Clerk and then move to a small firm? Talk to your Career Center and work alumni connections. Most recruiters like to place candidates w easy backgrounds that firms/companies will pay a premium for. That's not you, but that's ok. You need to keep applying, emphasize the responsibility you got as a para that was closer to atty. You cannot let this define you. Keep on applying!!! And I'm not minimizing that this is hard, but you need to find an alum who believes you got a quality education at your school and are worth hiring!
OMG I am, so sorry. How frustrating and narrow minded of people. IDK what you've been doing as a paralegal, but my suggestion to people is to start working in the claims department of an insurance company. Usually those are JD preferred jobs and can be parlayed to an associate position at an insurance law firm or a transfer into a lawyer role within the company. I know plenty of lawyers who did the claims route and then moved to legal after a couple of years. You can also try a compliance role? Maybe get a CIPP-E and get a privacy compliance role?
in another company with same promise to promote and train. Now I’m being told they will only hire people with law firm experience. Recruiters have told me they don’t know what to do with me. I have some practice experience (through work and pro bono volunteering) but I’ve been working in support roles since I graduated. How do I market myself? Is this a lost cause? I can’t get any traction and I’m afraid I will never have the opportunity to work as a practicing attorney. Hard to stomach.
Clerk and then move to a small firm? Talk to your Career Center and work alumni connections. Most recruiters like to place candidates w easy backgrounds that firms/companies will pay a premium for. That's not you, but that's ok. You need to keep applying, emphasize the responsibility you got as a para that was closer to atty. You cannot let this define you. Keep on applying!!! And I'm not minimizing that this is hard, but you need to find an alum who believes you got a quality education at your school and are worth hiring!
Thank you!
OMG I am, so sorry. How frustrating and narrow minded of people. IDK what you've been doing as a paralegal, but my suggestion to people is to start working in the claims department of an insurance company. Usually those are JD preferred jobs and can be parlayed to an associate position at an insurance law firm or a transfer into a lawyer role within the company. I know plenty of lawyers who did the claims route and then moved to legal after a couple of years. You can also try a compliance role? Maybe get a CIPP-E and get a privacy compliance role?
in another company with same promise to promote and train. Now I’m being told they will only hire people with law firm experience. Recruiters have told me they don’t know what to do with me. I have some practice experience (through work and pro bono volunteering) but I’ve been working in support roles since I graduated. How do I market myself? Is this a lost cause? I can’t get any traction and I’m afraid I will never have the opportunity to work as a practicing attorney. Hard to stomach.