Should I Accept a Position as a Paralegal?

By: Kandice Thorn

"Should I accept a position as a paralegal?"

This is a question I get a lot from students and alumni looking to get a foothold in the challenging U.S. legal job market.  Job seekers realize very quickly how competitive attorney positions are, and those who are especially intent on staying in the U.S. begin to look for ways to broaden their job search.  In this context, the question of paralegal positions often comes up.


The first thing to point out when I answer this question is the nature of paralegal positions in the U.S., which is often very different from similar positions in other countries.  In the U.S., a paralegal need not have any formal training after high school; no college degree or other formal legal training is required.  Some paralegals complete a certificate program similar to an associate's degree (a two-year college degree below a bachelor's degree); others might hold a bachelor's degree in another field; others might have no education beyond a high school diploma.

A paralegal position is not considered a path to a lawyer position (even though skilled paralegals often do very similar work to an entry-level associate, especially at small law firms).  Individuals with law degrees are generally considered overqualified for a paralegal position.  The danger of a law graduate accepting a paralegal position is that you may be pigeonholed as a "paralegal."  You want people to think of you as a lawyer, however once you are labeled a "paralegal," employers are less likely to see you as a "lawyer."

The advice I generally give to those who are considering paralegal positions is to negotiate the title.  See if the employer would be willing to hire you as a "Law Clerk" or a similar title, but performing the same or similar duties as the paralegal would and receiving the same salary.  This way, you can get your foot in the door and gain experience while not harming your resume.