One common thread I see both online and offline is the apparent barrier to entry for those seeking entry level paralegal jobs. If you’re new to the legal industry, I’m sure you’ve encountered this in other professions as well. Unfortunately, there really is no easy way of transitioning to a lateral position in a new industry. To a certain extent you are “starting over”.
On the other hand, with the economic and job climate so volatile these days, it’s imperative to be as nimble as possible – in other words, have the ability to quickly adapt to a new professional environment and learn quickly once placed.
If you are attempting to get an entry level paralegal job without some sort of paralegal degree, you have a tough road ahead of you. But fear not! There are many accredited paralegal degree programs that only take a matter of months to complete. However, the more advanced paralegal degrees take up to 2 years of course.
Here are 6 tips for overcoming the barriers to entry when seeking an entry level paralegal job:
Talk to the Right People
Whatever paralegal training, certificate, or degree program you pursue, make sure you befriend the job placement decision maker. This will usually be a placement director for the school you choose to attend. This person is responsible for finding jobs for the students, and they are usually well connected with a few law firms that are continually looking for legal assistants and paralegals
They will also be able to give you access to business directories, job fair listings, and various publications from the legal field with job ads. In most cases, the job placement director will also be privy to unlisted job openings through their various industry contacts. How valuable do you think being first to market would be?
Educate Yourself on the Paralegal Field as Much as Possible
It goes without saying that the most prepared individuals are usually are the most successful in any area of life. This also applies to obtaining entry level paralegal jobs. You would be very wise to research the local law firms and identify the types of law they practice in using the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory which can be found here. MHLD lists all U.S. attorneys and law firms, as well as their legal specialties. Also, become familiar with your local and state bar association which should publish a directory of all attorneys and law firms.
Prepare a Well Crafted Resume
As you may know, the list of resume writing resources, programs, courses, and services is endless. If you don’t have experience writing effective resume’s, don’t hesitate to find someone who does, such as a resume writing service professional or an individual with English or Literary expertise or University degree.
Also, make sure you’re resume isn’t “cute” or out of the ordinary in any way. The legal profession as a whole and most attorneys are rather conservative, and won’t think too highly of this. Include a professional cover letter that you’ve thoroughly proofread that contains no grammatical or punctuation errors.
Most of all, keep your resume package nice and concise. Hiring firms are filled with very busy individuals, and the last thing they want to do is wade through a bloated resume.
Network with Other Students and Existing Legal Professionals
No doubt you’ve heard this excellent job search advice before. This is one of the most obvious activities you could pursue during your job search, not only with fellow students, but with existing legal professionals if at all possible.
Get in touch with your job placement director and ask for a few referrals to recent graduates who have been placed already and have a good base of experience working for a law firm under their belt. There is simply no better way to get an “inside perspective” on the job.
Prepare for Your Interview
The best preparation for your interview is to have already completed the above items. They are all paramount to getting a “leg up” on the competition. When you meet with the HR or Paralegal Manager at the firm you’re interviewing with, they will give your resume package a once over and want to know your professional and educational background. This is perfectly normal, and it’s their job to screen all new applicants before the attorneys who you’ll be working with.
Most law firms don’t have very big websites, depending on the size of the firm of course, but in any case, make sure you have a look over their site and educate yourself on the firm as much as possible. Write out a list of questions you can ask the interviewers – not only does this help you determine of the job is right for you, it will demonstrate that you’ve done your homework. The overall message you want to convey is that you’re a “hot commodity” and not just another job seeker.
Get Comfortable and Relax
Nervousness or anxiety will only hurt your chances of impressing your interviewers, and chances of getting the job. The more you prepare, the less nervous or anxious you should be, and the more you will present yourself as a calm and confident individual.
If you can relax during the interview and answer all the questions in a calm and collected manner, this will give the interviewers the impression you are very confident and will fit in well and will be the one for the job. Entry level paralegal jobs aren’t impossible to land if you’ve taken the right steps and prepared yourself by following the above advice.