Is anyone a paralegal or know about salaries. Would you say that it is a high paying field? My friend showed me some positions who offered 75-90k but wondered if thats common. She wants to get into the profession but before she goes to school she wants to know if its worth it. Also..what are good schools? She is in Forest Hills.
Kriss2c
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Re: paralegal?
You can go to monster.com and use their salary/location tool. I'd say that salary is certainly possible in a large firm in NYC.
Edited to say: possible, but not common. I've been a legal secretary for about 10 years now. I just recently started working for a large firm in NYC after having been working on LI - in that switch my salary jumped about $15k/per year.
P.S. the money does not make this job worth it at all, IMO.
beachgirl13
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Re: paralegal?
That salary would only be possible after many years of being a paralegal. They don't start anywhere near that.
goingtobemrs
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Re: paralegal?
I do research at my job all the time for that. It is definitely high. Also, try www.salary.com
Maribelle7777
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Re: paralegal?
Posted by Kriss2c
You can go to monster.com and use their salary/location tool. I'd say that salary is certainly possible in a large firm in NYC.
however i worked in 2 large firms in the city and both didn't take paralegals from paralegal schools. they both had programs where they hired students that had just graduated from ivy league schools with their b.s. and they work as paralegals (they train them on the job) for 2 years before going on to law school. they don't make alot of money here or at the other firm i worked at. however the overtime made up for it.
i don't know about other large firms. a few girls here work at other large law firms in the city maybe they can give you more of an idea.
i think that firms on L.I. that are big but not 'top tier' hire para's from paralegal schools. they probably make more of a salary and less overtime.
Hope that helps.
FeliciaDA
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Re: paralegal?
I have worked in lawfirms for my entire career, and the reason I remained a legal secretary rather than a paralegal is because the paralegal field is tricky. I have some para experience but the quality of life begins to suck after awhile
It really does depend on your background as to what you can make, and how much of your time you are willing to devote to it
The only way you can make BIG bucks as a para is to work in NYC, and be willing to work LOTS of OT at a NYC firm.. I knew para's at my old firm who were making $150,000 a year, but they worked every weekend , every trial and had no life. Its also a very stressful job, esp. in litigation. To me, its not worth it.
As Mary said, firms in NYC would sooner hire someone with experience and a Bachelor's Degree rather than a paralegal certificate ... its very competitive in Manhattan.. anything entry level will not pay a whole lot , though of course everyone has to start somewhere.
You can definitely find work in Westchester or LI as a para with a para certificate, but you'd proably make $50,000 MAX. And yes, a paralegal coming right out of school with no experience isn't going to be paid much.
goingtobemrs
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Re: paralegal?
I used to be a legal secretary and had NO desire to be a paralegal because they got all the crap work in my firm. As a secretary I was responsible for 2 partners, and their work. I didn't even do all of the filing. I worked insane hours, but the paralegals had to do bates stamping, photocopying...it was crazy.
myasmom
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Re: paralegal?
She has a degree already in business and was going to law school. She was the friend I was talking about when Rina (I think) was asking about fellow law schoolers experience. She basically would be transferring credit and trying to get a 4 year degree in paralegal studies. And she went to St. Johns University. She just didnt like the stress of law school but want the legal profession.
goingtobemrs
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Re: paralegal?
If you give me her years of experience as a paralegal and the town she'd be working in, I can give you the salaries for that area. I have salary programs here for my research.
myasmom
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right now she is doing an internship at a law firm..she was to be a lawyer. SHe was helping out on immigration cases. She has done this for 3 years but without the offical 'training as a paralegal'. She is workign in the city and seeing othere people make the jump to $$ jobs but doesnt know if that common or just their good luck lol.
goingtobemrs
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Ok. Well, that still counts as experience...BRB
cluelessbride
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I used to be a legal recruiter.
If she has 3 years experience 'helping out' with immigration cases, what is her job title? Was she doing research, or just clerical work?
If she already has BA/BS, then she can probably go to agencies that specialize in the legal field and try to get an entry-level paralegal job without the certificate. It may be hard though since St. John's isn't a top school.
ETA: If she wants to go the certificate route, NYU has good program through their School of Continuing and Professional Studies. I think starting salaries are in the low 40's, but with her experience she can surely get more.
goingtobemrs
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Re: paralegal?
Ok, with 3 years experience in Manhattan as a paralegal, the median salary is $39,000. That is without o/t of course.
goingtobemrs
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Re: paralegal?
Here is another survey as an entry-level paralegal: $45,000 http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layoutscripts/swzl_compresult.asp?jobcode=LE11000024&jobtitle=Paralegal+I&jobtitlecomp=&narrowcode=LE01&narrowcodecomp=&narrowdesc=Legal+Services&zipcode=&metrocode=119&statecode=NY&geo=New+York%2C+NY&geocomp=&pagenumber=2&iscompare=&comparetype=&openlink=&state=New+York&metro=New+York&city=&isgeometro=1&isforcompanalyst=1&r=salswz_swzresbtn_psr&p=&fterangecode=
