Professional Profile: Michele Flowers Brooks, Senior Paralegal & Swim Mom

Job Title: Senior Paralegal

Employer: Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool - Austin, Texas

Years of Paralegal Experience: 12

Specialty Areas: Workers’ Compensation, Subrogation, Litigation

Career Highlights: My career started in general practice and quickly moved into workers’ compensation insurance defense. I have worked in all areas of workers’ compensation, from the administrative level all the way through the Texas Court of Appeals. Since moving to TML-IRP, my concentration has been solely on workers’ compensation subrogation.

I have volunteered in our local paralegal association, Capital Area Paralegal Association (CAPA), since 1999; and our state association, Texas State Bar Paralegal Division (TXPD), since 2001. I have held numerous chair positions and served on the Board for each association in the following ways:

CAPA Treasurer 2003 – 2005
CAPA President-Elect 2006 – 2007
CAPA President 2006 – 2008
TXPD Director, District 4 2008 – Present

Paralegal Practice Tip: Organize, Organize, Organize! You may spend some time upfront organizing, be it your address book, a document file, or your calendar; but the time you will save in the long run is immeasurable.

Favorite Internet Resource: Accurint

Favorite Legal Software: Time Map

Fun Fact: I am a Swim Mom. Most weekend Saturdays you can find me dragging to the pool at 6:00 a.m. to watch my kids swim. The two that swim are on high school teams so many weekends during the school year are also dedicated to sitting poolside watching. They amaze me constantly!

I also love to watch True Blood on HBO!

Do you Twitter? Of course! Twitter handle: @ymfbrooks

Favorite Quote: “Full Hands In; Full Hands Out” To me, it applies equally at home and at work. It stresses efficiency.

Professional Links: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ymfbrooks; http://txpd.org/board_of_directors.asp