs, including:
- OSB (Oregon State Bar) Legal Technician Task Force (2013 – 2015)
- OSB Licensing Paraprofessionals Working Group, Futures Task Force, and Regulation Committee (2016 – 2018)
- Chair of the Admissions & Education Workgroup of the OSB Paraprofessional Licensing Implementation Committee
- Member of OSB Committee of Paralegal Assessors
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