Brooke Moon
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Brooke Moon, Legal Assistant and Paralegal at Hart & Hart Attorneys, found her career in law through what she calls an act of Divine Providence - a chance connection that revealed her talent for writing, organization, and empathy. Mentored by attorney Ross Hart, she has embraced the paralegal profession with dedication, balancing administrative precision with meaningful client interaction. In this interview, Brooke shares how compassion, communication, and community involvement have shaped her professional growth and continue to guide her work each day.
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What inspired you to pursue your current career path?
I call it an act of Divine Providence. My grandmother was looking for an attorney to update her will, and I needed a job close to home with some flexibility. Through a series of mutual connections, I found my way to Hart & Hart Attorneys to make an appointment for my grandmother. We went through a few rounds of communication in scheduling, and by the end, Mr. Hart recruited me based on my strong writing and interpersonal skills, promising to teach me everything I needed to know. I feel like I’ve struck gold!
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Who or what influenced your professional direction most?
My boss, Ross Hart, has been a profound influence. He’s incredibly active in the elder law community, serving on several boards and committees that help educate other elder law attorneys and shape policy. I looked at his dedication to creating community and effecting change, and I was inspired to do the same. I joined the Roanoke Valley Paralegal Association to increase my knowledge, skill set, make connections, find community, and give back to the community. Mr. Hart championed my efforts to grow as a paralegal, and that has been so encouraging.
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What does a typical day look like in your role?
Because I work in a small law office, I perform a lot of administrative tasks, such as scheduling, filing, and fielding phone calls. However, I also perform substantive legal work. My job requires high levels of productivity and multitasking despite constant interruption. I draft important legal documents such as deeds, petitions, motions, orders, affidavits, and correspondence. I interview clients to get necessary documentation and information, and I research online databases for land records. The one thing I NEVER do? Give legal advice.
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Which skills have been most valuable to your success?
People skills are an absolute essential to being a paralegal. I work with clients closely, often during times of heightened stress and emotional turmoil on extremely personal matters. I have to show up each day with patience and empathy, ready to practice active listening, manage expectations, communicate clearly and consistently, and be ready to resolve problems and diffuse conflict. Critical thinking and being able to question something that is presented in one context is also essential. It’s amazing how one simple question can undo an entire case.
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What values guide your decision-making at work?
The nature of being a paralegal is that you don’t really get to make a lot of decisions. Strategy and action plans for each case - that’s all up to the attorney. However, I personally move in all spheres of my life with empathy, earnestness, and integrity. If I make a mistake, I take responsibility for it with the clients and with my boss.
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What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Networking is absolutely essential, even for a paralegal just getting started. Join a local paralegal association and make connections. Not only will you have opportunities to broaden your understanding of various fields of practice, you will gain powerful insights into which areas of law and types of law firms are compatible with your skill set and interests. The best jobs are often found through word of mouth.
