Law Clerk/Paralegal

Lady Pi Phi · #1 11-17-2003, 08:13 AM

Is anyone here a law clerk/paralegal?
I'm interested in becoming one, but I'm just curious on what the job is like. Do you work ridiculous hours? Is the pay decent? Would I be better off applying to law school?

Thanks.

ThetaGrrl · #2 11-17-2003, 04:19 PM

I clerked throughout college.

The pay depends on where you are working. As a student, I was making two dollars more than a clerk I knew from another firm who had graduated and worked there for several years. I have a feeling this has to do with the reputation of the firm also, but I could be way off on that.

I'd recommend clerking for a while, and then later deciding if you want to go to paralegal or law school. It'll give you a good idea of whether or not you like law. Also, there are so many different kinds of law out there... I was lucky in that I worked for about five different areas which were all represented in my firm, so I got a good idea of what I would/wouldn't be interested in.

I work at a real estate agency now- law just wasn't for me... at least not now.

Lady Pi Phi · #3 11-19-2003, 11:09 AM

So I am looking at programs for Law Clerk/Paralegal. I'm mostly interested in the college diploma programs (2 years). However, I cam accross at few programs at thos career colleges which are usually shorter. I found 2 programs. One for 24 weeks and another for 52 weeks.
I'm just wonder how potential employers look at those programs as opposed to the shoter programs. Do they see the 2 year diploma graduates as having more qualifications that those that graduate in less time from a career college?

WCUgirl · #4 11-19-2003, 12:17 PM

I'm a paralegal...and I'll be going to law school in a few years (after I've paid off some of my undergrad & grad school loans and hubby and I can survive without my salary).

What was your undergraduate major? I majored in Business Admin. & Law, so I knew that law school was my chosen path. However, I chose to not go straight to law school and work for a while (I was tired of being broke all the time and I needed a break). I found my present job as a paralegal, and I love it!!! My business law major gave me a pretty solid foundation of paralegal knowledge. I thought about paralegal school (a similar program to what you've described) but it would have been a waste of my time and money.

Depending on what your major/degree was in, I wouldn't recommend going to paralegal school. Especially if you're going to eventually go on to law school. If you have absolutely NO knowledge of the law, then yeah, go to school, but you'll have to work as a paralegal for a while to make it worthwhile to have gone through that program, and that could be 4 or 5 or more years....is that too long to wait to go to law school?

I don't think employers care what kind of program you go to, really, as long as it's accredited!!!

The thing is that whether or not you go to paralegal school, you'll be trained by your employer in their way of doing things. My sorority little sister is also a paralegal, but she's a worker's comp paralegal, and all she does all day is file forms and contact insurance companies. She hates it!!! I am an affirmative action paralegal, so I analyze data, put together affirmative action plans, employment policies, employment agreements, etc., so I have a lot more freedom in what I do.

You might look into starting out as a legal secretary or legal assistant (a legal assistant is pretty much the same thing as a paralegal, really), and that way you'll get more training and have a better background before becoming a paralegal. Also, the company is more likely to pay you more if you promote to paralegal than if you were hired as a paralegal with no experience.

Lady Pi Phi · #5 11-19-2003, 12:32 PM

I haven't graduated yet. I'm taking some time off from school so i'm working right now. However my undergrad degree is in general arts. Meaning, I have no major. I kept switiching because I didn't know what I wanted to do so I'm taking a little of everything. However, most of my credits are politics courses. I want to take some criminal justice courses (which at my school are with the sociology department).
4 or 5 year to wait to go to law school, isn't really a problem for me because I was planning on going to law school in England (because I don't have to write the LSATS or an equivilent). I'll need that time to save up money to pay for it, no matter where I choose to go to law school.
How do I find out whether a program is accredited or not?

AlphaGam1019 · #6 11-19-2003, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
How do I find out whether a program is accredited or not?

shouldn't it say on their webpage?

WCUgirl · #7 11-19-2003, 12:52 PM

Well, first you should look at the program's website or information packet they sent you. It will say on there whether it is accredited or not. If it doesn't say, then you can call and ask.

I would recommend attending an ABA approved program. Check out this website http://www.paralegalcolleges.com/ for a listing of ABA approved paralegal schools. Just do a little more research into the subject, and you should find the answers you're looking for.

Another point to ponder is whether you want to become a certified paralegal - it's easier to become certified if you attend a program. Check out these websites for more info:

http://www.nala.org/
http://www.paralegals.org/

There might be a paralegal association for your state that will have a listing of all the schools in your state/area that you could contact.

Also, I would call some law offices and ask to speak to the hiring partner or the HR Manager - you might find someone who will be able to give you advice on what type of educational programs they're looking for. This would best serve you if you contacted firms or companies that were situated the closest with the type of firm you are looking to work for (i.e. small firm, large firm, real estate firm, criminal law firm, etc.).

Feel free to PM me if you need any more help or you come across information on a program you need a second opinion on.

Rudey · #8 11-19-2003, 01:17 PM

I have a few friends that went to be paralegals at Skadden and Cravath before applying to law school. They worked a ton of hours and made good money so they could pay for their education on their own. I don't know if it shows you're more dedicated to law or if it gives you an advantage if you apply to those firms after law school. Also they said most people there doing the paralegal thing for a year or two got the job through family connections because it's not rocket science.

-Rudey

WCUgirl · #9 11-19-2003, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
Also they said most people there doing the paralegal thing for a year or two got the job through family connections because it's not rocket science.

Haha! No, it's not rocket science. It just depends on what type of work you do and what type of firm you work for. Like I said, I have a friend who is a worker's comp paralegal and she just fills out forms all day, pretty much. VERY boring.

Most firms, as with most employers, are going to train you the way they want you trained anyways, so you really don't need a degree in law or paralegal training or whatever. The thing is, and especially with this economy, if you don't have experience, it's hard to get a job. And if you don't have any experience, education is going to be the next thing that helps you get the J-O-B.

Lady Pi Phi · #10 11-19-2003, 01:39 PM

It appears that the career colleges I was looking at are registered with the Ontario ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, so they are accredited.
I have no knowledge of law but it is something that interestes me and I would like to learn about it.
Since I am in Canada I'm almost positive Law Clerk/Paralegal are now the same thing, just different names.
One of the programs I'm looking at have a workplacement program. 4 days a week with a firm and one day of class in your last semester.
Right now I'm interested in Family Law or Criminal Law( but once I get going that could change)

WCUgirl · #11 11-19-2003, 01:56 PM

I'm sorry - I wasn't even paying any attention to your location...I guess that the ABA wouldn't apply to you then, now would it?

But still, I would recommend going to an accredited program, or something linked to whatever the governing legal body is in Canada.

rho4life · #12 11-19-2003, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AXiD670

You might look into starting out as a legal secretary or legal assistant (a legal assistant is pretty much the same thing as a paralegal, really), and that way you'll get more training and have a better background before becoming a paralegal. Also, the company is more likely to pay you more if you promote to paralegal than if you were hired as a paralegal with no experience.

Watch out, b/c at some firms there are no "secretaries". The people who perform the traditional secretarial functions are called legal assistants [ some people think it's more politically correct].

I would echo the advice that being a paralegal at different places can be vastly different. Some firms use their paralegals as psuedo lawyers, who do EVERYTHING but sign pleadings. Others just use them for repetitive tasks that the lawyers don't want to do.

Good Luck!

#13 01-18-2004, 10:38 PM

I find this thread rather interesting since i am a paralegal. I have been temping here and there ,and everywhere i go they really look for ABA approved schooling. Overall though they really will train you the way they work and function in the office. Mind you Legal writing and CCPs and any and all research will normally be the same but the office day to day functions will be from their own training and not from a classroom.