How can a JD get a job as a paralegal?
February 9, 2011 1:49 PM Subscribe
What can I say in a cover letter that would convince someone to hire me as a paralegal even though I have a law degree. I'm specifically looking at in-house jobs.
Anonymous because I still have some shame around the whole bar exam thing.
So I previously had a great gig working in-house at an insurance company but was laid off. The job paid well, the work was varied and although the company had a specialized name for it, it was essentially a paralegal job.
I'd like to expand my search outside the insurance industry and there are a few in-house paralegal jobs in my area.
I've sent out a few resumes but can't get pass the phone screen where they ask "Well, you have a law degree. Are you going to leave as soon as you pass the bar?"
I would like to say "Well I've failed so many times that I'm just not gonna do it anymore and quite frankly, the paralegal jobs pay better than what I could make as a starting attorney and you get to go home at a reasonable hour."
Can someone help me with a spiel that I could use both verbally and in my cover letter that would in a professional way say the following:
"Hey, this whole law thing was a second career for me and I'm quite happy making good money and doing varied work as a paralegal. I have a good life outside of work with hobbies and volunteer work and like that I get to have dinner with my honey most evenings."
I know some of that will be totally irrelevant to a potential employer but ... hopefully you Mefites get the picture. Thanks.
Anonymous because I still have some shame around the whole bar exam thing.
So I previously had a great gig working in-house at an insurance company but was laid off. The job paid well, the work was varied and although the company had a specialized name for it, it was essentially a paralegal job.
I'd like to expand my search outside the insurance industry and there are a few in-house paralegal jobs in my area.
I've sent out a few resumes but can't get pass the phone screen where they ask "Well, you have a law degree. Are you going to leave as soon as you pass the bar?"
I would like to say "Well I've failed so many times that I'm just not gonna do it anymore and quite frankly, the paralegal jobs pay better than what I could make as a starting attorney and you get to go home at a reasonable hour."
Can someone help me with a spiel that I could use both verbally and in my cover letter that would in a professional way say the following:
"Hey, this whole law thing was a second career for me and I'm quite happy making good money and doing varied work as a paralegal. I have a good life outside of work with hobbies and volunteer work and like that I get to have dinner with my honey most evenings."
I know some of that will be totally irrelevant to a potential employer but ... hopefully you Mefites get the picture. Thanks.
You don't even need to tell them you failed the bar, just tell them you don't plan on taking it anytime in the foreseeable future. Tell them you finished your law degree because you had already started and didn't want to quit so far in, but that you don't want to be a practicing lawyer.
posted by elpea at 1:58 PM on February 9, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by elpea at 1:58 PM on February 9, 2011 [4 favorites]
Have you considered leaving your JD off your resume? You could mention it briefly during an interview to CYA- saying, oh, I thought about practicing law and even went to law school, but decided afterwards that my talents were ultimately best used in a paralegal position.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:59 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:59 PM on February 9, 2011
Is there a reason you have your JD on your resume?
posted by dfriedman at 2:04 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by dfriedman at 2:04 PM on February 9, 2011
Consider positions in business where the law degree is regarded as an asset, but the job is not "practicing law" and therefore a license is not needed.
I would not tell any prospective employer that you tried and failed the bar exam.
posted by yclipse at 2:04 PM on February 9, 2011
I would not tell any prospective employer that you tried and failed the bar exam.
posted by yclipse at 2:04 PM on February 9, 2011
Or something along the lines of "I feel that my experience getting my JD was very rewarding, and that background will make me an asset to your organization. I've chosen to pursue my legal career as a paralegal because it allows me to apply my legal training in an area I find interesting, while leaving time for my personal interests." Though I have to say, I don't love telling employers about your work/life balance. At least not legal employers.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:06 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:06 PM on February 9, 2011
So I previously had a great gig working in-house at an insurance company but was laid off. The job paid well, the work was varied and although the company had a specialized name for it, it was essentially a paralegal job.
I'd like to expand my search outside the insurance industry and there are a few in-house paralegal jobs in my area.
Great, so focus on how much you thrived at your old job and how you want a similar job to that one.
If they ask about the bar exam you should be honest, but don't cite failing the bar exam as your reason for wanting to work for them!
The reasons you give for wanting a job you're applying for should never be about how it will personally benefit you (letting you go home at a good hour), or how you've failed at things in the past, or how you can't find a better job. You have to focus on positive things about the prospective employer and how you can be an asset to that employer.
posted by John Cohen at 2:21 PM on February 9, 2011
I'd like to expand my search outside the insurance industry and there are a few in-house paralegal jobs in my area.
Great, so focus on how much you thrived at your old job and how you want a similar job to that one.
If they ask about the bar exam you should be honest, but don't cite failing the bar exam as your reason for wanting to work for them!
The reasons you give for wanting a job you're applying for should never be about how it will personally benefit you (letting you go home at a good hour), or how you've failed at things in the past, or how you can't find a better job. You have to focus on positive things about the prospective employer and how you can be an asset to that employer.
posted by John Cohen at 2:21 PM on February 9, 2011
I went from attorney to legal secretary. (I couldn't take the hours or the stress.) This is MUCH better work than paralegal.
1. Paralegals have just as long hours as attorneys, and it's my-eyes-glaze-over boring. Secretaries work 9:00 to 5:00 and have frequent lulls when you can read, talk with others or surf the net.
2. Paralegals are paid 1/3 less than secretaries.
3. Paralegals sort through dusty warehouses full of documents. Secretaries are in clean offices.
4. Paralegals go from one attorney to another, with little chance to form personal relationships. Secretaries work with the same attorneys all the time.
A few tips: Leave the J.D., or at least the attorney work, off your resume. It creates too many questions about why you're not doing attorney work, cues queries about bar exam failures and creates the suspicion that you're taking a paralegal job only to wait until an attorney job opens up.
Qualify as a Notary. Being able to notarize signatures is not a huge plus, but it's a definite advantage. With law school training, you can read the test manual once and ace the test. In some states (e.g., New York), you can become a Register of Deeds without taking an exam and do everything a notary can.
For the same reason, get qualified as a real estate closer.
Consider getting some tutoring to prepare for the next bar exam. Knowing test-taking techniques is just as important as knowing the substantive law.
posted by KRS at 2:22 PM on February 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
1. Paralegals have just as long hours as attorneys, and it's my-eyes-glaze-over boring. Secretaries work 9:00 to 5:00 and have frequent lulls when you can read, talk with others or surf the net.
2. Paralegals are paid 1/3 less than secretaries.
3. Paralegals sort through dusty warehouses full of documents. Secretaries are in clean offices.
4. Paralegals go from one attorney to another, with little chance to form personal relationships. Secretaries work with the same attorneys all the time.
A few tips: Leave the J.D., or at least the attorney work, off your resume. It creates too many questions about why you're not doing attorney work, cues queries about bar exam failures and creates the suspicion that you're taking a paralegal job only to wait until an attorney job opens up.
Qualify as a Notary. Being able to notarize signatures is not a huge plus, but it's a definite advantage. With law school training, you can read the test manual once and ace the test. In some states (e.g., New York), you can become a Register of Deeds without taking an exam and do everything a notary can.
For the same reason, get qualified as a real estate closer.
Consider getting some tutoring to prepare for the next bar exam. Knowing test-taking techniques is just as important as knowing the substantive law.
posted by KRS at 2:22 PM on February 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
I like elpea's advice about stating that you finished your JD because you were committed to finishing the program, but realized that while you have a passion for the law, being a practicing lawyer isn't for you.
I would also like to point out that KRS's experience isn't universal. I'm a paralegal in a smallish law firm in a small city, with a great office, and I only work directly for 2 attorneys, who I have good relationships with. It all depends on where you work, and probably what type of law your firm practices. When I was applying for jobs, I put on my resume that I was interested in a "legal support position" because there's not a universally applied definition for legal secretary, legal assistant, and paralegal, and their responsibilities overlap a lot depending on where you work.
posted by Safiya at 2:56 PM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
I would also like to point out that KRS's experience isn't universal. I'm a paralegal in a smallish law firm in a small city, with a great office, and I only work directly for 2 attorneys, who I have good relationships with. It all depends on where you work, and probably what type of law your firm practices. When I was applying for jobs, I put on my resume that I was interested in a "legal support position" because there's not a universally applied definition for legal secretary, legal assistant, and paralegal, and their responsibilities overlap a lot depending on where you work.
posted by Safiya at 2:56 PM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Well I've failed so many times that I'm just not gonna do it anymore and quite frankly, the paralegal jobs pay better than what I could make as a starting attorney and you get to go home at a reasonable hour."
"Hey, this whole law thing was a second career for me and I'm quite happy making good money and doing varied work as a paralegal. I have a good life outside of work with hobbies and volunteer work and like that I get to have dinner with my honey most evenings."
Both of those, as modified, sound pretty good to me.
In response to the suggestions that you leave the JD off your resume, I doubt that's a great plan. I think a three-year gap on your resume would be a big red flag. Plus, I'd still be more impressed by a JD than just a paralegal certificate.
posted by J. Wilson at 3:35 PM on February 9, 2011
"
Both of those, as modified, sound pretty good to me.
In response to the suggestions that you leave the JD off your resume, I doubt that's a great plan. I think a three-year gap on your resume would be a big red flag. Plus, I'd still be more impressed by a JD than just a paralegal certificate.
posted by J. Wilson at 3:35 PM on February 9, 2011
Also, paralegals in law firms sometimes work really shitty hours. I suspect you'd be fine at an in-house position, though.
posted by J. Wilson at 3:39 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by J. Wilson at 3:39 PM on February 9, 2011
I agree with J. Wilson on all points. Another reason not to leave the JD off your resume: it's eventually going to come out at some point. You can't pretend forever that it didn't happen. What are your co-workers going to say when they find out you have a JD and you've never mentioned it?
posted by pecanpies at 7:09 PM on February 9, 2011
posted by pecanpies at 7:09 PM on February 9, 2011
I don't think KRS's experience is universal. At least where I live, paralegal, legal secretary, legal assistant, law clerk, etc. are often used interchangeably and none necessarily imply any certification or special training other than on-the-job experience (some paralegals have gone through training or certificate programs, but not all by a long shot, and law clerk most commonly refers to a law student or recent law grad, but not always). If you know the parameters of the jobs for which you're applying, then I wouldn't worry about theoretical comparisons between legal secretary and paralegal.
I think the OP isn't considering leaving off the JD because she knows, having gone to law school, that having that type of training is extremely helpful in doing any type of paralegal work (I'm currently a 2L and used to be a legal assistant. I couldn't imagine not listing the JD for any law-related job). If that's the case would go with your instinct, there.
posted by elpea at 7:50 PM on February 9, 2011
I think the OP isn't considering leaving off the JD because she knows, having gone to law school, that having that type of training is extremely helpful in doing any type of paralegal work (I'm currently a 2L and used to be a legal assistant. I couldn't imagine not listing the JD for any law-related job). If that's the case would go with your instinct, there.
posted by elpea at 7:50 PM on February 9, 2011
I think the OP isn't considering leaving off the JD because she knows, having gone to law school, that having that type of training is extremely helpful in doing any type of paralegal work (I'm currently a 2L and used to be a legal assistant. I couldn't imagine not listing the JD for any law-related job).
Yes, it would make no sense to leave off the JD. You're applying to legal jobs; you want them to know you have a legal education, not assume you spent those 3 years doing nothing! This isn't even close.
posted by John Cohen at 8:12 PM on February 9, 2011
Yes, it would make no sense to leave off the JD. You're applying to legal jobs; you want them to know you have a legal education, not assume you spent those 3 years doing nothing! This isn't even close.
posted by John Cohen at 8:12 PM on February 9, 2011
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It seems to me that saying "I took the bar X times and couldn't pass it, so I don't plan to try again" would convince anyone who could be convinced.
posted by toomuchpete at 1:56 PM on February 9, 2011