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The right firm. I don’t know that it’s anything you’ve done or not done; but there are firms, and lawyers, who persist in believing that anyone without a law degree is incapable of contributing on the substantive legal front.
I have known two paralegals who became attorneys, and a third who graduated from law school and passed the bar but, because of her undergraduate degree as a librarian and her solid but middling grades (despite her Law Review credentials) couldn’t score better than an assistant law librarian position in a big firm. One of the two paralegals was described to me as incapable of writing a basic board resolution with any degree of competency, yet she became a good friend and is today the Chief Legal Officer of a firm with >10,000 employees. The second was a valued paralegal and, though after passing the bar she was viewed by the managing partner as a brilliant attorney (she was), ultimately found she needed to leave to get away from attorneys who were incapable of seeing her as anything other than a paralegal. The third found she needed to leave to be seen as anything other than a “failed” attorney, when her only challenge was lack of self-confidence. She would up as one of the valued staff members at the state legal library.
In the end, I think it depends less on your ability or contributions than on the ability of the attorneys in your firm to see past the nose on their face and their overweening ego to see your ability and contributions for the value you bring. And it’ll be difficult to find that in a large firm, which primarily recruits from the top schools and firms and whose recruits depend on that status to define their own self-worth. You’ll also probably find it difficult to be fiscally rewarded sufficiently for your contributions in a small firm, no matter how much the owner depends on you. I’d say your best bet is in a respected, solid regional firm (50-100 attorneys), where you can carve out your own niche and be respected for your contributions.
Or you could just go to law school and leave the odious idiots behind. Also will probably require a change in forms when you graduate, but you’d be far more likely to receive fiscal rewards equal to your possible contribution - assuming your own assessment of your ability and contributions is accurate.
Thank you so much for that. I have had many people tell me that some firms treat paralegals as second class citizens yet they depend on them immensely. Also, it's ironic that you mentioned law school. I had planned on gaining my bachelor's then moving on to law school but with my age (47), I am stressed that I will hold myself back. If I could just get a chance to prove that I have something to offer.
Again, thank you very much!!!
I am in the last semester of completing two associate degrees in the legal field (1 law, 1 paralegal studies). But I started as a receptionist at a law firm and worked my way up to legal assistant. I was lucky to work for a well known firm. I have since left and went on to work in wealth management. I have received law firm job interviews. Remember we are all in a similar boat. We are in an employers market. I would highly insist you MASS APPLY. Whatever you think is a lot, do that and then some. Find staffing agencies with offices in your area. I am not sure if you have worked any other jobs, references may be helpful. Teachers can also provide letters of reference if you have not worked. Be sure to add your extracurriculars, and certifications or honors earned. Tailor each resume and cover letter for that opportunity. I purchased /use the program Teal because I am moving out of state, back home and need to get a job ASAP. It helps you tailor your resume and cover letter. I use my own writing, versus their AI suggestions. But it also keeps track of the jobs for you (better than the word & excel docs I used to make). Also look into ATS friendly resumes. We are all struggling, keep at it.
Thank you so much for the help & I will definitely do what you said. I really appreciate you for taking the time to help. Best wishes & good luck with your job search when you get back home.
What school?
Purdue University Global (Legal Studies)