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Career or Transitory...Which Road is the Best?

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published August 13, 2007

Mahsa Khalilifar

After graduating from Brown University in Rhode Island in 1998, at the age of 21, Lais got a job working for a real estate development law firm. He worked for the firm for a little over three years. In 2001, Lais decided to move to California, specifically San Francisco. In his mid 20s, making decent money, and going through life changes, Lais was still unsure about law school. Once he saw the hours that attorneys were keeping, he decided to keep on working as a paralegal in litigation. He landed a job at Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, and worked for the firm for four years, first as a senior paralegal and then as a paralegal manager.

Last summer, in 2006, Lais left Lieff Cabraser to get his master's degree in international law and human rights from the University for Peace, a creation of the United Nations General Assembly, in Costa Rica. "I wanted a year of international experience," Lais explained. He also wanted to "explore the culture" and improve his Spanish.

Lais is now back in San Francisco and finishing his master's thesis. He is currently temping at the firm Andrus, Liberty & Anderson. He recently offered some advice on the pros and cons of different types of paralegal work, mainly about where the transitory and career-oriented paths will lead you in the paralegal profession:

The Advantages of Transitory Paralegal Work:

legal experience
an opportunity to determine if the industry is the right one for you
will be able to see if law school is for you
sample job opportunities, often with no prior experience

The Disadvantages of Transitory Paralegal Work:

low pay
If you're not going to stay in legal, it might be perceived as a dead spot on your resume down the road.
not enough time in the industry to really advance or develop a full breadth of skills
can be more of a challenge

The Advantages of Career Paralegal Work:

chance to make great money and work reasonable hours
skill set that can transfer to just about any geography in the U.S.
strengthen writing and communication skills
develop client relations and customer service skills
working with attorneys so much, developing an infinite supply of patience!

The Disadvantages of Career Paralegal Work:

few opportunities to advance into other positions in the legal industry
You'll find you'll constantly explain to your friends what it is that you do.
The constant need to keep up with advancements in technology, court rules, and industry practices leaves one at risk of becoming obsolete unless one continues to learn and develop.

Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!