Why Paralegals Prefer Non-Traditional Career

Many paralegals working in a corporate legal department have numerous reasons for pursuing a non-traditional career. One of the most obvious is the opportunity to work for only one client (the corporation) rather than for the multiple clients of a law firm. "When you work in a law firm you have to divide your loyalty and time among your clients and projects. Whereas when you work for the client, as I do, you don't have that division in your interest. All my energies can be given to my one client..." (Janis Jones)

Like other non-traditional paralegals, these paralegals enjoy a higher level of freedom and responsibility than they would have in a law firm. "I think I probably have more responsibilities and less supervision than the paralegal friends I have in law firms. I have more freedom and less supervision, sometimes to the point of it being a little scary." (Yvonne Barlow) "I work with a high level of responsibility, with a low level of supervision, which makes it challenging." (Jones)

Sometimes paralegals in corporate legal departments have such a high level of responsibility that they actually perform many tasks that traditionally were of the corporate attorneys. "What makes my job so interesting and challenging is that until about three years ago the job that I currently do, along with two other paralegals, was performed by an attorney. At that time management decided that these cases could be managed and administered by paralegals with attorney supervision." (Jones)
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Other reasons for pursuing a paralegal career within a corporation are the pay, hours, benefits, and physical environment a corporation can offer. "It's a great company, there are good benefits... we have insurance... paid vacation and holidays... a tuition refund program... profit sharing, stock investment, retirement savings, credit union... a company store... an employee discount..." (Rosie Odum) "Also it's beautiful out here. This is just a really nice environment to work in. I got the same pay, I negotiated my extra week of vacation, and have similar benefits. So I felt that all in all I came out ahead." (Barlow)

Some of these paralegals also reap the benefits of a structured career ladder. "... the best benefit is the opportunity to advance ... You have to work for two years as an associate paralegal before you can move up to the paralegal level.... An associate paralegal is a level 19, a paralegal is level 21, and a senior paralegal is level 23." (Odum) "When I started I was called legal assistant. After about two years I was promoted to senior legal assistant." (Jones)

However, many enjoy their jobs so much that they aren't particularly concerned about moving up a career ladder. "I'm content to do what I do now. I'm not looking for 'advancement' in terms of changing positions and moving up." (Barlow) "That's what it really comes down to in my mind- -that you're fairly compensated for doing your job well day in and day out. So the fact that there's not upward mobility where I am now is not necessarily a negative." (Jones)

Happiness in their work is expressed by this group of paralegals. "I think you should go for what you want and always be happy at what you're doing. If you're not happy, you won't do the job well. If you're happy and willing to step out and learn more, opportunities will come." (Odum) "... you should be happy in your job. That's the most important thing of all. The money's not important, the vacation's not important because if all of those hours that you spend on the job are not fulfilling, you're missing the boat. That's my plan-- just to enjoy it as long as it's fun. When it's not fun anymore, if it becomes not fun anymore, I will look elsewhere. I tell people life is too short not to enjoy what you're doing." (Barlow)
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