Paralegal with Finance background

I will receive a bachelors degree within a year in Finance. I want to obtain a
paralegal certificate and work in the field. I don't know much about the field or the job opportunities available. Are there job opportunities, and what would the salary look like? Also would going to a recognized school increase (drastically) my chances of a landing a decent positions? I have found two school NYU and Univeristy of Miami both are good but NYU is highly recognized and ABA approved, but the cost of NYU is about $20,000 vs. $5000 at UM.

Should I just find a finance related job or look into paralegal studies, and should I go to UM or would the extra $15,000 pay off?

There is no way in God's Green Earth I would pay $20,000 for a paralegal certificate on top of a Bachelor's degree. That's insane. I got an ABA approved certificate for $7,500 10 years ago.

Paralegal in Dallas, Texas said: There is no way in God's Green Earth I would pay $20,000 for a paralegal certificate on top of a Bachelor's degree. That's insane. I got an ABA approved certificate for $7,500 10 years ago.

Tuition is about $15,000 and living is about $5000.

chris in Miami, Florida said: I will receive a bachelors degree within a year in Finance. I want to obtain a
paralegal certificate and work in the field. I don't know much about the field or the job opportunities available. Are there job opportunities, and what would the salary look like? Also would going to a recognized school increase (drastically) my chances of a landing a decent positions? I have found two school NYU and Univeristy of Miami both are good but NYU is highly recognized and ABA approved, but the cost of NYU is about $20,000 vs. $5000 at UM.

Should I just find a finance related job or look into paralegal studies, and should I go to UM or would the extra $15,000 pay off?

If you have a degree in finance, you have great potential in finance or banking (assuming the economy will eventually get better). Why would you want to become a paralegal? It's dead end. You can't get promoted anywhere. Law is a very unpleasant environment in which to work, thanks to the attys. It's often hostile and abusive. Believe me, I know. I'm a former legal secretary. And you will have coworkers who despise their jobs and who constantly complain. They have a good reason to complain; everything they complain about is true. But the paralegal or legal secretarial field has a dismal outlook.

Yeah, as a paralegal you are automatically limited as to what you can make. You will never make any more no matter how long you are in the field or how much experience you get. You will never be the boss. There is no career ladder.

My paralegal certificate from UCLA cost me $3000 plus about $500 for books in 2000. Even that was a rip because I never used the certificate. Paralegal jobs were starting at about $12/hour at the time - in LA!!!! I was making $14 so obviously I didn't do my research before making the decision. Paralegal actually had more potential then what I was doing at that time. So what I did was get a word processing job at a firm in Downtown LA that started at $18/hour.

I got my AA in Paralegal studies in Decembe 2005 at St. Pete college (Florida). Mine was about $200.00 a class. Since I was just completing my Bachelor's Degree at USF (already took core classes) and had been in the legal field for many years, I took only required paralegal classes for three terms. So my cost was about $2,500.00.

SUGGESTION: A degree in Finance is far superior to a degree in paralegal. Buy a CLA Review Manual - about $100.00 (more or less) and skip the paralegal program. Get a part time or full time job as a legal secretary. Check out the requirements for taking the CLA test.

Don't spend the money for a paralegal course.

Suggestion very helpful...

Would the paralegal certificate (actually knowledge not certificate) help me get better or higher paying jobs in the finance or banking field? Would the certificate course supplement my knowledge and make me a all round more talented banker or finance manager?

CLA - Certified Legal Assistant. I would buy the book (new or used through Amazon or through NALA.org. Go to the NALA.org website. It's very useful. Myself, I don't think a paralegal course or paralegal certification would give you more knowledge or a more talented banker or finance manager. But you seem to think it does. They are two completely different fields.

A paralegal program teaches you how to draft legal documents, how to do legal research using legal search engines, teach you the legal process of litigation or a particular branch of law, and how to read and interpret legal documents (letters and pleadings) and understand their meaning and importance.

What I think you really want is to learn the legal process. You said you're going to be a finance manager - not a paralegal. A lot of paralegals only have a two year degree. You have a four year degree, which is far better.

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Buy a CLA Manual. That manual is about four inches thick. It gives a thorough summary of the legal field. That's the cheapest route for you to go at this minute.

Go to this website: www.spcollege.edu/clw/business/paralegal/index.htm

This is the school I went to. This will give all the information you need about paralegal studies and the classes, what is involved in being a paralegal - far better than asking any of us.

Hi Chris--

I definitely agree that you will probably make more money in finance. I have a BA and Paralegal Certificate. Working in one of the highest paying fields, IP Law, I will still probably top out at $50k here in Seattle.

You don't need to spend tons of money to obtain a paralegal certificate. I paid about $4000 for tuition and books at a local community college with a highly rated, ABA-approved paralegal program. That was in 2005. Sign up for an intro to law course for a good overview. The Nala manual is good but not as helpful as taking the class. I just finished reading it cover to cover for the CLA exam. There are also classes in contracts and business transactions that might be of interest to you.

The paralegal field is very popular these days. Unfortunately, it isn't like Boston Legal where all the attorneys are fun and quirky and solve cases in an hour. The burnout rate is very high, attorneys aren't usually very much fun, job satisfaction can be very low, and cases can stretch into several years. The holidays/end of year can be especially stressful.

The paralegal field is very popular these days. Unfortunately, it isn't like Boston Legal --- right on point.

Hi Chris,

Im also working on my BS in Finance and have completed a Paralegal certificate at a community college. I have also obtained my CP designation from NALA which gives you a little more credibility. If I were you, I would contact NALA first to determine how to take the exam. I was able to qualify with my college credits and me paralegal courses. Now , as far work in the financial industry,I will say that the banking industry can use managers with some type of legal background. Litigation, business entity and contract course helped me a lot !!!!
If you plan on working as a paralegal in a law firm, i would suggest the coomercial real estate area...and if you want to move up, Law School should be your next project......if you like it .

and....dont spend that much money on Paralegal classes...it shouldnt be more than $3k.
Hope it helps !!!

thanks for all the comments, greatly appreciated. Its been few months now, and I have decided to do my certificate program at a local university. Cost it $5000. I was adivsed to not do the course of the state I want to work, cuz a lot of the course work is state laws.
I just hope the certif. helps me in obtaining a finance related job, with greater responsibilies and higher credibility in an organization.
Thanks Guys,

I just don't see that it will help you in any way to obtain a finance job, but please keep us posted.

I don't see how spending money on a paralegal degree is going to help with a finance job either. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (so does everyone else), and a paralegal degree AND 25 years of legal work. That finance degree is far superior to the overraed paralegal degree.

And paralegal is a very overrated degree. My shorthand is coming along good. As soon as I can SCRAPE some money off the sidewalk I will hope to buy computerized court reporting equipment. I should have bought it before and added it to my bankruptcy!!!!

Mary in Tampa.
A scenario:

I apply for a job as an entry financial analyst position, and land a interview. I have a bachelors in finance, and paralegal certif., with little finance experience. Do you think the certif. will have no relevance in the fact that I receive that job or not? I think it would, because knowing the laws or legal knowledge. Or a job as a entry level venture cap. positions. Please advice.
*Cost of school is not the highest priority.

Chris, we have been having this pow wow for several months. It sounds like you REALLY WANT the paralegal degree. I think that degree is worthless.

I already gave you the website for St. Pete College. You could hop to that site and see exactly what courses you would take. For you to get a paralegal degree would take another year. You're NEVER going to look up legal research - so that's a waste. You have no use for an internship - so that's a waste. You have no use for a course Introduction to Paralegal Studies - so that's a waste. You already have all the core stuff.

The only thing you really would be taking in a paralegal course is three subject matters. If you really want that stuff, then go meet with a paralegal school director, and JUST TAKE those few classes. For you, I would suggest taking litigation, real estate and bankrutpcy.

You may take a paralegal degree. And it could work AGAINST YOU. That's a very reaal possibility. You could take an entry level finance job, touting, "I have a paralegal degree." And the employer may say, "Great." And you are given an entry level finance job doing just the crap work that includes maybe looking for information.

There is very little need for knowledge of litigation laws for finance work. You might get use out of real estate. As for foreclosure, that would be good knowledge.

Another scenario. You go looking for paralegal knowledge. And everybody you're competing with for a job are working on a Master's Degree. You're going to be at the bottom of the heap.

I would suggest right this minute is you just by the NALA study guide for the CLA test. It cost about $150.00. See what you think. Right now I think you will get far more knowledge - that you will retain - from the CLA book.

I think a paralegal degree will work against you. Those you're competing with, they will be working on a Master's - while you're chasing after a two-year degree.

Frankly, Chris, if you're still asking about a paralegal degree, that's kind of an indication you lack good thought processes. Looks like you can't evaluate something and move on. You sure don't want an employer to think that.

It makes it seem like you don't know what you want to be when you grow up. Finance guy? Paralegal? They are totally unrelated.

What legal knowledge do you think you will get related to finance?

I had one Business class with my paralegal cert (out of 20 or so classes) and we learned how to set up a business, make a corporate notebook, take minutes for a meeting, how to dissolve a business, the in's and out's of the Secretary of State, what a partnership is, an LLC, a PA, a corp, etc. different business structures. What happens when a partner dies, succession. And that's about it. It's not rocket science. Paralegals are support help. It's adminstrative. If you want a legal background that has some authority, go to law school.

chris in Miami, Florida said: I will receive a bachelors degree within a year in Finance. I want to obtain a
paralegal certificate and work in the field. I don't know much about the field or the job opportunities available. Are there job opportunities, and what would the salary look like? Also would going to a recognized school increase (drastically) my chances of a landing a decent positions? I have found two school NYU and Univeristy of Miami both are good but NYU is highly recognized and ABA approved, but the cost of NYU is about $20,000 vs. $5000 at UM.

Should I just find a finance related job or look into paralegal studies, and should I go to UM or would the extra $15,000 pay off?

Try UMass Online continuinged.uml.edu.
Reasonable, no car, concentrates on MA Law though. But I know of students even in other countries. UMass can let you matriculate into a Masters program too.

Yes, Paralegals are support help for attorneys. Brilliant summary. Perhaps Chris is not a power hungry monger and is just looking for a decent job that wont cause take 20 years off of his life from stress. Chris, if you check out what the finance paralegals are being paid in Manhattan (between $65-$115,000), I think that you may actually want to consider the route that you are looking into. The fact that you already have a degree in financing is exactly what they are looking for, and if you don't mind spending a year or two learning the ropes of the law office, you will be on your way to making a killing. No worries about spending more money. UM is a great school, and the education really comes in from the experience that you will obtain through your first few years of work. It is not a dead end job. Not all lawyers are a-holes. A steady paralegal job offers pay that is above the cost of living, great benefits, and at the end of the day, you leave free and clear with not a worry in your mind. My husband is an attorney, I am a paralegal. For a few thousand more a year, he has 10x more stress and I have found that in the end, if you are looking to lead a sane, happy, and normal life, get a job that pays well and one that you feel fulfilled in. Don't worry about the titles or the power or the MBA or the BAR. Do what makes you happy. Hope that helps :)

My husband is an attorney, I am a paralegal. Kat's experience is an exception.

However, there are some goods jobs out there - just don't expect that to be the norm because it is not.

Please read abovethelaw.com about the finance-related legal jobs that are being laid off - M&A's, restructuring, other finance-related gigs - going bye-bye.

In my neck of the words paralegals top out at $65,000-70,000 yet it's rare to see that, but when layoffs come those high earners are the ones getting laid off. Attorneys here start at $145-177,000 at the same firms that are paying paralegals $65-70,000.

I agree attorney jobs are 10x more stressful than paralegal jobs. I think that's one of the reasons attorneys are so tough to work for. Many take this stress out on their support staff.

Mary inTampa in Tampa, Florida said: My husband is an attorney, I am a paralegal. Kat's experience is an exception.

However, there are some goods jobs out there - just don't expect that to be the norm because it is not.

Yes, Kat's job description of paralegal is by far the EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. My last full time job was in a small real estate Xaction firm in OC. We had a paralegal there who gradated from college in '78 and had her real estate license since '87. She was once an executive for Southern CA Edison and a former salon owner. She worked part time and contracted her services to this firm for $60/hr ('05). She received no benefits - med, dental, 401K - whatsoever.

We had another paralegal who graduated USC in '81 and entered the legal industry immediately thereafter. She handled Articles of Inorporation, LLC's, etc. An associate told me she probably earned 6 figures. THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. What I do know is that the business-related paralegals seem to make more than the litigation paralegals. All of my paralegal friends were in litigation, and we (I was a legal sec) all made roughly the same money.

I think to get into a paralegal job with a six-figure salary is one of those things where you have to be in the right place at the right time and have a lot of luck.

I think to get into a paralegal job with a six-figure salary is one of those things where you have to be in the right place at the right time and have a lot of luck.

Either that - or have a lot of "The Devil Wears Prada" skills.

dh in Northern CA, California said: Yes, Kat's job description of paralegal is by far the EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. My last full time job was in a small real estate Xaction firm in OC. We had a paralegal there who gradated from college in '78 and had her real estate license since '87. She was once an executive for Southern CA Edison and a former salon owner. She worked part time and contracted her services to this firm for $60/hr ('05). She received no benefits - med, dental, 401K - whatsoever.

We had another paralegal who graduated USC in '81 and entered the legal industry immediately thereafter. She handled Articles of Inorporation, LLC's, etc. An associate told me she probably earned 6 figures. THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. What I do know is that the business-related paralegals seem to make more than the litigation paralegals. All of my paralegal friends were in litigation, and we (I was a legal sec) all made roughly the same money.

I think to get into a paralegal job with a six-figure salary is one of those things where you have to be in the right place at the right time and have a lot of luck.

And one more thing regarding my response above. The part timer enjoyed her work but was tired of it and considering something else. She told me a year ago she was leaving "this fall," but is still there.

The fulltimer from USC is burnt out and NOT happy but is stuck because, although married, SHE is the breadwinner in the family. She gave birth to two children later in life. So she's stuck with it for a while.

Mary inTampa in Tampa, Florida said: I think to get into a paralegal job with a six-figure salary is one of those things where you have to be in the right place at the right time and have a lot of luck.

Either that - or have a lot of "The Devil Wears Prada" skills.

Yeah, no kidding. Keep in mind this is Orange County, CA. I went to some money calculating website that calculates salaries by area. I can't remember the site but, according to that site (and if I recall correctly), 5% of paralegals in OC make $90K+. This was in '05. Probably less now.

chris in Miami, Florida said: I will receive a bachelors degree within a year in Finance. I want to obtain a
paralegal certificate and work in the field. I don't know much about the field or the job opportunities available. Are there job opportunities, and what would the salary look like? Also would going to a recognized school increase (drastically) my chances of a landing a decent positions? I have found two school NYU and Univeristy of Miami both are good but NYU is highly recognized and ABA approved, but the cost of NYU is about $20,000 vs. $5000 at UM.

Should I just find a finance related job or look into paralegal studies, and should I go to UM or would the extra $15,000 pay off?

UMass online offers full degree and certificate programs for less than 1000.00 per 3 credit course. I just got my certificate which can also be applied to my BA in Legal Science when I am finished.

Kat gets special treatment because she is married to one - she's in the IN CROUD. She likely has never been harassed and is treated like a kitten.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Could be. But I stand by my post to her, especially my rebuttal to her crack about leaving without worries at the end of the day.

I dated a powerhouse lit atty in LA for a while, then had a long time boyfriend, also an atty, in OC. Both men were very nice and treated me well. It did not make my job easier, however. I worked with neither one. The litigator's secretaries hated him, and they didn't stick around very long. He was definitely a different person around me. The other atty, a non-litigator, had one sec the entire time we were together.

I dated the litigator not too long after I'd entered the industry and hadn't experienced the nastiness yet. Had I had the bad experiences THEN started dating him, I would have quickly lost respect for him regardless of how well he treated me, once I found out what kind of guy he was at work because, by then, I would have known what it was like to be in his secretary's shoes.

AND I AGREE 100% WITH DLP'S COMMENTS ABOVE!!!!!! No, you can't say all attys are Aholes, but "I submit a significant number of attorneys are demanding, ungrateful, difficult, tyrannical individuals" applies to 95% of the attys out there.

chris in Miami, Florida said: Tuition is about $15,000 and living is about $5000.

Still too much money - the market is bad at this prsent time.

I worked as a paralegal in Miami from the year 1999 to year 2002.

dh in Northern CA, California said: My paralegal certificate from UCLA cost me $3000 plus about $500 for books in 2000. Even that was a rip because I never used the certificate. Paralegal jobs were starting at about $12/hour at the time - in LA!!!! I was making $14 so obviously I didn't do my research before making the decision. Paralegal actually had more potential then what I was doing at that time. So what I did was get a word processing job at a firm in Downtown LA that started at $18/hour.

The good news for you was that you started at the typical low pay to get your experience, you were soon being paid $60k. AND again- that is nothing to complain about, albeit the legal field in general has a lot to complain about.

Chris in Hollywood, Florida said: Suggestion very helpful...

Would the paralegal certificate (actually knowledge not certificate) help me get better or higher paying jobs in the finance or banking field? Would the certificate course supplement my knowledge and make me a all round more talented banker or finance manager?

Absolutely not- I would suggest that you get your job in finance first, then later assess if any addition courses in whatever would improve your career path. There is no career path as a paralegal- but of course we knew that when we siged up. Paralegals in large metropolitan areas will make $50-70k, after they pay their just dues.

Kat in Hollywood, Florida said: Yes, Paralegals are support help for attorneys. Brilliant summary. Perhaps Chris is not a power hungry monger and is just looking for a decent job that wont cause take 20 years off of his life from stress. Chris, if you check out what the finance paralegals are being paid in Manhattan (between $65-$115,000), I think that you may actually want to consider the route that you are looking into. ... :)

Sorry Kat- but I know your thinking is way off, especially in today's economic crisis.

I do not see your explanation of what one has to do in order to obtain that salary in Manhatten. To say your information has a missing link would be an understatement.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Could be. But I stand by my post to her, especially my rebuttal to her crack about leaving without worries at the end of the day.

Only if your husband is the boss.

dh in Northern CA, California said: .....

I dated the litigator not too long after I'd entered the industry and hadn't experienced the nastiness yet. Had I had the bad experiences THEN started dating him, I would have quickly lost respect for him regardless of how well he treated me, once I found out what kind of guy he was at work ...

That makes no sense at all. Yu are dating a man who makes a good income, legally as opposed to a drug dealer, he treats you well and you are going to make issue of how he earns his money, the money that allows him to take you on nice dates.

Displaced Legal Professional in Denver, Colorado said: Now that's a find and common sense suggestion - as opposed to obtaining a paralegal certificate first.

But I maintain that a paralegal certificate remains irrelevant to finance jobs. My choice still would be an MBA in Finance or whatever. With an MBA, one has a real chance to advance and make some money. Captains of industry have MBAs. Captains of industry don't have paralegal certificates. Colleen Barrett of Southwest Airlines is an exception. She is the only paralegal I know of who really advanced past legal assistant. She was Herb Kelleher's paralegal before he was running Southwest and got in on the ground floor.

Wow- do no know anything about Colleen Barrett, but I guess she acheived unusual success as a paralegal.

Although MBA's are what Captain's of Industry are degreed in- got to be careful in today's economy. Lots of newbe MBA's cannot find a job.

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: That makes no sense at all. Yu are dating a man who makes a good income, legally as opposed to a drug dealer, he treats you well and you are going to make issue of how he earns his money, the money that allows him to take you on nice dates.

It makes a lot of sense. I don't care how much money a guy makes, if he treats his employees like $hit, and I know that, it's a real turn off because I know what it's like to be in that employee's shoes. With the exception of managing small clothing stores in the mall, I've always held a job at the bottom of the totem pole and have been stepped on more times than I'd like to admit.

In the late 90's, I had a boyfriend who managed car dealerships. He made six figures easy, and yes, I ate at fine restaurants probably 3 nights a week or more. I didn't work at the time, and occasionally he would take me with him on his rounds, from dealership to dealership. I saw how he spoke to people - very condescendingly. He treated employees like children, looked down his nose at them, and called one manager stupid to his face. I got to know one of these guys and asked him, "Why do you take that from him?" I was told because he's a good leader. BS. The guy probably felt he had limited options, just like legal secretaries. My boyfriend's behavior was a huge turn off. It irritated me to the point that we would fight about it later. And this was BEFORE I experienced the legal industry. I am ashamed to say I as with this jerk for 3 years. Had I already had the legal experience, I'd have dumped him a lot sooner.

dh in Northern CA, California said:

It makes a lot of sense. I don't care how much money a guy makes, if he treats his employees like $hit, ..

THis goes to personal choice. As for me, what my boyfriend or husband has to do at work to make the money is a seperate issue. How he treats me is my real issue.

DIfferent strokes for different folks.

Mary inTampa in Tampa, Florida said: I think to get into a paralegal job with a six-figure salary is one of those things where you have to be in the right place at the right time and have a lot of luck.

Either that - or have a lot of "The Devil Wears Prada" skills.

Great comment Mary. "Luck" is a big factor in getting the good break, the good landing in any job. That is why they refer to people living in tent-city as "down on their luck" stories!

Paralegal in Dallas, Texas said:

It makes it seem like you don't know what you want to be when you grow up. Finance guy? Paralegal? They are totally unrelated.

What legal knowledge do you think you will get related to finance?..

Again, this paralegal has offered some practical sense thoughts to the newbe college graduate.

By the way- how is the job pressure going at your firm? Still working the 50 hour weeks or have you gotten a reprieve?

kmm in Wilmington, Delaware said: Again, this paralegal has offered some practical sense thoughts to the newbe college graduate.

By the way- how is the job pressure going at your firm? Still working the 50 hour weeks or have you gotten a reprieve?

Thanks for asking. The work load has died down for all paralegals in the firm. A couple are worried about getting laid off. My area is slightly down, not as much as the others, but I am only working 40 hours a week and billing much less. Billing hours are down for all.

The partners are acting weird. Distracted, unfriendly, short-tempered. They question all time off taken by staff, don't tolerate even the smallest mistake from staff, are unreasonably demanding.

Clients are settling cases much quicker. The companies we represent are insisting on it. We don't even get to the discovery phase of new cases which means no paralegal work. Clients are questioning every little thing on their legal invoices. "Why did you do that? Why did it take you so long to do that?" Other clients have taken away their work from the firm, so they can get it done with their in-house attorneys. And these companies teetering on the edge of bankruptcy? They have instructed that no work be done on their cases.

So, things aren't great overall. I am thinking every day about an exit strategy. If I got laid off tomorrow, it would be a good day.

The partners are acting weird. Distracted, unfriendly, short-tempered. They question all time off taken by staff, don't tolerate even the smallest mistake from staff, are unreasonably demanding.

That is not a good sign. When the partners are acting weird, that's a sign they are getting ready for changes.

Well, if there is a RIF I would be the one laid off, as I am the newest employee and I have heard they lay off the new people first when they have to let people go. Maybe I am romanticizing being laid off, but it sounds like a better way to live than what I have now. It's that bad.

Apparently, the legal job market is starting to improve, so says my recruiter this morning. I would be happy to take less money for a better quality job. I have worked for good, reasonable and decent attorneys. I know they are out there.

Maybe I am romanticizing being laid off, but it sounds like a better way to live than what I have now. It's that bad.

Of all the people not in law who read these forums, this is why we say things. Nobody should ever be in a job where the atmosphere is so bad, you end up making these comments like these. Working in the legal field is a whole different set of rules (there are none).

There is a movie called, The Secretary. It revolves around an AH attorney and a new secretary. It's worth watching.

One thing I am grateful for is my court reporting background. I paid for a writer and should have it in two weeks. I have been working on speed building for four months. I am close to RPR level.

Teacher Interview Days are June 9, 10, 11th. If I don't get a teaching job, then I'm going for a court reporting job wherever I can find one. I will put out my roomie and rent the house out or leave it empty.