Dorothy Secol, CLA has worked in the legal profession for over 35 years and has been a freelance paralegal since 1982.

Ms. Secol is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and received her CLA status in 1978. In addition she is a former trustee of the Central Jersey Paralegal Association and a former Vice-President and trustee of the Legal Assistants Association of New Jersey. She is also an associate member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and is a past Co-Chair of the Paralegal Committee. She is also a member of the Foreclosure Committee. Ms. Secol serves on the Paralegal Advisory Boards of Brookdale Community College and Ocean County College and is a mediator for Ocean Township, Allenhurst and Deal Municipal Courts.

Ms. Secol is the author of Starting and Managing Your Own Business: A Freelancing Guide for Paralegals, published by Aspen Publishing Co. and has written articles for the "New Jersey Law Journal" and "New Jersey Lawyer". In addition, Ms. Secol was a petitioner in the case of In re Opinion 24 of the Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, 128 N.J. 114 (1992). The case validated the fact that "there is no distinguishable difference between an in-house and freelance paralegal working under the direct supervision of an attorney."

Ms. Secol has presented seminars on real estate procedure, probate procedure and law office management as well as how to set up a business as a freelance paralegal.