Becoming a Paralegal (?)

[museangel]

Hi All

Apologies if the post is familiar/you've read it all before but hope to get some constructive advice!

I've been in admin for the last 5 years, my last 2 years as a PA mainly in International business - investments and export, however I have had some experience in the legal field - Employment, Litigation and Family matters and want to make a permanent move into the sector, but as a Paralegal. I am considering doing a legal secretarial course and after (hopefully) getting a legal secretary/PA position, work my way up from there (take a paralegal course via NALP or IoP), or try to do a paralegal course and hope to gain a position as a NQ paralegal.
I appreciate experience is essential and with me working full time, I am unsure of how to get around this. I will be asking at my local CAB and law centre if they allow volunteers at weekends/Friday afternoons (I finish work at 3). I have attended a few law fairs and the advice/information was limited, as I understand some solicitors use Paralegalling as 'work experience', not a career in itself. I have thought about becoming an ILEX lawyer, however I'm worried at 24 I'm too old to go down that route.

Any advice would be welcomed, its all constructive!

[jamie_cooper]

You're not too old at all; far, far from it.

However, you do realise you'll probably be on circa 14k per annum unless of course you're looking at being a paralegal at a MC firm.

[Kim]

Agree - definitely not too old if that is what you want to do.

Any chance you could get your employer to let you finish a bit earlier on Fri afternoons - if so perhaps you could try to get (probably unpaid) work experience in a local law firm. Would be good to get a bit of that sort of work as well as CAB etc.

Not sure how much money is an issue but agree money as a paralegal may not be great.

[Ganymede]

Hi All

Apologies if the post is familiar/you've read it all before but hope to get some constructive advice!

I've been in admin for the last 5 years, my last 2 years as a PA mainly in International business - investments and export, however I have had some experience in the legal field - Employment, Litigation and Family matters and want to make a permanent move into the sector, but as a Paralegal. I am considering doing a legal secretarial course and after (hopefully) getting a legal secretary/PA position, work my way up from there (take a paralegal course via NALP or IoP), or try to do a paralegal course and hope to gain a position as a NQ paralegal.I appreciate experience is essential and with me working full time, I am unsure of how to get around this. I will be asking at my local CAB and law centre if they allow volunteers at weekends/Friday afternoons (I finish work at 3). I have attended a few law fairs and the advice/information was limited, as I understand some solicitors use Paralegalling as 'work experience', not a career in itself. I have thought about becoming an ILEX lawyer, however I'm worried at 24 I'm too old to go down that route.

Any advice would be welcomed, its all constructive!

Have I missed something? Since when did you "qualify" as a Paralegal or is it just another scam for colleges to make some more money for meaningless courses?

have you actually tried applying for any jobs as a paralegal/legal assistant etc yet?

[museangel]

Hello, sorry for the delayed response!

In response to Ganymede, there's two bodies that offer a route to licensed paralegal status - the Institute of Paralegals and National Association of Licensed Paralegals... it seems its becoming more of a career move. Although I will say I didn't realise earnings as a Paralegal was so low...! Thats a lot lower than I earn now. Not that money is everything of course but I don't want to be taking an eternal paycut if I decide to change careers! I was under the impression they could earn quite a bit, having seen ads for paralegals with a decent wage with law firms outside MC, however thank you for pointing that out.
Until I have done my legal secretary course (which hopefully will be in June/July), I haven't applied for any jobs, simply because I have been told by agencies and some firms that I do not have enough experience in the legal field (over a year minimum req), so I know I need something to have any chance before I can pursue a legal career.
I suppose my only reason I thought I was too old was that I had the panic of "I'm 24, doing a job I do not enjoy and miss the Law field...but have I left it too late? Too late to do anything? I should be settled in a great job by now!". I wanted to ask the wise and evidently experienced people if there is an age barrier getting into the legal profession.

I doubt my employer would let me finish earlier on a Friday, simply due to the business we're in. However I think my local law centre has late night Thursdays 7-9 offering Employment, Housing and Finance legal advice, so will try that, otherwise I'll check if CAB do anything on a Saturday morning.

[noelinge]

Museangel
I'm a regular poster on here and read a few comments about becoming a paralegal. Quite understandably, there's a lot of cynicism about. It's easy to be sold a course or two, and then be left hanging out to dry. And/or perhaps employed on a poor salary!

Regrettably nothing anyone says here will provide you with a silver bullet- but you can make your current skills work for you. Law is a business, and if you can demonstrate that you've got the acumen to be a good fee earner/case handler, it is that which will advance your career. If you can get a CABx placement to gain experience then that's great, but there's even competition for voluntary work in law. It might be worth checking out the national pro bono centre for information on volunteering. see The National Pro Bono Centre

One possible job search strategy- aside from applying to law firms- would be to identify an organisation that has a large legal department (such as an insurance company). If you secure a generalist post post then sometimes it is possible to seek an internal transfer.

Since I work for the ILEX Group I'll declare an interest now. Becoming a paralegal is fine, but why limit yourself? You can do a paralegal qualification through ILEX while working, such as its Level 3 Cert in Law and Pract. It'll qualify you to do vey basic fee earning work, which might be where you find the employment opportunities. You can then continue studying to become a legal executive lawyer of solicitor later if you so choose.

As I said, hink carefully about what you want to do before you spend your hard earned money! If it helps then you can contact me at n.inge@ilex-tutorial.ac.uk or call me on 01234 844325.

Best wishes

Noel

[museangel]

Hi All,

I have considered everyone's valid and helpful responses and have decided that given that Paralegalling isn't a very well-paid profession or one that offers enough scope, I have considered to venture on to do my ILEX studies, but shall do a legal secretary course and gain exposure within an administrative role whilst studying to Lawyer status - this to me seems to be the correct way of doing things.

Although most of my experience lies within export/shipping, I am not completely sure if it is something I wish to (or can) spe******e in as an ILEX, therefore work either as a float secretary or legal assistant will give me some insight before I make that choice.

This is more for any other administrator in my position if you wish to become a legal sec/PA, however I welcome any fee earners' comments; I have found two courses which are beneficial to start as a legal secretary;
1) ILSPA, which I know has been run for years and their course covers everything - from legal admin, proof-reading, most aspects of law (probate, family, litigation etc) and preparation of docs for each spe******m and an overview of the legal system. This will be the course I am taking.
2) ILEX, however it seems you have to choose which spe******m, but you learn how to proof-read and legal admin. At this stage I don't feel this one is right for me, however it would be great for those who already know what they want to do.
3) ILEX did have a third option - but I'm not sure how it'd work; doing proof-reading and legal administration (develop advanced word proc. and database skills using graphs, reports) as a certificate with no spe******m. I suppose this is more for sharpening skills you lack in. I can't see this being an employable point on it's own, but I could be very wrong!

Anyway, apologies for that ramble! Thank you to everyone's advice, I'm grateful to you for taking the time!

[sanya84]

Where do you live? I want to switch in the HR field (well as soon as I find my first HR position) but I could recommend you to my employer if you are in Birmingham as I know if I leave soon, they will need a paralegal...we specialise only in employment law. But prepare for £13, £14k salary...plus if you ever change your mind and decide you want to be a solicitor, they may give you a training contract as well...but I have decided that the law is not for me...and cancelled all that. Good luck.

[museangel]

@ Sanya84
Thanks for the offer - that's really nice of you and its much appreciated!

I currently live in Nottingham, haven't been with my employer that long (just under 6 months. Not good to change so soon, I know firms like loyalty and long-term employment records).
I've decided to go ahead and study my ILEX part time, keep my job and try to get a paralegal job once I've completed my Level3 diploma. I'm wishing to specialise in Employment or Litigation (I'm fascinated by EU and Contract/Tort law). I just hope that I can get something - which will be hard with the high calibre candidates out there.
I have just checked out all local CABs and the hours are 9-4 and don't have 'Saturday Surgery'. Frustrating lol. But I'm sure I'll find something! That or advertise myself to undertake typing work at home for fee earners. Who knows (:

[Oceanica]

Museangel,

First of all, 24 is very young. Many of us have started the process of switching careers into law in our late 20's, early 30's and beyond. My suggestion for you is to consider doing a law degree with the Open University - you can study on your free time, on a distance learning basis while you work full time (at your current job or at a legal assistant / legal secretary / paralegal job, if you manage to find a decent one - some do pay well, but competition is fierce). Depending on your ability and on how well you can study on your own, you could potentially finish the degree in 3 years, but the OU degrees are flexible and you could do it over as many as 6 years. That would leave you with the option to pursue a training contract when you're nearing the end, rather than more or less committing yourself to a career as a paralegal or going the ILEX route to qualification as a legal exec (not that there's anything wrong with it). You might find that your intellectual self-confidence improves and your career aspirations may become more ambitious as you study an LLB.