First off I am a college student, and although I am reasonably intelligent and reliable, I am young and don’t have much in the way of specific career skills yet, so my resumé is not all that impressive.
I’ve worked as a server before because it can be fairly good money for unskilled work, and was making the rounds of a few restaurants to fill out applications today. I was at one particularly fancy place (definitely the nicest and most expensive restaurant I visited), filling out an application in the lobby when a guy coming out of the bathroom walks by me and stops. He says, “Is that… ?” and looks down at the form I am filling out, which has “EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION” in big letters across the top. He drops his card in my lap and says “call me if you’re interested”. It’s the card for a law firm and his title is Paralegal.
Now this sort of excited me - for a second I thought he might just be trying to sell me legal services but it was obvious that I was there looking for employment and he noticed that. I am unsure if I’d be qualified to work for him though - I know paralegals are basically assistants to lawyers (though apparently these days they are becoming “more” than that, whatever that means), but do they hire assistants of their own? I am not a law student though I do have an interest in the law and have seriously considered law school as an option after I finish my bachelor’s.
I fully intend to call him either way and find out if this would be a realistic opportunity for me, but just so I can feel a little more prepared I would like some more information. I’d be happy to take a job in an office that doesn’t involve the service industry even if the pay is less. I frigging hate working in a restaurant. Could I realistically get a job working for this guy even though I have no legal training?
I work in a mid-size law office, and there are people who work “for” paralegals in my office. Because paralegals have certain skills that tend to raise their billing rate, it makes sense to hire assistants for them that do more than a secretary would do, but less than a paralegal. In the last trial I did, my paralegal’s assistant did a phenomenal job, and we couldn’t have gotten through the trial without her.
Don’t be surprised if the lack of a college degree becomes a stumbling block, but persevere anyway. Lots of places require the degree, but are willing to work with you if you have the right personality and demonstrate persistence and good attitude.
Yeah, on my own I would have never even tried to apply for work at any law office because I would just assume I’m not qualified. But since he approached me, I’d be stupid not to follow up on it.
I figure that normally most people who already have their degrees wouldn’t be applying to work in restaurants anyway (though in the current economy, who knows), so hopefully his standards are not too rigid when it comes to credentials. I just feel like I should have an idea of what I’d be getting into, so I can present myself in the best possible manner. I appreciate all advice.
Having worked in several law firms, the short answer is “yes”.
Paralegals often have quite a bit of responsibility - they might be working directly for a lawyer(s) and be the point person in charge of a huge class action lawsuit. They often need a staff to help make calls, get documents, prepare mailings, etc. etc. I know in one large case at my last law firm, two paralegals were in charge of over 45 temp employees who were considered clerks. This was about 6 years ago and starting pay was $12/hr for those clerks. Tons of phone calls, photocopying, filing, document filings…there was plenty of things clerks could do to help the paralegals.
So, back to your question - give a call at the office and go take a meeting. It could be somewhat boring clerical work, but it is a foot in the door if you decide to go on and become a paralegal yourself!
It’s cool with me. Still beats sucking up to bitchy, entitled customers and then cleaning up their half-digested food so I can pick up the $3 tip. (actually if I got a job at that restaurant where I met him at I could probably make a lot more money, but I’m not sure I would be able to stomach it for long. Plus they didn’t really indicate they were hiring - they always take applications just so nobody cries discrimination)
I was an assistant to both attorneys and paralegals for a Major Corporation. No college degree. You will probably do the stuff that isn’t law-related. I microfisch’d stuff, filed, did some typing, etc. It’s a secretarial gig, basically.
I’ve worked for both very large and very small law firms as an assistant. In my experience, the paralegals didn’t have their own assistants-they shared an assistant with a lawyer (or 4). Of course, every firm is different, so it could be that this guy is looking to hire himself an assistant. Or, it could be that his firm is looking to fill an assistant position and he’s helping recruit.
I do not have have a college education, and it hasn’t ever come in the way of me being an assistant. Some girls where I am now have a paralegal certificate, but I don’t have one of those either and I do all the same jobs and get paid the same as the ones who do.
Well I called and set up an interview, which I just got back from.
It wasn’t what I expected. At all.
I get there and sit in the lobby for a while waiting for my interview, all dressed up in a suit and everything. While I am there I find out that the law office, which was featured on the business card I received, is partnered with a company that does home loan consultancy. Specifically, mortgage refinancing. Maybe some of you already know where this is going.
So I go in to meet with the guy and I mention pretty much off the bat that I’m still not sure exactly what type of position they are looking to fill. He says “we’re looking for sales”. My heart sank. He asks me if I have any sales experience, and I kind of stutter incoherently for a moment. Then he goes on to say, “we’re looking for telemarketers”. Oh my.
At that point I fidget in my seat a bit and he asks me if this is something I would be interested in. Still a bit shocked by this sudden and unexpected (down)turn of events, with a lump in my throat I meekly utter “I’d be willing to give it a chance”. I am somewhat desperate a job, but no, not like this. Hardened criminals don’t deserve to be put into telemarketing jobs.
He sends me across the hall to fill out a giant application package which I leaf through briefly, then turn in to the receptionist telling her the job wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be, so thanks but no thanks, and left. At least she was super-cute and super-friendly and I had a chance to talk to her for a minute, so the day wasn’t a total waste.
In retrospect, upon the initial meeting of the guy who dropped his card I wanted to talk to him for a moment and find out what he was looking for but he pretty much did a drive-by, after saying “call me if you’re interested” he was gone. There was also a website on the card that I tried to reach and it didn’t function at all.
Now it all makes sense of course. I guess you don’t get many people coming into your office for that type of work if you’re totally upfront about it.
Well, the good news is that you know know that there’s such a thing as a legal assistant. If you’re genuinely interested in studying law, it would be a great job for you.
I’ve had a number of temporary legal assistant jobs–not because I’m interested in the law but because they pay pretty well.
“Legal assistant” covers a pretty broad range of stuff that you could be doing, though as others have said, the jobs are usually mostly administrative in nature. But even if you’re xeroxing and proofreading, you’re doing that with legal documents, so you’re gaining some genuinely useful experience. If you’re good, they’ll generally give you more challenging stuff to do.
Just because this guy was a slime doesn’t mean that there’s anything slimy about being a legal assistant. There are temp agencies out there that specialize in legal positions. You might as well inquire.
Wow, that is so unprofessional. And fishy - a paralegal recruiting and interviewing for a boiler-room, smile-and-dial telemarketing job? Sounds like some unethical, possibly illegal activity going on.
Agree this was a crappy trick.
However, as long as you have made the first step - how are your computer skills?
If you know some basic typing and MS Office, you can probably do some temping as a clerk through a local Legal Temp agency - temp agencies specializing in the legal field usually pay a bit more than other temp agencies.
Lots of companies now use temp agencies to find new employees (easier to try someone out for a few weeks/months and not have to pay benefits) and then hire them full time after they see how reliable and good they are.
Just a thought. Seems a shame to have someone like you, who I think might be well-suited to a job like this, be treated so poorly! I would like to see you give it a shot to see if maybe the legal office field is something you might like!
I once answered an ad posted by Manpower (yes, MANPOWER! The slimey fucks) that I was perfectly suited for. I called and asked if the position was still open. It was, so I donned my career clothes and went in to fill out the paperwork. After 1.5 hours of sitting there, I finally got my interview with the staffer.
“Yes, the position is still available. However, we made one slight error on the ad. The applicant must speak fluent Chinese.”
I agree to go the temp agency route. I like being a temp while job hunting, for a lot of reasons. First, it’s income. Second, it gives you a chance to scope out the company as much as it lets them check you out. And it also doubles your chances of finding a job. You’re out there looking, and you have an agency looking for you, as well.
I once temped for an awful place. I only stayed because I needed a job. It was so bad that as I got near the end of the three month ‘trial period’ I called my temp agency to see if I had to go on the payroll, or if I could stay a temp. They didn’t bump the salary at all when they pulled temps on to permanent payroll, and I did NOT want this place on my resume!
I wouldn’t worry too much about the lack of a degree, if you are in college. A lot of companies will accept that you are working on the degree. In fact, some places prefer it. They get to keep their standards high (by requiring a degree) but pay you less (because you don’t actually have one yet).
Thanks for the suggestions. Even though the guy was a douche the experience gave me ideas for exploring different directions in job-searching that I otherwise might have overlooked.
Sorry that job interview didn’t work out; what a drag. Still, I’d encourage you to look into legal assistant and/or paralegal work. Some people thrive on it, and if all goes well you can eventually be involved pretty deeply in some interesting cases.
(actually if I got a job at that restaurant where I met him at I could probably make a lot more money, but I’m not sure I would be able to stomach it for long. Plus they didn’t really indicate they were hiring - they always take applications just so nobody cries discrimination)