Anyone a paralegal here?

[Firefly32]

I am thinking of taking this program at my university and was wondering if anyone here is working in the profession? I just have a few questions do you enjoy what you do any pros or cons about the work?? Do you make decent money in this profession??

[Beenie]

I am. I'll be honest, I went to school for it as well, mostly because my school had a great placement program, but really, other than that, it is all about the experience you have to get you into work as a paralegal, not necissarily as much the education. The others I work with that make the most have no schooling besides high school. You can make pretty good money after a few years, but more likely than not, you do have to work your way up, possibly even starting in a law firm as a receptionist. In the end, you could save your school money and just start at a law firm as a receptionist and do just as well in the long run. Please know, this is just my personal experience. Friends that have bachelors in paralegal studies around here and not getting the jobs they expected.

I like getting most of the holidays off (even ones most people do not get since we mostly close when courts are, which is a lot), VERY good benefits, bonuses, and I also get flex time and work a 4 day week, which is nice for me. I also have GREAT boss'.

I dislike some attorneys (not ones I work for now, but have in the past) thinking they are SO superior and talk to you like you're stupid even tho YOU are doing the work and they are signing their names.

If you have more questions, please ask. It is not a bad job at all and I have learned so much.

[plumaplomb]

Do you mean this is an actual major? I've never heard of that. I would major in something else -- whatever you're interested, whether it is History, Physics, or Engineering!! Then take a one-year course for a paralegal certificate, if you need one. Some hire straight out of bachelor's though...

[Firefly32]

I have a bachelor in marketing, the paralegal is just a program that they university is offering but the requirement for the program is that you need your bachelor. This is just something I am considering as instead of getting a masters. I'm just basically interested in what exactly do paralegals do on a day to day basis, do they make good money, is the job stressful and do they enjoy the job.

[bellafleur]

I'm a lawyer, and we've never hired an actual paralegal at our firm. One of my old legal assistants ended up going to technical school to get a certificate in it, but by no means did we need her to. It really depends on the firm's philosophy. Some larger firms distinguish between the paralegals and the secretaries and give more complicated work to the former. My firm is small, so my assistant does it all. I think it's easily learned on the job, but you'd have to talk to some law firms in your area to get a sense of whether they require a certificate or will train you on the job.

[Vegas Long Legs]

My BA degree is in legal aspects of business which qualified me to be a paralegal. I worked as one for about 9 months. The attorney I worked for was a criminal defense attorney & our office also did small claims & bankruptcies, which I handled. My job got old quick. Wouldn't say that part was stressful just boring. I tried to assist the attorney with his criminal clients () but he was too disorganized for me. He would leave everything till last minute & then he'd be crazy & expect us to all get caught up in his insanity. Told him, can't work goofy. He didn't want to lose me so he had me do the small claims etc.

When doing my internship, worked for some a trial attorneys. I helped put together the evidence/exhibits for trials. I liked this! They didn't have an opening when internship was over so I went back to school.

Life happens & went on to other careers that paid better.