Late career start in law - how convince firms I'm a good paralegal hire?

Marcon

Cacilhas said:

Marcon said:

Cacilhas said:

I'm in my mid-30s and looking for work as a paralegal, but have no prior experience in law nor a particularly strong CV, or a proper career for that matter. After university (BSc in business admin) (just about 2:1) I worked for a few years in business admin, then started a business, had to close said business and started taking dead-end jobs, had a few adventures abroad, and worked with a start-up for a year.

The lack of a coherent career path is in part down to lacking motivation and confidence. I've now found these things, and would like to work as a paralegal with a view to qualify as a solicitor. I appreciate I've left it late to have a stellar career in that area, but would be happy to work away at a high street firm, helping ordinary people with ordinary legal problems.

However, to get there I need that paralegal job, and there seems to be a fair bit of competition for those. I do have a number of transferable skills, and could certainly learn and do an entry-level job. But I do have the CV of a planless under-achiever, which I imagine is the main problem here.

I'll be starting an MA in law (conversion) to show dedication, but would love to hear about additional ways to do this. I'm also looking for ways to demonstrate potential and ability. I score highly on aptitude tests but understand the respected ones are only given as part of recruitment processes I'm unlikely to pass the screening stage for. The same applies to interviews, where I've done well in the few ones for non-legal jobs I've had throughout my life.

Anyone has tips on how to get around this catch-22? Or any other ways I can try to break in? Thank you in advance for any help.

Competition is huge for any sort of legal job, including paralegal. Many of those filling such a role have a law degree and significant (relevant) experience. For all the reasons you've outlined, you aren't a strong candidate and probably wouldn't get past the initial sift - yet.

'Starting' an MA isn't especially impressive; it's completing it that shows dedication and commitment. Even then, competition will be red hot and you'll need to persuade a would-be employer of your suitability. There are far too many qualified solicitors whose next ambition is to get out of the legal world and end up pretty much anywhere else, so ensuring that you have a solid grasp of what a legal role entails, and making certain you don't come over as a starry-eyed watched-too-much-TV applicant (you'd be surprised how many...) would greatly increase your chances of success.

Have you looked at the possibility of an apprenticeship, possibly giving you a route to qualifying as a legal executive? [link] Or looking at other roles, especially in the very large firms of solicitors, where you'd have a chance to prove yourself?

Thank you for your answer, it's very informative. I'd love to have a completed MA to show but would like to get going as soon as possible. I've seen some paralegal courses should take a few months to complete, at somewhere called National Paralegal College. Perhaps this is something that could both show a degree of dedication, as well as preparing me for day-to-day work?

You say 'The lack of a coherent career path is in part down to lacking motivation and confidence. I've now found these things, and would like to work as a paralegal with a view to qualify as a solicitor.' Finding motivation and confidence don't of themselves 'sell' you as a good paralegal hire, simply because those qualities don't necessarily link up with deciding to head down the legal route. Why do you want to work as a paralegal/qualify as a solicitor - you could just as well say you've now got the motivation and confidence to be an accountant, a teacher, a PA... Persuading a potential employer that you've made an informed and reasoned decision is going to be key to getting an interview, never mind a job offer.

So yes, a paralegal course could really pay dividends. Something you've actually done is always going to carry more weight and impress more than something you are 'about to do'. It would also give you an opportunity to dip your toe in the water and see if legal studies really are for you - and, crucially, give you something to put on your cv to demonstrate that you're serious/have sampled the sort of thing you want to spend your career doing.

strawb_shortcake

Have you considered looking at roles within the civil service? There are currently 31 jobs in legal advertised at different levels. You might find it easier to get employment through them and they will also provide training for you whilst you earn.

Cacilhas

Marcon said:

Cacilhas said:

Marcon said:

Cacilhas said:

I'm in my mid-30s and looking for work as a paralegal, but have no prior experience in law nor a particularly strong CV, or a proper career for that matter. After university (BSc in business admin) (just about 2:1) I worked for a few years in business admin, then started a business, had to close said business and started taking dead-end jobs, had a few adventures abroad, and worked with a start-up for a year.

The lack of a coherent career path is in part down to lacking motivation and confidence. I've now found these things, and would like to work as a paralegal with a view to qualify as a solicitor. I appreciate I've left it late to have a stellar career in that area, but would be happy to work away at a high street firm, helping ordinary people with ordinary legal problems.

However, to get there I need that paralegal job, and there seems to be a fair bit of competition for those. I do have a number of transferable skills, and could certainly learn and do an entry-level job. But I do have the CV of a planless under-achiever, which I imagine is the main problem here.

I'll be starting an MA in law (conversion) to show dedication, but would love to hear about additional ways to do this. I'm also looking for ways to demonstrate potential and ability. I score highly on aptitude tests but understand the respected ones are only given as part of recruitment processes I'm unlikely to pass the screening stage for. The same applies to interviews, where I've done well in the few ones for non-legal jobs I've had throughout my life.

Anyone has tips on how to get around this catch-22? Or any other ways I can try to break in? Thank you in advance for any help.

Competition is huge for any sort of legal job, including paralegal. Many of those filling such a role have a law degree and significant (relevant) experience. For all the reasons you've outlined, you aren't a strong candidate and probably wouldn't get past the initial sift - yet.

'Starting' an MA isn't especially impressive; it's completing it that shows dedication and commitment. Even then, competition will be red hot and you'll need to persuade a would-be employer of your suitability. There are far too many qualified solicitors whose next ambition is to get out of the legal world and end up pretty much anywhere else, so ensuring that you have a solid grasp of what a legal role entails, and making certain you don't come over as a starry-eyed watched-too-much-TV applicant (you'd be surprised how many...) would greatly increase your chances of success.

Have you looked at the possibility of an apprenticeship, possibly giving you a route to qualifying as a legal executive? [link] Or looking at other roles, especially in the very large firms of solicitors, where you'd have a chance to prove yourself?

Thank you for your answer, it's very informative. I'd love to have a completed MA to show but would like to get going as soon as possible. I've seen some paralegal courses should take a few months to complete, at somewhere called National Paralegal College. Perhaps this is something that could both show a degree of dedication, as well as preparing me for day-to-day work?

You say 'The lack of a coherent career path is in part down to lacking motivation and confidence. I've now found these things, and would like to work as a paralegal with a view to qualify as a solicitor.' Finding motivation and confidence don't of themselves 'sell' you as a good paralegal hire, simply because those qualities don't necessarily link up with deciding to head down the legal route. Why do you want to work as a paralegal/qualify as a solicitor - you could just as well say you've now got the motivation and confidence to be an accountant, a teacher, a PA... Persuading a potential employer that you've made an informed and reasoned decision is going to be key to getting an interview, never mind a job offer.

So yes, a paralegal course could really pay dividends. Something you've actually done is always going to carry more weight and impress more than something you are 'about to do'. It would also give you an opportunity to dip your toe in the water and see if legal studies really are for you - and, crucially, give you something to put on your cv to demonstrate that you're serious/have sampled the sort of thing you want to spend your career doing.

Stellar advice, thank you very much for this!