Saint Mary’s MBA graduate expands career horizons with Paralegal certificate
Patience Ofori-Atta, 52, graduated from Inver Hills Community College this past June with a Paralegal certificate, an award made to order for students seeking to become paralegals and who already have a bachelor’s and/or an A.S./A.A. degree. Patience came to the program well-equipped—she holds both a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A., 2020) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting (B.S.B.A., 2018) from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Patience is originally from the West African country of Ghana. Her hometown is Accra, Ghana’s capital and largest city with a population topping 280,000 residents. The Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) is an agglomeration with roughly 5 million people. Patience earned a degree in accounting from the University of Ghana, located in Accra and the oldest public university in Ghana.
“Being from a foreign country, I wanted to learn more about America’s legal system,” she said, explaining why she completed the Paralegal certificate program. “I want to be a project manager director—and every project has its legal compliance. A full understanding of the different contracts and applications was a great motivation.”
Patience has nearly 12 years of career experience as a procurement specialist and inventory analyst at Allina Health and Great Lakes Coca-Cola. In her job as a remote procurement specialist at Allina Health St. Paul, she enjoys working from home. She holds two additional certifications, a National Society for Legal Technology (NSLT) Legal Technology certificate (2024) and a Coca-Cola Refreshment Internal Auditor certificate (2017).
“My long-range career plans include joining the corporate legal department at my company as a director of project managers or as a sourcing director,” Patience said.
Faculty perspective: Jennifer McGaffey, MJur, MnCP
“I first met Patience in my Legal Writing & Analysis class during my first term teaching at Inver Hills, and she immediately made her presence known. Her enthusiasm and curiosity were absolutely infectious—she’s the kind of student who makes teaching exciting!
“From day one, she jumped into the material with a genuine passion for understanding the ins and outs of the U.S. legal system. What really impressed me were her thoughtful questions and her determination to fully grasp every concept we covered. Watching her grow more confident and seeing her unique perspective enrich our class discussions was truly inspiring. I’m excited to see what she accomplishes next!”
Jennifer McGaffey, MJur, MnCP
Paralegal Adjunct Faculty
Inver Hills Community College
More about Patience…
Patience graduated from Mfantsiman Girls’ Senior High School in Saltpond, Ghana, Class of 1990. She made the decision to emigrate from her birth country to the U.S. in 2005.
“I won the lottery organized by the United States to help people in underdeveloped countries come to the U.S. by becoming green card holders, or permanent residents,” Patience reported. “I came with my 8-year-old daughter, Michailah Stacey, and we had no idea how to live with white folks. It was a challenge and fun for me because I used British English in our schools back in Ghana, but I had to learn American English. My daughter was able to blend in faster as a third grader.”
Patience added that she got married in 2014. Michailah Stacey, now an adult, got traditionally married in 2023. “Traditional marriages are the pride of African parents,” Patience said. “That is more accepted in our culture than a church or court wedding.”
Earlier in life, Patience was an athlete who ran up to 5,000 meters, and she was active in different sports, including volleyball and basketball.
“Aging has stopped me, but I want to get back to doing minimal sports,” she said, “at least by keeping up with my volleyball. I like watching criminal and detective shows, which drove my interest toward the Paralegal program as well. Now I want to go the American way and start horseback riding.”
Patience resides with her family in Eagan, Minnesota.
Patience life gallery
Three words that best describe your experience at Inver Hills:
INSTRUCTORS. ARE. WONDERFUL.*
* Inver Hills also has one of the best campuses.
Patience Ofori-Atta • Q & A
What inspired you to attend Saint Mary’s to first earn your bachelor’s degree and then your M.B.A?
I had an accounting degree from the University of Ghana when I came to this country. Unfortunately, companies do not accept any qualifications outside of America. I started my A.A. degree at Inver Hills and transferred to Saint Mary’s for my bachelor’s. I aim to be in upper management, which is one reason why I obtained my M.B.A., which in turn contributes to my success as a procurement specialist.
What area interests you the most in the legal field and why?
I like immigration law—because it is very difficult to come to the United States. The process is very frustrating with all the immigration requirements. I also have a great interest in criminal law, which I gained from watching the show Law & Order.
What did you like best about the Paralegal program at Inver Hills?
I liked everything about the program, especially due to the very awesome instructors. It also covers all aspects of the legal practice. I love the fact that all classes were in the evening, this made it possible to work full-time and attend classes as well.
Words that describe you as a paralegal graduate:
DETAIL-ORIENTED. EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS. PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SUPPORT IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
What advice would you give students thinking about majoring in paralegal studies?
I will encourage students who have an interest in the legal system to go for it. It is a fun and interesting career. There is a lot to learn about life situations as a paralegal.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
The person who has influenced my life most is my auntie who is a pastor’s wife. She taught me how to live by my name, “Patience.” Her coaching helped me deal with uncomfortable situations and circumstances when I came to this country. Whatever I set my mind on to do, I should make sure I stay focused and not allow anyone to discourage me.
If you could make one thing happen on Earth right now, what would it be?
One thing on Earth I would make happen would be having people love each other because life is too short.
National Paralegal Day
October 23, 2024
History of National Paralegal Day…¹
National Paralegal Day, an annual event on October 23, celebrates those who do the legal research (and mountains of paperwork) that enables law firms to function. Attorneys, who are ultimately responsible for a paralegal’s work, depend greatly on these men and women to get things right. That means having a firm grasp on the facts and the law.
Whether you call yourself a paralegal or a legal assistant, the work is basically the same—to be an essential part of an attorney’s administrative team. As the need for attorneys continues to grow, skilled paralegals are increasingly in demand. If you’re currently working in the profession or considering working as a paralegal in the future, National Paralegal Day has abundant information to get you up to speed on what the job entails and what kinds of certifications (if any) are required.
As far back as the early 1970s, interest was stirred about the need for an organized group of paralegals and legal assistants. This challenging job involves preparing and copying boatloads of legal documents like wills, real estate closings, affidavits and more, assisting attorneys with cases and trial prep and working with clients.
READ MORE…
Patience Ofori-Atta • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
Place you would most like to visit: Buckingham Palace- Most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Driving on the interstate and visiting fun areas; horseback riding in Pittsburg, PA
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Helping missionaries around the world to spread the word of God 2) Building orphanages 3) Traveling around the world
- Best book or movie you’ve read or seen lately: I like action movies, and my favorite book is the Bible
- Time period (past or future) you would explore if you could time travel: I wish to go back to the 1800s to experience how life was lived
- One thing you most want to accomplish in your life: Leave a legacy
Your national bird if you were your own country: Eagle- Dream occupation: Vice president of project managers
- Person you would most like to meet: Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and SpaceX chief designer
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Excellence in human management
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Truth and honesty
Learn more about the Paralegal program at Inver Hills Community College by contacting:
Admissions Team
admissions@inverhills.edu
651-450-3902
866-576-0689
College Center
- Want more information? Fill out an inquiry form.
- Ready to apply? Fill out an application.
- Want to virtually visit campus? Check out our upcoming visit opportunities.
- Can’t make it to campus? Take our virtual tour.
Want to connect with an advisor? Check out our virtual drop-in hours or email admissions@inverhills.edu to request a campus-based or phone appointment.
More about the Paralegal program…
Approved by the American Bar Association since 1978, the Paralegal program at Inver Hills Community College prepares you to work under the supervision of attorneys in civil and criminal matters. Paralegals work in a range of legal practices such as probate, wills and estates, real estate, employment law, transactional, criminal law, and corporate law.
Please note that paralegals cannot give legal advice, represent clients in court, or otherwise engage in the unauthorized practice of law. The practice of law by non-attorneys is strictly prohibited by law.
As a graduate of the Paralegal program, you will have completed quality, practical coursework primarily in an online synchronous class format along with a paralegal internship. You will be equipped to assume the general and ethical responsibilities of a professional paralegal.
Awards
Paralegal Associate of Science (A.S.): 60 credits
Paralegal certificate: 30 credits>>> Paralegal program planning guide
Why enroll in the Paralegal program at Inver Hills?
Outstanding career outlook.
Paralegals in Minnesota earn more than $30 an hour on average with top earners in the Twin Cities area topping $40 an hour. The job outlook statewide is impressive, posting a growth rate approaching 11 percent.Cutting-edge legal technology.
You will sharpen your paralegal skill set using Westlaw for online legal research, the National Society for Legal Technology for top legal software programs, and e-filing and e-recording for state and federal court systems.Topflight professional oversight.
A dedicated, diverse Paralegal Advisory Committee of legal professionals supports our program to keep our curriculum up to date on legal trends.ABA approved to ensure quality.
Our Paralegal program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) with continual re-approval since 1978.Highly rated, experienced faculty.
Our instructors have extensive legal backgrounds in their practice areas, considerable teaching experience, and a strong commitment to students.Reputation for excellence.
Top-rated program by area legal employers, legal recruiters, and internship supervisors. Our program coordinator is an experienced instructor and attorney with a passion for student success.Your doorway to the legal profession.
Paralegals are legal professionals trained to assist lawyers in a broad range of substantive legal work. Paralegals find careers in a number of fields, including professional, scientific, and technical services as well as the management and administration of organizations.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
What Paralegals and Legal Assistants Do
Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by performing a variety of tasks, such as maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents. Learn more…
Work Environment
Paralegals and legal assistants typically work in offices for a variety of employers, including law firms and government agencies. Most work full time. Learn more…
How to Become a Paralegal or Legal Assistant
Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may consider candidates who have a high school diploma and experience. Learn more…
Pay
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $60,970 in May 2023. Learn more…
Job Outlook
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 1 percent from 2023 to 2033, slower than the average for all occupations.
Despite limited employment growth, about 37,300 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Learn more…
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about paralegals and legal assistants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. Learn more…
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (September 18, 2024)
