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Going to College at age 24 for the 1st time to get Associates Degree in paralegal Studies – what can I expect?
I’m 24 & going to college for the first time to get my Paralegal AAS degree. I am very nervous to say the least. Can anyone with experience tell me what I can expect as far as the classes and homework? I havent been in school for almost 10 years (I dropped out after the 9th grade & got my GED). I am worried that the classes will be too hard or that I’ll have so much homework that I wont have time to spend w/ my 2 year old daughter. I want to put my daughter first, but know that school will be very consuming. I plan on taking atleast 6 credits, but probably less than 12. I want to ease into this transition & I figured taking less classes would be better, but I just dont know. I will be quitting my full time job & moving, but might end up having to find a part time job to make ends meet. I am worried that I wont have time to spend w/ my daughter. I dont want to do online or evening/weekend classes. How can I make this work without getting burnt out? I really want this, help!

Answer by bvnseven
expect lots of homework, not enough money to pay your bills and not enough time with your daughter. comes with the territory. taking less classes is not a bad idea. if you really want it you will find a way no matter what. the thing that worries me is quitting a full time job when they are so hard to come by.

could genuinely use some good assistance?
i cant seem to choose, i require some assistance if anyones a paralegal or a attorney. im wanting to grow to be a paralegal but just before i start my schooling ive heard diverse issues great and negative like anyother occupation. i know it wont be a walkin the park, but is a paralegals work genuinely actually difficult and do you have to work actually quick and is it just plain out hard work to do and learn.i know there alot to it or is it not that poor thank you alot only critical awnsers make sure you.

Answer by mega-moma
A paralegal does practically every little thing an attorney does, with a number of exceptions.
Here is a list of some of the responsibilities I carried out at my task.
Client and court communications-calling to discover out court principles, asking concerns about case details, scheduling court dates, acquiring copies of court documents and far more

Legal investigation and legal composing-locating the law, locating instances that assistance your case, writing briefs, composing memos, and far more

Document preparing-producing documents to send to courts and opposing counsel

Submitting-basic submitting and submitting paperwork with the court

Discovery requests and responses-asking concerns to other party and sending them to the opposing legal professional, answering the exact same kinds of inquiries with the client, putting jointly the documents opposing facet wishes to evaluation.

It is challenging perform, you do have to perform rapidly, it is tiresome, it is extremely technical, and you have a lot of stress. Creating is a big offer. Excellent grammar, punctuation, and spelling are extremely important. It can be effortless to find out depending on the way your brain works. Not everything in law is black and white.

Do females have it simpler than men in the workplace?
go to school and function in human sources, as a paralegal, financial support
nevertheless adult males have to do back breaking work like lift containers. College is a joke
for adult males. Adult males have to be attorneys, company proprietors to work. Females
have to utilize to perform. Raw deal. How can we make ladies generate their
task alternatively of supplying it to them on a silver platter.

Response by Just Occurs
This is specially true for usually male crammed fields. We just employed this total moron just simply because she was a girl. We passed more than six much more competent candidates due to the fact the head honchos desired more diversity.

I have decided to file for bankruptcy…is it a bad idea to hire a paralegal rather than a lawyer?
I’ve decided to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. My employment has been sporadic this year and I simply cannot pay my past bills. I have no possessions to save: no investments, no car…I live alone in a small apartment and really have only the basics. I realize that this will screw my credit rating over, but even if I had a decent-paying job, I’d still be living in near poverty for the next few years to pay off the debt, especially now that my interest rates are sky-high. All of my accounts have long since been closed and I don’t really desire anything that would require credit: don’t need a car, don’t plan on buying a home or even moving anytime in the next few years, and can live within my means if I had no past debts.

I saw an attorney who quoted me nearly two grand to do a bankruptcy and it doesn’t sound worth the money. I can have a paralegal prepare the documents for a few hundred, especially since it should be so uncomplicated…have nothing to save and nothing to hide.

My question is…knowing my situation, is hiring a paralegal rather than an attorney a mistake? It sounds like the only plus would be having someone to accompany me to my hearing, but I don’t see what sort of argument any of my creditors can put up.

When I asked the attorney why I would need his help if I had nothing to save and there was no doubt I could qualify, he somewhat lamely (to me) said “You’ll forget to fill something out”. That doesn’t seem to translate into a $ 1500 difference in fees.

Answer by tortoiseattraction
You sound like you have nothing to lose, but be aware laws can be tricky. You don’t want to take a bad sitsuration and make it worst!
If the paralegal knows the laws and you feel you can trust her/him and understand how they explain things to you go with them. Ask lots of questions. (write them down in advance)
Just be careful who you trust and that includes lawyers.
On a number of occasions I have gotten bad advice from lawyers! People you pay to help you don’t always help.

Do you believe it is probable to double- significant in paralegal and Nursing?
I’m 19 and I have a twenty month aged son and a total time job at a Law firm. I’m not just certain what I want to do with my everyday living. But I want to double- main in these two due to the fact I both want to be a Paralegal even though I keep on college to turn into an Legal professional or turn out to be an RN and carry on school to become a Pediatrician. Btu I’mnot specifically positive which one particular simply because there absolutely opposites… Please Assist!

Answer by mailaccount63
Neglect about the major in Paralegal Studies. My suggestion is to something like Nursing and Info Technology (computers) if you want the vocational route for the greatest task security. Stick with Healthcare and turn out to be a Pediatrician.

Be informed of what you are proposing on obtaining by yourself into. Make sure you do more research 1st. Reminder: We are in a Globe-broad Economic downturn. Take into account profession paths that have obtainable Work.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Warning> Work in the area of Law are drying up fast!! This is just not a great field to make investments any more time and/or money into. This is a SHRINKING, crumbling, and dying vocational area. A lot of causes. We now have personal computers. And many people these days (mistakenly) believe they can do their very own legal operate, thank you to the Web. Also, there are a whole lot of firms out there generating very effective legal software program for the discipline of Law. Additionally today’s graduating attorneys are inclined to be really pc savvy, so they just do the work by themselves. Also the “Public” buys this legal computer software in order to get legal perform accomplished devoid of the expense of an Lawyer. Also, we basically already have way as well several Legal Experts – we have an absolute glut!! (“Legal Pros” includes, but is not minimal to: Attorneys/Lawyers, Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, and so on)

There are no careers in this vocational discipline. My family, coworkers, buddies, acqaintances, and many others. are currently being laid off left and proper in this vocational field.

Regarding getting a Paralegal: Employers (generally law firms) in the subject of Law nowadays want personnel with BACHELORS degrees from standard schools/universities. Individuals “certificates” you see advertised aren’t well worth the paper they are printed on – they are generally ripoffs. (I identified this out the difficult way.)

Cost of law school to be attorney, approx $ a hundred and fifty,000+.
Be prepared to take on a Great deal of credit card debt.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Even if you finish law school, you won't be able to find a job when you are done. Since this vocational field is shrinking, many new attorneys/lawyers are, themselves, having to work "down" as Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, etc, to simply try to keep some of their bills paid <

Now... the law schools know this, but they won't tell you the truth>that the task marketplace/economic system is just saturated with way also several Legal Professionals. Alternatively the educational institutions will feed you a fairytale and will lie to you. The root of the difficulty is we have too numerous law universities. We are in a economic downturn, and the educational institutions are fighting for their individual survival – they will tell college students nearly anything to get to the students’ cash. (Which is why they won’t notify you the reality about the career industry for the field of Law.) And these educational institutions carry on to recruit and churn out even more graduates…………. Keep in mind: law schools are Businesses – their top rated issue is making money for on their own.

If you really don’t think me, then just do a Research right here on Yahoo Solutions to see what other posters are saying about the latest standing of the field of Law. Phone some nearby law companies – ask to speak to the Manager of Human Assets – consult them if they are employing request them what they think about career availability in the discipline of Law………………

In the guide “So You Want to be a Lawyer?” by Marianne Calabrese and Susanne Calabrese (ISBN -88391-136-1): “The United Says has much more attorneys than any other region in the globe. About 38,000 college students graduate >each 12 months< from the 200+ law schools in the United States. The competition is very keen for jobs and clients." - Even Associate Justice Antonin Scalia (who served on the U.s. Supreme Court for more than 20 years) says there are too many lawyers. (9/14/2008)

Check out these websites: http://informeddecisionmaking.blogspot.com

http://calicocat.com/2004/08/law-school-big-lie.html

http://abajournal.com/news/triplt_bad_news_for_law_students_three_firms_aX_summer_associate_programs/

http://abajournal.com/news/as_rio_tinto_saves_millions_other_corps_will_outsource_too_counsel_says/

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/02/03/dont-try-to-dodge-the-recession-with-grad-school/

(A link to a website does not constitute endorsement.)

If you want a JOB when you are done with your studies, consider and look into the fields of>>>Healthcare and/or Details Technological innovation! I spoke to a job counselor from Careers and Loved ones Providers, and HE informed me that these locations are wherever the employment are, and potential career availability! and scholarships!

Excellent luck.

(This is based mostly on my existing knowledge, details, belief, and lifestyle experiences. This was meant as private impression, and not intended to be used as legal assistance. Make sure you be mindful and do your analysis.)

I am completely fed up with my career!?
I have been functioning as a paralegal with this utility organization in NY for nearly 3 yrs (Anniversary in November). I was hired as a labor and employment paralegal, but I have labored in every little thing from environmental, to business, to compliance and regulatory law, along with numerous other roles. I have not gotten a genuine important elevate in these three a long time. Last year, I busted my tail for my boss and arrived overview time she fully downplayed my efforts. At any time given that then I have been looking for a new task, with no luck. And now that the market is in close proximity to collapsing I never know what to do. I even utilized for one more work in the company and I have not heard anything at all from anybody, I feel they are all in cohorts with each other. If they don’t like you, you do not get the task. Now not too long ago, I got a new apartment and I need to have a lot more income. I never imagined I would be caught at a job like this. I have a BS in prelaw and criminal justice, what am I carrying out wrong. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to get another career but still with no prospects, I really don’t what to do. Some days I am ok and then others, like today, I just want to stop.

Solution by Aibrean
Do what you need to do.

What is the finest location to locate a work in the legal discipline?
I am just getting into the legal subject, getting a paralegal certificate, and I need to know exactly where to locate a very good work. I work for Starbucks and don’t have any business office expertise. I have my B.A. and a minor. Even so people credentials really don’t mean something because you require knowledge to get a career, but you won’t be able to get a career devoid of knowledge. Severely? What do I do? How do I get about it? Everyone reside in the Seattle, WA area and know of everyone who desires an assistant? I actually am ready to do just about anything at all to get some encounter so any assist any person can give me would be great.

Solution by Star
You want to get company knowledge. If you can’t obtain a work on your very own soon after sending out resumes, I suggest you go to a temporary employment company that staffs clerical positions in any form of area.

Then, go to a temporary employment company that specializes in staffing positions in law offices.

There are lots in Seattle, WA. Just do a lookup on Yahoo and you need to be capable to locate them (or look in your phone book).

Sign up with numerous companies.

What can one do with an Associate’s Diploma in paralegal Studies?
My mom has been making $ 400 a week for about 2 decades, and it’s tiring for her. She functions prolonged hrs, and at times it really is difficult to make end’s meet.

She has an AA Degree in Paralegal Research, and has had it considering that previously this 12 months. I know how the legal career is at the minute, that my mom will almost certainly in no way get a work due to the economic downturn, but there HAS to be some thing? Creating $ 1600 a month is not functioning! What can she do?

Solution by mailaccount63
Contemplate and appear into the fields of: >>>Healthcare, Information Technologies, Law ENFORCEMENT, environmentalism, emergency preparing, accounting, education and learning, entertainment, utilities, property-automobile-industrial-industrial repairs, vice industries, clergy, and/or credit card debt assortment.

But considering today's VERY competitive job market, an associates degree won't get your mother very far. Most employers in the field of Law want employees with BACHELORS degrees. But if she would explore one of the vocational fields I mentioned above, she might be able to couple it with one of those fields.

Choosing a career is one of life's most important decisions.

The legal profession is dramatically changing and is in CRISIS. Every year, more and more people graduate from law school, but there are fewer and fewer jobs. Even the largest and most reputable law firms are experiencing unprecedented cutbacks. I don't expect the situation to improve in the coming years.....

Be aware of what you are proposing on getting yourself into. Please do more research first.

Reminder: We are in a World-wide Recession. Consider career paths that have available JOBS.<<<<<

Warning> Careers in the area of Law are drying up fast!! This is just not a excellent subject to make investments time and/or income into. This is a SHRINKING, crumbling, and dying vocational subject! Many good reasons. We now have computers. So, many individuals these days (mistakenly) believe they can do their very own legal operate, thanks to the Web. Also, there are a lot of businesses out there generating really productive legal computer software for the area of Law. Today’s graduating lawyers are inclined to be really pc savvy, so they just do the perform on their own to conserve themselves the cost of overhead. Also, the “Public” buys this legal software in order to get legal function completed devoid of the cost of an Attorney. Also, we basically previously have way as well many Legal Pros – we have an absolute glut!! (“Legal Professionals” contains, but is not restricted to: Attorneys/Attorneys, Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, and so on)

Websites like legalzoom.com have taken away work that numerous modest-time attorneys/lawyers would do.

The discipline of Law has a mystique that actually exceeds reality. The discipline of Law is an overrated career – largely by television. There are a lot of myths regarding the discipline of Law: operating as a Lawyer is mentally demanding (Truly, most function as an lawyer requires routine paperwork: study, cite checking, drafting documents, and document evaluation. Attorneys require to compose down and track each exercise they do, all day lengthy [in 6 to 15 minutes increments, based on the billing method] – a painstaking but necessary task), getting an lawyer is thrilling, high-driven, and glamorous (don’t forget: television is fiction – the fictional attorneys on Tv are ACTORS – the vast majority of function that an legal professional does, does not occur in a courtroom), law college students think that because they are great at arguing they will turn into wonderful attorneys (actually being a wonderful attorney is far more in one’s capability to mediate among differing sides and bringing them to agreement), as a lawyer I can correct injustices (in fact legal decisions are far more about reaching compromises than about proper vs. improper), guaranteed fiscal achievement (truly when salaries are in contrast, you also want to account for charge-of residing expenses [most big law companies are in large cities - the larger the metropolis, the far more cost-of-living expenditures will be], payment of debts accrued although attending law school, and time needed to build a client base. A lot of huge law firms call for lawyers to work sixty-eighty hours per week.).

Price of law school to be attorney, approx $ 150,000+.
Be ready to consider on a Great deal of credit card debt, if getting to be an lawyer is your ultimate objective.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

There are no available jobs in this vocational field. My family, coworkers, friends, acqaintances, etc. have been laid off left and right in this vocational field.

Regarding being a Paralegal: Employers (usually law firms) in the field of Law today want employees with BACHELORS degrees from traditional colleges/universities. Those "certificates" you see advertised aren't worth the paper they are printed on - they are generally scams. (I found this out the hard way.) Also, the law school's program needs to be accredited by the American Bar Association - if it isn't, you are just wasting your time/money.

Even if you finish law school, you won't be able to find a job when you are done. Since this vocational field is shrinking, many new attorneys/lawyers are, themselves, having to work "down" as Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Legal Secretaries, Bailiffs, Court Reporters, etc, etc, to simply try to keep some of their bills paid <

Now... the law schools know this, but they won't tell you the truth>that the career market place/economic system is just SATURATED with way too numerous Legal Experts. Rather the universities will feed you a fairytale and will LIE to you. The root of the dilemma is we have as well many law colleges. We are in a recession, and the universities are fighting for their very own survival – they will tell pupils nearly anything to get to the students’ money. (Which is why they would not notify you the reality about the task market place for the discipline of Law.) And these colleges proceed to recruit and churn out even far more graduates………….Keep in mind: law universities are Businesses – their leading problem is making income for on their own.

>>>>>THE MOST Important Issue: You especially have to beware of the bogus, inflated law college income/task stats given out by law universities!!!*****<<<<<

If you don't believe me, then just do a SEARCH here on Yahoo Answers to see what other posters are saying about the current status of the field of Law. Call some local law firms - ask to speak to the Manager of Human Resources - ask them if they are hiring ask them what they think about job availability in the field of Law..................

In the book "So You Want to be a Lawyer?" by Marianne Calabrese and Susanne Calabrese (ISBN 0-88391-136-1): "The United States has more lawyers than any other country in the world. About 38,000 students graduate>every single 12 months< from the 200+ law schools in the United States. The competition is very keen for jobs and clients." - Even Associate Justice Antonin Scalia (who served on the U.S. Supreme Court for more than 20 years) says there are too many lawyers. (9/14/2008)

Check out these websites: http://informeddecisionmaking.blogspot.com

http://calicocat.com/2004/08/law-school-big-lie.html

http://abajournal.com/news/triplt_bad_news_for_law_students_three_firms_aX_summer_associate_programs/

http://abajournal.com/news/as_rio_tinto_saves_millions_other_corps_will_outsource_too_counsel_says/

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/02/03/dont-try-to-dodge-the-recession-with-grad-school/

http://lawschoolscam.blogspot.com

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/another-view-lock-the-law-school-doors/?ref=business

http://media.www.dailyorange.com/media/storage/paper522/news/2009/09/15/News/Law-Students.Face.Tough.Job.Market-3771810.shtml

(A link to a website does not constitute endorsement.)

If you want a job when you are done with your studies, consider and look into the fields of:>>>Healthcare, Data Engineering, Law ENFORCEMENT, environmentalism, emergency preparing, accounting, training, enjoyment, utilities, property-automobile-business-industrial repairs, vice industries, clergy, and/or credit card debt collection! I spoke to a career counselor from Employment and Family members Services, and HE informed me that these locations are wherever the work are, and future career opportunities/availability! and scholarships!

Excellent luck.

(This is based on my existing knowledge, data, belief, and existence experiences. This was meant as personalized impression, and not meant to be employed as legal suggestions. Make sure you be careful and do your study.)

What work need to I consider? I am at a crossroads and am searching for some input.?
I worked for a firm undertaking function on land and drinking water management and was their directer of operations for more than 5 decades, operating there above 10 years total. The economic system hit them tough and when they ended up hunting to lay individuals off, I actually got a career provide elsewhere and left so that they could preserve absolutely everyone else on. I had been coaching a woman to do my work anyway, so the transition was quite smooth for them, even though it was terribly tough for me to even decide to leave!

I manufactured almost two times as significantly income in the prolonged run, though. I am now carrying out far more the legal factor alternatively of the engineering facet and enjoy my work, but have to drive 40 miles every way to get to and from perform and can’t offer my residence due to the fact it is well worth significantly less than I owe, so I am stuck with the commute unless of course I want to destroy my credit, which I do not want to do.

I obtained a phone right now from an Engineer I used to operate with who has moved over to a huge engineering firm. Turns out my previous Organization went underneath about a yr after I left and they had to let everybody go in the finish anyway

He offered me a job making as a lot as I make now additionally some potential bonus possibilities. I also would not have to push as far. I would have workers doing work for me once again, as an alternative of just becoming an worker. I am not positive if I want to handle folks once again even though.

The consider is, I am quite happy in my job now, enjoy it, and have very large job protection, realizing I’ll be occupied and gainfully employed for the next 10 years if I chose to keep. I get along with everyone and am handled with great respect. I’ve know the proprietors for numerous many years, and our little ones go to college with each other.

This Engineering firm looks stable ample, presented me the exact same volume of cash with area to advance, and the push time would be less, but I do not really feel it is as stable and I believe it will be a higher anxiety task. Plus I do not know if I nevertheless would have my individual company, plus the place I am at has handled me so effectively, I get a ton of compensated vacation, a great deal of freedom, a window in my business office, and so on, (much more than the new place could give i think). Also, I am a loyal particular person, and in the previous 15 a long time I have only labored at the two locations.

What would you do? Law or Engineering, balance vs. locality, positive issue vs. not so confident, manager vs. lone wolf, etc.

Did I mention I am a libra and can in no way make a determination LOL

My degree is actually in Personal computer Science and Mathematics, not law or civil engineering although I took many sophisticated h2o chemistry courses with the intent to be an environmental engineer at some position. So I’d be a paralegal or a technician.

Answer by Michelle
Every little thing you say in your query screams at me to say stay in which you are.

You do not want to deal with folks, and so on,

The only issue is the commute, but this is a quick expression issue, the housing market place will not keep undesirable permanently. I live in the United kingdom, and the housing Market is picking up. In about 3 a long time, we ought to be near to pre economic downturn residence prices.

Could you not rent out your present residence, and then possibly get or rent a single nearer to your existing job ?

Okay, I desire I aided, Just make certain you keep in the job you presently have. *Smile*

I want to just explode I experience angry…Somebody make sure you give me your guidance. I start a new career its my 4th day as?
as a paralegal I am totaly lost and confused I am on a ninety-day probation so I am trying to do the finest I can to keep this work after that 90-day. Properly anyway nowadays I was checking the e-mails and I examine an email to the Lawyer from the other paralegal that stated “Sandy can start off on the 1st or after the payperiod it does not issue to her”
When I go through this I was like are they planing on allowing me go I obtained angry simply because sandy was the lady that use to operate there. An individual what do you believe am I jumping to conclutions?

Solution by in_TIM_idation
You are totally jumping to conclusions… even so in this day and age no career is secure devoid of a agreement and even contracts just make it more challenging. Place in your worth and make sure they don’t have a purpose to permit you go. Smile and be sincere and you will go as far as your understanding and persona can take you. sandy could be a new hire… don’t sweat the tiny stuff. just do your thing.