The Paralegal Career

When I first thought about becoming a paralegal, I was in high school reading my civics book. I had also just become interested in John Grisham novels, which, granted, don't truly represent the legal field in the most correct light, but they are legal thrillers nonetheless. For some reason the combination of these two things made me think about pursuing a career in the legal field. I knew for certain that I did not want to go to law school, since I am not really a classroom-oriented person. So, I concluded that a paralegal would be a happy medium. I had already taken a course at the University of Hartford, and had heard about the legal studies program. I found myself a job in a local law firm, and enrolled in classes. So here I am now, writing a paper on the career that I now find myself eagerly pursuing.

The book raised many issues that I had never really given much thought to. Issues such as licensing, certification, and registration; educational requirements; and the conflicting positions of the two leading national paralegal associations. While I knew that there were no required licenses to become a paralegal, I never really thought about how that affects the career as a whole, and the issues it raises as far as determining who is really a paralegal, and who is just a glorified legal secretary. I had actually given a lot of thought to what the educational requirements would be and what employers would value more: education or experience. Some told me to pursue the degree, others told me to concentrate on getting experience and everything else would fall into place along the way. I didn't really know which person to listen to, or who was really right. With regard to the two associations, I was surprised to read that they hold conflicting positions on certification and the like. I think it makes more sense to build a united front reflecting the view of everyone who is a paralegal. I plan on discussing these things in further detail throughout the course of this paper.

The issue of certification and licensure seems to be the source of much controversy in the field. If it were up to me, I would opt for something similar to the licensing of insurance agents in the state. An insurance agent has to meet certain education requirements to become licensed, and then has to follow up each year with continuing education to maintain that license. I think a similar plan would work well for paralegals. However, based on the comments of the panel, it would seem that paralegals in general are against mandated licensing or certification. Janice, from LEGO, seemed to be the most outspoken on this issue, pointing out that someone may become licensed and yet not truly meet the established standards for being called a paralegal. The general consensus was that mandated licensing or certification would be more trouble than its worth, especially when it comes to those who have been in the field for some time now and may not meet the educational requirements but definitely have the experience. Despite this, I hold strong to my opinion that there should be some kind of official standard. There are a lot of people who may call themselves paralegals, but in reality are not. In this regard, California has set a fine example. California, while not requiring licensing, registration, or things of that sort, does prohibit individuals from using the title paralegal unless their occupation fits the description of paralegal as defined by the state. That may be the most reasonable solution from my point of view.

With society today placing more and more emphasis on going to college and getting your degree, the question arises about who should get first dibs on a job, someone with four years experience in the field, or someone with four years of education? I chose to seek a job in a law firm while attending school so that I would have both benefits should the issue face me. Nonetheless, I did ask the panel what is valued more in the field. Unanimously, they answered that experience carries more weight. Paula especially emphasized this, as she has been in the field since its fledgling years. If I remember correctly, she is the only panelist who didn't have a degree, but despite that, the others agreed that experience carried more value. In my limited experience, I would tend to agree as well. I am a very hands-on learner, so it is much