Paralegal Job Description?

I'm 28 and looking to start working full time in about 2 years (I'm currently a stay at home mom with two young children). I am not sure what I want to do, but am willing to go back to school. I currently have a bachelor's degree in psychology and am interested in the legal profession.

Could anybody tell me what a typical day is like as a paralegal? What types of hours are worked, and how flexible can they be? Also, how much vacation time would a paralegal typically have? I have considered teaching (my former profession) because I'd have summers available to spend with my children. However, I don't enjoy the job. Being a paralegal, are there opportunities for trading in vacation weeks in exchange for working only 4 day weeks in the summer, for example? Or are most firms strict on 8 to 6, 2 weeks vacation a year?

Thanks!

I graduated from Washington Online Learning Institute a couple of years ago and got a job as a litigation assistant in a prestigious Manhattan law firm. I found after a few months that I really needed time at home so they agreed that I can work two days a week from the house which is really helpful. I stretch my weekends out now and come in on Wed and Thursday only. I have Fridays off. This has really worked out well for me and my two kids.

Katie in Rehoboth, Massachusetts said: I'm 28 and looking to start working full time in about 2 years (I'm currently a stay at home mom with two young children). I am not sure what I want to do, but am willing to go back to school. I currently have a bachelor's degree in psychology and am interested in the legal profession.

Could anybody tell me what a typical day is like as a paralegal? What types of hours are worked, and how flexible can they be? Also, how much vacation time would a paralegal typically have? I have considered teaching (my former profession) because I'd have summers available to spend with my children. However, I don't enjoy the job. Being a paralegal, are there opportunities for trading in vacation weeks in exchange for working only 4 day weeks in the summer, for example? Or are most firms strict on 8 to 6, 2 weeks vacation a year?

Thanks!

I found the legal industry to be a very oppressive, tense, and hostile environment. Here is a link to another thread. Maybe you have already read it:

www.indeed.com/forum/job/paralegal/05390c183c137e1f77794104

While I have my paralegal certificate from UCLA, I've never used it. I spent most of my time as a legal wordprocessor/floater secretary while trying to figure out how to get out of the industry.

Here's another thread from a legal secretary forum. Legal secretaries and paralegals seem to have the same experience; so this would also apply.

www.indeed.com/forum/job/legal-secretary/05390c183c137e1f707d4501

You're very young. You have your whole life ahead of you. You could go far in life, especially since you already have a degree. As a paralegal and especially as a legal secretary, it's dead end. You can't get promoted anywhere. You are there to stroke your attorney and his clients, help them get rich; yet you will have very little to show for it, ever. Why do you want to enter law?

Katie in Rehoboth, Massachusetts said: I'm 28 and looking to start working full time in about 2 years (I'm currently a stay at home mom with two young children). I am not sure what I want to do, but am willing to go back to school. I currently have a bachelor's degree in psychology and am interested in the legal profession.

Could anybody tell me what a typical day is like as a paralegal? What types of hours are worked, and how flexible can they be? Also, how much vacation time would a paralegal typically have? I have considered teaching (my former profession) because I'd have summers available to spend with my children. However, I don't enjoy the job. Being a paralegal, are there opportunities for trading in vacation weeks in exchange for working only 4 day weeks in the summer, for example? Or are most firms strict on 8 to 6, 2 weeks vacation a year?

Thanks!

Oops. I pasted the same link twice - sorry.

Here's the other one on legal secretaries:

www.indeed.com/forum/job/legal-secretary/05390c183c137e1f707d4501.

Just google, "legal secretary forum" and all the threads are right there.

Good luck in whatever you chose. Sorry for not having anything positive to write. I know I've offended some people in the past.

BarbN said: You know how I got into paralegal? First I took the Introduction course at Washington Online Learning Institute, which is a 100% online school ( www.woli.com ). In that course they go over all the facts and figures about the paralegal profession and discuss in great detail what it is like to be a paralegal, the different kinds of jobs they have and so on. It was very informative and I liked it so much I stayed on and took the whole certificate program. Its a great school and I highly recommend it for someone like you who is a stay at home mom because you can go online 24/7 when it is convenient from your home.

SO, did you get a job as a paralegal? just curious. What was cost of program?

I'm interested as well. What happened.

Sorry, I did not see this forum for a while and all of a sudden I got an email with the most recent comments. To answer the questions, Yes, I got a job (yippee!) thanks to the hard work of the WOLI placement office. I am now working as a litigation assistant at a very nice Manhattan law firm, and while the job has some stresses it is by far the classiest job I have ever had and the highest paying as well. In our economic climate, I am so happy to have this job I have to say. From the bottom of my heart I am so grateful to the staff and professors at Washington Online Learning Instiute. I am so glad I went to WOLI becuase it has led to a real change in my life circumstances that I never dreamed possible.

That's good to hear. I'm in the process of attending an ABA approved Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies here in California. I plan to go to law school after getting my A.A. in Paralegal Studies.

It's good to hear that you've had a positive experience. Especially since I've read some many negative response here.

While, I won't ask you to reveal (unless you want to), your salary, I'd like to know what kind of experience, and qualifications your law firm asked of you when you were applying for the position?

I'm excited about starting the Paralegal program, and later going to law school. Any information you have is helpful. Since you are in the industry, your words are golden to me at this point. Alot of the discussion online is from people are are not in the industry any longer (the dropouts). I want information from people who have succeeded in this industry. I believe you can succeed in any industry if you want to.

Owe, and BTW. Thanks for the reply.

intelonetwo in Carmichael, California said: That's good to hear. I'm in the process of attending an ABA approved Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies here in California. I plan to go to law school after getting my A.A. in Paralegal Studies...

I want information from people who have succeeded in this industry. I believe you can succeed in any industry if you want to.

I'm addressing your comment, "...you can succeed in any industry if you want to."

That may be true; however, it depends on what your definition of "success" is. I came to this industry with a great attitude and ambitious ideas. I was a Criminology major at UC Irvine and wanted to be a criminal law paralegal. I didn't care who I worked for, whether it was a public defender, prosecutor, or sole practitioner in private practice. Criminal law fascinated me. Well, I found out the hard way that the legal industry is NOT a pleasant environment in which to work, to say the least. I dropped out of UCI but continued as a full time legal secretary while trying to decide what to do next. I knew staying in the industry wasn't an option for me. It's very hard to find a congenial atty who will appreciate your work and treat you fairly. At every firm at which I worked, I had nice coworkers who got along well; yet they hated their jobs and morale was bad. From what I hear from those with experience, that's the norm. I left the industry after 5 years. I could no longer stand it.

My own definition of success is to have a career that has a ladder of success to climb, one where my hard work can actually be rewarded with a promotion. I would also like to own my own home, even if it's just a small condo, and save enough for retirement that I won't be working well into my 70's. I personally, as a single person, would not have been able to accomplish this as a legal secretary or paralegal.

Since you are going on to law school, you will do well, no doubt. Good luck with whatever you do.

dh, thanks for the comments, and encouragement.

I've read your comments from above at the beginning of the thread. Your most recent comment is an echo of those previous comments. While I appreciate your intent in informing potential paralegal's of the rigor's of the industry, I've considered your side of the story. I'd like to hear other people's side of the story.

intelonetwo in Fair Oaks, California said: dh, thanks for the comments, and encouragement.

I've read your comments from above at the beginning of the thread. Your most recent comment is an echo of those previous comments. While I appreciate your intent in informing potential paralegal's of the rigor's of the industry, I've considered your side of the story. I'd like to hear other people's side of the story.

You're welcome. I think listening to several people's stories who have been there is a wise thing to do when making a decision. And, of course, it depends on what you want out of life.

Good luck.

Barbara N in New York, New York said: I graduated from Washington Online Learning Institute a couple of years ago and got a job as a litigation assistant in a prestigious Manhattan law firm. I found after a few months that I really needed time at home so they agreed that I can work two days a week from the house which is really helpful. I stretch my weekends out now and come in on Wed and Thursday only. I have Fridays off. This has really worked out well for me and my two kids.

I am also a stay at home mom and I am researching the paralegal field. Can you tell me what your days/nights are like with your work at home and children? Thanks-M

I have worked at a firm with some flexibility as far as hours. I worked 9:15 to 4:45 even though I was supposed to be working 40 hours a week. But with dropping off a kid at school and leaving in time to make afterschool care before they closed at 6:00 I had to work those hours. My boss at the time didn't care. I had 22 paid days off a year and then after 5 years I got 5 more days. (This is not counting holidays)

I now have a job where I have to be at work for 8.5 hours a day. Luckily my kid is a teenager now and can get himself home from school on his own. There is zero flexibility here. I get 16 paid days off a year, not counting holidays.

There are part-time jobs available in the legal field. The pay isn't any good. Part of the benefit of the legal field is the great benefits you get when you are full time - monthly profit sharing, 401(k) match, funded HSA's, for instance.

It's HARD to find that first legal job. Half my paralegal class never found one. (I went to a post-bachelor degree ABA approved program.) There is age discrimination in the legal field. Thers is even some discrimination towards parents. I never ever mention my child at work. Most attorneys have stay at home wives and the female attorneys are childless by choice or empty nesters.

You can get lucky and get hired by a totally reasonable attorney/firm though. It is possible, just not common.

To me - being a paralegal is a full-time job and then more. I'm lucky if I can work an 8:00 day. I have a general complaint about mothers who want to work a shorter day or work from home. As everyone knows, you never know how your day is going to be with respect to work load. Emergeny filings, research, projects, etc. come up all the day. Attorneys need help with these projects. When you are the only paralegal at your desk (which is my case) from 9:00-5:30, you have to pick-up the work that another paralegal whom is working at home and has shorter hours because of children could possibly help out with. Sorry if I sound bitter - but this has always been the situation for me. Being single, no kids, I work twice as hard as the paralegal who takes off for his/hers child recitial, days off cuz kids are sick, etc., etc.

loyalramfan in Los Angeles, California said: To me - being a paralegal is a full-time job and then more. I'm lucky if I can work an 8:00 day. I have a general complaint about mothers who want to work a shorter day or work from home. As everyone knows, you never know how your day is going to be with respect to work load. Emergeny filings, research, projects, etc. come up all the day. Attorneys need help with these projects. When you are the only paralegal at your desk (which is my case) from 9:00-5:30, you have to pick-up the work that another paralegal whom is working at home and has shorter hours because of children could possibly help out with. Sorry if I sound bitter - but this has always been the situation for me. Being single, no kids, I work twice as hard as the paralegal who takes off for his/hers child recitial, days off cuz kids are sick, etc., etc.

Yeah, I know non-parents are bitter towards the parents at work, just the same way as the non-smokers are bitter towards the smokers who always seem to be downstairs smoking. Same thing.

The guy is speaking from experience. I don't see anythinng wrong with that and I'm a parent. I don't believe its the parents fault however. Look, this is life and parents want to be involved with their childrens lives. You had parents who had to have left early at some point in their careers because of you.

The way I see it is, it's just life. Suck it up and drive on or be pissed at the world about things you can't change.

Paralegal in Dallas, Texas said: Yeah, I know non-parents are bitter towards the parents at work, just the same way as the non-smokers are bitter towards the smokers who always seem to be downstairs smoking. Same thing.

It depends on the person. I'm a smoker and I don't take a full hour lunch to make up smoke breaks or I stay an extra 1/2 to make up for the time or I look at it-that I don't spend time on the phone talkiing on the phone to the kids. Still think non-parents get the raw deal.

Yeah, teaching is a much more kid friendly job for a mom to have, Legal work doesn't stop in the summer.

dh in Northern CA, California said: Oops. I pasted the same link twice - sorry.

Here's the other one on legal secretaries:

www.indeed.com/forum/job/legal-secretary/05390c183c137e1f707d4501 .

Just google, "legal secretary forum" and all the threads are right there.

Good luck in whatever you chose. Sorry for not having anything positive to write. I know I've offended some people in the past.

What if your a freshman with a career paper do on being a paralegal and yuo cant find a thesis or a good college for you..??

what if you a freshman at tupelo high school and you have career paper due on being a paralegal and yuo cant find a thesis statement.. :(