Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
š¬Career Video
šKey Responsibilities
- ā¢Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- ā¢Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- ā¢Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- ā¢Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- ā¢Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- ā¢Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
š”Inside This Career
The paralegal supports legal workāresearching cases, drafting documents, organizing files, and performing the substantive tasks that enable attorneys to practice effectively. A typical day involves conducting legal research, preparing documents for court filings, organizing case materials, communicating with clients, and managing the administrative complexity that legal matters require. Perhaps 40% of time goes to research and writingāfinding relevant cases, drafting motions and contracts, and preparing the materials that attorneys refine and sign. Another 30% involves document management: organizing files, maintaining databases, and ensuring the information that cases require is accessible. The remaining time splits between client communication, court filing logistics, and supporting attorneys in meetings and depositions. The work requires precisionālegal deadlines are absolute, and errors have consequences.
People who thrive as paralegals combine legal knowledge with organizational skills and tolerance for the supporting role that the position involves. Successful paralegals develop expertise that makes them indispensable to attorneys while maintaining the attention to detail that legal work demands. They build relationships with attorneys that allow substantive contribution to case strategy. Those who struggle often find the supporting nature of the role frustrating when they possess skills comparable to attorneys or cannot maintain the precision that legal work requires. Others fail because they cannot manage the stress of legal deadlines and the high-stakes nature of the work. Burnout affects those who absorb attorney stress or who cannot maintain work-life balance during intensive case periods.
The paralegal profession has grown substantially as law firms have recognized the efficiency of delegating substantive work to trained non-lawyers. Professional organizations have elevated the field's status and credentials. The role appears occasionally in popular cultureā*Erin Brockovich* featured the most famous paralegal portrayal. Legal dramas often show paralegals supporting attorney protagonists. The profession represents a path to meaningful legal work without the investment and competition of law school.
Practitioners cite the satisfaction of contributing to legal outcomes and the intellectual engagement of legal work as primary rewards. The compensation relative to training required is reasonable. The work provides exposure to interesting cases and legal strategy. The career offers more work-life balance than attorney positions in many settings. Common frustrations include the glass ceiling that limits advancement without law degrees and the attribution of work to attorneys who sign what paralegals drafted. Many resent being treated as administrative support when their work is substantive. The stress of legal deadlines and demanding attorneys creates pressure. The work can become repetitive in some practice areas.
This career typically develops through paralegal education programsāeither certificate programs or associate or bachelor's degrees in paralegal studiesāthough some paralegals learn entirely on the job. Certification through NALA or NFPA provides credentials. The role suits those who want legal work without law school and can tolerate the supporting nature of the position. It is poorly suited to those who need to be the decision-maker, find detail work tedious, or struggle with high-pressure deadline environments. Compensation is solid and stable, with higher rates in major markets and specialized practice areas.
šCareer Progression
šEducation & Training
Requirements
- ā¢Entry Education: Bachelor's degree
- ā¢Experience: One to two years
- ā¢On-the-job Training: One to two years
- !License or certification required
Time & Cost
š¤AI Resilience Assessment
AI Resilience Assessment
High Exposure + Stable: AI is transforming this work; role is evolving rather than disappearing
How much of this job involves tasks AI can currently perform
Likelihood that AI replaces workers vs. assists them
(BLS 2024-2034)
How much this role relies on distinctly human capabilities
š»Technology Skills
āKey Abilities
š·ļøAlso Known As
šRelated Careers
Other careers in legal
š¬What Workers Say
49 testimonials from Reddit
Mother "Doesn't Recall" the 2 Decades her Son was in Prison
Since everyone seemed to enjoy my last post about the awesome response (basically a smoking gun) I got from my subpoena to Disney, I thought I'd share my all-time favorite paralegal story. The circumstances were tragic: a homeless man, mid-40's, was hit by our Insured and killed. Insured swore up and down he jumped in front of her car at the last minute and, honestly, I believe her. However, she had been convicted in the past for perjury (it was bad, made the news and everything), so we did NOT want to put her on the stand at trial. Clearly, no jury would believe her. Decedent's mother filed a lawsuit on behalf of herself and her granddaughter. The adjuster did a claims search and a basic background search and even used the in-house investigator to do a cursory search, but didn't find anything, so it looked like this was going to be a pretty bad case - a wrongful death suit where the driver had a high limit policy plus an umbrella policy. I'm fortunate enough that my firm will NOT take cases where we feel it would be unethical to pursue - like if the Insured had been drinking, we'd tell the adjuster to either pay out or find another law firm. But the adjuster came to us and said something about this case "just seemed fishy" so he wanted to proceed with litigation, at least through discovery. Investigate? Sure, my favorite! First weird thing was the fact that the Deceased's mother (Plaintiff) filed this suit on behalf of herself and her granddaughter - but the mother of the daughter wasn't involved and wouldn't give permission for us to depose her minor daughter (a preteen, so not that young). But the Complaint alleged as damage the loss of a father figure, role model, and filial support - were we just supposed to accept that without evidence? But we just figured that's a problem for another day. So just a little weird, not a red flag or anything. Second part that was also a little weird (though less so) was how I couldn't seem to find any criminal records for the Decedent. Not to be judgmental or anything, but he was homeless for over 2.5 years and it just seemed odd that he was capable of working and earning a living so he could afford a home but just ...didn't? And I really believed he jumped in front of the car, so I thought he might've been high on drugs. I send FOIA to the Sheriff's Dept for that county as well as the surrounding ones, and I got back nearly 500 pages - but it was mostly incidental things relating to homeless camps, asking him about other crimes that happened in the camps, a few trespasses issued, and offering him rehab - and no arrests. So, seemed a bit odd but more like "it is what it is" sort of thing. Then we get back Plaintiff's answers to interrogatories - we ask the standard model questions, so of course one of them asked if the Decedent had ever been convicted of a crime. Her exact response: "Not that I recall." Verified and under oath. I don't know why, but that phrasing seemed fishy to me. As was the fact that she "couldn't recall" his exact address prior to him moving down to this state nearly 3 years ago. Attorney said she'd ask about it at Plaintiff's depo the following week, but it just irked me, ya know? Why phrase it that way? Why not say just 'yes, he was arrested,' or 'no, he wasn't'? So I started investigating - I call it "going down a rabbit hole," where I suddenly look at the clock, realize I spent the last few hours or half a day on following less than a lead, when I should've been dealing with the million responses and filings and other stuff I have to do. So I wasn't expecting to find much, and the only "leads" I had was the death certificate listing his father being back up north, as well as listing the city where he was born. State and county courts don't bring up a single case, and I wasted more time trying the surrounding states and counties with no success, and that's normally when I would've given up. But for kicks, I started googling the Deceased's name, including variations, with those locations and up come a few articles from 1998-ish (one was literally AOL News, these were very archived) about a guy with a similar name (think "Jon" instead of "Jonathan" or "Will" instead of "William") *robbing a bank and leading the police on a high-speed chase*. There's no way that's the same guy, right? I mean, the adjuster would've found this - right? RIGHT?! So now I know to look at federal cases! I hop on PACER, find the right district, type in his last name, first initial, and DOB, and WOWZA! Turns out, he was convicted of armed robbery in 2000-ish, sentenced to 20 years, paroled after serving 12, at which point he kidnapped a minor, brought her over state lines, made terroristic threats, and committed assault and battery. Because it involved state lines, it was again federal and they ultimately didn't even pursue most of these new, additional charges in exchange for him having to serve the remaining years on his 20 year original sentence - no parole, no early release. So when he got out, he had no probation and that's when he decided to leave the state and move to our state. (Also based on this timeline, his daughter was clearly conceived during that crime spree - so I'm not sure, but can guess why his daughter's mother didn't want to be involved in the lawsuit. Probably also the reason they didn't pursue the new charges, to avoid her testifying as a victim - but again, I'm just speculating.) I immediately sent an FOIA request to the prison he served at and while I couldn't get most of what I wanted without a subpoena, I did get the correspondence log, showing who he got letters and packages from. Guess who wrote her son *EVERY SINGLE WEEK* for those 20 years (minus the brief time he was out and on a crime spree)? The depo, according to my attorney, started off with her asking the Plaintiff multiple times if she was sure her son had never been arrested. "I don't recall." She confirmed that a mother would remember that sort of thing though, right? Like if she were to write someone, especially a son, in prison, she'd remember writing the letter, addressing an envelope, stamping it, and putting it in the mail to go to a state or federal prison, right? "I guess." What if there were multiple letters? That would be more memorable, right? "I guess so, but I don't recall doing that." At which point, my attorney apparently pulled up on screen the correspondence log and - while scrolling through page after page after page - said something along the lines of, "You don't remember writing your son every single week, plus each holiday, every year FOR TWENTY YEARS?! That's about 55 times a year, or approximately 1,100 times. You don't remember sending 1,100 cards and letters to your own son, addressed to a federal prison? And remember, you ARE under oath." Her attorney immediately called for a break, so there was no response to that question. When the depo resumed, he objected to the correspondence log being introduced as evidence. Attorney continued, saying a judge would rule on it later, and went thru it, wanting to know why there were no letters or correspondence from his daughter? After threatening to get phone records and visitation logs, Plaintiff admitted granddaughter never once saw or communicated with her dad while he was locked up. "So after, when he moved to an entirely new state, how often did she see him?" Well, apparently they called and FaceTimed - but she couldn't provide when, how frequently, or any proof he ever paid a cent of child support or other contribution to the child. After stating we'd subpoena phone records, Plaintiff admitted she never saw them talk on the phone or saw them FaceTime, nor is she sure her son had an iPhone, but "she's sure" they had "some sort of relationship." Attorney asked for evidence and I was literally drafting a new Request for Production as this was going on, requesting a lot of the above, that was filed immediately after the deposition. (Edit to add: Plaintiff moved to our state in the early 90's, and of course media coverage from then isn't archived as well as it is today, so in the 5 days from when we discovered his criminal history and when her depo was held, we couldn't prove she was in court at the sentencing or trial or anything. I'm sure we could see if she spoke at sentencing, but that turned out to be unnecessary). Case was settled the next day - for one tenth of the main policy limits, the majority to be held in a trust for the granddaughter (that was our condition and apparently this got some push back from Plaintiff, but her own attorney seemed like he wasn't going to put up his client anymore). Adjuster was thrilled but also impressed that our office found this information that neither he nor their background investigator did. Kept asking, "how did you know to dig in that small county in a state 1,000 miles away?" Well, I didn't. It was literally just the way she answered that single interrogatory, "Not that I recall," that was the only thing that seemed odd. In conjunction with all the other things, yeah, it makes sense in hindsight - why he didn't have a LOCAL criminal record, why we couldn't depose the daughter or daughter's mother, even why he was homeless (since it's hard for felons to be employed), but those things individually weren't suspicious. I just can't believe a mother wouldn't "recall" if her only child was ever arrested. I still go down rabbits holes, but they've never been as successful as this one. Lemme know if you want more stories like these, it's cases like this one that make me love my job!
āYouāre too smart to be just a paralegalā
I went on a date. The guy told me he was in law school. We chatted for a while and he asked what I did. I told him I am a legal assistant and in school to be a paralegal. He asked what school was like. I told him I wanted the classes to be accredited and told him what classes I was taking. āWow. I have taken some of those.ā āWell, theyāre at an undergraduate level. Iām sure the ones you took went way deeper.ā āDo you want to go to law school?ā āItās a lot of money and I have to work. I canāt imagine how that would be possible. Besides, I like my job.ā We chatted a little longer and he asked me again why I donāt want to go to law school. I told him the same thing. āItās a shame. Youāre too smart to be just a paralegal.ā JUST a paralegal??? I was floored. I, of course, had to respond to that. āWell IF you pass the bar, youāll be wanting a smart paralegal.ā Needless to say, he did not get a second date.
Left my "family" firm, got money.
I worked for the same form for 10 years. Loved it. We were a "family," they said. We'll take of you, they said. We're a team, they said. Then they: ~ Guilted me about using my PTO ~ Told me I was replaceable ~ Changed their firm policy to reduce the max amount of PTO I can earn ~ Declined to give me a pay raise after 6 years without one ~ Didn't acknowledge when I hit 10 years with the company (their longest standing employee other than the owner) ~ Declined to give me a 4th week of PTO when I hit 10 years So. I left. For a 20% raise and a flexible schedule. Been here less than a year and got an additional 8% increase today. I loved that place. I was dedicated and loyal, I had turned down several offers over the years from competitors paying more because of that loyalty. That was stupid. Please learn from my dumbassery. That is all.
Disney May Help Win My Case
Insurance defense paralegal here; I get to do a lot of investigating that I enjoy. Recent case is a guy who fell getting out of his truck - nothing slippery, so I'm not sure how we're liable, but he fell on his back and fractured a vertebrae. Suit alleges lost wages, loss of ability to earn, etc. One of his "main" damages alleged is the fact that he (purportedly) gained a lot of weight while recovering due to his inability to work out and had to get rid of his cosplay costumes, some that were custom-made and expensive. But all together, his medical bills - without write offs, adjustments, insurance or PIP payments, just boardables - totaled about $50K. We have no proof of income let alone lost wages, so when we went to mediation last month, so we made what I thought was a very reasonable opening offer at mediation of more than that. Also, as icky as it made me feel, we did a chart of Plaintiff's weight over the past 15 years, basically proving he gained a ton of weight during the pandemic and as of the time of his most recent doctor appointment earlier this year, he was only 8 pounds heavier than he was in the DOL. (At his deposition, he was only 10 pounds heavier, so this rebuttal to his claim shouldn't have been surprising.) So basically, we didn't include "loss of costumes" (that he never gave receipts for) in our damage assessment. Mediation didn't even last an hour. Plaintiff and his attorney won't come off their 7-digit demand. (Yes, they want over a million dollars for this fall.) So I guess we're going to trial. Here's where the fun part (for me) comes in - I figured if he has all these cosplay costumes (most having to do with a galaxy far, far away) and given that we live in a state known for a certain mouse, I went on hunch he might be a pass holder and sent Disney a subpoena. Well, they delivered - not only providing every time Plaintiff went to any of their parks, and that he never once rented a wheelchair or requested accommodations, but also tons of photos! Including photos of Plaintiff on ALL the roller coasters and rides! Any time he went on something and didn't buy the photo at the end of the ride? Those were apparently all kept and provided to me today, dozens and dozens, all in glorious HD that will be fantastic to blow-up as a trial exhibit for a jury to see. Imagine needing a million dollars for your "crippling" back pain, but well enough to go to theme parks and ride roller coasters! š¢
āAll you had to do was format & doc production. Thatās the easy part.ā Cool. I resign Monday.
Hi just needing to vent. Iām the only litigation assistant/paralegal, and of course the attorney had a sudden family āemergencyā trip right when 8 discovery responses were due. She obviously waited until the very last day to serve them, because why not live on the edge? Opposing counsel maxed out interrogatories, production, and admissions for all of them. Final drafts? Got them 8 hours before the 5pm deadline. Final documents to compile? A generous 4 hours before. Add 20+ emails of cryptic instructions like, āAdd that doc, no wait ā remove it. But also keep it. And format it like I didnāt tell you.ā She CCād the office manager and another secretary to āhelpā but both were too hesitant because the emails were too confusing. I somehow managed to finalize everything 30 minutes before the deadline. But did I get the green light to print and serve? Not until 4:55pm. Her words: āServe this ASAP, I want to meet the 5pm deadline.ā Sure! Let me just teleport 8 responses and hundreds of exhibits in 5 minutes. I served the last set at 5:45pm and I am so thankful electronic service. The next day, I sent an email saying this deadline was not realistically doable, even with help (which no one felt comfortable giving because no one knew the case). I kindly asked to be given materials earlier next time. You know, basic expectations and consideration of my time and anyone else in the office that would be forced to help. Four days later, I get this response: āThere was no way I couldāve gotten these to you earlier. The clients and I did the hard part. All you had to do was format and compile. Thatās the easy part. Did you even ask for help? The 5pm deadline wasnāt met, which leads me to believe you didnāt ask for help.ā Just formatting and compilingā¦Like itās a five-minute arts & crafts project where I cut, copy, and paste. This from the same person who doesnāt know how to convert a PDF to Word, search inside a PDF, or know how to send a Zoom invitation. So after years of being dismissed, gaslit, and blamed ā Iām finally submitting my resignation Monday. Iām sure sheāll have no trouble finding someone else to do such an āeasyā job.
Email Wars
Anyone else sit back and watch an email thread that makes you go āDamn that was AGGRESSIVEā¦.ā Thatās my life today. And I may have to ignore that thread because these attorneys are stressing me out lol.
I enjoy taking PTO just to watch my attorneys burn
I genuinely love where I work ā the firm is great, my job is (mostly) enjoyable ā but my attorneys? Lord help them. Iāve got one who is *so* forgetful that if I donāt remind him, he will straight-up miss critical litigation deadlines. Likeā¦ career-ending deadlines. Then my other attorney is the exact opposite: super organized, very on top of things, but when she wants something? She wants it *yesterday.* Iāve had to remind her multiple times that I am, in fact, ONE person. Itās also a short week, the firm is closed Friday, and BOTH of them asked me if Iāll be working that day. (???) Iām also out two days next week ā which I put on their calendars AND reminded them about repeatedly ā yet somehow itās still a shock. Honestly, sometimes the best part of taking time off is watching them try to function without me. Anyone else get that chaotic little thrill?
what e-filing feels like
Me: okay everything is correct, no typos, all components present, calibrated the scanner to 0.5mm, chanted in Greek over the certificate of service, the barometer readings are favorable, optimum humidity levels, the star charts align, sacrificed a goat three weeks two days and six minutes prior to submission, injected code into the PDF that increases clerk's chances of winning the lottery by 12 percent, am wearing my lucky socks, have fasted the requisite 24 hours, triple checked that we are submitting the right document, time to hit send Rejection email two days later Rejection reason: idk the vibes were off
I think Iāve hit the jackpot
The attorney i work for is kind, patient, understanding, doesnāt procrastinate until the end of the day. Heās explicitly said he would never expect me to put my job before my children, which from what Iāve gathered is not like most attorneys. Iāve been here 4 months and already received a generous raise and was promised another one once i graduate in May. Also heās funny, like genuinely has me cracking up daily. Just wanted to share something positive here.
Well, just got my first AI hallucinated caselaw in a motion from OC
Idk how to flair this, so sorry if wrong. But HOLY SHIT! This is bad. I'm writing my response to a Motion to Set Aside. A case is cited. I see it is a 1974 case and it made me raise my eyebrow. Put it into Westlaw to see if it is current... it doesn't exist. AI Frankenstein'd a Pennsylvania Supreme Court case with a Georgia appeals case and the subject matter is no where near the subject matter. So, I start looking up the code sections cited. They are wrong. She based her Motion to Set Aside on the "lack of jurisdiction" section, which the jurisdiction is right. She mis-cited the attorney fees code section. She cited OCGA 15-6-3(23) for the motion for reconsideration.... that is not our judicial circuit!?!?!? This is all wrong. And my atty is out of town today. I dont know if I need to stop my response and my atty needs to talk with the judge on Monday. Edit: I can English. I promise. And context. Edit 2: got a text back from my atty. Her response was this "š¤¦āāļø Thanks for fact checking her! Have a good weekend!" I've never been this excited to come into work on a Monday. Edit 3 (10/7/25): So, long talk with my atty. We have two cases with this other attorney and one is more urgent. We have some motions to file in the other case because of her general assholery and they have a mediation in that case next week. She wants to sit on the AI motions and ponder her next move before making it. (Aka, she wants to see how much she shows her ass next week in mediation before she comes down on her - its either gonna be a call to the judge, motion for sanctions, scathing responses to the motions, or some combination therein).
Quitting after 1 day
So I went in for my first day and the person to train me works remotely. They came in and showed me a few things. My computer applications werenāt all running. I was given a task by the head of the firm before I started training. Because my computer didnāt work all the way the bossās son who is an attorney took over and completed the work then sealed it and handed me everything and sent me to drop it off. Later I was telling the trainer what I worked on and she checked it to find that the address of the client wasnāt included in the document. She knew i didnāt prepare it and told me not to worry. I left for lunch and told my trainer when I left and when I got back. At the time the attorney was in a meeting so I didnāt want to disturb him over my meal. I got back from lunch and the boss kinda yelled at me saying next time I need to tell him Iām leaving before i go. I told him I didnāt want to bother him during his meeting and I notified the trainer. He then ask about the task he gave me and I told him what happened he then tried to blame me but his son prepared it I just dropped it off. The trainer then tells me that she expects me to clean the office, take out trash, clean the coffee pot and kitchen, water plants, wipe down. I didnāt apply to learn to clean when thereās so much paperwork to get through. He then tells the trainer that she need to make a code for the door so that he can know when anyone gets in the office and he doesnāt want everyone using his code. Sheās never had that request for her previous paralegals and thought it was weird. As I was leaving the office he ask about my family where Iām from, if the people I live with work, if I live with my parents and my age. He then says that I can take anything and he can pick up bananas for me. I declined. Anyway I think itās worth mentioning that Iām the only black person in the office, heās Jewish and this was in Downtown Brooklyn. I would drop the name of his practice but too much. I will be turning in the keys in the morning with a set of bananas since he expressed such joy over it. Iām disappointed because I bust my butt to keep up my gpa and prep for law-school. It sometimes feels that if when I make it through the door with impressive qualities Iām still questioned.
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
Dearest Paralegals!! We are making some changes to the sub. I've been running this sub for several years now and frankly, I am exhausted with the issue of non-paralegal posts. Even with multiple mods and automod helping, we cannot keep up. The numbers of hours the other mods and I devote to this sub is honestly silly, considering we get nothing in return for it. We are always telling paralegals not to work after hours - don't work for free - and here I am doing it countless hours per week. So, non-paras, you win. I give up. Post away. No more weekly sticky thread. The trade off is that all posts must now have flair so you can weed those posts out by flair if you like. We are starting with some initial types of flair and will adjust as needed. Feel free to comment here if you have input on what post flair should be and we will take it into consideration. Now, it's a holiday weekend. Go home early. I give you permission. ETA: and now I am going on vacation for a week so if this new plan all goes to hell while Iām gone, yāall are on your own š¤£ (except the other mods will have my back!)
I finally resigned
***VENTING*** I finally did it. I quit. I work for a queen attorney 83 years of age. Sheās half blind and half deaf. Her partner attorney is also blind from cataracts. Itās literally the blind leading the blind. And everybody shouts over each other. I was 58 minutes late this morning because one of my kids needed me. I texted my boss this morning 40 minutes before my start time to tell her I would be an hour late. Oh I should have lead with the partner attorney legitimately asked me during my hiring interview if my kids would be an issue with me fulfilling my job requirements. Seriously. And he didnāt seem too concerned when I pointed out the illegality of that question. First š© I will always choose any of my kids over anything. Always. Anyways I was greeted with āYou donāt tell me youāre going to be late. You request time in advance and I either approve or deny.ā She has denied me 4 requests of time off since January 1st. Each request was a medical appointment. So I resigned. Thereās SO MUCH MORE but I donāt have the energy.
My Client Died.
Iāve been in civil law my entire career (20 something years). It wasnāt until 2023 that I got into personal injury. Specifically, premises liability. I didnāt realize how taxing this work is mentally. Especially when you connect with clients. Particularly the clients who represent estates. Itās hard. Today was my third time in 19 months that I had to step out and take a walk. The quick version is, we have a client who was sickly, particularly with diabetes. The client had an injury that caused amputations, so it was a decent sized case. Defense settled out of court for a large 6 figure sum. The problem here is the clientās treatment was through the VA. And I donāt know if anyone has experience in trying to get a VA lien, but the process is ENDLESS. It took exactly 10 months to get the lien. From October through January, my client and their spouse were living out of their car, just hoping and waiting for their settlement. They called me every day. And not in an annoying āI want my moneyā way. They were always so kind, so pleasant. But my client was always so sick. I wanted to help them badly but waiting on the VA lien tied my hands. In that time, they called me crying pretty often. It was heartbreaking. I finally was able to make the call in January. WE GOT THE LIEN! They were so happy. I expedited the entire process to get them their check. It was a victory moment not just for them, but for me too. I didnāt live through their struggles but I was sympathetic to my daily conversations with them. They are good people who deserved a place to sleep at night. Today, one month after I sent them their settlement money, my clientās spouse called me to tell me our client passed away this past weekend. I am devastated. Our client spent the last few months of life struggling to survive (and I donāt mean the illnesses) and when they finally get the means to have a sustainable life, our client died. My heart is absolutely broken for the both of them. Our client wasnāt elderly, but she was sickly. I know how to put a wall up, and prevent myself from being emotionally invested in clients, but this one really hurts. Thanks for letting me get this out.
"Hey guys, what's the job search like in Florida??" Part 2.
I love the second amendment more than some managing partners love their wives. What are some interesting application/interview questions you've been asked throughout your career?
Exposing Morgan and Morgan
Rant and warning! DO NOT WORK AT THIS COMPANY ESPECIALLY IF YOU ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH. For context: Morgan and Morgan hired me during a really dark time in my life. I had almost lost my battle to mental health and spent a year unemployed. I thought this job would be my fresh start and I was so excited to start my legal career. The interview process was easyā¦ a little too easy now I see why. Not that I wasnāt capable of the jobā¦ I just remember the interview being less than 5 minutes and honestly not my best performance. I didnāt even think I would get the job but a few hours later I get a call offering me the job. I remember thinking wow this is my second chance at life. I was hired as a case manager in training but was quickly promoted to case manager meaning I was responsible for managing my own cases from intake to settlement. That should have been the first red flag. Getting promoted despite being at the company for less than 6 months. I also noticed people abruptly leaving and putting in their 2 weeks. I have never seen a company with such a TERRIBLE turnover rate. Itās insane to watch in real time. I can estimate that at LEAST 15 people have left the company since Iāve been here. Attorneys, paralegals, case managers, receptionists etc, have just quit on the fly. The whole company is just disgusting. It has taken such a toll on my mental. Lately, I have been calling out so frequently simply due to anxiety So many factors like the work environment, the angry clients that curse you out daily, the toxic coworkers who legit gossip like little high schoolers, HR, bitchy supervisors. Itās so fucking exhausting putting on that damn mask every single day. Saying we are āFor the Peopleā is comical. The company doesnāt care about their clients or their employees. My clients have gone through several case managers and feel dismissed. Their feelings are valid. We are swamped with so many case because we hire ANYONE. The case load is ridiculous considering we have to do EVERYTHING from intake to settlement. We even have to negotiate with the adjusters wtf is that. Iām not a lawyer ( sorry Iām just ranting at this point lol). They expect you to do 300 jobs while simultaneously communicating with belligerent clients daily. The company doesnāt care about their clients unless they are significantly injured and thereās a good insurance coverage to go after. So many clients slip through the cracks because we are all burnt the fuck out and I do truly feel bad because at the end of the day, these are real people. I canāt give them my undivided attention because Iām fighting for my life as well. I canāt continue to keep living like this. The constant stress and anxiety. Colleagues spreading rumors and digging into your personal life. This is the worst company Iāve ever worked for and Iāve done retail and food service. I know my therapist HATES to see my coming because the majority of our sessions consists of me bitching about how miserable I am at this company. Iāve reached my breaking point and legit just started calling out or going in late. I could very well get fired but thatās how little I care. Iāve been applying to jobs, at this point Iāll take anything. Iām so desperate Iāve applied to jobs where I would take a pay cut. Thatās how bad I need to leave. This company legitimately relapsed me into a bad mental state again. At one point, I even lost 10 pounds from the stress and my mom had noticed. I have already been through enough trauma and this fuck ass job just takes the cake. On the bright side, Iāve finally woke up and decided Iām not stuck at this company. Truthfully, I stayed for so long because I needed the legal experience. I was afraid I wouldnāt get any callbacks from law firms but Iām slowly starting to hear back from some places. Hopefully I will be able to escape soon. Iām not even sure I respect the company enough to give them a 2 weeks notices. Anyways if you ever get into a car accident. DO NOT GO TO MORGAN AND MORGAN. I wouldnāt accept a job offer from this place unless you are in deep financial trouble and desperately need a job. Itās not worth it. Feel free to dm me with any other questions. Thanks for listening :)
I stood up to an attorney
Iāve been at this firm for less than a year and itās been toxic as hell. Maybe itās because of my lack of history here, but I immediately saw right through a female attorney who is just a plain bully. I stood up to her recently after she harassed a girl so bad she called off work for multiple days to avoid that attorney because NO ONE would say anything. This attorney recently abruptly quit because sheās burned every bridge in the office and after I had to be the one to provide her her things, which is a whole other story, I sent her a lengthy text telling her how disrespectful she is and that I hope she seeks help for her behavior. She sent that text around as if it would get me in trouble and instead everyone is patting my back now. Theyāre all like āwe were too afraid to say anything to herā or āwe always just ignored her behavior.ā But Iām just like āwhy couldnāt you say something to her?ā All these men in this office just let her treat us like dirt, among other things. I donāt want their praise. I want them to know I aināt playing in their bullshit playground. End rant lol. **EDIT TO ADD: I just want to say thank you all so much for your support. Youāre legit making me tear up. Iāve had a really hard year career-wise after taking a mental hit (and losing a good job) due to losing a baby and Iāve been questioning if Iām even a good paralegal. I love being a paralegal and donāt want to give up on this career but damn, these assholes have been making it really hard lately. Thank you everyone, may we all kick butt and stand up for ourselves, always š¤
Landed a big role
I started working as a legal assistant in 2023 and earned my paralegal certificate in 2024. Earlier this year, my attorney decided to take early retirement. Iād been job hunting since October (lightly), and with the way the economyās been, he gave me about a month and a half to find something new before laying me off since he was planning to travel for the rest of the year (It was a small boutique firm, but he still gave me severance - amazing guy) At the time, I was making $25 an hour. Now, Iāve landed a new role with full benefits, a $90K salary + bonuses, and a hybrid schedule 2ā3 days in the office and the rest WFH. Honestly, itās been the best thing thatās happened to me. I started in IP and I will never leave it. Excited to start this new chapter in life.
Do you think it's realistic to earn six figures as a paralegal?
I work in the legal office of a federal agency in a paralegal-like role for over 10 years. I earn six figures. As a federal employee, I likely will be losing my job and will have to enter the non-federal world. Wondering if it's possible to earn my salary elsewhere.
Accepted a new position
After a year at a firm that hardly trained me and constantly lectured me about mistakes, I turned in my notice to go to a firm with lots of resources in regards to me actually learning and growing in the field. They even offered me almost $20k over my current salary. First day is 6/9 š„³
Boss cut my salary by 50% after firm lost a clientā¦ should I quit or stick it out?
The law firm I work at recently lost a major client, and now my salary is being cut in half. Iām in my early 20s, and Iāve been working as a paralegal at a very small firm. Most of my work was focused on collections for one of our largest contracts, which brought in a significant amount of revenue for the firm. I have a bachelorās degree, a paralegal certificate, and about 3 years of legal experience. I mainly work under one of the attorneys. He has been practicing for decades and basically lives at the office. His wife is also a partner, but she does a different type of law so I rarely interact with her. Last week, he told me about the client loss and said he would try to keep my salary where it was for the rest of the month. He also recommended I start looking for other jobs and offered to give me a good recommendation. But yesterday he said he crunched the numbers and would need to cut me about 40%. When I asked about my health insurance, he realized he hadnāt factored it in, so the cut became over 50%. When I worked it out, the new pay was only a couple of dollars above minimum wage. I asked him to put this in writing, and he said he would after recalculating everything. For now, Iām working without knowing what my paycheck will actually be. I asked about payroll, since by the time he told me this I had already worked several hours, and he said he had tried to keep me at my current salary for the month. I guess that means heās not retroactively reducing my pay. He said we could try to find other work to supplement my hours, but thatās not stable. Knowing him, he would expect the same level of output even with my salary slashed. I told him I couldnāt cover my bills with that cut and that I needed to think it over. I mentioned I was considering leaving, and he told me he personally would never walk away from a job. He said employees should stick it out in the trenches together. I used some sick hours to take the rest of the day off to think, and when I explained the situation to my dad, he said that by cutting my ārations,ā my boss had already taken me out of the fight. Everyone Iāve talked to thinks itās unreasonable to expect me to stay after such a huge cut. I even asked my boss why not just lay me off, and he said he doesnāt like hurting people and that Iāve been the best employee heās had in years. That part is true. When I started, I had to teach myself everything and fix existing issues on my own. But to me, it hurts more not being able to pay my bills. So hereās my dilemma. Do I make today my last day and accept a confirmed temp position that pays more? Or do I try to stick it out until the end of the month for the sake of my resume and a potential recommendation letter I could use for law school? TLDR: Small law firm lost a client, boss is cutting my salary by more than 50% (to barely above minimum wage). I canāt pay my bills like this. He wants me to āstick it out,ā but I have another job lined up that pays more. Should I leave now or stay until the end of the month for the sake of my resume and recommendation? EDIT: I am the ONLY employee at the firm. The temp job is a restaurant job. I have been applying to other jobs, but I have worked at this firm for under a year, and the previous job I worked at was under a year as well (I moved states). So future employers/recruiters look at all the short stints on my resume and question my potential loyalty to their firm. **UPDATE** I had my meeting with him today and told him it was going to be my last day. We left on good terms and he will still be writing me my letter of recommendation. Thank yāall so much for your thoughts and recommendations. It helped give me a backbone!
Roll Call: Paralegals, Whatās Youāre Annual Salary?
Is it taboo to ask everyone what their annual salary is, city, size of firm or in-house, billable requirements, yrs of experience, certified, etc.? Iām curious what pay is like in different cities, etc and transparency of what paralegals are REALLY making. Iāll start: $95k + bonus + benefits/OT/2weeks vacay; 3 days in office 2 days work remote Miami, FL Medium Litigation Firm (Civil and Real Estate) 100/hrs month billable 5 years experience I have a JD (but didnāt want the long attorney hours and stress)
Unpopular opinion
So, I'm just going to say this, even though I know y'all are going to scream at me: **We need trained** **legal secretaries/legal assistants,** ***as well as*** **paralegals.** In fact, it is my opinion that legal support staff should all start as clerical, doing admin stuff before moving on to more substantive roles. We used to have a two-tiered system, but everybody wants to be a "paralegal" now, because somehow answering the phone or filing is now seen as demeaning. The problem I see is that few people are trained properly in either role. So, we get support staff who can't spell, don't know appropriate telephone etiquette, cannot format a formal letter, and worse -- are not aware of the ethical responsibilities inherent in their job. This is based on my long experience and career. Yes, I'm one of those old boomer paralegals that gets so much hate on this sub. But the thing is, I started as a secretary/receptionist. Not even a legal one. I was a member of "Professional Secretaries Internatonal" back when there was no stigma attached to being the "secret" keeper. There's really nothing wrong with being a secretary. Then, I decided to become a legal secretary to make more money and I got my first legal job. Next, in order to improve my skills, I took the Certified Professional Legal Secretary exam. Let me tell you, that was the hardest test I've ever taken, even including AP exams/college exams etc. It was an in person, two-day test that covered everything from ethics, tricky judgment calls, document preparation, office accounting, and extensive testing on grammar, punctuation, and spelling. I really wish everyone who wants to enter the legal support field would start there, and start learning basic office procedure before trying to do legal research or draft pleadings. I could tell you about my 35-year career and my other certifications, and my teaching experience, but that's not the point. Firms are hiring "paralegals" who they expect to know everything without further training, and what happens? They get fired quickly. I know that some firms do have a two-tiered system, but I don't know how common that is. I just want better trained, happier paralegals. Let them start out with a bit less stress, learn and study, and THEN go for the substantive stuff. I know my experience may not be everyone's, and my idea unrealistic, but I just had to vent about it at least once. If you read the whole thing, thanks!
Leaving only bc of money
I've been working with my attorney for the last 5yrs and I get paid mid $70k doing insurance defense. He's always encouraged me and has become a mentor and a friend. I recently interviewed for a position in another firm with a base salary of $120k. On paper, it feels like a no brainer to jump ship, but I feel so, so awful about it. I live in a VHCOL and my salary is enough to cover my living expenses, but not enough to save or contribute towards retirement. Any tips on how to navigate this? It feels worse than when I got divorced. Location: Miami Edit: Thank you to all.
Don't believe in breaks
My lawyers don't believe we deserve breaks. As I live 15 minutes out of town I usually just sit at my desk for lunch and play games on my phone or whatever. Same goes for the half hour coffee break at 3 pm in the afternoon we get. Every single flipping time one of the lawyers will come up to my desk and ask me to do something. Like cannot you not see I'M HAVING LUNCH AND I'M ENTITLED TO A FULL LUNCH BREAK! IT IS SO URGENT IT CAN'T WAIT FOR AN HOUR? Like it's almost every effing day. Not to mention we haven't had a raise in 5 years and 5 years ago it was 50 cents. No shitting you. I'm seriously considering changing careers because these lawyers just don't give a š© about their staff. Rant over.
How are some attorneys like this?
Iāve been reading some of your guysā posts about how some attorneys are LOWERING your pay, some of you are carrying the whole firm on your backs for pennies, etc. I was talking to my dad about my career and mentioning how I wanna work full time for this one attorney Iām doing contracted work for but Iām not sure if he can afford me since he just started his law firm less than 5 years ago. My dad is a carpenter and heās like āI donāt understand why attorneys say they canāt afford you guys when theyāre charging a lot to clients and making their own profit. Iām a carpenter and have to pay guys $200 a day minimum for labor, attorneys are just greedy.ā And it really put things into perspective for me. Some of u guys are making at or BELOW minimum wage for skilled work!! We all went to paralegal school for this and shouldnāt be accepting pennies for very stressful work that requires us to be on top of deadlines, deal with clients etc.
Are More Paralegals Burned Out Right Now?
The legal industry is tough, and many paralegals are feeling the weight of long hours and demanding workloads. Burnout is not just about exhaustion; it can make people feel stuck, unmotivated, and even question their career choices. Iāve seen more and more paralegals speaking up about being done with the industry. Remote work was supposed to make things easier, but has it really? Some find flexibility helps, while others say the lack of boundaries makes burnout worse. The pressure to always be available, even outside work hours, adds another layer of stress. If you are a paralegal, do you feel more burned out now than a few years ago? Have firm expectations changed? What do you think law firms could do to actually support their teams?
Trainee Vaping in the Office
Yesterday I ended my 30 year career as a paralegal and legal professional. Well I have been training my new replacement for 9 days. Initially I thought she would be a good fit based on what she said she could do. But she lied about her skill level to my boss and was offered the job over the phone. They rushed. But past history with them has revealed a real lack of hiring know how. Well the attitude was defensive, anxious, know it all, unprofessional, petty and a complete waste of my time. She day one said, "I am not the type to take notes", day two she got upset at her computer while training and said "Oh fuck you, I dont mean you.", day three, her brand new keyboard stops working and she starts smacking the keyboard with her hands. The very next day out internet was down so we mostly sat around doing minimal stuff working of our phone Hotspot. On this day she kept running and and out of the office after I would give her a task to do on her own. My attorney had communicated for me to test her on tasks by herself. Each time she would take instructions she would shut me down, and so then she would hurriedly bring me back incorrect work and then need directions, would complete the work and say I need a five minute break. Come to find out she was running in and out for her vape pen to hit her nicotine. Well, yesterday my last day, the internet was down again so I decided to work from home. Finally, my IT guy called and said the internet was on so I made my way to the office. The trainee was vaping in the office so much so that I could smell it before I got to the office entrance, all the way through the office and straight into her office (my old office). I walked by and said, "It smells like vape juice in here. Are you vaping? My sons vape but not inside." She immediately closed her door and frantically opened her office windows. I was pissed off and left because I felt it was rude. I know she was scared but I didn't confront her after I left. I just called my boss and told her. But later when I told her that I left because of the smell, she tried to gaslight me and say "What smell?". This woman keeps her vape pen on her desk next to her glass of water. I I am wondering if you have had this kind of experience with employees who vape to this extent. Did your employer allow this at your office?
How many of us are single and supporting a household of one on a paralegal salary?
I serve in a paralegal-like role for the feds and make good money. As I've mentioned before, I'll probably get laid off soon thanks to this presidential administration, and I'll have to be a paralegal in the private sector, which I've never done before. Worried that I won't be able to support myself on the salary. Seems doable if you're married, and the paralegal salary is like supplemental income, but maybe I'm wrong.
Salary Progression
Curious to hear how everyoneās salary has progressed based on experience, location, and education. Hereās mine: Education/Certs: AA in Paralegal Studies + ABA Certificate Location: SoCal Jan 2023 - May 2025: Small firm - Started at $18/hr, received a few raises up to $26/hr - No benefits June 2025 : Mid-large size firm - $47/hr - Full benefits, 401k match, remote Iām very blessed to be in the position Iām in now and lucked out on a great mentor in the beginning of my career and working for another great attorney now.
Perks Flex
It feels like more than half the posts in this sub tend to be negative. Letās try to bring some balance! What perks do you enjoy at your current job? For me, Iām fully remote with a flexible schedule. As long as I log 8 hours a day, it doesnāt matter when I start or take breaksāI could clock in at 7 AM, take a 2ā3 hour break midday, and finish up later. I also get full benefits, including top-tier health, dental, and vision plans. My 401k doesnāt have monthly employer matching, but at the end of the year, the company deposits an equivalent percentage of my salary to it. There are more perks, but these are my favorites!
Widowed, 30 Something Paralegal Here ā My Brain Cognition Has Declined and I Am Struggling Professionally
I have had the worst time keeping a job since my wife died. I canāt remember a thing, am constantly dissociating, have really mediocre organizational skills, have made lots of mistakes, and have a massive workload (plaintiffās PI ā 150 active lit files). I have learned so much at this firm Iāve been at for half the year now (hoping for just one w-2 this year š¤š¼ I donāt fuck it up), but one of the attorneys I support really makes things difficult for me and is a condescending jackass when he gives corrections (he used to yell at me but was told to stop, apparently). And since attorneys are fucking god and we are lowly expendables I am always worried about my standing. He recently assigned me a flood of tasks at once via email and wanted them all to be done in roughly two or three weeks. He literally called it a āflood of assignmentsā in his emails. This is all on top of the usual mess of code and court imposed deadlines of course. It has been a real struggle not only to communicate with such an unapproachable person, but to have to explain why his self imposed deadlines are unrealistic. One, Iām questioning my ability to do this work. Does anyone else make a lot of mistakes and hate themselves for it? How do you keep from spiraling? Two, any other seriously traumatized people struggling with organizational skills and time management? Have any tips to share on how to get on top of things? Three, anybody have a recommendation on how to deal with the stress in a reasonable, healthy way instead of melting into a puddle of shame and anxiety? Freeze has been my go to stress response since my wife died. Feel so useless now. Iāve been doing this ten years now. Itās all I know and I am passionate about the work. Plus, the money is good. Especially, at this point in my career.
Boss was mean
I let my boss know I found a new job. My salary went up from 53.2 to 62. I am new in the field. Once the shock of what I said wore off, she said to me āwell you werenāt worth 62 when you walked though my doorsā As if she made me worth the money and now Iām leaving For context, she is basically a solo practitioner, comes in late, is very lazy, wants to retire, and is burnt out. Itās not like she was staying late to teach me how to file pleadings. I learned the most from other paras and from having to figure it out I was shocked she insulted me like that. But then she matched the salary and offered me a 5k bonus. Iām not staying with her. I just wanted to know if this was rude of her to say. Iām new in the field (been working for her for 18 months) and I felt very upset when she said this.
Happy to share thisā¦
Thanks to the advice and stories shared in this subreddit, I successfully navigated a month-long interview process and landed the job and negotiated a higher salary! I'm so grateful for everyone's contributions. Keep up the great work!
Got fired yesterday.
First time in the field, I was hired in about 6 months ago at a specialty personal injury firm. I was still in school, and had just started my final semester in my paralegal program at the community college. They knew I had no experience when they hired me, and seemed eager to train me. Ultimately, the reason I was given for being fired was that the learning curve was steeper than they thought it would be and that they needed someone with more experience. I received maybe 2 days of training, and one of those was with the legal assistant. I was given a bunch of cases and no direction after about a month. I flailed my way through, and sure, my work product could have been better, but they knew I had no experience working in a law firm when I was hired. I was following the directions I was given, and they refused to elaborate on the Bigger Picture when I asked. I felt my way through the pre-lit process and was starting to feel like I actually understood what we were doing. But I guess they had already given up on me. I saw the writing on the wall, honestly. I was kind of brushed aside. My questions and requests for tasks often went unanswered. I spent much of the past month just twiddling my thumbs. The attorney I worked for would send me emails asking for my thoughts about certain situations, and then would ghost me when I gave him my answers. A month or two ago, they started talking about bringing on another attorney, and then an off-shore paralegal. They both started this week, and I guess it left me as the odd man out. And so I got the Ol' Stanky Boot. Truthfully, I was getting kind of sick of the job anyway. I realized a couple months into it that we were a settlement mill. Our team got our clients *exclusively* as referrals from Top Dog Law. If you're familiar with Top Dog, you'll know what I mean. I feel that roughly 50% of our clients were trying to scam in one way or another. The majority of the ones I dealt with were non-responsive or incorrigible. It was nearly impossible to get any of them to follow instructions, and especially when I only half-knew what I was talking about. My biggest concern is that taking this role may have ruined me and my expectations for where I should be at this stage in my career. The job was by far the best I've ever had after working ~20 years in the service industry. Hybrid schedule, wfh 3 days per week. $55k salary with full health and 15 days PTO. I was quite content to stay here for a couple years and gain some experience while finishing my bachelor's degree. Truthfully, I was kind of surprised to land such a lucrative role with no experience working in law. It's my intuition that the senior paralegal really pushed for me to get hired, but for her own purposes. I feel like she liked me because I was non-threatening. I am a guy and had no experience. She is a woman who has over 20 years of experience. After interacting with the team for the time I was there, I think she was trying to protect her own status as Queen Bitch of the firm, so to speak (I say this in a positive manner, not a derogatory one. I've got no ill will). The CEO fired me because my former attorney is a coward and had him do it while he was out on vacation. He said that both himself and my former attorney were willing to be references on my job search, and offered me some leads if I was interested. He said that my work product was good and that everyone who worked with me only had positive things to say. Short term, I'll be fine. My partner is amazing and we have been discussing our options. However, I don't know that I can force myself to take another job paying $10-15k less that's going to require me to go into the office 5 days per week. I don't want to have to start over earning my PTO, which probably won't be near as good as it was. It just sucks to have to start over when I was finally settling in. Ok, rant over. I just had to get these thoughts out. Make me feel better? Make me feel worse? Tell me a funny or relatable story? Idk, do what you do, paralegals of Reddit.
Is it normal to get paid so little?
Iām interested in changing career paths to something that aligns more with my degree. But after taking a look on zip and seeing multiple positions starting at 10-15$ an hour, Iām starting to think that isnāt a good moveā¦ how is it even possible to ask for a bachelor degree, legal experience and then offer 10$ an hour. Is this a reflection of the current US labor market? How common is it to get paid so little as paralegals/legal assistant? To add : thereās a few people here who have asked me where Iām located. This job was based in Texas but on zip I was looking everywhere. Seeing what the market was for paralegal jobs in the United States as a whole.
Is it normal to treat staff like this?
Hi paras! Iām currently working as a paralegal at a large firm in a mid-sized city. Iāve only been there for a little over a year, but I already feel so devalued by the way this firm treats staff. It has disillusioned me with the legal field altogether and crushed my passion for something I once found fascinating. So in effort to rekindle my interest in paralegal work, I want to ask this community: is my firm normal in the way it treats staff? Here are some examples: - Attorneys have catered lunch every Wednesday that the staff isnāt allowed to have. They all gather and eat together for an hour or so, while we continue working at our desks. But to make matter worse, they let staff into the room after the attorneys have finished eating to choose from whatever the attorneys didnāt eat. A lot of times, there isnāt even any food left over. - Staff isnāt invited to the annual firm party. We only get invited to smaller functions. - Staff has to be in-person every day, no exceptions. Attorneys can work remotely. - Attorneys donāt talk to me unless they are assigning me work. Only a few attorneys have ever asked me about my life (again, this is a large firm). - Iām not integrated into case teams or made aware of what is going on. One time, I found out that my busiest case had suddenly closed. My case team had known about this for over a week and failed to tell me. I was so hurt because I had worked really hard and done a lot of overtime for that case. Iāve brought my concerns to management, but theyāre always brushed off. Itās starting to make me feel like Iām just difficult or too sensitive. Iām just looking for hope that this wonāt be my life if I continue in this field. I just starting my career as a paralegal, but I already feel so exhausted and hopeless.
Am I valid in being offended?
Iāve been a paralegal for an attorney at a small firm in Colorado for 3 years now. I am the only paralegal in the office, so while I mainly work for him, I also do work for the one other attorney in the office. It is also important to note that he is the owner of the firm, so he signs the paychecks, etc. Within the office there are 2 attorneys, one file room person, and one secretary. Today I heard some chatter about the Christmas bonus and how they were distributed. I didnāt find mine in my box like other people, but I didnāt plan to inquire about it because I feel like at a small firm, unless youāre an attorney, bonuses arenāt really expected. My boss came into my office and asked to speak with me, and he told me that he distributed the bonuses but that I wouldnāt be getting one (every other person in the office got one). Yeah, I was disappointed but I didnāt think a whole lot of it until he continued on and gave his reasoning as to why. He told me that the reason I wasnāt getting one was because my hours and overtime (Iām hourly, not salary) have been so substantial (I average about 10-12 hrs OT/week) that I have become the highest paid person in the office (excluding attorneys). This comment is when I became offended. We have 4 major trials coming up in 2026 and I am the only person doing the āscutā prep in addition to the other paralegal duties I am doing for the smaller clients not going to trial. Earlier in the year when I started prepping, I asked him if he was okay with the hours I was working and weekends I was working, to which he said he was because my research and other work product needed to be done and those things I was working on required mass amounts of time. But now, because of those hours Iām working, I donāt get a bonus. I think at this point it isnāt even about the money, but the fact that his reasoning behind him not giving me one was because of the long and hard hours that I have put in. To twist the knife even more, he ended the conversation by saying that I was āa huge asset and indispensable to the firm.ā I will say, I am applying to law school and he has been a huge help in that process by giving me advice, LORs, and helping me edit my personal statement. I feel like I have sacrificed a lot of my time and energy for this job, and I think I am more hurt by the lack of appreciation for it than I am about the money. Am I in the wrong for feeling offended? Do you all have any advice as to what I should do? EDIT: This is the first firm I have worked in as a paralegal, so Iām not really sure the ānormā for paralegals. Prior to this, I worked as a secretary at another law firm for 3 years in which we never got bonuses so Iām not really sure what to do. We also havenāt gotten bonuses at this firm that Iām a paralegal at before and this is the first year he has done them (at least to my knowledge).
Gift ideas for immigration legal staff
Hello! I have recently started my paralegal career with an immigration nonprofit. It is a small team of attorneys, doj reps, and paralegals that is mainly comprised of young women. I am a hobby cross stitcher, and I would like to start working on some small cross stitch decorations to give my coworkers for Christmas. Some ideas I have include a dumpster fire with āthis is fineā text, and āBut did you case note it?ā I am brand new to both immigration law and the legal field in general, so Iām struggling to brainstorm any more silly ideas. Suggestions greatly appreciated!
After nearly 3 years of applying, I FINALLY have my foot In the door!
Becoming a paralegal has been a career avenue Iāve been wanting to explore for a few years now, and Iāve been actively submitting dozens of applications for the past three years, trying to get my foot in the door as a basic entry level legal assistant or secretary with plans to work my way up. Until last November, I lived in a major city, so every law firm and other companies were constantly hiring new employees for entry level positions. My applications were always denied though, due to either lacking experience or lacking a certificate/degree. I am happy to say that my luck has finally changed for the better! Mostly for financial reasons, I relocated to a much smaller city to be with family last November. And as you would have it, opportunity opened up for me here in ways I never thought it would! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I finally found employment as a legal secretary for my county public defenderās office! Last Monday was my first day on the job, and I already love it! Itās busy with near non-stop phone calls, but itās so easy. All I do is schedule appointments for attorneys and deliver mail and other correspondence to higher level secretaries and paralegals. After my probation ends in 3 month, Iāll get my public notary license and gain the additional responsibility of notarizing applications for public defenders. Iām so excited, Iāve wanted this for a few years now! And even though the turnover rate is low, Iām telling everyone there that I want to become a paralegal, just in case a spot opens up in the next few months! Any advice I should keep in mind?
Morgan and Morgan
If I am used to a shit show, is Morgan and Morgan really as bad as what Iām reading? I work at a mid sized firm with about 80 pre lit clients where itās a shit show, clients are idiotic and rude, attorneys ignore everything until the very last second, overall similar to what I read about Morgan and Morgan. However it seems Morgan and Morganās salaries eat my firms Alive. I need more money asap and am used to a shitty environment and know I can easily handle 80-100 clients. Is it worth the switch?
Canāt survive on this pay
Iām an entry-level para at a large firm in CA, and had year of experience in the field at a very small firm before being hired. I make $24/hr and I willingly chose this job, taking a pay cut of $2/hr to gain experience at a bigger office and hopefully have room to grow. I even asked them to match my previous salary and they said no due to āequityā for entry level positions. I took the job anyway. I know thatās not the worst hourly rate Iāve seen on this sub. Iāve seen the horror stories of $10/hr listings etc. and I canāt imagine what some of yāall go through. That said, given the high cost of living where I am, I was scraping by at $26/hr and now Iām underwater. If not for my partner who makes 2.5x my pay and essentially supports us both, I would be living with parents or homeless. I love my job so far, I love my firm and my colleagues and the independence I have. But I canāt even buy weekly groceries. My car had issues this week and I had the terrifying realization that if I needed a new car I simply could not take on car payments, much less a down payment even on a beater. Even while enjoying the job, itās hard not to get down about this. I have a bachelorās degree, Iām smart, motivated, and am already consistently surpassing my firmās goals after 6 months. To be one bad day/breakup away from homelessness given these things is incredibly scary and makes me wonder if itās really worth it to continue in this field. Sure, thereās opportunity for growth from the bottom, but that bottom is so low. Is this a normal experience? When will the pay get better? Is it just my firm or does everyone just āeat sh*tā and suck it up the first 5 years? I guess Iām just looking for some clarity here on how normal or abnormal this is. Feel free to tell me Iām whining. Edit: I feel like I need to add ā this is a remote job but based in CA and so of course I live here. That was 90% of what convinced me to switch over. Itās an enormous benefit to me, quite honestly.
$30k - $60k to work in Manhattan?? With a Bachelor's?
Edit: This job posting is for a Commercial Litigation paralegal with preferably two years of experience. I can't believe the salary starts at $30k?? Am I crazy or is that absurdly low
6 Month Salary Adjustment and Raise
I know this occupation is stressful but I just wanted to share some good news I got last Friday!! Iām 6 months in at my new firm and I was stressing out. This is my first paralegal job switching from corporate life where everyone is at risk of getting laid off always. Everyone at the firm has been there for a long time, and I felt like I had a bunch to prove. My performance review went well, but I try to view raises and bonuses as nice but nothing guaranteed. WELL, Friday I open up an email from the managing partner with a letter attached detailing: - 1 time āsalary adjustmentā of $1,000 because they felt my initial salary was low & wanted to comp for the past 6 months. - Additional raise of $4,000 a year, starting with my next paycheck Iām so hyped!! I donāt know if this is standard or not, but I feel very honored to work at such a firm and it definitely puts the pressure on to keep going :) itās crazy because I did not negotiate or anything. I think others might have but Iām just relieved that they appreciate my work!
Salary Range - Too High?
I had an interview yesterday for a position where salary range was not included in the job posting. Typically, I wouldnāt have bothered to apply but I know one of the attorneys there and he told me all the ins and out of the firm and he thinks I would be a good fit. Moving on, when the managing partner finally asked me of my salary expectations, I tried to turn the question around to ask him what he thinks a starting salary should be for a candidate like me with similar years of experience and qualifications. He didnāt seem to appreciate that question and gave me a non-answer and then asked me again what my range is. I said between $75,000 to $85,000 because that falls under the market value for this position with someone of my yrs/qualifications. For reference (and didnāt tell him this obviously), I am making $68,400.00. I would like to jump to at least 20% so roughly $82,000. But willing to cut down to $79,000 if it comes down to it. I did enough research to know that my expected range is accurate for a paralegal with my experience in my area. Managing partner didnāt seem to think so and claimed that thatās a high range within their paralegal team. I asked if thatās in the budget and he seemed offended and said yes but still on the high end. Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, not a complete no. But on the other, if I do receive an offer, Iām worried any raise (requested or annually) wouldnāt be offered in the future. Have you ever had a situation where someone said your salary range was āhighā during an interview? How did you go about it? EDIT - have 7+ years of civil litigation experience and in New Orleans metropolitan area.
No wonder they're confidential
Found this job listing on indeed. $25 an hour to be both a paralegal and office manager, and use my own car for unspecified reasons... It's a no from me dawg. Looking to expand our legal team. Seeking a Paralegal / Office Manager with a minimum of 5 yearsā experience as a civil litigation paralegal, who is dependable, organized and detail oriented. This role involves providing essential litigation support while managing the firmās administrative operations. Only those who can exercise discretion and demonstrate independent judgement in significant legal matters need apply.Ā **Responsibilities include, though are not limited to,**Ā coordinating with clients and case intake, draft correspondence and client communications, electronic document management, filing, calendaring, and docketing, assist with preparation of legal documents including discovery and pleadings, trial preparation, billing, bookkeeping, managing receipts, bill paying, payroll, etc. Our office offers health insurance and retirement benefits as well as paid sick leave. Salary is contingent upon experience and qualifications. Applicants must have a good driving record and reliable transportation (your own vehicle) along with the ability to pass a background check. We would ask that you are proficient with Microsoft software, Amicus, Adobe and Excel. Excellent attention to detail, analytical skills, ability to proofread legal documents accurately, strong case management experience and legal drafting skills required. Being able to stay organized and have the ability to prioritize tasks effectively is a must! Job Type: Full-time Pay: $25.00 - $26.00 per hour Expected hours: 40 per week Work Location: In person
I like my job, but a new opportunity fell from the sky and the money is stupid good
Short and sweet. Iām a paralegal with almost 16 year experience. Iām old school and like to stay at my firms for very long times. Anyway, I jumped about 1.5 years ago to work In-house. I took the job because that was my goal. This job has been the best for my mental healthā¦. Ever. I love almost everything about the job, but I donāt see that I would ever have a chance to advance. I was contacted by a recruiter for a very interesting job for a newer insurance company. No litigation, more compliance / research type paralegal job. Anyway, the salary is 38k more than what I make now. I wasnāt looking for a job and I really like my present oneā¦.. but the money. It would be putting me up to 110-115k per year plus bonus. What would you do if you got the offer? PTO benefits are comparable. Tech is better. Fully remote. My present job is 97% remote. Also, I wasnāt extended an offer, however, Iāve made through all the interviews and Iām at the very last step. Iām afraid to say who Iāll be speaking to, but letās just say itās the person in charge of all hires. If I do get the job offer, should I leave my current one just because of the money? Should I leave to be āat the ground floorā of a new insurance company?
Morgan and Morgan opinions??
Hi there, I graduated from my paralegal program in September. I just received a job offer from Morgan and Morgan as a case manager. Iāve seen really bad reviews online. I need this job and I know people will scream run but Iāve been applying since June. They are starting me at an hourly rate. After training I will move to a salary that has not been clarified. Any advice or insight really helps as this is my first job in the legal field. I am located in LV if that matters. TIA!
Hit my breaking point
So my firm has been going through some rough transitions. I was brought in during September of 2024 as a PI paralegal to become a workers comp paralegal. During the transition, I became the second most senior paralegal and became the go to fix it person despite my still learning. If shit hit the fan, it would hit my desk and I would find a way to fix it or minimize damage, if a file turned into a dumpster fire, i took it from the most senior paralegal. I took over the records department, began handling the liens, became quasi management, took over training new hires (support staff and attorneys alike) and became everyoneās go to. Well I was moved to salary and I have been working my ass off. This month I have hit 236 hours in billables, i had one day where I ended up working for 24 hours straight and brought in an equal amount of billables. I am the top biller in my firm, including the attorneys. Despite all that Iāve taken on, and the blood, sweat and tears Iāve spilt in an effort to keep this firm up and running, today my managing partner sent out a blast email to all the support staff blasting me because I hadnāt touched one file in 2 months. I just called my manager and broke down. Because if she had torn me a new one privately, I could at least defend myself, but if I respond to everyone to try and salvage my reputation then Iām breaking hierarchy which is already shaky and might cause another not so good reaction. Ended up telling my manager they need to find someone new to train people, they have to find another cash cow, and they need to find a fixer because the partner embarrassing me simply for an oversight when I have my hand in nearly every cookie jar in that firm is unacceptable. I was crying because I would have burned myself out to try and save this firm if the partner hadnāt just publicly blasted me.
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