5 Insider Tips for Legal Staffers to Maximize Success

Summary

Legal Staffers Sound Off is an article that examines the career perspectives of legal staff members, highlighting their successes and frustrations. The article showcases a number of legal staff members who have made a conscious decision to pursue the career of their choice, despite the sometimes challenging nature of the legal field.


Legal Staffers Sound Off looks at the advantages and drawbacks of working in the legal field, as well as the satisfaction of choosing their own career path. The article delves into the experiences of various legal staff members, including lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries, business analysts, and other legal professionals. By exploring the personal perspectives of these staff members, the article presents an important insight into the day to day reality of the legal profession.

From the perspective of the legal staff members in the article, the profession brings with it many benefits. Not only do the staff members frequently find fulfillment with their chosen profession, but they often report feeling a greater degree of job security. Furthermore, legal staff members often find their work to be highly rewarding, as they are able to help others through their work.

On the other hand, the article also acknowledges some of the challenges that often come with the legal field. According to the staff members profiled in the article, there can be significant pressure and stress due to the nature of the work. Moreover, many staff members feel as though they are unable to take career breaks or vacations due to the long hours they are required to put in.

Ultimately, the article explains that the staff members surveyed found their work to be rewarding and personally fulfilling, but also frequently stressful. The article drives home the importance of staff members to take care of their health and wellness, as the legal field can be quite demanding. Those interested in working in the legal profession can gain insight into the realities of the field through Legal Staffers Sound Off.
 

Legal Staffers Voice Their Concerns

The legal staffing industry has been faced with a number of obstacles since the economic downturn of 2008. One of the most pressing issues for legal staff is diminished job security, as uncertain economic times make it difficult for legal recruiters to predict the availability of jobs. Legal staff are also experiencing greater competition for open positions, as well as a more competitive job market.
 

Legal Staffers Worried About Job Security

Legal staff have grown increasingly concerned about job security in an uncertain economic environment. A number of companies have cut back on the number of legal staff they hire, and those who keep their jobs are often asked to work longer hours. In some cases, fundamental job duties may be altered to accommodate the changing needs of the business. This can be a source of stress for legal staffers.
 

Competition For Open Jobs Increasing

With many law firms and companies cutting back on the number of legal staff they hire, competition for available jobs is intensifying. This can be a major challenge for legal staff, who must find ways to stand out in an increasingly crowded field. Legal staff must take extra steps to show potential employers that they are the best person for the job.
 

Professionals Looking For Ways To Stand Out

In order to get ahead in the legal staffing industry, professionals must find ways to distinguish themselves from other jobseekers. For example, legal staff can demonstrate their expertise by researching the law and staying up to date on the latest legal developments. Experienced legal staff can also highlight the ways in which their experience may be beneficial to a potential employer.
 

Employers Seeking Experienced Professionals

Legal staffing firms and employers alike are becoming more selective when hiring legal staff, focusing more on experience and practical legal knowledge. Employers are increasingly seeking individuals who possess a thorough understanding of the law and are able to apply it in real-world settings. This is why legal staff must demonstrate their knowledge and skills in order to gain an edge over other applicants.

Since I work as a paralegal, how can LawCrossing assist me in my search when its focus seems to be on employment opportunities for lawyers?
Jenny Z., Experienced Paralegal

Actually, LawCrossing provides opportunities for attorneys, legal staff and law students, in addition to other legal professionals like accountants, and patent agents. Log on and you can find anywhere from 1000-3000 jobs for paralegals alone, all posted within the last month.

I'm looking for a Legal Nurse Consultant job. Are these positions in high demand? What is the market like right now for people in my area?
Greta H., Nurse

Nurse consultants are fairly high in demand, especially those with practical experience. To research your prospects, start with a keyword search for "Nurse" on LawCrossing. You can also search the legal departments of large healthcare providers for openings.

I have been a legal secretary for the past 15 years for criminal attorneys; however there are very few listings for attorneys that are looking for a secretary with the background in criminal law. How can I find a job using my background?
Clarissa M.

Usually, legal employers value experience and professionalism when it comes to hiring legal staff, but do not focus on the type of experience. Most legal staff jobs will not list what sort of experience they require. We suggest you apply to jobs that meet your experience range, if you are not looking for criminal law-related jobs only. If you are focused only on getting criminal law-related jobs, a good start is to find firms that handle criminal law cases, and apply for jobs there, even if they do not advertise an opening. Busy law firms are often looking for an extra pair of hands, and I am sure someone with your level of experience will have no trouble.

I am wondering if it will hurt me to make a counteroffer to an employment offer in terms of pay. I have been told that you should always ask for more money. Is this true?
Patrick F., Recent Graduate

Well my personal research into interviewing and job searching says that it is not a good idea to ask for anything at the get go in order to obtain an edge over the competition. For most legal staff jobs, you ought to do some research online, to figure out what the range of pay is for the type of job you want, and the type of firm or business you are applying to. Remember that pay tends to be higher in certain regions, and tends to be higher for private vs. public jobs. Furthermore, the benefits a job offers also factor into the pay. If you feel that the pay offered is much lower than the standard your research has revealed, you may negotiate at the time of the offer. However, a better alternative is asking for an increase after the employer has seen your work. This is probably the best way to go, especially for a recent graduate.

Should I apply for a position that says "experience preferred, but not required"? I most likely have the skills for the position. What would you suggest?
Elena P.

Yes! Absolutely! "Experience preferred" means that the employer would like to hire someone that doesn't require too much training, but will work with an entry-level person who will be able to do the job at hand. In fact, jobs that list experience preferred are often entry-level jobs, with most applicants being entry-level.