Crazy Paralegal/ Lawyer E-mail Exhange

There weas recently an interesting e-mail exchange between an attorney and a law student applying for a job as a paralegal. Both of them need to grow up.

blogs.masslawyersweekly.com/news/2010/05/27/a-job-application-gone-very-very-awry/

That law student/paralegal is exactly what we are all always talking about - he has a law degree and he is hot and superior to others.

What I don't understand is why the lawyer would even consider a law student for a paralegal position. Law school students and lawyers make lousy paralegals. Lawyers are trained in the substantive practice of law, not procedure. My cousin is a lawyer who started his own firm right after he graduated. He realized quite quickly how little he knew about procedure when he signed his first client and didn't know how to file a lawsuit - lol. I have worked at several firms that had lawyers working as paralegals and every time the law firm regretted it because they really didn't know what they were doing. One of the lawyer/paralegals came to me asking how he would subpoena records in a medical malpractice case that was in pre-suit; my response "you can't, it's in pre-suit." He also told a new legal secretary she needed to file a "Notice of Filing Response to Request to Produce". I then had to explain to her why she didn't need to file a Notice of Filing for an RTP, etc. I think he was just making it up as he went along.

After reading their exchange, I say they both need to grow up a little. I think they are both lacking in professionalism (if they even know what it means) and neither of them should be proud of their actions. As they say in Kentucky "they both just showed their butts." lol

Here is one more interesting piece of info: The law student is attending a law school NOT accredited by the ABA. So he will never be able to practicce outside of MA or California. A non ABA law school is essentially one step above a diploma mill.

I would actually REALLY like to have speak or email the lawyer involved in this for personal reasons. Does anyone know who he/she was?

Donald_ in Cliffside Park, New Jersey said: Here is one more interesting piece of info: The law student is attending a law school NOT accredited by the ABA. So he will never be able to practicce outside of MA or California. A non ABA law school is essentially one step above a diploma mill.

Well, not really sure about this comment. Since I'm also considering entering a Ca law school accredited by the state bar only. And yes, have since learned that the above comment is true with one important difference. Which is, that a practicing attorney with a JD from a Ca state bar accredited school can still apply to other state bar associations to sit for their bar exams.
But, correct me if I'm wrong.

amm in Tampa, Florida said: What I don't understand is why the lawyer would even consider a law student for a paralegal position.

I think some lawyers tell themselves law students will make good paralegals (at least temporarily) because you don't have to pay them very much.