Paralegal Blog

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM Central, Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) will hold its 75th Commencement Ceremony for graduates of its paralegal programs. Due to the large number of graduates who reside outside of the Houston area, this event will be presented via a virtual live stream to acknowledge the accomplishments of all graduates equally. As always CALS is committed to making this a special event for graduates, families, and friends.

A total of 102 paralegal credentials will be conferred. Paralegal Certificates will be awarded to 77 graduates, and Associate of Applied Science Degrees will be awarded to 25 graduates. Congratulations graduates on your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments.

The commencement address will be presented by Elisa Calderon-Sierra, CFE.

Elisa Calderon-Sierra is a Senior Paralegal specializing in Ethics and Compliance at a major drilling company. She manages all aspects of diligence and the FCPA compliance program. Elisa collaborates with the company’s business and operations teams to ensure third-party partners, vendors, and agents comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies.  She also participates in audits, training, and company-wide FCPA-related issues.

Born in Ecuador and raised in New York City, Elisa holds an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Recently, she successfully passed the fraud examiner’s exam and has been officially designated as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Elisa’s legal career began at a criminal law firm, progressing from intern to senior paralegal. Her caseload later evolved to include transactional, and representation of a large school district. Elisa has over 28 years of legal experience, with a comprehensive background in ethics, compliance, investigations, litigation, and transactional matters. 

Elisa is a strong advocate for the paralegal profession and actively participates in local mentoring and training programs. Since 2006, she has served on the Board of Directors of the largest local paralegal association in Texas, the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (HMPA). She is also an active member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.

The event will be moderated by CALS' Director of Outreach and Career Services, Tami Riggs, with contributions from members of CALS faculty and staff.

Please share the following links with your friends, families, and colleagues. The ceremony will be streamed on YouTube at 10:00 AM, and attendees can share their comments and photos on the Facebook event page located at https://www.facebook.com/events/2849918065179141/?active_tab=discussion

A printable event program is available for download in Booklet Format or Printable Format.

In April 2024, the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) conducted a comprehensive site visit of Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS) as part of the renewal of accreditation efforts started in 2023. The site visit team provided CALS staff with very positive feedback during their exit interview, with only three recommendations for improvement. This was a remarkable achievement and a testament to the unwavering commitment and hard work of the faculty, staff, and Program Advisory Committee in ensuring the best possible student outcomes.

Internet-based social media platforms and online databases do not operate in a private sphere. They store everything public, everywhere, and it is available to everyone – even employers. Complete internet anonymity does not exist. Many things about you and your personality beyond your resume might be accessible. These include your support of causes, interests, or ideas.

Anyone can type a name in a browser and find references to public information with just a few keystrokes. When personal details become accessible to employers through web and app activity, it is only natural for them to form opinions about the person they have searched and whether that individual aligns with the company culture and job based on the content returned.

Most hiring decisions are not arrived at quickly, but there is no one-size-fits-all answer to determine exactly how long it will take. Hiring is a multi-step process. It includes screening, interviewing, and communicating with candidates. Before making a final decision, hiring managers will interview more than one candidate to compare their skills, experience, and cultural fit. 

The waiting period for a response varies. This is why:

• It takes time to review multiple resumes and applications and schedule interviews, especially if more than one candidate has applied for a single opening.
• Interviews often take place over several days or weeks.
• Hiring decisions tend to occur collaboratively with HR and across a management hierarchy according to an established hiring process.
• Offers may remain pending until all stakeholders have considered and accepted the hiring recommendation. If contract approval is necessary to finalize the hire, a 2-3-week delay is not unusual.
• The hiring manager may have multiple priorities or other personal and professional commitments that disrupt the interview schedule.

The challenge with any resume is to communicate applicant value so that it resonates in the best way possible. Presentation, content, and readability are critical. A resume should illustrate what a candidate has done, what a candidate has achieved, and how these accomplishments can support the position advertised. Resumes ARE marketing documents, and they need to be visually appealing and convincing. However, highly distinctive features can sometimes compromise content quality.

Fanciful resumes do not align with a conservative corporate environment and can come across as “gimmicky.” Resumes with multiple columns, graphics, colors, photos, and other design elements may be great for artists, influencers, and social media job hunters. For candidates seeking employment in traditional professions, the resume should reflect industry expectations. This means using a one-column, reverse chronological resume in a conventional and standard format – which hiring managers are accustomed to viewing and typically prefer.