College

[Emperor Nero]

So I am 1 semester into a 4 year degree in Paralegal Studies. My ultimate goal is to get my 4 year degree and then head to Law School to get my JD. Well now I am having second thoughts about the Paralegal Studies degree. I think I want to get a degree in Political Science. I just don't know what to do. I enjoy the law basis that the Paralegal Studies degree gives me, because it will give me a head start at law school but it's a pain in the butt being a paralegal because you are doing 90% of the lawyers dirty work and are pretty much just a glorified errand boy who can do legal research. I don't know what I would do with a PoliSci degree though? What can you do with a degree in political science? I know there are paralegal job openings, and that is another reason I am going to for that. I just don't know.

 

I don't know what sort of activities political science consists of either, but if you enjoy paralegal studies and it has job opening then stick with it.
You might be doing someone's dirty work, but at least you will enjoy it and actually have a job in it.
What have you go to do to become an actual lawyer? Wouldn't that interest you?

 

[Got Weed]

If you're having second thoughts about it I would definitely go with your gut. You don't wanna be doing something you hate/dislike your whole life.

 

[Lilly]

So I am 1 semester into a 4 year degree in Paralegal Studies.

You're not committed to anything, you can change your major at any time within the first two years.

You have plenty of time to decide what you enjoy the most, personally, i recommend doing research on your spare time. Do a week of Paralegal and a week of Political Science to determine what you enjoy studying the most.

For instance, i originally went to college to major in liberal arts, i did some research on my free time to see what i enjoyed the most and decided i was going to be a nurse.

 

[Emperor Nero]

I like it, but where I live is very rural and most of the time a paralegal at a lawfirm here will be doing everything and not just his job. He will most likely be answering phones, booking appointments, meeting with clients, doing legal research, balancing bank accounts - pretty much everything. I am moving away, but not that soon because I am going to finish up all of my degree here (because I can stay with my parents for completely free, yeah I am mooching. ) and then I may move away for law school.

 

[Lilly]

paralegal at a lawfirm here will be doing everything and not just his job. He will most likely be answering phones, booking appointments, meeting with clients, doing legal research, balancing bank accounts - pretty much everything.

I'm confused is this what you don't want to do?

Within every law firm this is where you start your "journey" if you will, towards becoming a lawyer.

 

[Emperor Nero]

I'm confused is this what you don't want to do?

Within every law firm this is where you start your "journey" if you will, towards becoming a lawyer.

No, no. A Paralegal's job is to assist the lawyer with client meetings, do legal research, prepare everything for trial, and type up legal documents - not be a secretary. I want to do the research and prepare the documents and be there for trial. The way my teacher described it around here she made it sound like you pretty much do the bulk of the work a secretary would do and I don't want to go through all of this training to sit behind a desk and do accounting work and file stuff.

 

[Lilly]

No, no. A Paralegal's job is to assist the lawyer with client meetings, do legal research, prepare everything for trial, and type up legal documents - not be a secretary. I want to do the research and prepare the documents and be there for trial. The way my teacher described it around here she made it sound like you pretty much do the bulk of the work a secretary would do and I don't want to go through all of this training to sit behind a desk and do accounting work and file stuff.

Essentially the duty of a paralegal is quite similar to that of a secretary. My friend could tell you more about this because she would complain about the same things, however, you have to start somewhere. Imagine all of the other paralegals you'll be competing against, they have to evaluate your dedication, commitment and intelligence some how.

They won't throw you in with the "big dogs" so to speak, until you've proven yourself.

 

[Emperor Nero]

I guess it won't be too bad... I only have to do it while I am going to college for my JD.

 

[Pen]

Major in whatever you want, you just need a high GPA. No, you don't need to major in what you think will prepare you for law school, that's full of shit. Any pre-law major or paralegal studies major is full of shit and statistically they've scored the lowest on the LSAT. Major in what you enjoy, and study hard for the LSAT.

 

[Emperor Nero]

Major in whatever you want, you just need a high GPA. No, you don't need to major in what you think will prepare you for law school, that's full of shit. Any pre-law major or paralegal studies major is full of shit and statistically they've scored the lowest on the LSAT. Major in what you enjoy, and study hard for the LSAT.

Interesting. I would like to have the paralegal just have something to fall back on though as they don't make awful money even if law school doesn't work out.

 

[Snow Patrol]

Law in general nowadays is a declining field, and law school admissions itself has watered down to the point that the competitiveness has taken a toll as well.

Contrary to the belief, you don't need to declare yourself pre-law (or pre-med/pre-dental/pre-pharm/etc.) if you have your eyes set on a professional degree, as long as you complete the required coursework, take the standardized tests (LSAT/MCAT/PCAT/DAT/etc), and your extra-curriculars pertain to that field in some form or fashion, you're eligible to apply. The pre-X tag doesn't mean sh*t if your scores are trash.