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| What can you tell me about this career? Pros/cons? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1117
Location: MI | I don't know too much personally but my best friend got a job pretty quick out of college in that field. She works for the county prosecutor's office. I do know she loves her job, but has also said that it is slightly monotonous (a lot of typing up reports). She said she also has to see/type some pretty gruesome/troubling things. But - job security.. because as crappy as it is, there will always be crime and a need for someone to process reports and do what she does. Also a career that can be found anywhere so that's a plus. |
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| Thanks. Anyone else? |
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Veteran
Posts: 147
| Legal secretary for 25 years civil defense. Good money and I was fortunate to always work for good attorneys. |
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 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
 
Location: That part of Texas | Get ready to work for some of the worst bosses known to mankind, do it for long hours and put up with some clients who you will want to kill. It's not for the faint of heart. Good side is that it's never truly boring, you'll learn a lot of stuff that will help you out in any field you think of going in later and if you can put up with those bad bosses, you can make it anywhere, including running your own business. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
| Legal secretary/assistant in Colorado and Oregon for 25 + years for real estate, corporate estate planning and business lawyers. Was always blessed being in top firms - never boring, great clients with whom i found long lasting relationships. Down side was 8-5 Monday thru Friday but it worked as a way to make a good living! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | 10 years criminal prosecution love love my job and had great bosses. Down side is county/state government politics and budget issues. Job security and very interesting work. Never a dull day ever.
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I am enjoying the responses!
I worked as a legal assistant for an old, retired attorney for about a year. I did alot of editing and drafting of memoradums and motions.....half the time I didn't know what I was doing. He was TERRIBLE to work for. I have contemplated completing a paralegal certification program because I did like the work. My position was very, very entry level. But I got some experience with PACER and how documents need to be formatted and what not. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | Red Raider - 2013-12-01 8:18 PM Get ready to work for some of the worst bosses known to mankind, do it for long hours and put up with some clients who you will want to kill. It's not for the faint of heart. Good side is that it's never truly boring, you'll learn a lot of stuff that will help you out in any field you think of going in later and if you can put up with those bad bosses, you can make it anywhere, including running your own business.
Yep! I use to work as a paralegal for a child support agency......you have to have alot of patience to deal with the parents, and sometimes the attorneys. I basically did everything for the attorney (paperwork, phone calls ETC) the only thing the attorney had to do, was just sign his name. And his attitude was not pleasant 90% of the time.
I'm now working administration through the state of kansas, I like this job alot better than I did as a paralegal....more pay, better benefits and you get treated alot better LOL |
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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
Location: La Frontera | I've been a paralegal for 14 years at the county and federal government levels. Right now I'm in federal criminal prosecutions. Generally speaking, attorneys can be very difficult bosses. My job is very rewarding though and the pay is decent. I am the power behind the throne so to speak. I get to go to court frequently and do a lot of motions writing. I do the work and don't get the credit which sometimes irks me, especially when my attorney takes credit for my work. But I just suck it up and say that I know better. It's most definitely an 8 to 5 job but you always have the weekend for barrel racing. I'm not sure how much that would be true if you worked in private practice though. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406
Location: New York | I have worked as a Legal Secretary in New York for 15 Years. I was at one time the Executive secretary to the VP andGeneral Counsel for a healthcare company. I now work part-time for lawyer who basically does general litigation and some small accident cases. To be completely honest, the money is decent but I hate my job. I dislike having to pretend our clients are in the right knowing it is screwing over some completely innocent people who truly deserve the judgement in there favor. The reading is long, repetitive and most of the time boring. There are some exciting cases, but not many. It i didnt work part-time 3 days a week I dont think I could stay with it. I strongly dislike having to defend people who do not deserve it and it wears at my concious. And working with the Lawyers themselves can be tough. Some are great and some really think who they are and you are beneath them .
Well that was my rant. LOL Im sure other areas of law are uch more interesting |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Here is the job description of a Legal Assistant that was just posted at my work. Just to give you some insight into the duties.
Scope:
Provide a high level of administrative support to attorneys and paralegals (currently two attorneys and one paralegal) as a member of the Legal Department team.
Basic Function:
Responsible for coordinating activities in a fast-paced, detailed, and deadline-oriented legal environment, while serving as a communications link between the Legal Department and other functional areas of Brown-Forman. Provides legal secretarial and administrative support, assists with tracking of projects, and organizes tasks. Assumes responsibility with minimal supervision, using initiative and judgment in making decisions within the scope of job authority. Understands Brown-Forman’s policies and procedures and identifies and remedies administrative and clerical problems.
Administrative Responsibilities:
Edit, proofread and correct documents.
Redline documents and manage version control.
Utilize the Internet and other resources to gather information as needed.
Use computer databases to retrieve, organize, and index various materials.
Compose correspondence and presentations as directed.
Maintain files, handle incoming and outgoing communications, and ensure office supplies are adequately stocked and easily accessible.
Organize corporate documents for Brown-Forman and domestic and foreign subsidiaries and maintain corporate subsidiary database.
Complete and file various government documents with a minimum of supervision.
Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements. Maintain travel and other reimbursable expenses, and calculate foreign exchange rates.
Project Administration Responsibilities:
Monitor, manage and prioritize Managers’ activities, email, calendars, and task lists.
Advise Managers of new items, status of pending projects and recommended actions as required.
Ability to understand and prioritize multiple tasks and assignments at the time of initial request, take responsibility for developing the method and process for completing the task and keep Managers informed of the progress.
Must Requirements:
A minimum of one year corporate legal secretarial experience.
Ability to function well independently or as a team member.
Computer proficiency with Windows software applications, including Microsoft Suite; knowledge of Google applications
Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to clearly and tactfully initiate and respond to inquiries.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse personalities and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels from all around the world.
Ability to independently organize and prioritize workload to ensure completion within designated time frames.
Ability to maintain and communicate information confidentially and professionally at all times.
Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to execute responsibilities in a timely and accurate manner, despite frequent interruptions and changing deadlines.
Pleasant, “can-do” attitude and professional demeanor.
Ability and willingness to work overtime occasionally on short notice.
Preferred Experience/Education:
A Bachelor's Degree or an Associate’s Degree with a minimum of two to three years corporate legal secretarial experience. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 625
Location: Harrisonville, Missouri | Paralegal for 25+ years. I've worked in different fields, corporate, employment, estate planning, but the bulk of my career has been civil litigation. Love, love, love the trial work. Starting out, I got some good experience and changed jobs about every 3 years. After 3 job changes, I had doubled my salary. I work for a good firm, annual bonus, trial bonuses, mass tort bonuses and next year I get 5 weeks vacation. I think the corporate paralegals make more than others, but I didn't like that area of the law. I do everything from reviewing records to drafting pleadings to interviewing witnesses. |
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Veteran
Posts: 144
Location: East TN | Worked as a paralegal for 5 years for a personal injury/ family law/ workers comp firm. Depending on the "popularity" of the firm usually depends on the workload - I (unfortunately) worked for a firm who made RIDICULOUS commercials to advertise their services SO we typically were way overrun and the case load was sometimes very stressful. The firm I worked for had three partners of the firm with 6 associate attorneys so 9 total attorneys with each attorney having their own paralegal/legal assistant (we called these "pods"). On average, each "pod" had anywhere from 200-250 cases each. If you are going to work at a high volume firm, I would just get very comfortable drafting legal pleadings and effectively communicating with your clients as attorneys are, sadly, notorious for not taking calls or returning voicemails from clients  (at least ours were!). Also, be overly attentive with calendars for court dates and statutes! The more YOU as a paralegal stay on top of upcoming happenings, the better working relationship you will have with your attorney. Basically stay one (or two) steps ahead of your boss at all times!  lol Good luck!
Edited by MissMary2277 2021-09-21 2:49 PM
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Member
Posts: 6
| Great post! |
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