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ebouchard

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Post by ebouchard » Sun Nov 01, 2015 6:40 pm

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Cogburn87

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by Cogburn87 » Sun Nov 01, 2015 6:53 pm

ebouchard wrote:Assuming that the same situation would happen to me, how much would a grumpy HR manager's opinion count in my future SA hiring process?
It wouldn't matter unless you're dumb enough to use that person as reference.
ebouchard wrote:Or would it be the fact that I breached the 2-year commitment that would look bad on my resume?
Also wouldn't matter unless you're dumb enough to put "Oh, by the way, at this job I breached a verbal two-year commitment" on your resume.

kcdc1

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by kcdc1 » Sun Nov 01, 2015 7:19 pm

Short answer: go for it. Worst case scenario is they blackball you at that firm and sue you for breach of contract damages, but both are highly unlikely. If you get into a good school and do well, they'll want to hire you as an associate. The attorneys will understand your situation, and it would be petty and self-defeating for them to hold a grudge against you for leaving to advance your career. Suing you would also make no sense. Putting aside the PR nightmare, how would they quantify damages, and how would they collect from a broke law student?

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Desert Fox

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Post by Desert Fox » Sun Nov 01, 2015 7:34 pm

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fats provolone

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by fats provolone » Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:04 pm

do you have a sick dad in your back pocket you could use as an excuse?

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fats provolone

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by fats provolone » Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:05 pm

Desert Fox wrote:Lol they can't sue for damages.
when issue spotting goes wrong

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Desert Fox

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kcdc1

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by kcdc1 » Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:14 pm

Desert Fox wrote:Lol they can't sue for damages.
Resources devoted to training replacement theoretically could be damages. But it's a non-issue here because there's no chance they try.

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Desert Fox

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kcdc1

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by kcdc1 » Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:24 pm

Desert Fox wrote:
kcdc1 wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:Lol they can't sue for damages.
Resources devoted to training replacement theoretically could be damages. But it's a non-issue here because there's no chance they try.
Go look up at will employment kiddo. Or the statute of frauds.
You are right that it'd be a meritless claim as well as a useless claim. Again, non-issue.

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First Offense

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by First Offense » Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:19 pm

Desert Fox wrote:
kcdc1 wrote:
Desert Fox wrote:Lol they can't sue for damages.
Resources devoted to training replacement theoretically could be damages. But it's a non-issue here because there's no chance they try.
Go look up at will employment kiddo. Or the statute of frauds.
Yeah sof was the first thing I thought of. More than 1 year has to be in writing, right?

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aspire2esquire

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by aspire2esquire » Sun Nov 01, 2015 10:30 pm

Thought if your GPA was close to the cutoff, the firm would dip since you worked for them for 2 years or nah?

ebouchard

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Post by ebouchard » Sun Nov 01, 2015 11:45 pm

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First Offense

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Re: BigLaw paralegal: Breaking a 2-year commitment

Post by First Offense » Mon Nov 02, 2015 1:35 pm

ebouchard wrote:Yeah, I highly doubt that the firm will come after me. For the past 5 months, I saw 3 paralegals leave with very short notices without fulfilling the 2-year commitments. But granted, all of them were going to banking, politics, etc, and couldn't care less if they were burning bridges or not.

One more question: Would having a 2-year paralegal experience give me more leverage in getting a SA position, as opposed to having a 1-year paralegal experience? (I've applied to top 7 law schools.) Thanks so much for all your advice.
The benefit will be secondary. Grades are the biggest factor (but not the sole factor) in getting a job.

The main benefit is in interviews you can have more developed/believable answers than the majority of law students.

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