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Getting a Paralegal Job

Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!

published April 11, 2014

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

Getting a paralegal job typically requires advance planning. Begin now, in your first semester, by taking steps so that when you graduate you are prepared to actively seek employment.

Self-assessment

Begin by assessing your current job skills. What have you done in the past that would be valuable to future employers? Do you have office skills? Have you been responsible for a budget? Have you had experience in managing or training others? Have you been responsible for planning activities? Have you been in positions requiring others to depend on you? Have you received any recognition or been promoted because of what you have accomplished? Do you speak any languages other than English? Have you traveled extensively? Do you have expertise in any particular field or do you have a hobby that requires special skills?

In doing this assessment include volunteer work, school activities, and parental responsibilities. Include anything you have done that demonstrates your ability to show initiative and be responsible, timely, dependable, competent, and creative. Remember that everyone has to get that first job in the legal field. Most employers do not expect everyone they hire to have years of legal experience. But you will have to convince them you have the potential to be an employee they can rely on to perform every task to the best of your ability, to ask questions when you do not understand, to take directions, to be punctual, to be self-reliant and thorough, and to take criticism graciously.

Once you have assessed your current bank of skills, have a paralegal instructor, someone employed in the legal field, or a college career counselor, ask them for an evaluation. Ask this individual to assess your strengths and weaknesses and recommend actions you might take to remedy any deficiencies. If, for example, your computer skills need improvement, you should certainly take classes now to become proficient. Almost all paralegals work on the computer daily, so most law firms will not even consider your application if you do not have basic skills. By the same token, consider expanding whatever computer skills you currently have. Even those attorneys who are marginally computer literate themselves are acutely aware of the value that computers bring to the legal process and actively recruit paralegals who can perform essential computer tasks.

Use the following questions to help you assess your current computer skills.
  1. Can you type? How many words per minute?
     
  2. Are you proficient in using a computer keyboard?
     
  3. Are you proficient with a word processor? If so, which one and which version?
     
  4. Are you accustomed to using a Macintosh or a PC?
     
  5. With what operating system are you most familiar?
     
  6. Do you know how to use a scanner?
     
  7. Are you familiar with any optical character recognition (OCR) programs? If so, which ones?
     
  8. Can you create a table of cases with your word processor?
    United States
     
  9. Are you familiar with the search and replace functions?
     
  10. Are you familiar with any of the following software programs?

    (a) Summation

    (b) TimeSlips

    (c) Abacus

    (d) Excel
     
  11. If not, are you familiar with any other timekeeping, document management, database management, spreadsheet, or accounting programs?
Communication skills are also essential in the legal arena. If your written or oral communication skills are somewhat shaky, use the time you are in school to rebuild or expand these skills. Paralegals with excellent writing skills invariably progress faster and further than those with marginal skills. Paralegals that are verbally articulate almost always stand out in the minds of their supervising attorneys, especially because many attorneys have carefully polished their own verbal skills. Instead of avoiding classes that require writing, verbal presentations, and independent thinking, seek them out.

Finally, if you have not had any experience working in an office setting, consider taking business classes that teach the basic elements of telephone etiquette and professionalism. Knowing how to function in a business environment is not an innate skill and must be acquired through training or experience. Once you have reviewed your skills and visited with an advisor, prepare a resume and date it each semester. This will give you a baseline from which to expand your skills.

Looking for paralegal jobs in your local area? Click here.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

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.
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!

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