Why Paralegals Are Quietly Becoming More Valuable Than Associates ft. Michelle Pendleton

June 11, 2026 Joe Stephens

Paralegals have long been boxed into the role of “document reviewers” but their true value goes far beyond that. And with AI in the mix, their place in law firms is being rewritten entirely.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Michelle Pendleton, Certified Paralegal and eDiscovery specialist at Allen Matkins and President of the San Diego Paralegal Association, to explore how paralegals are quietly becoming the most valuable players in law firms.

What You’ll Learn:

How to navigate the paralegal profession's shifting identity
How to structure case management from intake to trial
Why paralegals must reframe AI prompts for machines, not lawyers
The art of managing attorney expectations through timeline transparency
How to treat paralegals as strategic professionals, not administrative assistants
The paralegal's untouchable value: strategic case orchestration that AI cannot replicate
Why the next frontier for paralegals is technical infrastructure literacy

Tune in to understand how the role of the paralegal is undergoing a major transformation and what technology has to do with it.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

Contributors

Joe Stephens

Adrian Cea

About the Contributors

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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