How can one switch into a different practice without the direct and relevant experience AND without a pay cut?

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I was a senior paralegal at an Am 100 firm for 14 years that had just about every practice group you could imagine. I started out in Bankruptcy and Restructuring (creditors rights), but by the time I left, I worked across about 6 different practice groups for several key shareholders. I did that by emailing other practice group leaders anytime I could find a rare few free minutes, and asked if they needed any help. They would give me work to do (which actually created OT for me because I was always busy), and even if I had no clue how to do what they were asking, I figured it out by doing as much research as I could and tried to ask very few questions. I’m not saying that’s what you should do, but by making myself available and basically teaching myself about the other practices, they continued to give me more work and by the time I left, I had knowledge and experience across several different groups. I used that knowledge and experience to leverage an in-house position as a Director of Compliance. Now I make more money, work fewer hours and no more billable hours!

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I would say that was my path as well. I started out at a creditors rights firm with an amazing attorney mentor who told me when I learned enough to leave. I then worked for the state for a few years doing family law then headed in house to a major bank which has all different kinds of law including legal operations. I did that for 10 years and parlayed myself into a Compliance role making well into the six figure range. Compliance and Risk are the wave of the future for in house legal professionals if you want to make money and have stability.

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I started as PI/auto PIP/UM UIM and hated it. Took me about 10 years to get out of it. Once you are in a certain practice, you kind of get pidgeon-holed. I’m in Municipal now at a pay cut but it’s well worth it. Good luck to you! Just keep trying!

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Good question I’m transitioning but taking a cut. I’m not sure I will be staying long

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