CLC student wins statewide paralegal scholarship

It's a confirmation of decisions made for College of Lake County legal studies student Lisa Henricks. She is the Illinois Paralegal Association's 2020 Patricia Murphy Coleman Memorial Scholarship winner.

While the scholarship honors a longtime Illinois paralegal, for Henricks, winning honors the memory of her late husband.

"One of the bravest things I've ever done is deciding to change careers after becoming a widow," Henricks said. "I wondered if I did the right thing after COVID hit, but I have faith in CLC."

Two years ago, Henricks was about a decade into employment with an environmental consulting firm, and two decades into a marriage with her husband. That all changed in January 2019 when he passed away from a heart attack. Now at 51, the Grayslake High School graduate is pursuing a lifelong goal.

"I reevaluated after that change in life circumstance. I've always been interested in the legal field, but life got in the way many, many years ago," Henricks said. "I left stable employment to go into the legal studies program at CLC because I love the logic aspect of the law and saw it as a way to improve my life."

This scholarship helps Henricks come closer to her dream. In order to qualify for consideration, she had to be a member of the IPA, submit her transcripts, receive two letters of recommendation and compose an essay based on the prompt, "How do you think the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic will change the future of the paralegal profession?"

After sending everything in, and with the announcement deadline approaching, she was then told there would be one final requirement.

"I got an email from the IPA president and she said we want to do a brief interview with the finalists," Henricks said. "After they asked me to tell them about myself, they said, 'there are really no other questions. All we want is to tell you that you won the 2020 scholarship.'"

It was all a ruse to capture Henricks' reaction to the news that she had won the $500 prize. It was even captured on video and shared at the IPA fall education conference.

CLC Legal Studies department chair Gayle Miller was a part of the virtual surprise and said of Henricks, "She's a model paralegal student and aspiring paralegal. Her dedication and values will carry her into the professional world."

Henricks will receive her legal studies certificate in December. Currently, she is studying furiously for the Paralegal Core Competency Exam, something she believes she'll pass thanks to the preparation by CLC.

"The statistics on the legal studies program for job placement and success rate is just incredible," Henricks said.

In fact, the 2019 CLC pass rate for the PCCE was 83 percent; 20 percent higher than the national average. The legal studies program at CLC is also the only American Bar Association approved paralegal education program in Lake County.

Learn more about what it takes to enter and complete the legal studies program at www.clcillinois.edu/programs/lgl.

For information about the College of Lake County, visit www.clcillinois.edu or call (847) 543-2000.