After I determined to turn into a paralegal 26 years in the past, I want I had recognized extra in regards to the job. I’m unsure it might have modified my choice however it might have influenced my profession path. I selected to turn into a paralegal as a result of I used to be very younger, about to get married, and wanted a job that met my slim standards for a long-term job:
- No bodily labor and indoors
- Earn greater than minimal wage
- Skilled costume
- Will need to have holidays and weekends off
- A 9-to-5 job (ideally not working nights)
Wow, three out of six – not too dangerous. I’ll allow you to guess which three truly turned out to be true.
Changing into a paralegal was among the best selections I made as a result of I’ve liked my profession within the authorized area. Whereas there are positively some issues that I don’t take pleasure in, there are much more issues I do take pleasure in about my job. That mentioned, over time I’ve realized that there are some issues I want I had recognized, and now want others knew, about paralegal work.
Let’s dispel some paralegal profession myths:
One: We can provide authorized recommendation.
I can’t inform you what number of occasions purchasers, buddies, members of the family, and even full strangers have mentioned, “I do know you’ll be able to’t give me recommendation however simply inform me what you suppose.” If I inform you what I take into consideration a authorized query, I’m supplying you with authorized recommendation. Whereas I’ll know the reply to your authorized query, I didn’t attend legislation college or cross the bar and I don’t have a license to apply legislation. It will be not solely flawed for me to provide you authorized recommendation, however unlawful.
Two: We learn about each space of legislation.
That is intently associated to Number one, however nonetheless value mentioning. Many assume that if you happen to’re a paralegal, you’ll learn about a variety of legal guidelines. I’m a chapter paralegal – I do know chapter backwards, forwards, and sideways. However I do know nothing about felony protection or different specialties that don’t fall in my space of experience.
Three: We hate working for attorneys.
Like others, I’ve labored for nice and never so nice attorneys. There are numerous extra myths about attorneys than there are about paralegals. Sure, some attorneys may be demanding, troublesome, and function in panic mode, however some are essentially the most great bosses you might ask for. I attempt to not let a extremely dangerous day outline me and apply the identical idea to others.
4: We earn enormous salaries.
5: Now we have 9-to-5 jobs.
This was one in every of my necessities for a profession that fell in need of my aim. I assume it actually does depend upon the kind of legislation and the legislation agency. There have been many nights and weekends the place I’ve needed to work to satisfy a deadline or maintain a consumer from dropping their house as a result of they waited till the final minute to file a chapter case to cease a foreclosures sale.
Six: We feature briefcases, put on fits, and go to courtroom.
This was one concept that the dean of my paralegal college drilled into our heads – he couldn’t have been extra flawed. Once more, there are lots of paralegals who’re, for all intents and functions, “para-lawyers.” (I can’t take credit score for that time period – a consumer referred to as me that for years). In my 26 years of being a paralegal, I wore a swimsuit, carried a briefcase, and went to trial with my legal professional lower than a dozen occasions. Once more, it largely is dependent upon the world of legislation and the legislation agency however simply since you’re a paralegal doesn’t imply you’ll be going to courtroom together with your legal professional regularly.
Seven: We solely carry out authorized analysis, draft pleadings, and interview witnesses.
Mistaken. Some days I used to be the workplace supervisor, receptionist, secretary, mail clerk, and duplicate particular person. I used to be additionally the IT, accounting, customer support, and transferring particular person. Nice paralegals will do no matter it takes to get the job carried out, make their legal professional look good, defend the consumer’s finest curiosity, and assist the legislation agency function effectively and successfully.
Eight: We don’t expertise stress.
The authorized area is high-pressure, high-stakes, and deadline-driven. You have to discover a option to handle stress that means that you can forge forward together with your initiatives and objectives. The consumer trusts the legal professional to guard their finest pursuits and the legal professional is relying on the paralegal to do what is critical to make that attainable.
9: We don’t want a four-year diploma to advance our careers.
You don’t want a four-year diploma to have a profitable paralegal profession but it surely does enable you to get jobs in bigger corporations, earn a better wage, and advance faster.
Ten: We will all be like Erin Brockovich!
No, there is just one Erin Brockovich. There may very well be a paralegal on the market who has earned a big sum of money with restricted authorized coaching and no paralegal diploma however I’ve but to satisfy one. Be you and determine excel as a paralegal in a approach that matches your wants, objectives, and pursuits.
The underside line is that your paralegal profession goes to be no matter you make it – you’re in management. As with all job, being a paralegal has its good days and dangerous, however total I’ve discovered it to be a really rewarding profession selection.
Now it’s your flip. What are some myths you need to dispel about being a paralegal?