Qualified jobs that could be useful as Legal Assistant/Assoc

[katesearches]

So a lot of the legal jobs I'm looking at require 3-5 years experience in that position, and I don't have the qualifications for that position.

So what kind of jobs would help give me some qualifications in the legal field? I'm thinking if I can't get a position as a legal assistant, I could at least get a job that might be more useful

[2012JayDee]

In the world of law you're either a lawyer or you aren't.

There is no job experience that qualifies you to be a lawyer. Law school is your job experience to be a lawyer.
If you want work experience to apply to law school then you just need to have a job.

If you want to know what it's like to work in the legal field then you just need to have a job at a legal place--but not necessarily a legal job, as that would require law school.

There is no job now that can truly help you to be a better law student or a better lawyer.

The next closest profession to being a lawyer is being a paralegal. Many paralegals are hired right out of undergrad
This is just a job you will have to apply for as an entry level person and gain experience. You're never going to ger promoted from paralegal to lawyer but this is the most practical experience you can get for what it's like to work with/for lawyers and partners and what it's like to work in a law firm. Most legal public interest jobs don't have a lot of paralegal jobs, if they have any, because it's kind of a luxury position that many non-law firm employers can't afford.

[cutecarmel]

Based on my experience, firms aren't willing to hire people for legal positions unless they are in or have finished law school. The closest job you could probably get is as a file clerk for a law firm. It gives you an idea about what lawyers do, but not much else, and probably won't be useful in your legal career.

If you are applying for law school now, any work in a professional setting (probably not fast-food related) will be helpful. Just developing communication skills, having leadership roles, and learning how to handle yourself in a professional environment will be useful. In your 2nd or 3rd year you will probably start actually doing work in the field and that (along with clinics, research etc in law school) should prepare you enough.