Any Paralegals here?? Can you tell me about your job?

[leahannpen]

I'm just wondering how long you had to go to school, was it really expensive, do you enjoy it, and are there different branches of a paralegal? What do you do, exactly?

I guess I'm thinking of a complete career change and this sounded interesting. My cousin does this, but I don't get much of a chance to talk to her.

Thank you!

 

[tinaluis]

I'm a paralegal here in Chicago and I've been in my current job for 16 years. I got a Paralegal Certificate from Roosevelt University but that was 16 years ago and I understand alot about their program has changed, especially the cost. When I attended it was about $3,400. I work for a sole practitioner who specializes in personal injury, medical malpractice and torts. I love my job and my boss -- we're very good friends. Because I work in a small office, I basically do everything that my boss doesn't -- manage the office, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, typing, etc. I'm sure someone in a larger firm would concentrate on a specific area, perhaps trial preparation or discovery. I do a lot more than another paralegal might because I'm in a small office, but I also have alot of leeway in vacation time, flex time, personal time, etc. It's a trade-off but one that I'm very happy with. Feel free to PM me if you want and good luck with the career change if you decide to make it!

 

[Princess_Aurora]

If you want something real challenging in the legal field, go into court reporting

I've dealt with a few paralegals...while going through court reporting school and while working. The ones I encountered in court reporting school ended up hating their job but love the field and that's why they went into court reporting. Others that I have talked to love their jobs. I think it all depends on where you end up working...a bad boss seems to be able to ruin your whole career.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Tinaluis, it sounds like our jobs are virtually identical. I've only worked with my supervising attorney for a year, but your list of duties sounds similar to mine. It is just she and I, so there is a lot of non-paralegal work I also do at the office. We do personal injury and social security disability in our office. We've also become very good friends, and I can't imagine working for anyone else.

leah, there are many different fields a paralegal can work in, but no matter which area of law you end up in, the skill that is most important is the ability to write well. I simply can't stress that enough.

Schooling is helpful in terms of guiding you to the area of law that most interests you as well as giving you a foot in the door when looking for a position, but I would have to say overall that I didn't really learn anything from my certification program that has been applicable to my position--other than that the better my papers were written, the better grade I received--but that's true for any field of study.

I should also mention that I already had my BS in English Literature and Writing before I entered the paralegal program.

 

[popeyeohoh]

Can you tell me if many males go into this field. My nephew seems interested in possible pursuing this field. thanks

 

[dturner]

I'm a Paralegal to two Intellectual Property ("IP") (Patents and Trademarks) attorneys. One thing I would like to tell anyone interested in the legal field, pick what area you want to be in, i.e. family law, litigation, IP, corporate.

I started out working in corporate law at a large corporation, after a couple of years I was transferred into the IP department where I got all of my experience. I worked in the corporate field for 2 years then went to work at a large law firm in IP, after two years my boss left to open his own IP law firm and I went with him. We are a small office now and I do everything the two attorneys don't do (i.e. paralegal, office manager, payroll, IP prosecution, bills, receivables, etc.).

I've been in this field for a little over 10 years now, love it. I would never ever work in litigation (too much overtime and no personal life). The IP field is more 9 to 5 than any other legal field in my opinion.

 

[dturner]

Originally posted by popeyeohoh
Can you tell me if many males go into this field. My nephew seems interested in possible pursuing this field. thanks

Yes, I have worked with male Paralegals.

 

[elemusing]

Feel free not to answer if this offends you, but how much salary does a PL make per year?

 

[leahannpen]

Excellent information so far...thank you. Please keep it coming.

Are there any good web sites I could look at that may explain what the different branches and fields are? And do you know how long the course would be if I decided to take this course in school...a working adult school, as I work full time.

Thanks again!