Discouraged in Fairfield

I've been laid off from my paralegal position approximately two months. I can honestly say that I LOVED MY JOB. During that time I've updated and submitted my resume for countless paralegal positions and been to interviews (unfortunately those interviews were with recruiters).

I'm starting to become frustrated and resentful with the recruiters. While recruiters tell me that they have assignments and that I have an impressive resume for someone who is entry-level (1.5 years of corporate paralegal experience, two paralegal internships, and bachelor degree and ABA-approved paralegal certificate), recruiters are offering me administrative/secretarial positions which I do not want.

While I understand that the economy is rough and beggars can't be choosers, I've worked too damn hard and long to get this college degreee and longer to obtain the legal experience. I'm probably preaching to the choir, but I just had to vent to get out my frustrations. Thanks for listening.

I've also submitted my resume directly to law firms and companies. When talking with recruiters regarding a position they posted online, I ask that they disclose the name of the company. In case they decide not to submit my resume, I can do some research on the company in addition to the job description (in case their website has a career web page) and directly submit my resume to that company.

It's funny that you should mention Hartford because I was born and raised in Hartford. I have considered moving back to Hartford for a split second, but have decided that I will stick it out in Fairfield County, CT. Hopefully, I will find something in NYC or in the Fairfield County area.

Some stupid headhunters will take a firm's online job posting and cut and paste it as their own on their websites. A couple of headhunters here sent me e-mails in which they've done that. One would think they'd at least reword the posting.
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Wow, I've seen that one.

ParaGryl, if you're young and you want legal work, then keep trying. Look at the legal forums here. I've posted several times the law firms LAYING OFF, not hiring.

You have a Bachelor's Degree. Keep your options open.

The recession has brought job losses to the legal profession. The big firms have let staff go - attorneys and support staff alike - and everyone is having to 'do more with less'. The smaller firms are on hiring freezes and everyone is struggling, hoping to make do until things turn around. If this were a better job market, I'd recommend holding out. But, being what things are, maybe you should take one of the administrative jobs. It's all a matter of getting your foot in the door and working your way up. And who knows, when things turn around, you'll have proven yourself and possibly be ahead of the line for any new paralegal positions within that firm.

I was a newly minted college grad Class of 2000, first class of the new millennium, and we were supposed to set the world on fire. But, we hit the dot.com and telecom bubble burst and a recession. I was unemployed for 8 months and finally took a legal secretary job at less than my previous salary, just to get my foot in the door and a steady pay check. Sometimes, it's about doing what you have to, not what you'd druther.

There are so many ppl who went to law school over the past 10 years, they are gobbling up all the paralegal jobs. There aren't that many paralegal jobs, they tend to hire legal secrtaries and them jump right to junior attorney because there are so many of them. Also, many ppl who went to law school and did not pass the bar are taking the paralegal and compliance jobs.

The insurance cos in Hartford are all laying off, the law firms are laying off. If you have the $$ to fly to an interview in another area, esp if it is a good company, that would be an idea, esp. if you work through your agency/recruiter.

It is hard for all levels to get back on track, senior level paralegals with extensive experience, and junior level. The other thing I have noticed is they are hiring ppl as junior paralegals with no paralegal certificate or education (as they can pay them even less).

However, if you can expand your georgraphic horizons, you will get back into a decent job sooner rather than later. I doubt Hartford will be that great a place, no harm trying, but many people are getting let go in legal in the area. I have seen people posting ads willing to work for free. A legal placement from university said I should volunteer to work for free. That might be OK if you are an intern (like you already did 2 internships), but that is just taking advantage of a challenging situation to ask people to work for free (that to me is an indication of a company/firm that would never value you - excepting genuine internships). But that is how crazy it is in Hartford county. An agency suggested to wear a short skirt on any interview. I am older, attractive, but no college cutie here... pretty crazy here...

The only real companies/corporations to take volunteers are the non profit ones, like hospitals, museums, charities, schools, government stuff. As Displaced said, there is literally no such thing as volunteering in a corporation because it causes far too many problems.

Could you imagine an employee working in a corporation, and she has a "volunteer" working along side of her? Just ain't going to happen.

[QUOTE who="I've found it's very difficult to break into different role if one is first hired into one role.

E.g., you could be hired as a legal secretary. Of course, you will do a great job. Although you may exhibit great potential as a paralegal and could sell some of your secretarial experience as paralegal experience, you may be typecast. The firm won't easily visualize you, or won't want to visualize you, as a paralegal. It won't want to promote you from your secretarial job because you are doing a great job. Finally, you will still be regarded as an entry-level paralegal - and - you may have to take a pay cut if you leave legal secretarial work to become a paralegal. You very well can suffer the same problems if you apply elsewhere as a paralegal.

I think one can easily suffer perception problems if one takes a job in a role other than one wants. Try to walk through the door and be hired as a paralegal if at all possible.

That is my exact concern. I've had at least 2 legal secrataries from my last job tell me they were told that they would never be considered for a paralegal position in that firm.

Even though it's a job that pays the bills and at least I'm working, it's something I'm trying to hold off as long as possible. If Paralegal/Administrative Assistant became available, I would consider it...as long as the position is 10-20% administative and 80-90% paralegal.

In the two firms where I have worked people switched between legal secretary, legal assistant and paralegal pretty easily. At my current job, it's hard to tell what peoples' titles are. All of these jobs look the same. (Which is not good for the paralegal profession.)

ParaGyrl in Fairfield County, Connecticut said: I've been laid off from my paralegal position approximately two months. I can honestly say that I LOVED MY JOB. During that time I've updated and submitted my resume for countless paralegal positions and been to interviews (unfortunately those interviews were with recruiters).

I'm starting to become frustrated and resentful with the recruiters. While recruiters tell me that they have assignments and that I have an impressive resume for someone who is entry-level (1.5 years of corporate paralegal experience, two paralegal internships, and bachelor degree and ABA-approved paralegal certificate), recruiters are offering me administrative/secretarial positions which I do not want.

While I understand that the economy is rough and beggars can't be choosers, I've worked too damn hard and long to get this college degreee and longer to obtain the legal experience. I'm probably preaching to the choir, but I just had to vent to get out my frustrations. Thanks for listening.

Go to the "LITIGATION PARALEGAL FORUM" site, then go specifically to "Get a Litigation Job"

Last post list all the resources to attack to get a job.

If you are a paralegal, but your first job was a legal secretary and you have found out that the para(s) are being paid less- why would you want the paralegal position?

Unless you can financially afford to take a paycut to get away from the typing.

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: If you are a paralegal, but your first job was a legal secretary and you have found out that the para(s) are being paid less- why would you want the paralegal position?

Unless you can financially afford to take a paycut to get away from the typing.

One reason, for the experience.

^^^Please disregard my previous reply.