Summer at the Firm You Paralegal'd At? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I was a biglaw paralegal (finance practice) before law school at a V40 firm. Deciding now between offers at that firm, Willkie, and Morgan Lewis. I've been lit-oriented my whole life but realized after my experience at a firm (and taking corps) that I'd like to try my hand at transactional practice, preferably in the M&A and finance groups, but would probably regret it for a long time if I didn't at least do a rotation through a litigation group. My V40 firm is pretty good at all three.

My question is this: what's your impression of people that go back to the firm that they para'd at? Is there really a perception that you somehow didn't earn that, or that you're constantly looked at as "the paralegal" as an associate?

[bl1nds1ght]

These are great questions. Would love to see some perspectives.

Thanks for asking, OP.

[Anonymous User]

I have met a few associates who were once former paralegals at their respective firms and they all speak positivity about their experiences. In some sense, it's harder to work as an associate at a firm you paralegaled at. It means you have a great work product, a foundation of trust with other associates, and a clear desire to be there longterm.

[Anonymous User]

One of the summers at my firm was a paralegal. From what I saw, no one ever treated him any differently than the rest of us. In fact, they treated him better because they knew him well and liked him. I got the impression that as long as people liked you as a person while you paralegaled, that's all that matters. And FWIW, he joined the same practice group that he was a paralegal in.

[Anonymous User]

Don't factor in the fact that your paralegaled there in your decision making. In the long term, this will have no bearing on your career. The firms are comparable, V40-50 range, so go with fit.

Congratulations on the offers.
Good luck.