OPVEON

It is hard to comprehend that 25 years have passed since September 11, 2001. I still remember exactly where I was. I was in Scottsdale, Arizona, taking depositions with Tom and several colleagues. I awoke to a phone call from Marsha telling me to turn on the television. I watched the second plane hit the South Tower.

One of the attorneys with us, who remains a close friend and client today, was from New York and his wife worked in the Twin Towers. The phone lines were congested and for some period of time outgoing or incoming calls were next to impossible. Thankfully, she had not arrived at work yet that day and was safe. Many of her colleagues were not as lucky.

Nearly 3,000 people went about an ordinary Tuesday morning and never came home. We watched first responders run toward unimaginable danger. We watched strangers help strangers. We watched ordinary Americans demonstrate extraordinary courage.

Yet, 25 years later, I find myself thinking just as much about what happened after September 11.

In the days and months that followed, America felt different. We were heartbroken, frightened and angry, but what happened had changed us. For a while, we stopped seeing one another through the things that divided us. We checked on our neighbors. We gave blood. We prayed together. We hung flags from our homes and businesses. We thanked first responders. We hugged our families a little tighter. There was an extraordinary sense of patriotism and a shared understanding that whatever our differences might be, we were Americans first.

We weren't Republicans versus Democrats, left versus right, or one group versus another.

We were Americans. One nation under God, indivisible.

I have said for years that while I would never wish another September 11 on this country, but I miss the America of September 12.

I especially miss it today. We live in an incredibly divided country right now. We seem increasingly willing to define one another by our differences and increasingly reluctant to remember everything we share. Maybe, on this 25th anniversary, honoring those we lost means remembering more than what happened on September 11. Maybe it also means remembering who we became on September 12 and in the months that followed.

There is now an entire generation that knows September 11 only through photographs, videos, history books and the stories we tell them, so we need to keep telling those stories. Tell them about the lives we lost, the firefighters climbing those stairs, the passengers of Flight 93, strangers helping strangers, and a wounded country that came together.

As a business owner, I am especially mindful of how fortunate I am to live in a country where I have had the freedom and opportunity to build something of my own, to work hard, to succeed, to fail, to try again, and to pursue a life of my choosing. Those freedoms are easy to take for granted. September 11 reminds me not to.

Twenty-five years later, I remain incredibly proud to be an American. I remain grateful for those who have sacrificed to protect the freedoms we enjoy, and I remain hopeful that we can find our way back to a little more of the America we were on September 12.

Maybe the best way we can honor those we lost is not only to never forget September 11, but also to remember September 12.

April J. Ferguson | CEO
Opveon Litigation Services, LLC

Why are more law firms turning to contract paralegal support?

Every case comes with unique demands, deadlines, and challenges. Contract paralegal support gives firms access to experienced resources when they need additional help with case preparation, discovery, document review, and other critical litigation tasks.

By adding flexible support to their team, law firms can improve workflow, manage demanding workloads, and keep important priorities moving forward.

See how OPVEON’s contract paralegal services can support your firm at opveon.com.

This Women’s Equality Day, we recognize the progress that has been made toward creating equal opportunities for women while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead.

As a woman-owned business, OPVEON and OPVEON Creative are proud to be led by strong women who have helped build organizations focused on serving clients, supporting our communities, and creating opportunities for growth, leadership, and innovation.

Today, we celebrate the achievements, contributions, and impact of women in business, the legal industry, the creative industry, and beyond. Happy Women’s Equality Day!

Outsourcing litigation support isn’t just about getting tasks completed—it’s about giving attorneys more time to focus on the work that drives case outcomes.

With the right support team in place, attorneys can spend less time managing administrative burdens and more time focused on case strategy, client communication, deposition preparation, motion practice, and trial preparation. The result is a more efficient workflow and additional resources when caseloads become demanding.

Discover how OPVEON’s litigation support services can help your team stay focused on what matters most. Learn more at opveon.com.

Client feedback is one of the best measures of success.

We’re grateful to Shawna S. Baker for sharing her experience working with OPVEON’s contract paralegal team. Our goal is always to provide reliable, responsive support that helps legal teams stay organized, meet deadlines, and keep cases moving forward with confidence.

Thank you, Shawna, for your trust and partnership. If your firm is looking for additional litigation support, visit opveon.com to learn more about our contract paralegal services.

Not every workload requires a new permanent hire. Sometimes, your firm just needs additional support to handle the demands of a specific case, deadline, or busy season.

Contract paralegal support can be a great fit when your team is facing increased caseloads, preparing for trial, managing large-scale discovery, or needs additional resources without adding long-term overhead.

Understanding when to bring in extra support can help your firm stay organized, meet deadlines, and keep attorneys focused on the work that matters most.

Think your team could benefit from contract paralegal support? Reach out to OPVEON to learn how we can help.

When your firm needs additional support, should you hire a full-time paralegal or bring in temporary contract paralegal support?

The right choice depends on your firm’s workload, timeline, and long-term needs. Full-time paralegals provide consistent, ongoing support, while contract paralegals offer flexibility when your team needs extra resources for specific cases, busy seasons, discovery projects, or trial preparation.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution — understanding the differences can help your firm determine what option best supports your team and your clients.

Need help deciding what type of support fits your current workload? Reach out to OPVEON to learn more about our contract paralegal services.

Being understaffed during litigation can create unnecessary pressure on your team. Missed deadlines, increased stress, limited time for case strategy, and overwhelmed staff can all impact the efficiency of your firm.

Contract paralegal support provides a flexible way to add experienced resources when your team needs additional help — whether it’s preparing for trial, managing discovery, reviewing documents, or handling increased workloads.

Don’t let staffing challenges slow down your next case. Reach out to OPVEON to learn how contract paralegal services can support your team when it matters most.