The Big Question:

I think every paralegal gets asked this question at least once in their career, even from fellow paralegals “have you ever thought about being an attorney“. Of course, the response made by the paralegal is a personal choice, one reflective of their own journey but I’m here to reflect, on the question itself. Not all attorneys are meant to be attorneys. Not all paralegals are meant to be a paralegal. And not all paralegals want to be attorneys. The reality is, being a paralegal is a very rewarding career choice. The legal profession has disregarded it for many years but that is changing. Our value is being recognized and the profession is becoming known. It is becoming a option in which people are making the conscience decision to be a paralegal.

Attorneys are Seeking Other Options

Story time, during a recent interaction with a mother who was with her daughter that is attending Emory law, I was approached and asked what I do. The mother noticed my company logo and asked questions. She stated her daughter who is currently in law school actually thought about maybe “just” being a paralegal. Her mother was very curious about what a freelance paralegal was and thought maybe her daughter could talk to me to gain more insight about going in that direction. Of course, I was honored and told her to contact me anytime.

I found this quick interaction fascinating because the direction has always been thought to go from paralegal to attorney. However, In my most recent years, I have certainly talked to attorneys that have said they would rather be paralegals and have even left the legal field for a while to reevaluate their best career move. That alone shows me the paralegal profession is needed. The truth is, law school is purposely designed to change how you think. It’s a needed skill in order to effectively advocate for your client and it’s completely understood. The paralegal profession is designed to allow you to tap into both worlds. You remain rooted in such a way that you can connect with clients yet also communicate with attorneys.

Have You Ever Though About Being A Paralegal?

This question that lingers in the legal sphere for paralegals, the question of have you ever thought about being an attorney is a question that should really be rephrased and directed towards attorneys or future law students to say have you ever thought about being a paralegal? The benefits are endless. While paralegals should possess great organizational skills and the ability to take initiative, we still deal with long hours, and the need to know the law but in a different capacity. We can work in several legal fields. There are paralegals that specialize in family law, criminal law, mass torts etc. We still draft pleadings and move the lawsuit along. In fact, in many situations, the attorney is hoping we take on most of the tasks so they can focus on other things. We mentor the junior attorneys. We calm the clients. In fact, we mirror our attorneys in several ways. We just absolutely, under no circumstances can give legal advice. And as paralegals, we understand that. If you are anything like me, you enjoy that part of the career because it’s less stress.

So today I pose this question to you. Have you ever thought about being a paralegal?