Skyline College’s Paralegal Studies Program has been hard at work hosting its first networking event since the pandemic. The event, hosted on November 3, 2025, brought together faculty, students, alumni, and legal professionals from various institutions, such as the SF District Attorney’s office and the San Mateo County Legal Professionals Association.
Spearheaded by Paralegal Studies Program Coordinator Sara E. Dykes, and hosted by Social Sciences and Creative Arts Acting Dean Bianca Rowden-Quince, the Program’s event was a huge success, hosting over 30 people for a night of food, raffles, and good conversation. Sara Dykes noted, “This event was the first of its kind for our Program since before the pandemic. That, combined with the Program’s fully online nature, makes this a highly successful in-person event. Alumni, faculty, staff, and other community members joined together in one space for the sake of students entering the paralegal profession. The students were elated by this invaluable experience, and we look forward to many more events of this kind.”
The main event included a speed networking session with seven tables, each led by a mentor with backgrounds in family law, law office management, criminal law, IP law, and more. Attendees rotated among tables and chatted with a variety of mentors who shared their expertise on day-to-day responsibilities, career resources, and challenges of the paralegal profession.
Despite the flexible nature of the online Paralegal Studies Program, this event highlighted the importance and value of engagement beyond virtual learning. It was a wonderful reminder of the collaboration between the Paralegal Studies Program and the local legal community in supporting new students entering the profession.
Author: Josephine Lock, Paralegal Studies Program Services Coordinator
Photos: Sara E. Dykes
