Getting a litigation paralegal job.

How did you get your start doing litigation paralegal work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

I have recently graduated with a paralegal associates degree.
What steps or avenues can I take to land a job that offers a compatable salary as well as benefits toward a rewarding career with opportunites to grow in the future.

Host said: How did you get your start doing litigation paralegal work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

There are some people out there that have paralegal responsibilities in their job duties at there place of work, but the possible salary is usually not included with out the degree, which serves as a negotiating tool for the position you may be trying to get.

Example:If you were to apply for the same position as I, who does have a degree, my chances may be better, but your work experience may also beat me out of the job, so it can go both ways sometimes. It just depends on what the employer is looking for. Was this a little helpful, I hope so.

Gertrude Dailey in Cincinnati, Ohio said: I have recently graduated with a paralegal associates degree.
What steps or avenues can I take to land a job that offers a compatable salary as well as benefits toward a rewarding career with opportunites to grow in the future.

I am a former Paralegal of 10 years. Getting the first job is tough. I would be applying in all avenues, legal or legal related. Insurance companies have not been affected by the recession, like other fields.

Getting your first job and what resouces you should attack to find the job postings:

Interesting enough, the paralegal school does not even inform us of a list of resources to attack. That is how helpful NOT the paralegal school is to you once you get the certificate.

SO these are the following resources I now know: (1) the paralegal association. They should have a Job Bank. (2) the legal newspaper with classified positions listed in back. (covers receptionist to attorney) (3) Lawyers.com- this is Martindale-Hubbel (the legal directory) on line. Go into the firms website under careers. As least you get a name of whom to sumit the resume to. (4) The newspaper in your area. (5) temp agencies in good times can get you started on legal assignments. (6) I got my start in Miami by hand-delivering my resume and cover letter directly to the firms. Walk in. Yeah - got 2 jobs that way. (7) the resource center for the paralegals at the school you just graduated from. Mine had a book of listings. Do not be surprised if a firm is advertising for receptionist or runner.

Other ideas include simply looking up "Lawyers" in the Yellow Pages. Call firms and ask who receives paralegal resumes. Verify the spelling of the person's name for each firm, the person's title and the mailing address. Then mail your resume with a focused, individualized cover letter addressed to that person by name. It's a lot of work and hit-or-miss, but whoever said finding a job doesn't require work.

Apply to firms even if they want experience. That, too, is hit-or-miss, and you will miss more that you will hit. But you just may hit.

I got my first paralegal job answering an ad for an "assistant to a busy attorney." The firm was, in fact, looking for a non-legal assistant, but it was also hiring paralegals. It's all a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

And as DLP as noted before: Use the good paper for your resume and cover letter.

And second, mail and fax both.

ONe more thing- while you are doing the job search, you are going to have to get a job, once you get your cover letter and resume prepared.

I mean a p/t job or f/t job doing anything that pays. In today's economy, that may mean delivering pizza.

ONe more thing- while you are doing the job search, you are going to have to get a job, once you get your cover letter and resume prepared.

I mean a p/t job or f/t job doing anything that pays. In today's economy, that may mean delivering pizza.

Or working at night cleaning office buildings. Always a turnover in staff there- it should be easy- the cleaning part.

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: And as DLP as noted before: Use the good paper for your resume and cover letter.

And second, mail and fax both.

Additional comment: Buy the good paper only, mail in flat 8x11 envelope. It matters.

Good thought, Cindy! I like that! It's all bout presentation; also, standing out from the crowd positively.

I'd have mailed my stuff in matching business envelopes.

Good thought, Cindy! I like that! It's all about presentation; also, standing out from the crowd positively.

I'd have mailed my stuff in matching business envelopes.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Good thought, Cindy! I like that! It's all about presentation; also, standing out from the crowd positively.

I'd have mailed my stuff in matching business envelopes.

I used to do the same- until someone informed me about the "presentation". A nice flat cover letter and resume on good paper, arriving flat is way better presentation.

YOu got it.