Do paralegals work a lot of hours?

[BUMP] Coming July '09

It depends where you work. If you work for the government then you will have a strict 8-5 and probably won't get any overtime (even if requested).

If you work in the private sector it just depends on your boss. My first job in the private sector had me working 60 hours a week. Now I only have to work 37. My first paralegal job was for the state government and it was strictly 40 hours a week.

You can find a 9-5 paralegal job.

doingthepanic

The paralegals in the law office where I work are here from 9-6 with a 1 hour break.

mailaccount63

Yes, paralegals work a lot of hours. 9-5 probably is NOT possible. It would probably be: 7:30 - 5, OR 8 - 5, IF you are lucky.

Warning: Jobs in the field of Law are drying up FAST!!! This is NOT a good field to invest in!!! Many reasons - main reason: We simply have WAY TOO MANY legal professionals - we have a GLUT. This includes, but is not limited to: Attorneys, Lawyers, Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Court Reporters, Bailiffs, etc, etc. There are many attorneys working as Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Court Reporters, Bailiffs, etc, etc, because they cannot find work.

BUT....law schools won't tell you this - law students are easy money for them. Even IF you finish your studies, you probably won't be able to find a job when you are done.

Legal employers want employers with Bachelors Degrees. They won't accept anything less. Don't get an associates degree in paralegal studies - save your money.

Suggestion: Look into the field of Healthcare!!! <<< LOTS of jobs there!!!

vicseo

The opportunities for a paralegal really depends on the specialty. The most in demand paralegals are those in the litigation field; followed by corporate paralegals who are responsible for maintaining corporate records, articles of incorporation, etc. While the "least" marketable [but the "highest" paid] paralegals are in the field of intellectual property [i.e., patents, trademarks] and immigration law. In conclusion, choose your paralegal courses accordingly, with emphasis on litigation preparation [discovery], docketing/calendaring of incoming pleadings [calendaring] and trial preparation [creating Exhibit tabs, Bajii jury instructions, etc.]. The "pro" side of a litigation paralegal is often "unlimited" overtime which can amount to a high salary range of $65,000 to $75,000 per year, while the "downside," being constantly pressured to meet a monthly client billable quota. And failing to meet that quota, often results in the paralegal's overnight dismissal. It's not a pretty picture. I just want to lay out what really happens in the real world of litigators and their relationship with subordinate paralegals.

Good luck!

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