He had been considering a career change for some time and talking to friends about their professions. When computers replaced several of Patriss' former colleagues, he knew it was time to move on.
"That was pretty much the nail in the coffin," he said. "I knew that the TV industry was expanding a little too quickly. It's going through a lot of changes, and it was just—I didn't want to get caught without a job. I knew I had to do something a bit more reliable."
One of Patriss' close friends was Mathew Laskowski (see last week's profile). Patriss had always enjoyed hearing about Laskowski's career and began quizzing him more and more about the paralegal profession. He was impressed by Laskowski's career and decided he wanted to explore the profession.
"I started researching schools, and I spent a lot of time talking to my friend Mat, saying what should I do to become a paralegal," he said. "I told him, 'I'm thinking about this. Convince me not to do this, and tell me all the ups and downs of what it's like to be a paralegal.' And at the end of it all, I still wanted to do it."
Patriss, 28, was well advised and chose an American Bar Association-approved program at Northern Essex Community College. It was over an hour's commute each way from his home, and he studied the law for two years at night.
"I think it paid off because the courses were so intense," he said. "They really immerse you. My legal research and writing class—we were actually doing research in the library and online. They were teaching us all these important things. We were drafting motions for summary judgment, not just the motion itself, but the memorandum in support of it."
Now Patriss works as a litigation paralegal with Boston firm Dwyer & Collora, handling white-collar-defense cases in health care law and employment law. Most of his time recently has been devoted to a complex pharmaceutical case, which is still in the investigation phase.
"At the end of the day, working as a paralegal, I feel like I've accomplished something and I'm a part of a team that's making a difference in something," he said. "Decisions that courts make could be based upon decisions that are reached because of something that I helped with. That appealed to me."
Patriss recently joined the Massachusetts Paralegal Association and said he looks forward to becoming more involved in the profession outside his office. He joined the firm a year and a half ago.
He said he was encouraged by looking at job boards for paralegals, as opposed to television production. TV jobs were few, especially outside epicenters like Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Patriss and his wife wanted to stay in the New England area near their friends and family. He said there were countless job openings for paralegals in the Boston area and he lucked out with Dwyer & Collora, a respected mid-sized Boston firm.
"Actually, some of my technical experience in TV, I worked a lot with computers too, so it's kind of helped out," he said. "I guess since I grew up with them [computers], I'm a lot more familiar; and that's really paid off."
Patriss, who studies karate and judo and says the meditation is a great stress relief, said he has considered going to law school, but thinks he'll stick with the paralegal profession, which he considers "very fulfilling." Asking a lot of questions, he said, is the secret to a successful start at a firm.
When asked if anything about his new profession surprised him, Patriss said no, that he felt well prepared after earning his certificate. The only surprise, perhaps, is how much he enjoys the work.
"At the end of the day, working as a paralegal, I feel like I'm—it sounds a little cliché—but I'm part of something that's making a difference," he said. "In TV production, I was working with live news, and I can appreciate getting the news out to people and keeping people informed. But this feels bigger."
