plus 1, Chuck Liddell retires from fighting, takes job with UFC front office - San Luis Obispo Tribune

Chuck Liddell retires from fighting, takes job with UFC front office - San Luis Obispo Tribune

Posted: 29 Dec 2010 11:27 PM PST

During a hike up San Luis Mountain a couple of months ago, Chuck Liddell — the face of ultimate fighting — talked with his longtime trainer, John Hackleman, about calling it quits.

"We went back and forth on it," Hackleman said. "(We thought) 'What's in his heart? Does he have it anymore?' We never doubted he could get back on top if he wanted to."

What they decided a couple of months ago became official Wednesday, when Liddell, a San Luis Obispo resident, announced he was formally retiring from professional fighting.

"It's time," Liddell said.

Even though he had made the decision two months ago, Liddell still sounded somber the day it became official.

"It's hard to make that decision and walk away," he said, looking back on 20 years of fighting. "I loved entertaining the fans."

His association with the UFC is not over, though. Liddell, who has an accounting degree from Cal Poly, will become executive vice president for business development with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Basically, he said, he'll be promoting the UFC.

"I've been working at promoting this sport for a long time," he said.

While the UFC helped propel Liddell to stardom, he also helped propel the UFC, his hard right punches making him a fearsome force in the ring and a fan favorite outside.

"He's the Muhammad Ali of the UFC," Hackleman said.

In 2005, Liddell became light heavyweight champ with a first-round knockout over Randy Couture, who had beaten Liddell two years earlier. For 19 months, he would retain that title with four successful challenges, defeating fighters like Tito Ortiz and Jeremy Horn and beating Couture in a rematch. Meanwhile, he began appearing in TV and film roles.

When asked to pick his most memorable fight, Liddell struggled — "I've had so many good memories and times, it's hard to say" — but ultimately said the first time he toppled Couture was his highlight.

"He's a great fighter, and he beat me before," Liddell said.

As his celebrity continued to grow, the aging Liddell, now 41, began to accumulate losses, losing five of his last six fights. Still, he remained a popular figure, appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" and writing an autobiography.

To get back on top, Liddell said, would take considerable time, taking on one opponent at a time. Plus, as Hackleman noted: "He's reached the peaks and accomplished all his goals."

Now that he's formally retired, Liddell said, he will try to land more Hollywood roles. And while he plans to remain in San Luis Obispo with new fiancée Heidi Northcott, he will frequently travel to Las Vegas, where the UFC is located.

"Now I have an actual job," he joked.

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Job prospects for paralegals are bright - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 07:12 AM PST

By Laura Raines

For ajc jobs

For people who have always had an interest in the legal profession, this might be the right time to exercise it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts paralegal jobs to grow by 28 percent through 2018.

Many area technical colleges and universities can help prospective paralegals acquire the skills required to enter the profession within six months. One of those is Emory University, which offers a paralegal certificate through its Center for Lifelong Learning.

"We have two courses starting this winter," said Lisa Kozicki, director of programs for Emory's Center for Lifelong Learning.

A Saturday course at the school's Alpharetta campus will run from Feb. 5 to July 16. The class will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

An evening course, which will convene at the Briarcliff campus from Feb. 21 to Aug. 3, will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

Tuition is $5,995 and may be paid in two installments. Loans are available through Sallie Mae.

"In either course, students can expect to spend six hours a week in class and at least 10 hours a week studying at home," Kozicki said.

Having taken the course a few years ago, program coordinator and advisor Georgia Davidson knows it's possible to work full time and go to class — as long as the student is focused.

"Being a paralegal is a very good second career option," she said. "And we run an eight-week accelerated program in the summer, which is perfect for recent college graduates."

Emory has graduated more than 600 paralegals from the program since 2005. It is the only certificate program in Georgia that requires students to have an undergraduate degree.

"Attorneys value education and many require a bachelor's degree for paralegal positions," Davidson said. "Having that level of learning on their résumé ensures that our students are more marketable."

"Paralegals are the right-hand assistants for attorneys," Kozicki said. "They can do everything an attorney can do except give legal advice and represent clients in court."

Working for law firms, corporate legal departments and government agencies, paralegals do legal research, draft documents, write briefs, interview witnesses, take statements and interact with clients and vendors.

"A successful paralegal must be a person who pays attention to detail, is passionate about the law and wants to help people," Davidson said.

Emory graduates work at many Atlanta legal firms and corporations.

"Attorneys tell us that they like hiring new graduates because they don't have to retrain them," Kozicki said.

Starting pay depends on an applicant's education and experience, and the size and location of the employer. Starting salaries can range from $25,000 to $45,000, Davidson said.

There's a free one-hour information session on Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. at the Alpharetta campus. To register, go to http://cll.emory.edu/paralegal.

For more information, call 404-712-8823 or e-mail Georgia Davidson at gddavid@emory.edu.

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