Kelly LaGrave has been a business and corporate paralegal with Foster Swift Collins & Smith, in Lansing for the past 21 years. She received a BA from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a certified paralegal designation in 1994, as well as advanced certifications in intellectual property, real estate and contracts administration/contracts management.
LaGrave, a founding member and the current president of the Great Lakes Paralegal Association, has been involved in paralegal organizations such as the State Bar of Michigan Paralegal Section Council, the Lansing Community College Paralegal Program Advisory Committee, and and the National Association of Legal Assistant’s Board of Directors. She will be installed as NALA’s next president in July.
By Jo Mathis
Legal News
Residence: Lansing.
Currently reading …John Grisham’s “Sycamore Row.”
What is your most treasured material possession? Pictures of my family.
If you weren’t a paralegal, what would you be? I’d like to be a host for a travel show.
Your proudest moment as a paralegal? My recent election as president of NALA.
What is your happiest childhood memory? Family trips – although we didn’t go to a lot of places, we did manage to travel the state of Michigan. I loved those trips to the beaches of Lake Michigan with my family.
Which things do you not like to do? I really don’t like to cook at all.
What would surprise people about your job? It is very diverse and challenging.
What do you wish someone would invent? Something that would make it possible for us not to have to sleep! I could get so much more done if I didn’t have to sleep!
What’s the most awe-inspiring place you have visited? I was truly inspired by the memorial in Oklahoma City to the bombing victims. It was especially hard to see the memorial to all of the innocent children that were killed in the blast.
What’s your greatest achievement? My marriage and my son. My husband is a very amazing and supportive person and my son makes me proud every day.
If you could have one super power, what would it be? To be able to time travel from one location to the other instantaneously.
What would you say to your 16-year-old self? Don’t take life so seriously – it will all work out.
What is guaranteed to make you laugh? Watching babies laugh.
Must-see TV: “Big Bang Theory.” I love that show!
What’s your biggest regret? That I haven’t traveled more at this point in my life.
What word do you overuse? “Yes.” (I’ve been told I need to say “no” more often)
What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? Play the piano.
If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? Jesus and my two grandmothers. Now that would be an interesting dinner!
Cant-live-without technology: It would be impossible to do my job without my computer. Personally, I wouldn’t want to live without my iphone – especially the calendar function.
Favorite CD: Time Life Christmas songs. I love Christmas music.
Favorite law-related movie: “Mr. Smith goes to Washington.”
What’s the best advice you ever received? God only gives you what you can handle – therefore, you can handle more than you ever imagined.
If you can help it, where will you never return? Mexico.
What do you drive? A Honda CRV.
What would you drive if money were no object? A Corvette Stingray.
Favorite place to spend money: Amazon.com.
What is your motto? “God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.”
Where would you like to be when you’re 90? Traveling the world and sitting on a beach.
What would you like carved onto your tombstone? “She was loved.”
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