Paralegal Jobs
Paralegal Jobs
Considered working in the legal field as a paralegal? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more.
I work in the legal field as a paralegal. Well, sometimes anyway. I’m a jack of all trades in the office where I work. I jokingly say that I work as a counselor, receptionist, secretary and motivational coach too. If I had to describe myself in three adjectives I’d say that I am sarcastic, opinionated and hard-working. Maybe I shouldn’t describe myself? Seriously, I work in a legal office and I deal with divorce issues all day. You need to have a strange sense of humor or I guess you will burn out. I’ve been working in this field for around 5 years.
I got started in this field in a sort of crazy way. I was laid up after surgery on my knee and I was going stir crazy. My friend, who is a lawyer mentioned that his secretary just quit and asked me to fill in. I did fill in for her and I found that I really did like the work. I decided to go back to school to get my paralegal degree to help out with the ever increasing workload. If I could go back and do it differently, maybe I’d choose to not have needed knee surgery, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing.
What is the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job? You are kidding, right? I see strange every day. Half of the strange stuff, I don’t even think that you could put it in print. Let’s just say that if business ever declines here, I could have my own reality show based upon everything I’ve seen and heard.
I get up and go to work each day because I enjoy helping people. The practice where I work deals with all sorts of people. I really enjoy helping people who are trying to make a better life for their kids and themselves. For example, I was able to help an abused woman fill out a protection from abuse order and encourage her to go to court to get the help that she needed. That was years ago and she is now living in another state and has a great life. I remember how scared she was back then. To look at her now! Those things make me feel good and proud to do what I do. Those are the reasons why I keep on going.
There are a number of things that make me want to quit. For example, we had a male client who I knew was lying. I can’t tell you how I knew, but I just knew. He eventually got custody of his kids and they got into trouble after the custody switch. It was and still is an awful situation. I did my job and I filed the paperwork that I needed to file. However, things like that are really hard on you and really make you evaluate your goals, your life and ask some difficult questions.
I’d say that my job is pretty stressful, which is probably why I have developed a sarcastic sense of humor to deal with it. Or, perhaps I was always like this and the job just made me moreso. At any rate, some days are down right difficult. Mondays are usually bad because people have had all weekend to think about their case and they call on Monday morning to discuss things. Usually, when I go home, I sit for a while and just do nothing and try to forget about the crazy and stupid things that happened. That sounds really negative! Having said that though, I also have to say that I really do love my job overall. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. Being a paralegal may be stressful and difficult at times, but I enjoy it. I am doing an important job and helping people in a very important way. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
This is a true career story as told to JustJobs.com and is one of many interviews with people who work in the legal and penal system, including a Lead Criminal Attorney and a Jailhouse Teacher, and more!
