Paralegal Program Welcomes Professor Vanessa Powers to the Team!

Thu, 7 February, 2019 at 1:52 pm



Vanessa Powers started her career with a paralegal certificate from the San Mateo Community College District. From there, she went on to work as a paralegal and law office manager for over 15 years, while pursuing her bachelor's and master's degrees. 

Vanessa has taught composition at Skyline College and continues to teach Business Communications at San Francisco State University. Now, she joins Cañada College's Paralegal Studies program. 

What excites you most about the legal field? 
The legal field is huge! It's so nuanced and varied that it allows for so many different career paths. When most of us think of the legal field we think of two things - Law & Order and "ambulance chasers" (a term for lawyer's who look for clients). Those two things are but a tiny sliver of the what the legal field entails. 

The legal system affects every aspect of our lives, and most of us just don't think about it, so it's fun to learn how our systems and institutions came to be. 

What is the advantage of students taking online classes? 
Online classes allow many of us, that wouldn't otherwise be able to enroll in college courses, the opportunity to do so. Just the act of preparing and traveling to and from campus requires a decent amount of time - time many of us don't have. Be removing that burden and allowing students more autonomy and control over their learning environment, we eradicate some of the unnecessary obstacles higher education. 

What is your favorite movie? 
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - it's probably one of the campiest, 80's dance movies out there, but I loved watching it with my sister and it always brings me back to those days. 

What is your favorite quote? 
"It is the same! - For be it joy or sorrow, the path of its departure is still free." - Percy Bysshe Shelley


The Paralegal Program at Cañada College is now accessible for students in a completely online format. Professor Vanessa Powers is teaching LEGL 249: Introduction to the Legal System Online this semester.


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