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LEGAL STAFF TRAINING CORNER
Profile: Andrea Wagner, Author, How to Land
Your First Paralegal Job
[7-26-04 by Zamzam Syed] Andrea Wagner, the author of one book on how to break into the paralegal profession and one book on how to break out of it, offers a lot of helpful advice to aspiring and current paralegals who want to know what to do next.
As the author of How to Land Your First
charter members of the CACPS, the Commis-
Paralegal Job, Andrea Wagner is the perfect person to offer advice in this week’s LawCrossing Legal Staff Profile. Ironically enough, Andrea no longer works as a legal staff member; she is a Human Resources professional at the Anti-Defamation league in Los Angeles, California. But then again, she is also the author of the book Where Do I Go From Here, which is designed to help legal staff professionals transition out of their jobs and into new careers. LawCrossing was fortunate to speak with Andrea about her varied career and get some amazing career advice for our readers.
sion for Advanced CA Paralegal Specializa-
sion works. It also touches on paralegal edu-
tion. We started through the California Alli-
cation and how to choose a proper school. I
firm is set up and how a corporate legal divi-
ance of Paralegal Association; our mission
believe that these methods are applicable to
was to test experienced paralegals so they
most job searches, so this book can be used
can get advanced specialization and certifica-
for other job searches, as well. The content
tion. This was an advanced certified legal as-
of a paralegal search is different, but the
sistant examination; a paralegal would need
general techniques apply to all entry-level
around three years of experience and to have
searches.
successfully passed the CLA (certified legal assistant) examinations sponsored by NALA
Q: So where does the search start?
(National Association of Legal Assistants) to become certified.
A: Trying to decipher what type of law you want to practice is a good starting point. For
Q: How did the book come about?
example, litigation is stressful and might routinely require all-nighters and overtime,
Q: Can you talk a little about your career
A: After working in paralegal placement, a
while something like probate has a slower
path? Where did you get started in terms of
colleague of mine formed a publishing com-
pace -- there isn’t much of a rush when your
goals and training?
pany. The book started out as a handbook for
client is dead! Start out by checking out Mar-
the University of West LA to help entry-level
tindale Hubble, or another law firm search
A: I started out as a teacher. After my BA
jobseekers find work. The first edition of the
source. If you went to college, try to find
from UC Berkeley, I went on to get a Masters
book was published in 1992, and right now I
an attorney who went to that college. Write
in Theatre, and initially taught Drama. Then I
am working on the 4th edition, which is being
an alum and ask for information, look in
got my paralegal certificate at the University
published by Prentice Hall’s text book sec-
newspapers and job boards, and send out 4-5
of West Los Angeles, and went on to work
tion, Aspen Books.
resumes a week, call next week, or e-mail to
as a paralegal for a while and eventually
make sure your resume was received. E-mail
began working as a placement counselor
This is really the easiest to read and under-
is fine, but nothing works like a phone call to
for University of West Los Angeles, placing
stand book; it gets right to the point and uses
make a connection.
paralegal students and alumni into law firms.
the right blend of humor and sarcasm to get
In the mid 1980’s, when the economy was
the point across. It doesn’t read like a text
Q: What sort of qualifications do most para-
booming for law firms, I worked for one of
book, but is actually fun. I have updated it
legals have?
the first paralegal placement agencies in Los
every two or three years. The latest edition
Angeles, which was quite successful. When
contains extensive lists of internet sites and
A: Large law firms tend to hire individuals
the recession of the late 80’s - early 90’s
resources updated to reflect changes in the
with bachelors degrees and ABA-approved
hit and law firms stopped using recruiting
market. The information in the text changes
certificates, but they also hire new college
firms, I continued working on career place-
less because, how to write a good resume,
graduates who want to work in a law firm to
ment with a non-profit. Now I work in Human
when to send thank you notes or what to put
see if they want to go to law school or gradu-
Resources with the Anti-Defamation League
in a cover letter is fairly standard. How to do
ate school. If a firm is looking for a career
in Los Angeles. I taught at various paralegal
a job search does not change much. The book
paralegal, they tend to go with those who
schools for 10 years, and was one of the
further provides information about how a law
have a paralegal certificate. A person can
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