Direction?

Hello to everyone:

Right now I am being offered an unprecedented opportunity to get my certification in Paralegal Studies. (It's in the form of a grant sponsored by my State ((RI)) as part of the buyout of the company I worked for) and I'm looking for any information about who to get information from regarding things like starting salary, what they look for in a paralegal, and questions like that.

Where would I find such information? Thanks in advance :)

It's important that you earn an American Bar Association-approved paralegal certificate. An ABA certificate is the highest paralegal credential obtainable. It will qualify you for any job which requires paralegal certification. Some people argue that an ABA certificate is unnecessary and any paralegal certificate will do. I think one is shorted of opportunities without an ABA certificate.

You can search internet job boards and your local classifieds for typical entry-level paralegal salaries. I would guess that starting salaries in the Boston-Providence area run $30K-$36K. I base my guess on starting paralegal salaries in Denver, which are $28K-$34K, more or less. Pay for any job is often higher in your part of the country than here. Your state labor department, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and your local paralegal association will have more salary information.

Finally, you can look at the following website:

www.nala.org/whatis.htm

I disagree somewhat that "paralegal" and "legal assistant" are interchangeable. "Legal assistant" frequently means a person who does more legal secretary work than paralegal work. Job titles and job descriptions vary from office to office and, perhaps, from region to region.

Hope this helps. Good luck with paralegal school.

Thank you so much, Displaced....I was worried that after all the commentary regarding entering the legal field I would've been met with the "Run, Forest! RRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUN!" (to be kind) but I'm glad for any information I can get :)

Thanks again, and I will continue to research :)

Mets

You're welcome. You didn't ask how it is to work in law.

Law can be stressful work, with long days, multiple, stacked deadlines combined with frustrating delays, and little help. Magician training is helpful. Lawyers are among the most difficult, unappreciative, self-centered, temperamental, immature, anal bosses you will encounter. I realize lawyers deal in a contentious environment and it drives their personalities, but too many lawyers let contention spill over to their dealings with subordinates.

I would say you should give law a lot of thought before committing to it. Good luck with what you eventually decide to do.

Yeah, you're right, I didn't ask; I had read most of the answers here, and figured out what to expect....

I've worked as a temp for a few agencies over the years, and I've dealt with the best of the best at what they do, as well as the worst, but, having said that, if I know what to expect, it doesn't seem so bad. You've never had *any* good experiences with the Law in general?

I wouldn't say I haven't had *any* good experiences - it's just the the negatives of working in a law firm can really grind you over time.

Positives could include helping people and trying to make things right for people who were wronged. Depending on the specialty and one's interests, interesting work could be a positive. Over time, though, I think the negatives - and especially stress - outweigh the positives.

I think quite a few nonlawyer legal professionals become jaded over time or simply burned out - and I really think difficult, demanding, inconsiderate Type A personalities are the primary cause. More money is not enough to cool burnout. Respectful treatment and more frequent thank-yous are better.

Some people will say change is the answer to burnout. I disagree. For one thing, changing jobs is hard. Around here, there aren't that many legal jobs and legal specialties further limit choices. I'm sure Boston-Providence has far more opportunities. Another thing is one risks jumping from the frying pan to the fire. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know, and you're better off staying put.

One other point: Paralegal advancement opportunities are limited. Paralegals can never be law firm shareholders. Lawyers are barred ethically from making nonlawyers partners or shareholders. Lawyers are also barred ethically from splitting fees with nonlawyers. In smaller firms, paralegals can become office managers or administrators. Sometimes, they have to wear multiple hats and can never give up paralegal duties.

That's true, but since the only alternative for me is not working permanently, getting training seems the way to go (and they can't take the knowledge away from you). I've been working in the Data Entry field for so long I've forgotten what it's like to do anything else, and I have the carpal tunnel to prove it.

That's not to say in a few years, when I've been doing it long enough, that I won't want to do something else. Right now I'm looking for the short term fix (say, a window of five years) so that I can pay off my long overdue student loans, and see what happens.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: I wouldn't say I haven't had *any* good experiences - it's just the the negatives of working in a law firm can really grind you over time...and I really think difficult, demanding, inconsiderate Type A personalities are the primary cause. More money is not enough to cool burnout. Respectful treatment and more frequent thank-yous are better.

You described the Type-A pesonality throughly in a comment to me. ALL true. It was the Lawyer that destroyed my life and job. I liked my work. ANd the great thng was that I had my own office and I "was" to run my own shop. I live that - did that set-up on first Paralegal job- especially because it was work I took a liking to. In the end - the job that CREAMED me forever - it was the nightmare boss ( mentioned before, worked for 2 Partners -1 fine, the other the nightmare) I remember saying, while I was there, I came in here happy and positive and and you turned that person into an unhappy nervous wreck - because of the Nightmare lawyer. In the end- this type of situation- ruins your entire life - and worse your money situation and for me my health.- I have worked for decent attorneys when I was legal temping in between jobs - had cream puff jobs temp assignments working for attorneys that did not stress me to death. - Hoped I would eventually land a permanent job on my own with that type of boss - but I did not - one nightmare situation after another. Oh, yes, some temp assignments were 2 - 3 months. and no problems. SO- it can be just a crap shoot- I had mapped out my plan - had I landed with a decent boss and benefits- my life would be very different. Very sad I must say. ANd annot say much of your SOB boss, DLP either. Lasted 7 years- but it seems he made your life very misereable - till enough is enough- BUt again - I did not know , until I was actully a working Paralegal, how it truly can be, when you get the ba situation. {continued]

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: Continued - the Type-A pesonality.{continued]

Type-A personalty - ie Lawyers - spill that crap into your life - meaning whatever the freak is wrong with their heads - in the way they treat you and react - mental cases -

The lawyer that CREAMED my career and life - gave me Anxiety on the job, by the way he acted and reacted.

Shoot - I remember I was at the door of his office (next to mine, giving hime easy access to me) and asked a necssary question or gave him an update - He jumped out of his chair and started screaming like the mental case he was "get out of my office, get out of my office" - I went back to my office, half laughing to myself and saying "What a head case" talk about the "Cuckoo's Nest" - he did this type of crap more than once- and because it was totally on him - I was not too bothered in terms of my job - because he made such a fool of himself - and let loose his head problems.

Then of course there were the serious problems - causing happy to very unhappy.

Do you know of anyone who was a Paralegal and transferred the skills into another job - successfully, geting at lease equivilent pay?
(sloppy speller and typer theses days)

I always thought real property was interesting. I had helped with preparing deeds, promissory notes, deeds of trusts, and a sell contract. My paralegal school told us title companies like paralegals primarily for their research skills. I have tried them and no luck.

I also tried banking. No luck.

Companies, corporations, government entities, insurance companies, etc. use paralegals. I may be entirely mistaken, but I sense that non-law firm venues may be more sane than law firms. I should think in Delaware one would have many corporate paralegal opportunities.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: I always thought real property was interesting. ..title companies like paralegals primarily for their research skills. I have tried them and no luck.I also tried banking. No luck. I sense that non-law firm venues may be more sane than law firms. I should think in Delaware one would have many corporate paralegal opportunities.

I worked for In-house counsel for 2 corporations. Yes, the environment was most defnitely more sane. As for Delaware corporate paralegals - we are a small legal communty, everybody knows everybody, eventually. There is one big corporate law firm in DE, high stress, and when I was working for one of the companies (referenced above), the company was incorporated in DE, and I called the DE firm for documents. A lot of companies Incorporate in DE (because we have lots of law on the books) - as for corporate law jobs, not as plentiful as one might think - I have interviewed at Title co- the job consisted of work for H.S. diploma people. The workers were not the brightest crew. Interviewed at banks, strange people. Banks do have trust departments, interviewed, no offer. Several bank interviews, no offer. Interviewed for Bank commercial loan position - had the skills and background for it. No offer.

That is the reason why, when in-between jobs, may have to take first offer, or could be hanging out for a long, long time. It is true, the longer you are out, the less desireable you become. Some people land easily - many jobs I did not want. And boy, have I had some of the Bizaarest Interviews while looking.

Good information. Thanks!

How do you get your door into the legal field? I have submitted numerous resemes to law firms in Dallas. I keep getting the response: "I regret to inform you that at the present time we have no positions available that are a match for your background and experience."

I have about a dozen more classes to go, and I will have a Bachelors Degree. A lot of people talk about networking. I don't understand that because I don't know a lot of people in the legal field. I also don't have much hands on experience. I have not had success getting an interview. After 60 resemes, you would think at least one interview would appear.

I do not know what else to do.

Signed,

Feeling Tired

You sound like an entry person, so don't be surprised about your lack of interviews and rejections letters. At least around here, few jobs are open and legions, seemingly, of well qualified people are competing for them.

I have eleven years of legal experience and I have received similar letters, if I receive such letters at all. I've submitted far more resumes than you have and have had a disproportionately smaller number of interviews.

You just have to keep applying. Send letters of interest with resumes to firms and answer ads, even if they want experience. You may look better after you graduate.

The legal field is much harder to break into than paralegal schools and college paralegal programs would make one believe.

You are right about the perception of the paralegal schools and college paralegal programs. I challenged certain staff who gives career advice at the school I attend because like an idiot, I tried all of the suggestions provided to me.

A lot of my sources are telling me that the economy is somewhat to blame as well. I feel I made a mistake going into the homebuilding industry immediately after high school. The economy was really good in the 1990s, and I managed to keep the same job for over 9.5 years. Back in November 2007, I got laid off from that 9.5 year job. As a result of getting laid off, I have tried forging ahead with getting my foot into the door of the legal field.

I will just keep applying, and flooding the field with my resemes and letters. I'll try to make an attempt to send resemes and cover letters to all attorneys in the State of Texas. There is bound to be someone to respond. The closer it gets to graduation time for that Bachelors Degree, the more it seems to appear that I won't have a job in the legal field, and over $50K in student loan debt on the Bachelors Degree alone. To make humor out of the situation, I do not know what is more difficult: 1 getting your foot into the legal field, or 2 getting a date.

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "A lot of my sources are telling me that the economy is somewhat to blame as well [for problems finding a legal job]....As a result of getting laid off, I have tried forging ahead with getting my foot into the door of the legal field."

I agree with you about the economy. Around here, from what I understand, staffs are cut to the bone. Also, I think more attorneys, especially younger ones, have become self-sufficient and need less support help than before.

"I will just keep applying, and flooding the field with my resumes and letters. I'll try to make an attempt to send resumes and cover letters to all attorneys in the State of Texas. There is bound to be someone to respond. The closer it gets to graduation time for that Bachelors Degree, the more it seems to appear that I won't have a job in the legal field, and over $50K in student loan debt on the Bachelors Degree alone. To make humor out of the situation, I do not know what is more difficult: 1 getting your foot into the legal field, or 2 getting a date."

From my experience, getting a legal job has always been very hard. Even getting an internship was hard. Law firms' general non-responsiveness compounds the frustration. I graduated from paralegal school thirteen and a half years ago. I consider myself fortunate to have found a job four months after I graduated. I remember people who had graduated six months before I did who still hadn't found jobs at that time.

I would urge you to rethink your commitment to joining the legal field. Law is a very stressful business fraught with very difficult people. I realize construction is also stressful, but, believe me, lawyers are among the toughest and most bizarre personalty types you can work for. While I'm happy to provide information about the legal field, I cannot recommend it as a career for nonlawyers. You can do plenty of other things with your degree besides law.

Once again, good luck.

"I consider myself fortunate to have found a job four months after I graduated. I remember people who had graduated six months before I did who still hadn't found jobs at that time."

You hit on an excellent point Displaced. I know several students who are not even finished with school, but landed a job. There are also some students I know that started somehow smack dab after high school. However, they are in school now to get a Bachelors Degree for more money.

I am going to at least finish the Degree because not everyone in my family has degrees. I am one of few with a high school diploma, and one of few that has ever worked in a high rise. I am proud to accomplish certain milestones.

"I would urge you to rethink your commitment to joining the legal field."

I have had mixed feelings about trying anymore. Law School has also crossed my mind, however, I do not know if I want to do that now. The only good out of those sixty resemes so far is that I at least demonstrated an effort of "good faith" by showing the State of Texas, I am trying to look for work. As a result of my efforts, I have received my unemployment payments.

"You can do plenty of other things with your degree besides law."

Looks like I will have to do some soul searching. I have received a job offer today, but it's contingent upon a friend of mine being able to secure more accounts. My friend also has told me, I seem more CEO and COO groomed than Legally Groomed.

As a result of my experiences and if I ever get into a position where I have authority to hire, fire, and lay off, I shall always try to give entry level people a chance to prove themselves. It appears the legal field does not give such opportunities to people to do that.

Displaced, I wish you best of luck on your job search. I plan to keep in touch here so that I can develop more habits I need to succeed legal field or not.

Feeling_Tired

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "As a result of my experiences and if I ever get into a position where I have authority to hire, fire, and lay off, I shall always try to give entry level people a chance to prove themselves. It appears the legal field does not give such opportunities to people to do that."

Not always. Same for experienced people, who, you'd think, would fare better.

Once more, I'd strongly urge you to look elsewhere besides law. To put it bluntly, if you think construction trades are full of jerks, wait 'til you get into law. Best of luck with your efforts.

As a former paralegal and wife of an attorney, I could not agree more with Displaced............. the majority of attorneys are overpaid jerks who think that they are better than the staff..... young female attorneys are, in my opinion, the worst of the worst. I also agree with Displaced about going through an ABA approved program should you decide to enter the legal arena. Many of the larger, more prestigous firms only hire graduates of ABA approved schools because of billing purposes. Also many ABA approved programs are available at accredited universities, which give you an opportunity to use your credit hours towards a first or second bachelor's degree.

If I were just entering the legal field now, I'd probably try to get any job at a respectable law firm and go to school part-time. Knowing law firm/court protocol is key to finding a good paralegal job. I graduated with a 4.0 from a respected post-bachelor's ABA approved program at a local university, and, to be honest, I learned very little that I actually used in my role as a paralegal. Later in my career, I worked at a top tier firm hiring other paralegals. Without a doubt, prospective candidates who had some type of law firm experience, be it paralegal, secretarial, administrative, file clerk, etc., were much, much more likely to be called for interviews over those who had no experience.

Good Luck

Former Paralegal in New Orleans, Louisiana: "Knowing law firm/court protocol is key to finding a good paralegal job. I graduated with a 4.0 from a respected post-bachelor's ABA approved program at a local university, and, to be honest, I learned very little that I actually used in my role as a paralegal...."

Really. My school taught virtually nothing about law firm procedures, file systems, memos, handwritten notes, etc. Its rationale was you learn these things OJT. You certainly do! Some introduction to firm procedures would have been nice.

I never used my legal research skills in my "real" jobs, though I did when I free-lanced. The attorneys did their own research and weren't interested in my abilities. I guess I understand why. Supposedly, they could risk malpractice if they fork research over to nonlawyers and they blow it. Also, the attorney for whom I worked in my last job was on law review. Fat chance of him giving me any research work. Legal Research and Writing was my favorite subject, and I was disappointed that no one harnessed my abilities.

I feel my school generally provided excellent introductory training and I've retained much of it. But, truly, the best training comes OJT.

Dear Former:

It sounds as if you are describing a "good ole boy network" like atmosphere? I also have not had much success with volunteering.

The more Displaced and you talk, the more I believe "Equal Opportunity Employer" is a "theory" rather than a "reality."

"I feel my school generally provided excellent introductory training and I've retained much of it. But, truly, the best training comes OJT."

On The Job Training? Wow! That became "obsolete" in the 1990s. I bet a lawyer would not know what that was.

Perhaps things like this are why people with no legal knowledge, crack jokes about lawyers and talk bad about them? I also now understand why a former Vice President at the company I once worked at called an attorney a "pompous arse."

My school and the professors have are great! By no means can I bad mouth any of them.

I also hear, "it's not what you know, it's who you know."

Absolutely EOE is theory. As far as the legal field goes, one would expect lawyers to follow the law. I mean, isn't that why they exist? To uphold the law? In fact, it's quite the opposite. IMO law firms are practice age discrimination as much as anyone.

Age discrimination is all over, right Displaced? We can't get away from it!!

"I mean, isn't that why they exist? To uphold the law?"

Labor Laws serve as pacifiers. It's simply written and people do the least possible to be within compliance of the law. It's my opinion that lawyers are manipulative of the law, and focus on the loop holes like a hunter prepares for his next kill.

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "On The Job Training? Wow! That became 'obsolete' in the 1990s. I bet a lawyer would not know what that was."

Not necessarily. I will say I worked with a couple of lawyers who were excellent mentors. In that firm, lawyers were encouraged to mentor paralegals. But I think a signifcant number of lawyers do not like to be bothered with answering paralegals' questions or giving paralegals a hand with difficult situations they cannot handle.

Everyone is new to a job at one time. Everyone has to be shown a few things, in any job. But one still collects the bulk of his/her practical learning, if you will, on the job. In my eleven years in law, very few days went by when I didn't learn something new, or learned or came up with a better way to do something.

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "Labor Laws serve as pacifiers. It's simply written and people do the least possible to be within compliance of the law."

Agreed, at least in employment law matters.

"It's my opinion that lawyers are manipulative of the law, and focus on the loop holes like a hunter prepares for his next kill."

Let's just say that no case is airtight. Even seemingly straightforward cases are hard to prove and require abundant evidence to sustain. If you prick hard enough, you can prick holes in the best of evidence and in the best of plaintiffs, though your holes may be too small or two few to undermine a decent case.

"Everyone is new to a job at one time. Everyone has to be shown a few things, in any job. But one still collects the bulk of his/her practical learning, if you will, on the job. In my eleven years in law, very few days went by when I didn't learn something new, or learned or came up with a better way to do something."

Life is all about learning something new everyday. I'm learning about the job market as well as the legal field in more ways than one. It seems like I have received more of my educational experiences from "The School of Hard Knocks."

Just gotta find the weakest link and destroy it from there.

Unemployed Property Manager in West Palm Beach, Florida: "Age discrimination is all over, right Displaced? We can't get away from it!!"

No, ma'am. No way, no how! Just like Chickenman on old Top-40 radio, it's everywhere, it's everywhere!

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "Just gotta find the weakest link and destroy it from there."

It's not that easy, though, especially with a good case. But, once again, even with a great case good results are not guaranteed.

I am glad to be communicating with you all about this. I was starting to feel worthless. I am a positive person all around, however, consistent rejection is something that wears me out faster than anything.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have majored in business. I guess I will look at grad-school in order to pursue an MBA, and have $115K in student loan debt before all of this is over, but land a job quicker in a different field.

I must seek out the "silver lining." I know the silver lining is not a theory.

As I wrote, above, you're not alone. Getting that first legal job is a major SOB. For that matter, at least around here, I've found that getting legal jobs, even for experienced people, is a major SOB.

A college degree is a college degree is a college degree. Your Bachelor's will still unlock doors.

You're going to laugh, a Professor of mine is making it sound like 1-2-3. He asked me if I have been working with the "Career Placement Adviser" from the school. I wonder how on earth she will help if anything? It angers me that they are making "landing your first job" as "easy."

I am starting to hate the fact that I am becoming infuriated with the BS I am being told. The "Career Placement Advisor" is like a doctor, they don't really know themselves. Hence, the symptom must be treated to end the disease.

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "[A] Professor of mine is making it sound like 1-2-3. He asked me if I have been working with the 'Career Placement Advisor' from the school. I wonder how on earth she will help if anything? It angers me that they are making 'landing your first job' as 'easy.'"

What do you expect from an academic?? Some of these people are so naive. They are so cloistered in their ivory towers that they wouldn't know the real world if it hit them in the face.

Career placement advisors are similarly useless. They'll listen politely to your situation but never have any useful, real-world advice.

You have to be your own career placement advisor. As long as you have the ball, keep running plays. Run enough of them and, hopefully, you'll hit paydirt - if you aren't forced to punt, that is.

"Career placement advisors are similarly useless. They'll listen politely to your situation but never have any useful, real-world advice."

The advice and suggestions I received last time seemed "generic."

"You have to be your own career placement advisor. As long as you have the ball, keep running plays. Run enough of them and, hopefully, you'll hit paydirt - if you aren't forced to punt, that is."

I knew that to a certain degree, and I am not a seasoned job hunter.

Within the Paralegal Club at the school I attend, I announced my skepticism. I even went as far as to challenge the suggestions of the Career Placement Adviser. I am one who is willing to try something once. If it does not work like claimed, I challenge the source. That is probably bad of me to do. However, the comment: "They are so cloistered in their ivory towers that they wouldn't know the real world if it hit them in the face." is so true.

The other thing that sickens me is are books such as the one titled: "How to Land Your First Paralegal Job: An Insider's guide to the fastest growing profession of the new millennium" By: Andrea Wagner. Oh, it's Second Editions by the way. Wait a minute, there's also a Third, Fourth, and Fifth Edition. The Fifth Edition on Amazon.com sells for: $48.00.

Someone ought to write a book about all of the hogwash that is issued on landing a job. The Author would have to be one with a comedy background to make wise cracks like how Bill Maher does with New Rules on his show called "Real Time with: Bill Maher."

I hope you didn't buy that book. The long and short of paralegal job hunting is that it is no different than finding any other job. You need leads and ideas. Use the usual methods to find them, such classifieds, sending resume/cover letters to law firms, etc. Research and apply to companies and corporations, because many of them have in-house legal departments.

The internet has opened a wide range of opportunities to unearth leads. Look at paralegal and bar association websites. Search "paralegal" by keyword on the major job boards, but apply for directly to firms and companies online through their websites or by mail and not through the boards. Post resumes on the job boards, but don't be surprised to receive ridiculous insurance sales offer e-mails and similar responses.

One other thought for you, Feeling_Tired, FWIW. I don't remember where I heard it or if it is true, but I've heard the Certified Legal Assistant credential is a big deal in Texas. Your responses may improve if you have that credential. Ask someone at your school. Although we agree that school placement departments are essentially worthless, someone still may know. Your local paralegal association may have better information.

Once again, I hope some of this information has helped. While I'm happy to provide information about paralegal careers and finding paralegal jobs, I cannot recommend the legal profession to anyone interested in a nonlawyer career.

Displaced:

If I were to buy such a book, I would have nothing but a "non-performing asset." I am not that naive. I was naive when I followed the advice of the career placement adviser. I got fooled, and as a result the slogan: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" comes to mind. Hence, shame on them for providing me information that does not work. If I were to buy that book: shame on me.

While we are on the topic of what works and does not work, I assume the salary statistics are not accurate as well?

The more stuff I am learning from talking to you and others on this said blog, the more it has crossed my mind to become confrontational and prosecuting.

Feeling_Tired in Carrollton, Texas: "While we are on the topic of what works and does not work, I assume the salary statistics are not accurate as well?"

Good, authentic sources for salary information are your state's Department of Labor website and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics website. You can obtain a sense of market paralegal salaries by reviewing ads on the major job boards. Paralegal associations may have salary information.

"The more stuff I am learning from talking to you and others on this said blog, the more it has crossed my mind to become confrontational and prosecuting."

Yeah. Attorneys' contentiousness will rub off on you. Much of that contentiousness comes with the work, but many attorneys are naturally adversarial. Though you are on their side, such attorneys won't work with you cooperatively but will come at you and put you on the defensive. After a while, you learn to deal with them, sometimes by CYA.

On the other hand, you can learn to parry their thrusts by being analytical, prepared and ready to respond. You grow from learning to be analytical and prepared, and that's good. Feeling that you must be ready to respond defensively is bad. It's no fun to go through the day assuming you can be put on the spot at any time.

This is why my intentions are/were: I wanted to work as a Paralegal for a while to pay off some debt, and go to Law School and become an attorney. That was my honest to God intentions. Since law school has crossed my mind, is it easier for law school students to land certain jobs? I am sorry for that stupid question, but my intuition is telling me that it is.

As with an M.D., a J.D. and attorney license are recognized, tangible credentials. But make no mistake about it; IMO getting that first attorney job can be tough.

Most law school students are competitive individuals because top firms always want grads with excellent academic credentials. The best jobs go to grads with the highest class standing from the best law schools. It seems that grads from less prestigious schools and/or those with lower class standing have trouble landing jobs, though mediocre performers can still turn out to be excellent attorneys.

Paralegal experience may help a new attorney do the job (and understand, empathize with and appreciate his/her legal assistants' contributions), but it does not provide advanced placement, as it were, for hiring. Their previous legal experience notwithstanding, new law grads are what they are - and are hired as entry-level attorneys.

BTW, contrary to popular belief, paralegal is not an apprenticeship position that leads to promotion to "attorney." The only way one can become an attorney is to attend law school and pass the bar exam. By the same token, a paralegal can only be a paralegal. Paralegals can never be law firm shareholders or partners, nor can attorneys split fees with paralegals. Some paralegals transition into law firm administration or become independent contractors.

So I got into the certification program, and I'm having fun doing it. I'm discouraged by the fact of the economy (and a myriad of other things) but I'm disheartened by the postings here....am I doomed to work for a schitzo attorney? Doesn't ANYONE have a good thing about the legal profession they can share? I hope I'm not wasting my time by going to school..... :(

Yep, there are good lawyers out there! Don't get discouraged, go ahead and do whatever you want. These postings are more for venting not telling everyone how wonderful life is.

I am not venting. In your post, above, you had asked about good things about working in the legal profession and I answered your question with the truth. You will not hear the truth from your paralegal school because, after all, it has to promote the legal profession positively to enroll students.

Of course one cannot say all lawyers are schizoid, primarily because the rest of 'em are difficult, immature, demanding and selfish! :D But, seriously, so many attorneys, especially in litigation, have personality issues. Litigators, understandably, inhabit an adversarial and contentious environment. But in terms of human relations, some of them blur the line between that environment and their office environment. As a result, these individuals are adversarial toward their legal assistants - forgetting that these folks support them and are on their side.

Once again, not all attorneys are SOBs, but I would submit a significant number of them are. I stand behind my remarks. Believe me, it's tough to work for a boss who could put you on the defensive at any time without notice.

That's true....I've worked for some doozies in my time (and that wasn't even IN the legal arena!)

The truth is better than nothing at all :) (And the school I'm getting my certification from is Boston University.) :)

Excellent school - and, hopefully, your program is ABA approved. Again, any paralegal school must promote the legal profession so it can promote itself.

Mets:

I you want to be "disheartened," try getting rejected 60 plus times without getting a job interview. Better yet, try to do legal volunteer work in hopes of landing that job.

Another thing you must understand, is that some parts of the United States are more open-minded than others. I look at certain jobs, and one of the educational requirements on the job description is as follows: "Must be an ABA approved school." That counts me out because I am not a "traditional student." I am an "online student." The school is "accredited" by the "North Central Association." The NCA also accredited schools such as:

University of Phoenix

Devry University

Although my school is not "ABA Approved," it still is a good school. Other professions such as Business, Law Enforcement, Computer Science, and Education reap results that the legal studies department has had difficulty obtaining.

I TRULY wish you luck on finding a job in the legal field. However, expected the unexpected.

I'm not venting neither, I am trying to learn things. I have learned quite a bit of things such as why it takes so long to get a job interview.

I don't know about any of you, but I DEMAND RESULTS FROM EVERYTHING I DO. Some things I demand results from fast. If I do not obtain certain results, I grow: tired, impatient, angry, and resentful. Hence, it either performs, or I get rid of it.

It is my opinion that the purpose of College, Technical School, or Vocational Training is for one thing: TO IMPROVE FINANCIAL POSITION.

Mets:

I truly hope you will get your "return on investment" and not have what is known as a "non-performing asset."

Displaced:

ABA Approved Program or not, the legal field appears to be difficult to get into. I am starting to believe that I would have better chances trying to find the Holy Grail. I could so kick myself in the tail pipe for listening to the academic professionals in the beginning. I will say though they made it seem as easy as paying $5,000 to go deer hunting on a ranch with an absolute promise of bagging a trophy buck with a nice set of antlers.