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Alternatives to Law Firms for Paralegal Jobs

published February 18, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
Published By
( 124 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Corporations

When you work in the in-house legal department of a corporation, you will probably deal with some of the corporate law topics I talked about earlier and also with the law of the specific industry you are in. On the corporate side, you may assist the corporate attorneys with employee contracts and benefit plans, shareholder agreements, and stock option plans. You may send notices of meetings and take minutes at those meetings.

In addition, you will work in the area of the law that relates to your corporation. It is the responsibility of the legal department to stay on top of all the government regulations that relate to your business, such as antitrust, environmental, and equal employment opportunity, as well as any rules that relate more directly to your industry, such as banking or insurance regulations. Most in-house legal departments are too small to handle all of the legal issues that arise, so you'll be working with outside counsel in some cases.

When you work as a paralegal for a corporation, the company is your client. That's your only client, so you don't have to worry about billable hours. (Which doesn't mean you don't have to account for your working time!) And although unusual things can always happen if there is a lawsuit under way, most of the time you'll work regular, nine-to-five hours. This can be a very important perk if you have a family. Of course, because you only have one client, you will have less variety than if you had several clients in a law firm. Some people find that it becomes boring after a while. On the other hand, it allows you to become an expert in a particular area of the law, such as banking or insurance or manufacturing. If you feel after a few years that you are ready to move on, you will be in a position to present yourself as an expert, and that can only enhance your job possibilities.

A rather new trend in small corporations is to have a legal department that consists only of a paralegal, although it's rarely called the legal department. Most often the legal assistant will work in human resources or as an assistant to one of the higher-ranking officers. One of the main reasons companies do this is that much of what legal departments do doesn't require an attorney. Taking the minutes at a board meeting, for example, does not involve the practice of law. And when a lawyer is needed, it may be cheaper for the company to hire outside counsel to do the final version of the work. So the paralegal can, for example, draft an employment agreement that fits the needs of the business, and an outside attorney can verify the legal points. Paralegals in these kinds of positions are also responsible for recognizing when outside counsel is needed.

The title of such jobs may not always be paralegal or legal assistant. It may be something like "special assistant to the president" or "human resources specialist." You need to look closely at the job description to realize that the job requires someone with paralegal training.

Government

If you go to work for the government, the kinds of duties and responsibilities you have will depend on what department or agency you work for. Some possibilities include the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior, the Environ mental Protection Agency, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Immigration Service. Many of these agencies have state corollaries, although the names may be different. In addition to all of the departments and agencies, there are the court systems, both federal and state. There, you could work in the offices of the district attorney or public defender. In the courts themselves, there are positions such as court administrator, which involves managing the court's docket and personnel and perhaps conducting research for the judge. Other government positions that may not use the term paralegal or legal assistant in the title include export compliance specialist, a person who investigates commodities and data being exported outside the U.S., and patent examiner, a person who assists in determining if certain inventions are eligible for patent.

Working for the government provides great job security and other benefits. In the legal field, the pay usually starts out higher than in the private sector but caps at a lower level. Getting a government job involves a lot of red tape; whether federal, state, or local, government jobs usually have strict evaluation and hiring guidelines. You have to follow the procedures exactly; there's usually no way for an employer to "give you a break" if you don't.

Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit organizations that hire paralegals may be advocacy groups, such as poverty law organizations that provide legal services to disadvantaged persons, or activist groups, such as environmental, women's, or civil rights groups. Often the same group will participate in both activities. For the most part, people who work for these organizations do so because they believe in the cause; the pay usually isn't all that good. The non-monetary rewards of these jobs are significant, however. Nonprofits, although they are serious about the work they do, can rarely be described as stuffy. Usually the office environment is quite casual, and the staff is open to new ideas.

Advocacy nonprofit organizations include groups such as Legal Services Corporation (LSC), a private corporation that was established by Congress in 1974 to provide equal access to the law for impoverished Americans. It seems that Congress threatens to eliminate funding for LSC every year, but so far, it's still around. LSC offices are usually strapped for money, as is true of most nonprofits. They occasionally hire paralegals, but they are perhaps better sources for volunteer internships. If you do decide to work for a nonprofit, you may find the work stressful at times, but when you are working for a cause you believe in, it's very rewarding.

As with corporate jobs, sometimes nonprofits won't be looking for a paralegal, but your training will nonetheless qualify you for the position they are trying to fill. If you are committed to working for a nonprofit group, keep your eyes open for all sorts of job titles.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.

published February 18, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left
( 124 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.