Is anyone a Paralegal or Legal Clerk?

[crazycanuck]

Thanks,

I was mainly wondering about it career wise. Is it worthwhile, will I be kept on my toes all the time, will I be able to utilize my brain?!!! Do you feel it's a bit monotonous & perhaps burn out is quick?

I'm doing some career/university course investigations & this popped into my head.

THanks!

[Patti37]

Thanks,

I was mainly wondering about it career wise. Is it worthwhile, will I be kept on my toes all the time, will I be able to utilize my brain?!!! Do you feel it's a bit monotonous & perhaps burn out is quick?

I'm doing some career/university course investigations & this popped into my head.

THanks!

I have been a paralegal for over ten years (my how time flies) and have worked for three different firms. In the first firm as a new paralegal I did do some negotiation.

I am now a paralegal for a firm involved in civil litigation. The work, how you are utilized and if there is burn out depends on the firm.

For the most part, my brain is always needed for the job. I do have mundane days but they are rare.

I interviewed a paralegal recently and was asked to describe my day...I couldn't describe a typical day because there is not such thing so I told him what I had done each day that week (only three days). No two days are usually the same. Then again I get work from 9 different lawyers some with different areas of practice

Burn out depends on the firm and on billing requirements...some firms have ridiculous billing requirements; others are more laid back. If you interview with a firm, always ask about the billing requirements.

If you have any other specific requirements, I would be happy to answer them.

[OakLeaf]

CC, do you have any thoughts about what area of the law you'd like to work in (which would help narrow what the duties of a paralegal in that field would be) - or conversely, what type of work you'd like to do - whether you'd want a lot of client interaction, or spending a lot of time in government offices interacting with the same officials regularly, or by yourself in the library/at the computer?

When I practiced, I represented disability claimants. I assume there's something similar in Australia. It was a really good practice. I always got to be the "good guy" - the medical side of it always kept it interesting even when the legal issues sometimes got repetitive - and there were no emergencies. What more can you ask?

[crazycanuck]

Oakleaf-I'm not even sure of the legal area i'd want to end up working in. A quick thought here..Industrial Relations or dealing with Environmental issues. I don't want to deal with clients directly as i'm not interested. You did mention -spending a lot of time in government offices interacting with the same officials regularly, or by yourself in the library/at the computer. I'd be much happier working by myself

Ah, you worked in Workers Compensation! That's an idea..

I'm still doing searches on Seek regarding these types of positions.

I need to sit down & do some more thinking..