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Early Retirement Extreme Forums » Lifestyle Questions

1. 

   runrunruneateateat
   

   Novice
   Joined: Aug '10
   Posts: 26

   In an effort to fast-track my ER (probably not ERE since I'd like to have children) I am considering a career change. Does anyone have experience as a paralegal or legal secretary? I would like to know what the work environment is like and whether or not it is as bad as some say it is....

   My current job is enjoyable, not very stressful, and my coworkers are great but the pay is mediocre. As a legal secretary I could increase my salary by about 45%, and potentially more with OT. I am naturally organized (and enjoy organizing things), a quick researcher, and detail-oriented so I feel I might enjoy paralegal or legal secretary work. Anyone want to share their own stories?

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   VicTimRetire
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jan '11
   Posts: 7

   I have been a legal assistant/paralegal since 1997. My original education and experience when I started was in real estate management, but when I moved to South Florida I discovered paralegals make pretty good moolah...so I decided to change professions. I have been a real estate paralegal for the same firm all that time. I started out making $29,000/yr without experience or a CLA. Now I am an independent contractor and make approximately $50/hr., but am working only a few hours since the demand for real estate paralegals is quite low right now (it's OK - I'm also busy raising 2 little boys so it's a win-win).

   First, I will tell you that it is a difficult field to break into. Just going to school and getting your Certified Legal Assistant degree/certification is not going to get you a job...unless you have experience that you can relate back to your job, as I did with real estate. Also, the field of law you work in GREATLY affects your salary. The firm I work for mainly does Estate Planning and Probate work. That is generally a very low stress environment (dead people normally don't complain much, although occasionally their beneficiaries do) - so the money is on the low side...maybe $40 to $60,000/yr. with experience.

   If you want to make big bucks and big bonuses/overtime, you would definitely need to work for a big firm that does some sort of litigation. This is high stress, long hours, aggressive attorneys (aka: mean bosses!) who expect you to also be very fast and meticulous in your work. But I know many who make over $100,000/yr or more.

   It sounds like you have the personality. In addition, you should type really fast, and be anal retentive. Paralegals are usually busy actually drafting all the legal documents for the attorney so he/she can meet with client/go to court, so it is very important to be a detail-oriented perfectionist type. Additionally, you'd probably be in charge of keeping track of the docket for the attorney, so that's where being organized comes in handy.

   I don't know your educational background, but if you have a bachelor's degree I wouldn't waste my time going to school to get a legal assistant degree. If you can manage to get your foot in the door somewhere and they like you, they will send you to school to get your CLA. You're going to get low pay without experience with our without the CLA, so don't waste your time and money getting it until you have some experience. I think a CLA would probably increase your salary by $5,000 or $10,000/yr IF you have experience to go with it. I've never bothered to get mine because I'm planning on retiring soon---plus, I can't imagine making much more than I do already.

   I have greatly enjoyed my work, and I love the law firm I work for and the money I make. I wish you the best of luck, and if I can answer any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   runrunruneateateat
   

   Novice
   Joined: Aug '10
   Posts: 26

   @VicTimRetire: This is exactly the kind of info I was hoping to receive. Thank you so much for your detailed response.

   I spent time last weekend researching CLA programs and found that they cost about $5,000, so it's nice to know that they aren't absolutely necessary. I double-majored in English and Government, went to a highly-ranked college, graduated with a 3.7 GPA, type 65 WPM, and have a lot of editorial experience so my hope is I'll be able to get my food in the door of a major law firm without my CLA. I'm going to try applying for some positions through a legal recruiting company.

   It was interesting to read in your post about the different personalities that are drawn to the various fields of law. That information will be helpful for me as I research job opportunities.

   It also gives me great hope that you not only enjoy your work but are also able to do it on an hourly basis. It would be a great perk for me to have if I eventually want to cut back on my hours once I have kids.

   Thanks again!

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   VicTimRetire
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jan '11
   Posts: 7

   That's exactly how I did it. I signed up with a temporary legal service in Ft. Lauderdale. After a few weeks I got a temporary job summarizing depositions (I didn't even know what that meant at the time, but I figured it out), and then working on the IPO for a large pharaceutical company (boy, I wished I'd gotten in on that IPO because I would be retired!!!), then the temp service wanted to hire me as a recruiter (no thanks).

   Working for several different types of attorneys and sizes of offices was wonderful for me, because it helped me figure out exactly the type of job and corporate atmosphere I wanted to work in. I told the temp service that I wanted to find a job with a "family atmosphere" and "casual dress". The recruiter just laughed at me because law firms aren't normally described as either of those things. But within a couple of months, she got a call from a firm looking for a real estate legal assistant and they specifically mentioned they wanted someone who enjoyed both of those things...and the rest is history.

   I hope you can gain the same experience so you can find your "perfect" fit. You certainly have fantastic credentials. Best of luck to you, and, you're welcome!

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   VicTimRetire
   

   Novice
   Joined: Jan '11
   Posts: 7

   Ooh..speaking of experience, I just remembered a funny story.

   The absolute best paralegal I have ever met had her bachelors in English Literature. And her job? Bartender! She was a bartender for a decade. But then she decided one day she wanted to get a "real" job, so she applied at SunTrust Bank. The manager hired her as a Trust Officer (frequently a job held by an attorney) on the spot because he could tell she obviously had people skills if she was such a great bartender. Too funny! She worked at that job for several years before transferring her trust and estate experience into being a paralegal at our law firm. She's worked there for over 20 years now, and is so cherished that even though she moved to upstate New York several years ago she STILL works at the firm, remotely. And makes even more than I do. So don't let them tell you that you have to have your CLA - if you keep knocking on doors, and are given the opportunity to prove yourself, a law firm will hire you.

   By the way, one reason she's a highly cherished paralegal is she does Estate Tax Returns (Form 706). It is difficult to find paralegals that have experience doing them, so if that interests you at all, it is certainly something that would ultimately pay very well, and is probably also something that would easily be an "independent contractor" type job.

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   runrunruneateateat
   

   Novice
   Joined: Aug '10
   Posts: 26

   Thanks again! I'm very interested in finance (I guess that's a given considering this forum) so I'll check out Estate Law. Thanks for taking the time to share all of these tips.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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