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Wondering if legal tech is legit or all hype
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Extreme responsiveness and attention to detail. If you don't know, ask. If you are taught something, write it down, never forget it; get it right the next time. Remember that the relationship with the client (and other external parties) is sacrosanct; do not mess with that, tread lightly, be careful, ask questions. Do these things, and you will be extremely appreciated.
Network! If you meet a lawyer, chat about your career goals. I’ve found a lot of lawyers are happy to talk about law practice and they may know someone who needs help.
Or if your local community college has a paralegal program, that could be a good avenue to pursue as well.
Also see if the state or local bar association has any events where you can volunteer as a non-attorney. It would be a good way to meet people and it’s something to add to your resume.
Good luck with your job hunt! I hope you find a job that brings you joy!
Try to find good examples from your past that demonstrate responsiveness, strong attention to detail, and an ability and willingness to learn quickly that you can talk about in an interview. It’s all about selling your transferable skills.
Are you asking for how to land a job or what to do when you're there. I see a lot of people fail at the approach because they don't think about what firms are looking for. You have to seem the part. I've seen a lot of people be overly excited and positive and overly complimentary and none of that screams, I'm a competent professional who is ready to work with lawyers.
As for how to get your foot in the door, try to get informational interviews with people working in those roles. Ask them for 10-15 min call. People generally like to talk about themselves. Good if you have some commonality with the person you're reaching out to that you can mention (same hometown, same school, etc). Then use what you learn to get better at applying and talking to people in later interviews (and hope but don't ask them to refer you).
If you’re in a major market, you should look for search firms/placement agencies - many firms go to them to handle staffing.
I worked as a legal assistant for 17 years. 13 of those years were at the same firm. In those years I saw numerous receptionists transition into becoming a legal assistant. They received on the job training from myself and others. It can be done! If the receptionist was interested in becoming a legal assistant, we would give them filing to do along with reception so they could get familiar with pleadings. We did not hire a receptionist with the idea that they would transitioning into becoming legal assistant. However, if they expressed that they wanted to, and we had an entry-level position open we would definitely consider them. Keep in mind entry level pay is low. You can climb the ladder with yearly reviews and raises. Also, the legal field can be mentally exhausting with its deadlines and sometimes requires you to stay late. It can be fast paced, and it requires a lot of attention to detail, multitasking, reading and comprehending, and good typing skills. There is not time to micromanage so you should be able to prioritize your work without much prompting. Organization is also key to this position. There is a lot of calendaring due dates as you are there to assist the attorney and remind them of upcoming deadlines. The benefits are good as is the pay. When someone asks me about legal field I tell them that if you have a family, that it does not always afford people a good work life balance. So, keep that in mind. If I were you, I would reply to receptionist jobs at law firms, and during the interview ask if there may be room to eventually grow into a legal assistant position.
I was able to become a legal assistant with no experience! I applied to looooots of firms and constantly refreshed online job boards for new opportunities. Usually, smaller boutique firms are more willing to hire people with no experience. I recommend looking into small local firms in your area.
I also made sure that my resume reflected how my experiences translated to a legal setting. For example, I previously worked at a clothing store. On my resume, I focused on how my skills and responsibilities there would also work in a law firm—like answering the phone and fielding customer calls or handling numerous administrative tasks.
Are you interested in any legal experience? I would also consider looking into your local legal aid center. They may have open positions as well, and almost certainly volunteer opportunities (though obviously those wouldn’t be paid).
If you have any more questions, let me know! I’m currently in my final semester of law school and have loved this journey. You can also check out my profile and social media: @altheaincourt
When I was first looking for a job in the legal field as a legal assistant with no experience I applied for 400 jobs, heard back from about 10, landed interview with 3, landed the offer for one and it was a legal administrative assistant role below a legal assistant position and once getting that foot in the door showed my value and worked hard moving into a legal assistant role.
When you do apply market the skills you have from other positions that would be valuable in the legal assistant role as well and I also wrote a short cover outlining my skills and assets and how they would be beneficial to their team in that role.