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Do small law firms have paralegal managers?
Mentor
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I think both qualifies you as a paralegal. A piece of paper can call you a paralegal but with no experience, you’re most likely not to get hired. I had the experience before I got my paralegal certification.
Let me tell you all something, I went from a criminal law, versitle(meaning a little bit of everything ,which by the way, is the worst kind of firm to operate) to law firm to a family law firm. I thought I knew something, boy, did I learn real quick and embarrassingly I knew nothing! My attorney trained and still training me, on all family law. If it were not for grace, mercy, and forebearance I would NOT be where I am today. The attorney was merciful and so is the LORD GOD. I do not know where I would be today if it were for this attorney and the LORD. Honestly. Very humbling experience and lesson to learn.This attorney beats all attorneys I have ever met in my entire life. One of a kind and I believe there is not another like this attorney. The best of the best and not only does the paralegals know it so do our clients. God made this one special. So to get to the point; I believe should be required but not a Bachelor’s degree. But if a persons plans on growing in the company yeah, better get two or maybe three and a JD and pass the Bar.
This job is 100% experience, *period.* I am at the top of my field because I worked hard in a variety of different practice areas, in a variety of different lawfirms, grinded into my mid 30s, and did whatever needed to be done. Through that hard work, you learn. There is NO degree that is comparable to this. That is why a senior paralegal is more valuable than a first, second, and sometimes third year associate. Especially in big law where junior associates don’t always get experience right away. You do not need a degree for this at all, IMO, not even a bachelor’s. You just need to be smart and hard working. No amount of school teaches you what to do in this job or how to handle the pressure.
I have always thought that anyone with a brain and a work ethic can be a good paralegal. I currently work with someone with no college degree and no paralegal school, but she is one of the best paralegals I have worked with in 30+ years.
Coach
I don’t think classroom experience is necessary for this title, outside of understanding how to draft letters, proofreading, etc.
Not to say having classroom experience isn’t helpful by any-means - someone with classroom experience may find a writing heavy position a lot easier than someone without it - but I genuinely do believe that on the job training can qualify you as a paralegal as it’s easier to take somebody who is completely new to the field to mold them into what you need them to be rather than someone with classroom experience as some education is outdated and/or practice area specific.
i have a degree in paralegal studies. I interned at various law firms while in school. I now have 22yrs of experience. Back then, you do not get called a Paralegal unless you have the degree/certificate. Otherwise, they title you as Legal Assistant or Secretary.
10 years later, I worked at law firm where the ones with the paralegal title had the paralegal degree/certificate and some were NALA certified. The ones that did not have the paralegal degree/certificate, were titled as Practice Area Assistants.
I also worked with other paralegals where the attorney just gave them the title. Since everyone that worked with said atty had quit. The last person left was the receptionist and a billing person, both got promoted with the title paralegal.
I believe training is very important (along with common sense). Some firms, will not spend the time to train you on specialized fields. But I am now seeing a shift, firms would rather for you to have a college degree, forgoing the training and within 3 years you're a paralegal. So I'm torn now too. I definitely feel for the older paralegals.
Mentor
I’ve been a paralegal for 20 years, got in through blood sweat and tears. I was successful and made big law, but went back to school because a degree has become more and more of a requirement and it helps open doors. I can tell you that while experience is priceless, I’m a better paralegal post-degree. A big chunk of it is on the job training, but my education filled some gaps and made me a more well-rounded paralegal. Anyone who tells you education doesn’t matter at all is wrong. Both are valuable and without a degree you will be limited and that will be more and more common in the future. Can you be successful without it? Sure, but you won’t be as good as you could be, and your opportunities for higher paying jobs will be limited.
Both - my education in paralegal work better prepared me to understand the law and trained me in research and critical thinking. However, the law will always be a practice. On my first day as a paralegal, I was asked to prepare some subpoenas. I knew what that was supposed to mean and even what local rule that process would fall under, but I had no idea how to complete that task. I had a wonderful mentor who taught me on the job how to apply everything I had learned in school.
Same thing happens every year with new associates!
FYI I work in a state where a degree isn't required to have the title "Paralegal."
Class experience is not necessary but helpful.
There are some states such as California that have statutory requirements on who can be called a paralegal. With that said, having been a paralegal for 10+ years myself, with both a Bachelors and a paralegal certificate, I think this job is heavily experienced base. So in reality, I think real experience wins over a piece of paper.
I had a guy come over from business development (marketing) and literally get a paralegal job title with no training, so yes.
Not necessarily. In some states, you cannot add "paralegal" to your title unless you have graduated from a state approved program. Also, some attorneys do not mind if you call yourself a para so you can bill your time and your boss can charge the clients more money, even if you are an inexperienced "paralegal". Also, to call yourself a paralegal, you must be aware of ethics laws. The title might sound great, but besides working 20 years for a law firm, there is a lot more to it. Personally, I have trouble with para's wanting to add "senior" in front of paralegal for their title. I have 40 years of working as a paralegal but would never think to call myself a senior paralegal. Then again, I over 55, so that does make me senior lol. Check the bar rules before adding paralegal to your title. You don't want to get your firm into trouble.
Coach
I agree with most of your post - people definitely do need to look at their state requirements for paralegals (ie California) but the responsibility also falls on the firm to properly educate staff so they don’t run afoul of rules of the court, etc.
I don’t think it’s just paralegals and attorneys that need to be aware of ethics laws - I believe everyone in a firm should know them, from the secretary to the managing partner, as it’s the support staff that can possibly find the start of ethics issues before attorneys can.
Senior paralegal differentiates on experience. I was given the title of senior by my firm because I have over a decade of experience doing this - I didn’t personally add it on. I personally don’t think somebody should add it on either but to each their own as long as they have the experience to back it up.
To me, being a senior paralegal means that not only do you have a solid foundation of what your role is, you also have skills to instruct others (be it support staff or even junior associates) and you have demonstrated the capabilities for more responsibility than a legal assistant or secretary.
(By no means am I discounting the work that they do because scheduling things, interacting with clients, getting documents, etc., is incredibly important and incredibly time-consuming.)
Experience!!!!
I feel you should have a degree to offically call yourself a paralegal. B/c even if you work and get the experience, you still dont have all the knowledge that is taught in school. I got my degree in
California where in order to officially call your self a "paralegal" your suppose to meet the California law for being a Paralegal (§6450) eventhought it say " or" I still think a person should go to school. I wouldn't hire an atty who doesn't have a degree , I don't care how much experience they have.
It outlines specific requirements for paralegals. Here's a summary:
* Supervision: Paralegals must work under the supervision of an active member of the State Bar of California or attorneys practicing in federal courts of California. [Business and Professions Code §6451]
* Education and experience: While there's no mandatory licensing requirement, paralegals must meet specific educational or experience qualifications. [Business and Professions Code §6450(c)]
* Continuing education: Paralegals must complete mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) every two years. This includes four hours of general law or a specialized area of law, and four hours of legal ethics. [Business and Professions Code §6450(d)]