Recently I received two similar emails from Annie and Bruce, both with established careers but with a strong interest in pursuing a paralegal career. I thought other readers might be interested in my responses to them, which Annie and Bruce kindly gave me permission to share.Bruce: I am a male who is interested in the legal field. I am currently 38 years old and have had a successful career [in auto sales] but it is not my passion nor do I want it to be my future. I have run into several clients who are successful in the paralegal field. This stirred my attention because years ago, after attending business college, I wanted to go to law school but was cut short due to finances and starting a family. I still must work full time while obtaining my education. I am a single father of two teenagers. I am just asking for guidance and maybe your thoughts on starting out in this field. I have made a great income; however the economy is affecting that and I do not enjoy what I do anymore, so the money does not matter. Some concerns are income and experience. Any advice that you can give me will be deeply appreciated.If you're serious about becoming a paralegal, I suggest a couple of preliminary steps that will not involve too much of an investment of time and/or money to see if this is the way you want to go:
1) Check out your local paralegal programs. If the cost is reasonable, take one or two paralegal classes part-time, especially the introductory course, to see if you enjoy the classes.
2) Buy a basic paralegal career guide and read it thoroughly. There are a number available through Amazon - I don't have a favorite right now!
3) Contact your local paralegal association and see if you can attend a meeting or two as a "newbie" or potential student. Talk to as many paralegals as you can about the realities of working in the legal field.
4) Volunteer for a law-related non-profit organization in your area - you'll meet other legal professionals and get to sample the kinds of tasks non-lawyer legal professionals perform.
5) Join Twitter and follow legal professionals. It doesn't take a great deal of time and you'll get a feel for their day, as well as keep up with the latest legal news and developments.
There are many specialty areas of the law which are trending and will offer plenty of employment opportunities now and in the future, but it is hard to "break in" with no legal experience, unless you have skills which offset inexperience, including great grades (a bachelors degree is a plus), an excellent portfolio of writing samples including legal documents, volunteer and/or internship experience, outstanding computer skills - and a lot of perseverance.
Annie: I have been contemplating taking an online program and have been seeking feedback from current paralegals. Can you please share your experience in the field, i.e. day to day activities, job satisfaction etc.? Anything you can share would be most appreciated. I am currently a psychiatric case manager looking to change careers. I have always held a fondness for the law profession and this would be a first step in that direction.
I've been doing this for over 20 years, so I either like it a lot, or I'm an idiot! I imagine as a psychiatric case manager that your day is not dramatically different from mine, because I manage litigation cases for injured plaintiffs. I write a lot, usually letters and motions - but there are many legal specialty areas and not all paralegals have to write continuously. I review voluminous medical records. I have a great deal of client contact and a lot of control over my cases. Most days are governed by clients' needs, usually emergencies - not all that different from your job, I'm sure!
If I were you, I would research paralegal job opportunities in the area where you plan to work and see what employers are paying, especially if annual earnings are an issue. If you decide to go to school while keeping your job, that can make interning tough, but a good way to tell if you even like working for lawyers is to do an internship or work part-time in a legal environment.
The paralegal profession is not for everyone. It's demanding, fast-paced and stressful, but if you like solving problems everyday, are extremely detail-oriented and really fascinated by the law, then it could be a good fit. Also, there are a lot of jobs that you can qualify for with a paralegal degree that are not necessarily titled "paralegal" or "legal assistant".
If any of my readers have additional advice for Annie and Bruce, or anyone else thinking about changing careers to become a paralegal, your comments are welcome.
Got a question about the paralegal profession? Email me at lynne.devenny@gmail.com, and if I can’t answer it, I’ll find someone that can!
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2 comments:
If you're thinking about a paralegal career, keep in mind that right now, there are a lot of paralegals who are out of work due to the massive law firm layoffs recently. You'll be competing against experienced paralegals for jobs.
I think Anonymous is correct in that in this economy you have to consider any career change carefully, including paralegal. Whether you've just graduated from high school and are looking at paralegal programs, or whether you're changing careers in your mid-40s, it requires careful preparation and planning.
I hope that paralegal programs are encouraging their students to work in the legal industry while in school and directing them toward the latest in software training -- it's this kind of work during school that will make the job search easier once you graduate. Also, educate yourself for the market where you want to work from the get-go. Don't rule out relocation once you graduate.
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