Will I ever get a job in the Legal area?

I worked for a large co. for over 30 years without a college degree...I worked my way up and almost hit 6 figures before I was "retired" 3 years early. :-(
I am now going to night school to become a paralegal but it seems that all the jobs out their require years of experience..

I have doubts about continuing although i like the attorney teaching the class, my classmates and what I am learning although it seems to take me a little bit longer for things to sink in.

Will I ever get a "paralegal" position WITHOUT experience in NJ???

Princess Leia

I hate to say it, but probably not. Most firms like to hire people who are already experienced because then they don't have to train them.

However, while you are still going to paralegal school, I suggest contacting legal support temporary agencies NOW to line up temporary jobs where you can get experience. You can start out as a legal secretary and work your way up to a paralegal, based upon the experience that you get while temping so that by the time you graduate you MAY have some experience in paralegals (some firms may be looking for a combination secretary-paralegal).

Here is some information regarding legal staffing agencies in New Jersey and New York (because I'm sure some New York agencies staff for NJ):
http://www.loreleipersonnel.com/divisions_legal.php
http://www.nbocellistaffing.com/aboutus.asp
http://view.fdu.edu/default.aspx?id=1744

Also, see if this attorney has any contacts. He may know someone that is willing to train (or maybe he is willing to do so himself).

Also check with the school you are going to. Perhaps they have a career counseling center and/or contacts too.

Good luck!

Chad

The legal career field is tanking:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119040786780835602.html

cybersharque

This is not a healthy forum for these questions. It seems to be populated by frustrated, embittered people who thought that because they went to law school, the world owes them a fabulous income.

You still gotta work. Work hard to get the training. Work hard to get the experience. Work hard to deliver the services.

Law is not easy. The hours are long: billing 60 hours a week means working 80 hours. At one point, I was making less per hour than the kid who picked up the mail at the post office. But still, in the end, it has been worth it.

I was a paralegal, too. It's how I supported myself while going to law school at night. I do not think I would have survived had I not been going to law school, but it did provide some interesting stories.

My job including being the managing clerk, a job that involves recording every pleading that comes into the office and every one that goes out. A first year associate had served an answer to the complaint without also serving discovery demands. I asked her if swhe intended to demand a bill of particulars, demand documents and schedule a deposition of the plaintiff. She "reminded" me that she was the attorney and I was just a paralegal. Sixty days later, when the plaintiff's attorney filed a notice of trial without any discovery having been conducted, she came into the office to find the movers packing her belongings.

Don't stay a paralegal for long, and don't forget to listen to the people you work with. Your secretary will be a better lawyer than you are until you are at least five years out of school.

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