One of Extension's Rising Stars

Carol Jean Marshall

For many, summer is a time to slow down and relax. Not for Carol Jean Marshall. She has no time for a summer break.

Carol will spend her days on the job, working as an office assistant for the San Bernardino County Child and Adult Abuse Hotline. At night, she will attend classes here, at UCR Extension, taking the final courses that she needs to earn her paralegal certificate.

At 66, Carol intends to start a new career as a lawyer's assistant.

"I'm doing it as inspiration for my 19 grandchildren," Carol said.

Carol has embraced change and growth before. For years, she worked for the City of San Bernardino in the community outreach center and the utility payment center. At 52, Carol took an early retirement and enrolled in classes at a local community college, where she earned her A.A. degree in administrative justice and liberal arts.

"I love the law," Carol said. "I've always been fascinated with it. And I love school. I love the experience. I love meeting people."

Upon graduation, Carol returned to work and landed a job with the county. Wanting to move forward with her education, Carol registered for Extension's paralegal certificate program. She chose Extension's program partly because it is approved by the American Bar Association.

"When I was at community college, there was a young man there who was taking paralegal classes only to find out after he paid his money, that his degree wasn't accepted," Marshall said. "If you want a good paralegal program, I would tell people to come here."

Already, Carol has served as an inspiration for her five children, 19 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. One of Carol's daughters works at a Modesto courthouse. A grandson and two granddaughters are pursuing a college education in law. A third granddaughter, who is in high school, is interning with a judge in Modesto. For herself, Carol hopes to obtain a job in the Public Defender's Office, the District Attorney's Office or the Department of County Counsel in San Bernardino County.

"She's an inspiration to me," said Donald Cash, one of Carol's instructors and the director of Law and Public Policy at Extension. "She's shown me to never give up, never surrender. She embodies the indomitable spirit."

Not only is Carol an inspiration to her family, but she's a role model for anyone who is considering making a major change at any time in their life.

We also want to congratulate Donald Cash and his support staff, Jan Crump, and Veronica Hernandez, for working so hard to maintain a top-notch, ABA-approved paralegal certificate program here at UCR Extension.

We have plenty to offer this quarter to keep away the summer doldrums.

John F. Azzaretto
Vice Chancellor, Public Service and
International Programs; and
Dean, University Extension and
Summer Sessions, UC Riverside