7 Worst Things About Being a Paralegal

7 Worst Things About Being a Paralegal 7 Worst Things About Being a Paralegal A career as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. However, paralegal jobs have their disadvantages. If you are considering a ?paralegal career, the 10 career drawbacks below outline several top challenges of the paralegal profession (to explore the benefits of paralegal work, review these 8 Best Things about Being a Paralegal). 01 Lack of Career Path Darrin Klimek/Digital Vision/Getty Images Paralegals have a limited career path in most organizations. To advance beyond the senior paralegal ranks, you must transition to another role entirely such as management or litigation support. 02 High StressParalegal jobs can be extremely stressful. Multiple, short-term deadlines, rising workloads, and high-dollar stakes combine to create a pressure-filled work environment. In the words of the blog Paralegal Hell, Its not the kind of stress of meeting a deadline or the fact that your boss may have lost his brain at birth. Its the fact that all your work is: (1) urgent and (2) of vital importance. If you screw up, the world will certainly end. And thats just the contract for the copy machine in the workroom. 03 Long HoursTight deadlines, high workloads, and a dwindling workforce combine to create an environment in which long hours, overtime, and weekend work are the norm. Paralegals, who are employed in law firm environments, frequently work more than 40 hours a week, while those employed in corporate and government arenas might enjoy more relaxed schedules. While numerous organizations have emerged to help attorneys manage work/life balance issues, few such resources exist for paralegals. 04 Routine WorkLets face it, some paralegal work, especially at the entry level, is mindless, tedious and routine. Law firm economics dictate that firms bill the client at the highest possible rate to maximize profits. Therefore, more complex, challenging tasks are often pushed up the staff hierarchy, reserving the juiciest tasks for the highest-ranking staff - senior associates and partners. In small firms, paralegals wear many hats and frequently perform work that is secretarial, administrative, or clerical in nature. 05 Lack of RespectAlthough largely undeserved, a lack of respect is one of the most common complaints among practicing paralegals. Paralegals routinely deal with demanding partners, jealous associates, competitive co-workers, disrespectful opposing counsel, cranky clients and difficult vendors. While every law firms culture is different, long hours, tricky deadlines, and high stakes can create a caustic work environment and paralegals sometimes receive more than their fair share of grief. 06 Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)A basic tenet of paralegal practice is that paralegals cannot engage in the unauthorized practice of law; all states have enacted statutes which limit the practice of law to licensed attorneys. Although each state defines UPL differently, the practice of law is generally recognized to include: (1) accepting cases from a client; (2) setting fees; (3) rendering legal advice; (4) signing legal documents; and (5) appearing in a representative capacity before a court or other adjudicatory body. Because paralegals must work under the supervision of a lawyer, paralegals roles are limited by UPL. Also, these laws make it difficult for paralegals to receive credit or recognition outside the firm for their work. For example, if the paralegal writes a winning appellate brief, he cannot sign his name to it or take credit for it. 07 Lack of ChallengeParalegals are often underutilized because their roles are minimized or misunderstood. To overcome this barrier, paralegals must proactively educate law firm and corporate leaders regarding their substantive capabilities and the ways in which they can contribute to client service and profitability.