LEADERSHIP IN LAW 2024: Jeremy Barker

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Western Governors University, 2019

Why did you decide to become a paralegal/legal support staffer?

I have always enjoyed the unique, complex problem-solving that the legal field demands.

If you weren’t working in legal support, what would you be doing?

Teaching high school kids and coaching basketball.

What’s something people might not know about the legal support profession?

You’ll never find a profession with more dedicated, loyal people.

What would you say to someone who is considering a career in legal support?

Be fearless, have thick skin, and be a critical thinker.

Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment in your career.

As a young person in the legal world, I was constantly being convinced that attorneys didn’t appreciate innovation. There were established ways of doing things, and that is the way they were to be done. I’ve learned that there may not be a profession where innovation and ingenuity are more appreciated than in legal.

What makes a good lawyer?

The best lawyers recognize that they are a part of a team with a lot of individuals within their own firm—legal support staff, other attorneys, office services, IT, etc. I’m blessed to work at a firm that models this environment, and I believe our outcomes are a reflection of the teamwork and trust we instill in each other.

Tell us something surprising about yourself.

When I’m not ensuring that we provide world-class legal support to our attorneys at Faegre Drinker, I am on the board for Center Grove Boys Basketball and I am running rec league basketball for close to 900 boys in grades 1-8.

What makes a good paralegal/legal support staffer?

You’ve got to be even-keeled. You can’t get too high or too low about anything. You’re frequently working under pressure with ever-changing deadlines and an ever-changing landscape for multiple practices. Stay even-keeled and always be prepared to break through barriers one at a time.

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