ABA Paralegal Certificate Plus Health Insurance Experience

I am a forty year old male who graduated from an ABA Approved Paralegal Certificate Program in 08. I have never worked as a Paralegal. I have signed up with two different legal employment firms and sent my resume to several law firms since April 08 with no success.

I also have seven years of health insurance experience. I was an Admin Assistant/Cust Svc Rep for 5 years and an Appeals/Complaints/Correspondence Resolution Specialist for two years. I was laid off. So I have extensive experience dealing with benefits, claims issues, telephonic customer service, and researching/resolving benefits and claims issues through appeals,complaints, and informational correspondence. What kind of law would most fit my credentials? I assume that working at an insurance company or an insurance defense law firm would fit. Any other comments and suggestions?

P.S.: I am also worried about age and gender discrimination in the Paralegal Field, esp from attorneys and support staff who are younger than me. Please advise.

Hospitals hire law firms to review what insurance companies have paid them and not paid them and should have paid them. I think it's called Quit Claims work. Paralegals who work on this stuff aren't really paralegals but are more insurance people, or medical coders. Some of the hospitals have in-house people who do this.

What is happening is the insurance companies are not paying what they are supposed to be paying and the hospitals have to continually audit EOB's (Explanation of Benefits) to get what they are owed.

Maybe you can get that type of work.

Some other suggestions: Plaintiff's firms working in Worker's Comp, Disability Claims, VA Benefits Law, as well as regular PI/negligence work. You should also check your local/state/federal government agencies - those that would deal primarily with processing claims for any type of benefits - these agencies often utilize paralegals.

With the recession and a lot of firms laying off staff, your lack of actual law firm experience is probably your biggest obstacle. You should join your local paralegal association, use Linked-In to network, and perhaps contact your local legal-aid office to see if you can volunteer to get some actual legal work experience under your belt. I know people who broke out the phone book, looked through the attorney ads, picked out the ones they thought 'looked good', and fired off their cover letter and resume and landed a job that way. Competition is strong right now so you have to use initiative and do something to set yourself apart from the rest.

Best of Luck!

I had the name wrong above about the EOB auditing that hospitals do. It's called "clean claims" not quit claims. The firm I work at doesn't do this type work, but my friend's firm does it, so I only know enought about it to be dangerous.

After completing an ABA paralegal certificate and moving to San Francisco I launched a nightmarish 4 month job search before basically giving up and going to a temp agency which plugged me in setting up meeting rooms and coffee/snack arrangements in said meeting rooms. This ended up being pretty fun, actually. I got to know many people in the firm, even the managing partner's personal assistant/secretary, who liked me and was pleased with the work ethic and responsiveness that I brought with me from the military. I asked the paralegal/support services manager for an informational interview for advice on how to break in as a paralegal. He told me to keep doing what I was doing until I found opportunities. After the contract was up I found an opportunity in Silicon Valley and abandoned law as a career- but several months later that firm called me and offered me an interview for a position that had opened. By then I was making more than I could probably ever make as a paralegal, so I declined the offer- but still it was somehow very validating to have recieved an offer like that after all of the hard work.
The technology job imploded a few years later so I went into healthcare, another place that often demands some "volunteer time" or "slave labor" to get those doors open. Think like a SWAT team when job hunting: sometimes you have to find "alternate modes of entry"! Good luck job seekers.

333 in Hayward, California said: After completing an ABA paralegal certificate and moving to San Francisco I launched a nightmarish 4 month job search ...abandoned law as a career- but several months later that firm called me and offered me an interview for a position that had opened. By then I was making more than I could probably ever make as a paralegal... sometimes you have to find "alternate modes of entry"! Good luck job seekers.

Your story is interesting. I mean that sincerely, not sarcastically. I'm known for writing some pretty bad stuff (true from my own experience) about law on these forums so thought I should clarify.

What was the opportunity you found in Silicon Valley that you took, abandoning law in the process? I'm curious what you found that, within several months, enabled you to make more money than you ever could've made as a paralegal.

What was your experience/background before that? I am asking because I know so many paralgls/legal secs who would give their right arm to change careers. I was asked by a young man (his sister's considering paralgl sch) just yesterday what I thought the percentage of paralegals was who regretted their decision to go into law; my honest answer was 90%. It seems as though you got into and right out of law in a very short time period. I was a legal sec (started as a word processor) for over 5 yrs before going back to school full time to get my BA in Economics. I graduate in Dec at 42. I've worked 20 hrs/wk the last 3 yrs and depleted my entire life savings. I was willing to give up a lot to get out. I HATED wrk'g for attys.

I had no other real work exp outside of law that would really get me anywhere. I worked in a customer service and collections once. I was good at it - had the highest paid accts most months - but at this point, I am not interested in dealing with the public. Are you in health care now?

333 in Hayward, California said: After completing an ABA paralegal certificate and moving to San Francisco I launched a nightmarish 4 month job search before basically giving up and going to a temp agency which plugged me in setting up meeting rooms and coffee/snack arrangements in said meeting rooms. This ended up being pretty fun, actually. I got to know many people in the firm, even the managing partner's personal assistant/secretary, who liked me and was pleased with the work ethic and responsiveness that I brought with me from the military. I asked the paralegal/support services manager for an informational interview for advice on how to break in as a paralegal. He told me to keep doing what I was doing until I found opportunities. After the contract was up I found an opportunity in Silicon Valley and abandoned law as a career- but several months later that firm called me and offered me an interview for a position that had opened. By then I was making more than I could probably ever make as a paralegal, so I declined the offer- but still it was somehow very validating to have recieved an offer like that after all of the hard work.
The technology job imploded a few years later so I went into healthcare, another place that often demands some "volunteer time" or "slave labor" to get those doors open. Think like a SWAT team when job hunting: sometimes you have to find "alternate modes of entry"! Good luck job seekers.

Excellent story of perserverance and resoucefulness.!!!!

kmm in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania said: Excellent story of perserverance and resoucefulness.!!!!

It is also noted the he was able to "move" for a job. very excellent.

What was your experience/background before that? asked by dh in California. It is noted in detail in his first comment.

dh in Northern CA, California said: Your story is interesting. I mean that sincerely, not sarcastically. I'm known for writing some pretty bad stuff (true from my own experience) about law on these forums so thought I should clarify.

What was the opportunity you found in Silicon Valley that you took, abandoning law in the process? I'm curious what you found that, within several months, enabled you to make more money than you ever could've made as a paralegal.

What was your experience/background before that? I am asking because I know so many paralgls/legal secs who would give their right arm to change careers. I was asked by a young man (his sister's considering paralgl sch) just yesterday what I thought the percentage of paralegals was who regretted their decision to go into law; my honest answer was 90%. It seems as though you got into and right out of law in a very short time period. I was a legal sec (started as a word processor) for over 5 yrs before going back to school full time to get my BA in Economics. I graduate in Dec at 42. I've worked 20 hrs/wk the last 3 yrs and depleted my entire life savings. I was willing to give up a lot to get out. I HATED wrk'g for attys.

I had no other real work exp outside of law that would really get me anywhere. I worked in a customer service and collections once. I was good at it - had the highest paid accts most months - but at this point, I am not interested in dealing with the public. Are you in health care now?

dh - read his first comment.

dh in Northern CA, California said:
What was your experience/background before that? I am asking because I know so many paralgls/legal secs who would give their right arm to change careers. I was asked by a young man (his sister's considering paralgl sch) just yesterday what I thought the percentage of paralegals was who regretted their decision to go into law; my honest answer was 90%.

Keep in mind that countless people are gigantic pansies, too. Law is a fast paced and sometimes cutthroat industry. Especially litigation. Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines, stress, stress, stress, billing, billing, billing. Some people love it, and some shrivel up and want to run home. It doesn't make it a lousy field or job choice. In fact, it can be extremely lucrative and rewarding. It can also be placid and relaxing. It depends not only on what area of law, but also the attorney(s) you work for.

90% of paralegals regret going into law? I would argue that into the ground. I would say that 90% of sensitive or timid paralegals regret it. The ones with thick skin who can take care of themselves in a job that is almost by definition contentious do just fine.

Paralegal in Dallas, Texas said: ...90% of paralegals regret going into law? I would argue that into the ground. I would say that 90% of sensitive or timid paralegals regret it. The ones with thick skin who can take care of themselves in a job that is almost by definition contentious do just fine.

I didn't meet any timid paralegals during my time in the industry. I also didn't meet any paralegals who enjoyed what they did. I always had great coworkers - I experienced very little drama with fellow staff. But during my last few years in, when I really started to hate it, I started to open up in private to trusted paralegals/secretaries about how I really felt about this profession - that I hated it, thought the pay was mediocre in relation to what attys expected, felt I was on a dead end road, and wanted to change careers. Every damn one of the opened up and said they, too, wanted out. I had no idea because they had good attitudes and were loyal employees. It wasn't until I started opening up privately that they, in turn, revealed to me what they really felt, and that's when I realized almost everyone who is not an atty does NOT like this field.

I say 90% because I'm sure there are some out there who actually liked it. But of the paralegals and legal secs with whom I spoke, 100% of them regretted it and wanted out.

The three most common reasons for staying: 1. fear; 2. too old; 3. procrastination. A couple of these girls got their real estate licenses while the market was still hot, and they always said, "I'm gonna...." but never followed thru. I think fear of change had something to do with that procrastination.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Continued from above....

I thought the attorney and I worked well together that day (we actually always worked well together). I thought we eradicated any disagreements we had that day. I was wrong.

The attorney gratuitously gave me an extra personal day for my efforts. That individual never called me while I was ill - not in the hospital or at home. Two years later he kicked my sorry ass to the street for reasons I still don't understand.

Hi DLP - I cannot believe what I just read. Your determination is admirable to say the least. You had a lot of dedication that I did NEVER had for this industry. I CANNOT stand being a doormat or the feeling that I've let someone walk on me. That is why I was such a stickler about the overtime issue. I get off on time, period. I never showed them my true attitude, how I really felt. I was always quiet and soft spoken - not one to rock the boat - but when it came to "This has to be done over the weekend" - because that happened once, I just told them that I'm sorry but I cannot come in this weekend because my daughter and I had plans.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you're a doormat. I admire your attitude and, when I read how you've handled situations, I think it's a good example. I think that I developed some very bad and stubborn habits that, while I think they were very appropriate in the legal industry, I can't carry those habits with me when - IFIFIF - I get what I consider a real job, or a career rather, after graduating. I have become stubborn and inflexible, and I keep telling myself that I have to stop that. It worked great for me in law firms though.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: I was raised with a strong work ethic. I was raised to always go in to work. It wasn't so much dedication, but more a matter of trying to be professional and doing the right thing, despite the bullshiit. You saw how that individual finally exhibited his gratitude.

I came close to walking out of that place a couple of times, but I simply couldn't. I had responsibilities, and needed the paycheck and health insurance.

I, too, was raised to have a strong work ethic. My father always told us that he was late to work once in 30 years - when his truck broke down. When we were teens and had early jobs on the weekends, sometimes he was pulling us out of bed. He is up at 5am every morning reading the paper.

I was never late until my last 6 months at the last job. I couldn't get out of bed, hit the snooze too many times, and would rush in the door at 3 minutes after. I remember thinking that I couldn't allow that to continue and forced some self discipline to get up. Once I made my decision to go back to school and back to my hometown, getting up was easy. My late spell lasted about 2 or 3 weeks. I don't ever remember being late before then.

Last month, my current supervisor called my last supervisor in OC to check my reference. I wanted to see what she would say. And to my surprise, she said great things. I know the atty whom I left would NOT, however. And the woman who hired me wrote me a letter of rec.

I maintained my good attitude and hid my true feelings, but the one major complaint they had was my inflexibility for putting in extra time, and I always took my entire 1-hour lunch, to the chagrin of one of my partners sometimes.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: I was raised with a strong work ethic. I was raised to always go in to work. It wasn't so much dedication, but more a matter of trying to be professional and doing the right thing, despite the bullshiit. You saw how that individual finally exhibited his gratitude.

I came close to walking out of that place a couple of times, but I simply couldn't. I had responsibilities, and needed the paycheck and health insurance.

And I'm curious, you said your atty didn't say much when he let you go. Did he not say anything? "Sorry but it's not working."??? Did you have any idea at all or see it coming?