Legal Assistant/Paralegal Hiring Season Forum

[Lwoods]

From my own personal experience of para-ing with a V10, some people were hired as needed, and some were hired around May, when people were graduating from college/when other paras were getting ready to leave before law school. It's kind a crapshoot, and all depends on hiring needs/if paralegals are leaving after their 2 years are up.

This was my experience as well. Though, there were more and bigger "classes" 5 years ago before the downturn in the economy. Now fewer people are leaving and fewer spots are generated so it seems more sporadic. I also don't think my firm was too strict on the 2 year requirement.

[williams11]

Another pretty basic question: I'm struggling to find actual people to address my cover letters to on websites where they just link you to a general hiring email for the office. Does it look bad if I end up putting the wrong name on the letter? (or worse, no name?)

[CanadianWolf]

Most do not limit recruiting to Ivies. Ivy equivalents such as Amherst, Swarthmore, Williams, Stanford, Chicago, Northwestern & Georgetown are also considered. GPAs of 3.5 are adequate for many of the schools with tough grading (typically Ivies have graded quite high).

[strawboy1230]

Yeah, I'm definitely feeling pretty behind in this process.. I applied to a bunch of the V10 in early March, heard a no from S&C, and nothing from the rest so far. For some I guess it's only been a few weeks, but if hiring really happens in March and not April, I guess I'm not in good shape.

Can anyone else comment on when they applied / were interviewed or hired?

Also, I'm definitely already worrying about the travel factor.. I'm out in western MA so Boston and NYC are inconvenient enough, but a lot of the firms I applied to are in DC and I've already got one interview offer that definitely won't be reimbursing the $300+ flight down.

PM me if you need advice/help. I just went through that whole process from Dec-Jan.

[CanadianWolf]

strawboy: Were you hired ? Are you currently working as a paralegal ?

[strawboy1230]

strawboy: Were you hired ? Are you currently working as a paralegal ?

Yep. Will be starting in the summer after i graduate.