There’s a college in my area which offers Saturday only, accelerated classes to get an Associates or Bachelors degree. This is the perfect opportunity for me since I don’t have the time to go to school during the week.
Anyway, I’ve considered taking the Paralegal studies degree program. I think it sounds like a good job for me but I don’t know a whole lot about it. I’m looking for input from any Paralegals (or Lawyers).
What do you think of the job?
How is the pay?
Do you stay busy?
Do other people in the office treat you well?
Is the job interesting?
Are you always learning?
I’m used to being treated like crap. I work in customer service. So, this isn’t a big factor for me. I’m more interested in the actual job.
I did it at Uconn Storrs campus. It does kill your weekend, but I met some great people, and I have a great understanding of the law I didn’t have before=) I will add that I think that the fist intro certification class [12 weeks] should be turned into a class required for all high school seniors…would be great to make them realize that there are consequences to every action they do, how to sit down and plan a research project, carry it out, and order the findings into a coherent manner.
Hm, I have never worked as a paralegal in a lawyers office per se…I took it because I had the ‘credits’ with the job I was working and it was the only thing offered I was remotely interested in. I did get moved into the legal department afterwards. I did work on a number of projects there.
In general, frends of mine wrking as paras have different views. One works for a small firm, 2 brothers that do criminal law pro bono as they are mostly retired now. A lot of boiler plate stuff as most of the clients did actually do what they were charged with. She and the brothers mainly make sure that the clients rights are protected and that all the paperwork is in order - and they occasionally do things like help get pets and personal possessions taken care of while the person is in jail. Lots of small petty crimes with short terms, noting serious. She makkes IIRC $16US an hour, the office is fairly casual and runs mostly 9am - 5 pm, and occasional saturday mornings.
Another friend of mine works for a much larger firm, one that advertises on TV for various things [asbestos was the last thing they were flogging for when I saw them advertised] makes about the same money, but works in a faster, more harried environment and it is fairly dressy - suit and tie sort of dressy. She in-processes possible claimants … so her previous job as a nurse is just what they want, someone who can handle a medical report, and interface with doctors offices.
One major gripe I have heard from various friends of mine is that they do as much as or more work for $35KUS a year that the average lawyer in their firm makes 10 times as much doing the same or less work for. I know I did more work than the legal beagles in my office…and until I told them I did NOT do coffee, they expected me to make and serve coffee as well.
Ex-paralegal here. This was my only complaint about the job. It is a bit unfair that when you’re doing all the work, and you certainly have all the relevant knowledge, you get far less pay than someone whose involvement is basically limited to signing the documents you prepared. But if you can get over that, yeah, it’s a great job if you’re interested in law. I only left it because I moved abroad and stumbled into a different field.
It is also one of the highest paying temp jobs, and you can almost always find work. But you should consider it a bridge to either going on and becoming a lawyer, or use the money and experience to guide you to a different profession.
Over the long term, you will be underpaid and overworked. And the more experience you get, the more frustrated you will become. Some attorneys have their paralegals do almost 95 percent of their work but only pay them 5 percent of their fee. That is when the job sucks big time.
In other words…for the short term, great idea. As a full time profession, it ranks up there with forever playing baseball for the minor leagues.
Thanks guys. That was exactly the stuff I needed to hear. I actually don’t mind doing coffee as long as they pay. I also love to be busy. My current boss asks me to do all the tedious work he doesn’t want to do. I love it. It might get old after a bit but for the short term, it’s fine with me.
Also, I do plan on using it as a doorway to something else. Right now, I really need a better paying job but I don’t have the proper training for anything. I’m figuring that a paralegal job will get me at least $10,000 more than I make now so I’ll take the headaches that come with it.
Again, thanks. You’ve all been a big help.