Favorite Parts of Being a Project Coordinator at Legal Aid Society San Mateo County
Maraina's biggest challenge as a Project Coordinator at The Legal Aid Society is navigating "the bureaucracy of the legal system," which frustrates her desire to provide immediate assistance to families in need. The frustrating wait times caused by red tape highlight the persistence required not only when communicating with clients but also with government agencies to overcome systemic obstacles and deliver crucial legal aid.
Project Management, Communication, Problem-Solving, Overcoming Challenges, Bureaucracy
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Maraina Weyl
Project Coordinator
The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
Syracuse University
Santa Clara University School of Education and Counseling Psychology- M.A. Counseling
International Relations & Affairs
Government & Public Sector, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Consulting
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The bureaucracy of the legal system creates challenges in providing timely help to clients.
2. Balancing the need to provide immediate solutions with the realities of bureaucratic processes is a key aspect of the role.
3. Persistence and patience are crucial when dealing with both clients and government agencies.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your role? The legal system?
I think the bureaucracy of the legal system is probably the biggest challenge in my role. My favorite part is being able to immediately fix things for people, and the bureaucracy and hoops we have to jump through are the opposite of that.
So, when we have a case, or we have to communicate with a family that things are not going well because of a timeline issue, it can be frustrating. Their child needs help right now, but we have to wait for some red tape.
But I think the best way we get through that is to remind people that there is help. We are here, and we are actively helping you, but we just need a little patience.
That same persistence you need when communicating with families, you also need when dealing with government agencies. It's annoying, but somebody has to do it.