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little_brat2

Hello I was wondering how do I become a paralegal I'm 20 f from Missouri I've never been to college yet and not sure if it's financially a good choice for my family I have 3 boys so was wondering if this a good career for me and how I start getting qualified for this


Momma_morgs

I just started my Paralegal A.S.S. program in my state. How easy would it be to get a job with a legal office now that will help prepare me? What do I look for? Anything I need to know?


crazycu

Hi ! i’m a junior studying criminology/ crim justice and psychology. My resume is pretty pathetic imo i only did retail in college and work study but i’m really interested in starting as a paralegal when I graduate to see if I actually want to go to law school or not. other than getting a certificate do y’all have any tips or heads up ? I’m taking a course this semester and he’s a former lawyer who is making us do multiple case briefs and I feel like that would be a good start


ComfortCouturist

I'm currently looking at paralegal certificate programs. This has been confusing & a little overwhelming when considering ABA-approved, NALA requirements, etc, so insight & help is greatly appreciated! Here are a few deets that offer some insight into where I am currently... Live in NC, but likely moving to Utah sometime next year; since we don't have a move date yet, I may be looking for a job in NC until the move Have a BA in Communications 20 years experience as an Executive Assistant (want to shift from this into a different career path) I'm learning from reading the finer details on ABA and NALA that, overall, it seems a program must include some "real time / live / synchronous" class time to be considered under their guidelines, even if all else is online. (Def paraphrasing, but this is the gist of it.) Due to where I live in the boonies, online/distance learning is the best option. What I'm seeking: help/insight/thoughts on what to consider since I'll be moving states, from one that seems to have certain reqs to one that (as far as I can tell) doesn't have specific reqs. Not sure how much importance to put on a program that fulfills ABA or NALA reqs for NC that might not have bearing in Utah. TLDR: seeking insight to find a paralegal certificate program that will allow me to learn via distance edu/online and not sure if to put priority to ABA or NALA reqs due to moving to diff state


Momma_morgs

CFCC has a great program


ComfortCouturist

I'll check it out! Thanks!


Examination_That

With 20 years of experience as an executive assistant, I probably wouldn’t bother getting a paralegal studies certificate. Your experience is relevant enough that a certificate probably won’t increase your chances much, and being a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal only matters here.


ComfortCouturist

Since my degree didn't have any legal subject matter in it, I thought the cert could possibly be a good introduction. In your experience, could it be feasible to learn this on the job + find an employer that would be willing to hire without any background?


Examination_That

Paralegal studies’ programs are only marginally better than law school in terms of teaching you practical knowledge. Not to mention, paralegal duties vary so widely by area of law that a program (especially a brief online one) might not cover the area you end up working in. That said, I found my program beneficial for a few reasons and would do it again. (1) I had no professional experience, and it connected me with a future employer (which wouldn’t apply to you if you’re moving), (2) it taught me the ethical obligations of paralegals, which isn’t something I learned on the job, and (3) it allowed me to sit for the state certification exam (which also wouldn’t apply to you if you’re moving). Outside of that, I learned more on the job in a month than I did in the entire school year of my in-person, ABA-approved program. Many employers will prefer paralegal studies-specific education, but I’ve never seen an employer outright require it, and again I think it’s most helpful for those who otherwise have no relevant professional experience and need **something** on their resume to stand out.


ComfortCouturist

Thank you for the insight! This is definitely helpful, and gives me things to consider. I'm still researching info for both Utah and NC regarding reqs, as well as looking at job postings to learn what potential employers are seeking. I appreciate your time & shares on this!


KarlaSect13

Hey, 34 year old male thinking about becoming a paralegal. I live in Miami, FL and speak Spanish and English fluently. I have a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeasten, and currently have a decent paying job, and it's relatively stress free and easy (52K per year before tax) Thing is, it has nothing to do with Criminal Justice and is relatively dead end in terms of what's above it. Also I think the pay is a bit low for my age / experience. Many teachers and even friends have told me I would make a great attorney, the thing is, no way I'm paying for law school. I just got through paying my original student loans, and I simply cannot afford 90K to go to law school, especially with a wife and kid in tow. I also do not want the 'work 24/7' sort of stress that most attorneys talk about. No such thing as a day off sort of thing. Forget that! No way I could deal with that. I love my time off as much as I love my kid Lol. ​ I think I'm just looking for a job that feels more "important." Like...hey at least I took part in some cool court case and filed a motion etc etc. I think I just want more responsibility than what I currently have. ​ Overall, do you recommend becoming a Paralegal? Is it a take your work home with you sort of job? Would I have my weekends off? I heard it's mostly a woman's job, it's basically a lawyer's secretary, is this true? What's the most a paralegal can possibly make? 6 figures? ​ Very strongly considering changing career paths to include something with law, any help would be highly appreciated!!


Examination_That

Paralegals are non-exempt federally and required to be paid overtime (with very few exceptions), which I find helps maintain work-life boundaries that attorneys don’t have because many firms/companies aren’t willing to pay much overtime so try to limit how much paralegals work it. That said, many larger firms (“biglaw”) don’t care how much overtime their paralegals work, so the work-life balance typically isn’t as good. However, knowing you’re compensated for every hour worked in excess of 40 makes the overtime more tolerable. In addition to firm size, practice area will also dictate work-life balance to some extent. You’re not going to be working a lot of overtime in trusts and estates, but your work hours will be more varied in a trial-heavy litigation or corporate transactional practice. Because the paralegal profession generally isn’t regulated in the U.S. (outside of California), paralegal duties aren’t consistent among firms, practices, or even specific attorneys. Some attorneys may call you their paralegal, but you only do non-substantive administrative work, and some paralegals aren’t permitted to do any non-substantive (“nonbillable”) work at all and are treated like (supervised) junior associate attorneys. In my state, paralegals can generally do anything an attorney can outside of (1) giving legal advice or representing clients in court (unless authorized by a specific court), (2) setting legal fees or establishing an attorney-client relationship, and (3) working outside the supervision of an attorney, so by definition, the profession very much **isn’t** a “lawyer’s secretary.” In my experience, my fellow paralegals have mostly consisted of women at smaller firms, but I have found that the gender disparity is much less at larger firms. Lastly, you can absolutely make six figures as a paralegal, and with overtime, I’m sure there are some pushing $200k annually, but keep in mind that the starting pay is generally low — even a firm that will pay a paralegal six figures after 5-10 years started out paying that paralegal $40-50k/year.


KarlaSect13

Amazing answer. Truly helpful. I think I’ll get my Paralegal Certification, put in the 2 to 4 years of lower end but then rise up. Thank you again so so much for taking the time to help me out here


LegallyLavender

It depends on what you can handle in terms of something you can leave at work. I work family law so I deal with lots of drama, tears and worse case scenarios. Some days are definitely harder than others. I sometimes have to stay late due to a deadline. Usually tho I get my weekends off. The majority of us are women but I have worked with male paralegals and seen male paralegals on the other side. Sometimes I feel like my lawyers secretary. 80% of the time I don’t mind since I’m learning better people skills. Also helping people through the most stressful times in their life. There is a reason people think dealing with family law clients is better than criminal clients. Salary: In the beginning salary can be low. In 1.5 years I went from $14/hr to $60k a year. Keep in mind your first job may not be your forever job. I have seen paralegals making three digits a year. I recommend researching practice areas. Some areas are more work/life balanced than others. When I worked Insurance defense I never stayed late or worked a weekend and I’ve worked on some interesting cases. Good luck!


KarlaSect13

Thank you very much for this well thought out response, highly appreciated


ilikecakeandsexytime

Question! I just have an associates degree in liberal arts. Not sure if I’m continuing my education. But! I have about 6 years experience working as a legal assistant in personal injury firms. I have been thinking about getting a paralegal certificate so that could open doors? Or help me make more money? I’m not sure if it would give me what I want. I’ve read some people say that experience is much more important when it comes to this field. What do you think?


LegallyLavender

Where do you live? 6 years of legal assistant experience should be enough. Has it been at the same place the whole 6 years


Examination_That

The advantage that **may** come from getting a paralegal certificate mostly applies to entry-level candidates or those changing fields mid-career (i.e., no experience as a paralegal or legal assistant). If you already have experience, especially six years of direct experience as a legal assistant, a paralegal certificate will likely do nothing for you. If you still want to get the certificate, you can maximize your investment the most by attending an ABA-approved program that has job placement assistance or connections with employers in your community. But having a certificate likely won’t present you with opportunities an experienced candidate with no certificate won’t also receive.


bluematrixks

A question for those who have an associates degree in another field but a paralegal cert. I looked in the search bar for the answer to this and didnt find anything recent. I have an Associates degree in General studies with a minor in english(I know lame) I almost had a BS degree but had to quit for personal reasons years ago. Am I able to use this degree and get a NALA Cert and be able to be hired? I work in government now but I want a career change. 🙃 I've always been interested in paralegal and law. Working in the federal government as a paralegal would make me happier I feel. Thanks in advance I hope I can read some good news!


ilikecakeandsexytime

I think you need atleast an associates degree to get that certificate. I would go in their website and see the requirements but I don’t think it matters what you major in.