I recently graduated with an Associate's Degree in an ABA accredited technical college.....

... and I don't have any office experience. What can I do to entice prospective employers in the legal field, in order to give me a chance at a paralegal or legal assistant position? The law firms with want ads that I have perused, usually want someone who can type at least 65 wpm, and my fastest speed is 44 wpm. What can I do?

Apply for the jobs anyway. Not all paralegal jobs require high typing speeds and you could still be called. In the meantime, don't limit yourself to want ads. Be proactive by sending letters of interest to other law firms where you'd like to work.

Call the firms and obtain the names of the persons who receive paralegal resumes. Ensure you have the proper titles and correct spellings for each name, and verify mailing addresses. Customize your cover letters for each firm and send them with your resume to the firms by first class mail. Do not fax or e-mail your materials. Nicely word-processed materials on good paper with your signature, enclosed in matching envelopes, convey a far better impression than electronic media.

You can also post your resume on the major job boards. You may have local boards on which you can post your resume.

Getting that first paralegal job is a real SOB. It takes time and effort, but is doable.

Thank you for the tips.

It is very frustrating when the majority of law firms are looking for people with multiple years of experience and I'm attempting to find a position without any office experience, except for my internship.

Wait 'til you get the job and are actually working for lawyers. Then you will know frustration first hand.

Good luck.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Wait 'til you get the job and are actually working for lawyers. Then you will know frustration first hand.

Good luck.

I just recently had a phone interview for a position across state, and what is frustrating is that the interview was a half hour in length, and they told me that I would be informed within 24 hours if I was to continue on in the hiring process. Low and behold, I received the "thank you for your time, but...." email a couple of hours later.

I don't know what else I can do. It'll be a full year in two weeks since I graduated. I feel that the longer it takes for me to get a position, the more I will have to brush up on what I went to school for. Am I wrong?

At least you had an interview and the law firm kept its word about informing you within twenty-four hours. It's a rare company that keeps its word about informing candidates. In any event, your interview is a start. Sometimes interviews beget interviews.

Don't forget, times are tough, and tough times mean fewer openings in most industries. Moreover, from first-hand experience, I would also submit there are far fewer paralegal jobs than schools lead you to believe.

Don't worry about brushing up. You find when you start working that your knowledge will come back. You can bring your books and notes to work. The truth about any training is it only provides an education and introduction to the job. OJT in the real world is the best teacher.