Mary Hall joined the team at Mid-Missouri Legal Services as a Legal Assistant and Intake Specialist in January 2025. After enrolling at Job Point in April 2022, she graduated from Job Point’s Office Technology program, with an emphasis on Legal Office Administration.
Mary shares a little bit about her journey and where she’s at today.
What do you love most about your job?
My favorite part is working with applicants. Because we work in many areas of legal practice, many of our applicants are experiencing situations that I personally have been through, so I am able to empathize with them, help them feel they are not alone, they are heard, and there is hope. Even if we cannot assist them legally, we are still able to provide them with other options available and will provide them with resources for other types of assistance such as United Way, True North, and even Job Point. That is something very important to me personally, and because I do that naturally, I could not be in a better place to continue the mission of hope.
How did Job Point play a role in getting you to where you are today?
I already had some legal education when I came to Job Point, but what I lacked was the experience and the network to get my start in the industry. Job Point helped me brush up on my Administrative Skills, then helped me gain some Legal Skills I was lacking in before helping me get the internship and experience with Eng & Woods.
Job Point supported me after I graduated when I was interviewing with Vessell, Bridges, & Murphy. With their support I got that job and gained experience in Worker’s Comp and Civil Litigation. I was so excited because for the first time what I thought was impossible for me at the time, became a reality.
Shortly after that, I was nominated for the Award of Excellence, then later asked if I would be interested in becoming a Board Member. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity to gain experience as a member of a Board and continue my personal mission to promote Job Point and the mission of Hope everywhere I go.
After having a health setback, I had to step away from my position at the firm for a bit. However, when I was ready to go back to work, Job Point supported me again when I interviewed for the firm I work at now. They have supported me every step of the way from day one and have become family to me.
Where do you think you would be today if you had not found Job Point when you did?
Considering what I know now, compared to then, I honestly do not know if I would still be here. That serious health incident was life threatening, and if I had not had a home, a phone, anything, I would not have been able to call for help.
Had my health not taken a turn, I likely would be working somewhere with no room for growth and opportunities, feeling stuck, and relenting to the feeling of I’ll never be somebody, I never go anywhere in life, so why try.
What are your goals for continued growth in the future?
I am still working on getting my license and a car. It is always the last step to getting your life back that is the hardest, of course. I cannot wait to be able to get in my car, drive down some country back road blasting music. It’s my happy place. I need to be able to drive to be able to expand my networking area and opportunities.
I am currently looking into becoming a Notary, because in my field of work being a Notary is helpful. Especially for the attorneys when they are meeting with clients and need to have documents notarized.
I have been talking for a while about going back to school. Originally, I wanted to go to law school to be a lawyer. Now I am looking to expand on my current role and looking at finishing my Paralegal Degree so I can take the exam to be a Certified Paralegal. Even though it is not a requirement for this state, it is a personal goal for me because I want to finish something I started.
What advice do you have for others wanting to achieve what you have in their own lives?
If you are not driving as hard as you are dreaming, you will not get anywhere. You can go anywhere and do anything you set your mind to. But, at the end of the day, it is on you to get up and make that move. So, get in your car, put the key in the ignition, and drive! Don’t stop until you have reached your destination. You got this!
Interested in pursuing your Office Technology certificate at Job Point?
