Considering how the legal profession may be shifting, would it be wiser to become a paralegal instead of an attorney?
I’ve been a paralegal for a few years now and had originally done so in hopes of attending law school. I’ve read countless articles about how the legal profession is changing, that clients are demanding cheaper services, and how this is expanding the scope of paralegals insofar as paralegals can perform the same type of legal research, analysis and writing as attorneys do, and can do so at a reduced rate. Would it make sense to consider being a kick-ass paralegal, reading all the major law school texts, learning from attorneys, and transcending the notion that it is a “lesser” career than being an attorney, instead of going to law school?
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11 Answers
If you can get through law school without owing an arm and a leg then I’d say go for it.
Otherwise I think your idea of switching plans to become a paralegal make a lot of sense. I have to say I know little about the profession itself. But it does seem to me that you are being very logical.
I would suggest you think about what are your goals in life aside from your career. After doing so you can consider if this switch would make any difference and if so in what way.
My goal is to earn $90k/year within 5 years, and remain at that level. The work should be interesting and challenging, but should not cause unreasonable stress or anxiety. I don’t want to bring work home; rather I want to be free to develop my other passions (music, sports, outdoor activities, travel, people, writing) outside of work. I don’t want to burn out, develop high blood pressure and/or get a heart attack, gain weight, become an alcoholic, have a strained relationship, get into debt, feel pressured to have an expensive house, not have time for friends, develop cancer due to lack of time to eat slowly and nutritionally, and not have time to stay highly physically active. That’s the balance I want.
@mirifique I think that focuses on what you want out of your career. But what do you want from life?? Also 90k a year is a really big goal.
@RedPowerLady My main goal is to be consistently financially stable and “lighthearted” about things, with close friends and regular outings and get togethers. High-caliber but non-haughty debate. I want to excel in my music professionally (produce an album, perform around town, etc.), have an active athletic life, and be in the best health imaginable.
@mirifique Great , fantastic. So now how does paralegal vs. attorney affect those goals?
I would become an attorney. The pay is better. There are not a lot of jobs, but sometimes if you work good for a law office as an intern you can get a full time job
@steelerspilot The pay might be better, but salaries and vacant positions are dropping at the same time… hence the conundrum
No. Finish your studies, you can always be a para-legal if this shifts – but you will have benfitted from both the studies themselves and the prestige associated with this for life.
Your financial goal of $90K as a paralegal is lofty… if you’re interested in staying in the legal profession and don’t want to spend the money to get your JD, go for a nursing degree. Nurses with legal background make great money in the field. (plus you have the bonus of a nursing degree, so if you get tired of the ‘law thing’ you can walk into a job that is in high demand)
It depends on where you live, who you work for and what type of work you’re doing.
If you can get your foot in the door of a firm like Reed Smith, and manage to keep your job there for at least a few years, make yourself an invaluable employee, as a paralegal you’d start at around $35K and work your way up to somewhere around $50–60, as a nurse/paralegal, you can earn around $100–120 per hour working on your own or through a referral service.
What area of law are you interested in?
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