Considering PF/ Paralegal (any advice?)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Racewalker, Jan 7, 2009.

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  1. Racewalker

    Racewalker New Member

    Hello, I recently finished my MBA. Thanks to my high-strung nature (and OCD) I need to stay busy or I lose my mind. I am currently looking at a back-up career in the event I get hurt at my current job. I was considering going to Penn Foster and taking the paralegal course. If nothing else it's good to have a better understanding of the law, yes? I'd love to go to Law school but I don't have 45-85 grand laying around.

    I've heard a lot of paralegal's talk about the negative environment (and abuse.)

    Is this a mistake? I'm open to all suggestions. Thanks!
     
  2. workingmom

    workingmom New Member

    I have experience in the paralegal department, was a litigation paralegal for about 10 years. If this is a good career depends largely on geography, bigger cities of course have more opportunity.

    There are a few groups on yahoo, ParalegalGateway and paralegals that you can join and see current posts from paralegals, ask questions, etc. From what I see the job market is VERY hard right now. In fact I've seen many posts where paralegals in school can't even land an internship (working for free).

    I personally think this is an over-saturated field. When I first got in it wasn't so bad. But every trade school and community college, and even university in this nation it seems is churning out paralegals. And unless you find the few very special employers it's a lot more like a glorified secretary than a mini attorney. Despite the interesting legal research and writing classes you take earning your paralegal degree.

    In fact in my current (god forbid if permanent though) locale many legal secretaries make more than the paralegals.

    Feel free to PM for more details or if I can help in any way.

    I can't fault the entire career though as it was through it I spent so many years reviewing and analyzing medical records and discovered I have an interest in health :)
     
  3. lovetheduns

    lovetheduns New Member


    Hi Racewalker-- I have a friend who went back to school for a paralegal degree after finishing a Bachelors in Education-- she found she hated being a teacher.

    She LOVES being a paralegal. She works in a small Family Law office and she gets a HUGE amount of respect from her lawyers. In fact, I would have to say she wears the pants in that law office. *LOL*

    She makes pretty decent money too! Her bonuses are pretty generous. She did interview at another law office which was larger when one of her attorneys moved on-- and she hated it. She said the paralegals there were definitely treated more like secretaries than paralegals. So I guess it definitely depends on the law office.
     

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