At Simas & Associates, our team is the heart of what we do. This month, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on one of our incredible team members: Certified Paralegal Kate Uckert. With a background rooted in service and an impressive range of knowledge, Kate brings not only experience but heart and purpose to every case she supports. Here’s a closer look at her journey, day-to-day role, and insights from working in the legal field.
From Client to Colleague: Kate’s Path to the Legal Field
Kate’s inspiration to become a paralegal stemmed from a deeply personal experience. “I went through a difficult time and hired an attorney to help. During the case, I spent so much time with their paralegal that I thought, ‘I can do that job—why am I not doing this?’” she recalls. That moment of clarity set her on a path into a field that’s anything but boring.
She got her start interning at a civil rights firm and has since worked in firms representing civilians, law enforcement, elected officials, doctors, teachers, and other community members. “Working at Simas & Associates is an extension of that work,” Kate says. “It uses all my prior skills and experience, while still giving me the opportunity to learn, grow, and hopefully contribute to the institutions around us working better for us.”
A Passion for Learning (and Teaching)
Kate’s passion for continuous learning is unmistakable. Professionally, she holds an American Bar Association Post-Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate, is a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), and is a licensed Notary Public.
But her education doesn’t stop there. Kate has also earned certifications in everything from First Aid/CPR and firearms safety to community policing and child development. She’s even taken courses in hot air balloon operation and volunteered with search and rescue trainings for animals and people. “You’d be amazed at how often this information has come in handy,” she says, referencing her work on everything from wrongful death lawsuits to ATF permitting.
A Day in the Life
If there’s one thing that defines a typical day for Kate, it’s unpredictability. “There are no typical days,” she admits. “But every day there are a ton of emails.” Much of her time is spent communicating with clients, opposing counsel, and witnesses, while reading, analyzing, and organizing large amounts of information. She also drafts correspondence and prepares documents for submission.
Her main focus areas at the firm include Board licensing defense, professional employment contract negotiations, and Superior Court litigation, though she also supports cases in arbitration and appellate court.
As she puts it, “The attorneys do the heavy lifting, and my role is to anticipate what’s needed to keep a case moving forward. I’m here to get things done, lighten the client’s mental load, and support the best possible outcome.”
Insight and Impact
For Kate, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is working with professionals in license defense cases—particularly those in healing or helping fields. “I appreciate the patience and grit of such an extremely intelligent client base,” she says. “I’m doing my best every day to deserve the privilege to work with and for them.”
She also appreciates the firm’s unique culture of collaboration. “Teamwork isn’t something you find in many offices,” she notes. “At Simas & Associates, it contributes to better outcomes and greater transparency for our clients.”
Advice for Future Paralegals
So what does it take to thrive in this line of work? According to Kate, adaptability and empathy are key. “On any given day, you might go from completing complex legal forms to holding someone’s hand as they share their most difficult experiences,” she says. “Flexibility, a willingness to learn, and a good sense of humor are survival skills.”
Want to learn more about the team behind Simas & Associates? Stay tuned each month as we continue to introduce the dedicated professionals who make it all happen.