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LEGAL STAFFERS SOUND OFF
Legal Staffers Sound Off [9-6- 2004 by LawCrossing Staff] Do you have a question about working in the legal profession? About LawCrossing? No matter the topic, + send us an e-mail and we’ll be glad to answer it for you!
I am in great need of help as far as how to
J.D. but essentially by education you are
appropriately for a career in law-related
go about landing a job. I have a J.D./M.BA.,
already an attorney, and you’ll have some
but I have not taken the bar and do not have
trouble convincing legal employers that
accounting. Joan C.
much job experience. I have decided that I
you want to work as legal staff and will not
am going to put all of my effort into landing
abandon them after a subsequent, successful
Law firms certainly use accountants for
a position as a police officer. I don’t really
experience with the bar exam. I would sug-
various jobs, including general office ac-
care where I end up. However, I need to
gest this, try legal staff placement agencies.
counts, managing client accounts, paying
make at least $45-50K. Do you have any
They will work with you, and you may well be
their employees, etc., so there is certainly a
suggestions?
able to get your foot in the door. Eventually
market here that you can work with. I would
Joe C.
your employers will be able to see that you
suggest a skills-based resume highlighting
are serious about a career in the legal staff
what you can do in terms of what processes
field.
and software you are familiar with. If you
Being a police officer can be a very rewarding
know any accounting programs used by law
career, albeit not one you may have expected to seek after your J.D./M.B.A. If you’d like to
I am a paralegal. I just want some clarifi-
firms, make sure you highlight those on your
pursue employment that is more tradition-
cation as to the terms paralegal and legal
resume.
ally associated with your education but do
assistant. Legal secretaries are sometime
not want to take the bar, I’d suggest you
called legal assistants. Thanks in advance
highlight your M.B.A. degree and offer your
for clearing this up.
J.D. as a bonus to employers. Every business
Carina Z.
needs someone who can understand the law. Good positions for you would be in law firm
A paralegal is more of a professional desig-
administration, risk management, contract
nation; it is defined by the ABA as a person
administration and human resources. Good
who can assist an attorney in all aspects of
luck and keep us posted on how it goes!
the law, provided he or she works under an attorney. However there are two kinds of
I have a law degree and lots of experience.
paralegals, certified and non-certified. The
However, I just found out that I did not pass
net tends to be cast wide in terms of what
the February bar exam. I am frustrated, and
paralegals actually end up doing at specific
I do not want to practice law anymore. My
firms. A legal secretary can also be certified
current job was contingent on my passing
but would more likely do things like manag-
the bar exam. Since I have not passed the
ing files or correspondence rather than
exam, my job is terminated. I have worked
substantive legal work. Legal assistant is a
in all sectors of the law - government,
rather vague term; it can refer to an office
firms, courts, legislature, etc. What options
assistant, a case assistant, or junior J.D.
do I have in the legal staff field?
Karen L., Disappointed J.D.
I double majored in political science and accounting. I know accounting definitely
I’ll be honest with you: Law firms tend to shy
has a legal side to it with tax and business
away from hiring lawyers as legal staff. The
law. But I need some concrete ideas how to
bar exam puts a stamp of approval on your
apply what I learned and package myself
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