Skyline students interested in the paralegal profession received firsthand knowledge about the field from current and former paralegals, along with recruiters and law professors who visited campus on April 16, 2015 for a series of in-depth panel discussions.

The panelists spoke about pathways into law school, the work of getting started as a paralegal, and the range of different career options within the field. They painted the paralegal’s job as a high stress, high reward position, assuring students that if they can stomach testy lawyers and the frenetic pace of a law office, there are few jobs that allow for such intimate access to the inner workings of a legal firm.

“People say that paralegals are just people who didn’t become lawyers,” said Jocelyn Vila, who worked as a paralegal with the Securities Exchange Commission before coming to work in the Skyline financial aid office. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. Paralegals have their own skill set.”

In the typical single operator law firm, the attorney spends the majority of his or her time working with clients and litigating cases. All other tasks around the office, including paperwork, calendering, research and logistical tasks, fall to one or a handful of paralegals. Though it may seem like a thankless job, in 2015, paralegals at small to mid-size firms made $49-71 thousand per year, according to data provided by Robert Half Legal, which sent a delegate to the Skyline event. At larger firms, a paralegal could expect to earn up to $95,000 per year.

“Lawyers do person-to-person interaction,” said Ellen Dela Peña, who is a former Skyline student and now works as a litigation support vendor. “They’re not so much into papers. As a paralegal, we’re more involved in the paper side.”

The job relies on a mixture of hard and soft skills. It is not enough for paralegals to simply master the latest research software and achieve proficiency in drafting legal documents. The job also requires a range of interpersonal skills, including a thick skin, and attorneys are not known for saying thank you.

“Even though you may not be thanked, you may not be recognized, you may not even have your name said correctly,” fellow panelist Ricky Castañeda said, “you still need to get it done.”

Many of the panelists at the event came from a community college background themselves. Vila transferred her Contra Costa Community College credits to UC Berkeley, where she majored in english and ethnic studies before switching to law. Vila was one of many panelists to stress the importance of networking in order to advertise skills to prospective employers.

“Always be networking,” said Jon Lucchese, Robert Half Legal’s recruiting manager. “You never should miss out on a chance to make a connection.”

One of the goals of the event was to introduce Skyline students to paralegals in the field who might one day give them their first jobs.

However, some students expressed frustration with the years of internships that possibly lie ahead before they can secure a paid position. Jillian MacPherson, a first year paralegal student at Skyline, said it would be hard for her to focus on unpaid work.

“I’m looking to jump right into the field when I graduate,” she said. “I don’t really have the luxury of pursuing internships.”

Students who are interested in learning more about the paralegal profession can attend Paralegal Day 2015 at San Francisco State University on on May 2. Registration information can be found on the San Francisco Paralegal Association website, www.sfpa.com.

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