8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Paralegal
Picture This:
You complete your paralegal studies and your mandatory placement hours. You begin studying for your licensing exam. You pass your licensing exam and meet all the requirements to become licensed. You become a licensed paralegal and receive your designation. Your name is added to the Law Society of Ontario’s (LSO) directory. Clients (and anyone else for that matter) can look you up within seconds.
Now what?
This is the question I was left with (and still come back to from time to time) once I made it to the finish line. How do I proceed? How do I want to proceed?
When you’re studying for your program, completing your placement hours, or studying for your licensing exam, you barely have any time to think about the future. You spend so much time working towards this “future” and once you actually arrive, the silence can be deafening. As I reflect, there are many things I wish I had known or sincerely considered before becoming a paralegal, and feel inclined to share. I believe community is very important in the legal field and there is nothing lost by sharing insights amongst one another. There’s always something to be learned and considered.
So, without further ado, here are 8 things I wish I had known before and right after I became a paralegal:
1) Immediately Specializing in an Area of Law is Not Necessary
Throughout the course of my program, there was a lot of emphasis put on picking an area of law to practice in once we graduated. I remember feeling the pressure to pick something and hit the ground running, otherwise I would be left behind. This feeling heightened when I realized the area of law (AOL) I was completing my placement in was not something I wanted to continue with afterwards. The law is forever changing. That is a statement I have come to know and love. As such, I now realize that it is also okay to change my interests and expertise throughout my career.
Life is not linear, and your paralegal experience does not have to be either. There are individuals who choose an AOL to work in, love it, and stay in it for years to come. I love that! However, there are others (including myself) who have to try a few different areas before deciding. Don’t be afraid to take a moment or a few to explore and experience different things. You have a lot of life and career left in you. I speak more about the pressure to specialize in an AOL right after graduation in my blog here.
2) Many Employment Opportunities For New Paralegals Will Mirror Legal Assistant Positions:
Although there are many tasks both a legal assistant and paralegal can do, there are still major differences. When I first entered the workforce after becoming a paralegal, I noticed that a lot of job postings seeking a paralegal outlined tasks specific to the role of a legal assistant. For example, if you enter your search on Indeed for a paralegal position, I’m certain you will see pages full of legal assistant positions. And, if you do happen to find a posting for a paralegal, the employer is typically seeking someone with years of experience – not necessarily ideal for a new grad!
I wish I had known that in situations such as these, being a paralegal while working as a legal assistant may be the reality for the foreseeable future. Not many companies are inclined to hire a new grad paralegal and offload tasks that a paralegal would normally do, right away. This makes it difficult to gain the experience many of these paralegal postings call for. There is of course always the opportunity to “work your way up” and gain legal assistant experience that will surely help you as you grow but, if you’re looking to jump into the role of a paralegal right away, you may need to expand your search or get a bit more creative.
3) “Being Your Own Boss” Comes With Challenges:
I know for many, including myself, the thought of “being your own boss” was incredibly appealing and a large reason to choose the paralegal career path. Many of my professors would speak about the luxury of choosing my own work hours, rate of pay, work locations, vacation times, and more. It sounded like the ultimate dream – especially for someone entering the field right before the pandemic. However, the reality is that with this type of “luxury” comes other challenges. Starting and building a business from the ground up produces an exceptional learning curve. There are many things you have to consider as a business owner that you would never give thought to as an employee. That in and of itself is a hurdle.
Additionally, securing a client base and making a substantial amount of income does not happen overnight. When you become licensed, you are essentially starting from scratch. You are your own investor and have to see it as such. I wish I had taken the time to map out my business plan in detail before making any moves. Some insight will come from sheer experience and failure, but it could easily also come from adequate planning and consideration. Unless you plan to work with or under someone, I would suggest that you truly consider whether you are truly interested in the entrepreneurial route. If you are, take the time to sit with yourself and consider your business plan. Ask around. Secure a mentor. Do your research. Audit your finances and potential expenses. Take stock of your own skills and abilities. Consider all of your options, and then consider them again.
4) You Will Have to be Your Biggest Supporter and Advocate:
Whether you’re interacting with friends, family, colleagues, or clients, you will need to be your biggest advocate. You are the CEO of your business and the face of every encounter. Many individuals will have their preconceived notions and biases about you/your business before you even interact with them. It’s easy to get bogged down and disappointed when you’re constantly met with comments that question your knowledge, expertise, or even your worth. You need to remember why you started your business.
Why did you become a paralegal? Why are you equipped? Do you believe in yourself? Keeping these answers as your anchor will help you navigate the choppy waters of skepticism and low-balling that will surely come. If you believe that your time and expertise are worth a certain charge, then so be it. It is easy, especially in the beginning, to concede because you believe you are a beginner and simply want to retain a client no matter what. However, over the years I have learned that there are people who are willing to pay your rate, and there are people who are not. Go to those who will pay your rate – no need to argue. Only you truly know the knowledge and skill set you possess. Know your worth and believe in yourself. The individuals who see and trust it, will gravitate towards you.
5) You Don’t Need to Know Everything About Everything:
Similar to #1, you really don’t need to be the legal expert on every topic. Can any new paralegals relate to friends and family approaching them with a legal question you know nothing about? If I was faced with a question on a whim that I didn’t know the answer to, I’d often feel disappointed in myself for not knowing the answer. As mentioned, the law is forever changing so it’s quite unrealistic to think you’ll know everything about an AOL - even the one you’ve chosen to specialize in!
I find that it’s best to focus on the area(s) of law you are genuinely interested in and enjoy. A large part of being a paralegal is the ability to effectively research and use your deductive reasoning skills to formulate an answer. Use your resources to your advantage! There should be no expectation to memorize every aspect of the law and be able to immediately discuss it. Will there be methods, case law, and insights that will be more memorable than others? Of course. However, not knowing does not mean you are not knowledgeable.
6) It’s Okay if You Don’t Enjoy it:
Like many things in life, you typically don’t know until you know. Pursuing a career as a paralegal is incredibly rewarding but also challenging, whether you choose the entrepreneurial route or not. There are many factors to consider, and these factors may eventually become hinderances. It’s okay to reach the revelation that you don’t enjoy the field and therefore choose to pivot. Life happens to all of us differently and it’s important to give yourself grace through it all. Keep in mind, you can also always change your status via the LSO website to reflect your current situation. If you need to take a break, look into the requirements a particular status requires and go from there. There is no wrong answer when it comes to pursuing your personal and professional happiness.
7) Think Outside of the Box:
In the paralegal field, we’re usually exposed to the conventional aspects of the career – court, legal drafting, legal research, etc. However, there is so much more a paralegal can do. For example, did you know that you could be a legal technology specialist or a legal writer/blogger? These jobs may not seem to fall in line with the work of a typical paralegal, but your skills surely will! As a paralegal, you are going to acquire a plethora of skills that become transferable almost immediately.
Don’t inadvertently box yourself in by believing that paralegals only work in Small Claims Court or Tribunals. You may even find that a job does not specifically ask for a paralegal designation, but lists many requirements you would typically attain from being a paralegal. Keep yourself open to new roles and opportunities, and always remember that experience is the best teacher.
8) You Can Develop a Full Business Solely Based on One Aspect:
As a paralegal, there are many things you can do. You can conduct legal research, draft documents, notarize and commission documents, provide consultations, draft and review contracts, and the list goes on and on. I’ve seen many paralegals create successful businesses from solely notarizing documents or reviewing contracts. Once you identify something you enjoy and/or are good at, don’t lose sight of it! There could be other paralegals doing the same thing as you, but is that their only service? Sometimes it’s advantageous to provide one service and provide it well. You are not less than for providing one specific service in the legal field – there is a client that will need it!
In all, the sentiment I leave you with is that becoming and practicing as a paralegal is incredibly nuanced. Whether you’re in it for the long or short haul, there are always things to learn and discover. Stay open to learning new things about the field, yourself, and the lessons that will sprout from your inevitable mistakes. Although I enjoy being a paralegal, I am also candid about the challenges I experience along the way. There is nothing wrong with trying, failing, and trying again.
To my fellow paralegals, do you share the same sentiments? Have you experienced something completely different? Let’s hear your thoughts below!
