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By: Anonymous Paralegal (Guest Blogger)
Welcome back TPS readers! Today, we’ve got one question for you: Are senior paralegals becoming an obsolete breed in today’s legal world? Read this anonymous paralegal’s story and let us know your thoughts.
When the economy turned south in the 4th quarter of 2008, I was working at a small boutique firm as a senior litigation paralegal. The title was well earned after more than 25 years in litigation covering personal injury, construction defect, catastrophic injury, aviation and securities law. I had worked for small to mid-sized firms my entire career, with a stint in a corporate legal department for a good portion of the prior ten years. As the economy turned, insurance carriers started to review legal billing more closely, delayed settlements and over-all stalled as much as they could in all litigation matters – subrogation, construction, personal injury, legal malpractice. Because insurance companies make most of their money on the investments they make (yes, they are some of the biggest investors in the stock markets around the world), as the market started to tank, they started tightening their purse strings.
The Legal Environment Changed
Working in any firm that depends on insurance companies paying settlements creates uncertainty for legal professionals in a down-turning economy. However, there was more “bad” news in the Sun Belt where construction had been a booming industry for a decade. Homes, office buildings, shopping centers, big-box stores had fueled the economy for many years: suddenly commercial parcels and entire subdivisions – already graded and with utilities installed – were fenced with no equipment, no activity. Title companies started laying off staff since there were no loans being processed; banks tightened lending requirements; law firms, especially large ones, started releasing staff, then attorneys, as no one was purchasing large parcels or putting together strategic deals requiring a law firm’s assistance. Litigation even starred to dry up – very unusual in a down economy. Only bankruptcy practices seemed unaffected.
It was a snowball running down the mountain that never sees snow – the first to go in the law firms were the most expensive of staff members: the “senior” paralegal. People making descent wages because of their years of experience, those who knew how to do the job at hand and who helped the junior staff (and often the new associates) were let go first – meaning the senior paralegals. When I was “laid off for downsizing” the other paralegal, who was also let go was just a couple of years my junior, but with about as long a career in law as I had. We were two of the highest paid staff members and also were using our benefits – insurance and vacation time; we were mentoring the newly hired junior paralegals, assisting the new legal assistants and taking on tasks not in our loose job descriptions. However, we were found despensible – we were also the oldest of the staff members.
The Dilemma
Thereafter, I discovered that being well educated, striving to provide the best assistance possible to lawyers and clients, and knowing how to take a case from beginning to end was not enough to find a job. Head hunters were telling me to change careers – go get a master’s degree and teach at a junior college (um, that takes money – no job, no income, living on savings – sorry, not a good picture); seek employment in the retail industry (um, people are getting laid off left and right and the stores are starting to lay off staff – what’s wrong with that picture?); seek an “executive assistant” position – they get paid more than legal professionals (um, that may be true on the east and west coast, maybe Atlanta and Chicago, not so much in the Sun Belt).
In the first six months after being laid off, I sent out more than 300 resume, retained an outplacement company for assistance (they did a great job on a new resume, but not much else); called and/or emailed every attorney I knew in the metro area; sent out faxes to firm administrator offering myself as a contract/temp employee. I got zero, nil, nada: nothing during that time frame other than: “Thank you for applying, we have filled the position with someone more suitable to our needs” (read between the lines – lawyer); or “We have been overwhelmed with responses, please be patient while we sort through the resumes” and then nothing. Often there was no response – not an email, thank you letter – nothing. Attempt to contact an office manager or HR department: fruitless, they weren’t taking calls.
The state started reporting record numbers of people being laid off from all areas of the economy – government was cutting personnel just as fast as the private sector: by mid- 2009, the metro area ranked in the top five or six for unemployment. Unemployment compensation in my state is less than $250 a week for someone who makes over $30,000 per year, from which they take state and federal taxes (go figure), so that you end up with less than $220 per week. If your spouse is employed, or your own a home and other assets, you can’t get food stamps, can’t qualify for state healthcare; yet state and federal legislatures were saying there were plenty of jobs and that people didn’t want to find jobs because they got used to living on unemployment (really?). Unfortunately those folks had jobs, were mostly pretty well off, and had no clue what was really happening to their constituents.
I found a temporary consulting position in the fall of 2009 – 20 hours a week for $500 – to help an attorney find new office space, set it up and hire a secretary/legal assistant. That lasted about 8 weeks, during which time I also did some litigation work for him. During the process, I discovered that I could not possibly work for the attorney full time – just not my type of person (he recently was suspended from practice, so I guess I had an inkling). Again, there was a dry period, until a temp agency came up with an assignment lasting about 8 weeks. Things started to look up and there came an offer from an attorney I’d known for a long time – he needed a paralegal now that he was out on his own after leaving his partners – was I interested in part-time moving up to full time in a couple of months? Of course!!
Well, be careful what you wish for – the “part time” was getting ready for trial, which took about a week. He didn’t want assistance at trial, so wouldn’t need help during the five day trial (split over two weeks). Lo and behold, there was nothing doing with “moving up to full time” – he simply wanted trial prep assistance: and it took him two months to pay me!
The Hunt
Once again, I was on the hunt, and started sending out faxes to sole practitioners offering contract work for trial or case work. I was selective in whom I contacted – I went after the well-known solos – those guys who have a reputation of taking only the best cases. This time I was lucky to get involved in a huge case that needed a lot of work to prepare for expert and defendant doctor depositions. Unfortunately, it lasted only about six months, but it was work.
During all this time, I continued to search for a full time position. I lost count of how many resumes I sent out; but I did keep track of how few interviews I had. During 2009 through mid-2011, I had seven interviews, and was twice the “second” in line for the position. Reasons given for not getting the job – too experienced – “we want someone we can train” (then why advertise for a paralegal with 15 years plus experience?); “we can’t afford you” (did you ask me how much I’d be willing to take in salary?); “we decided that an attorney fit our needs better” (gee, why did you advertise for a paralegal?). In a conversation with a head hunter, I found out that for every paralegal position being advertised, either online, in the papers or on company websites, there were 350-400 applicants, split between attorneys, paralegals, paralegal wanna’ be’s, and people just searching for any job. It was a miracle that I got any interviews.
In 2011, I obtained what was intended to be a two year contract/temp assignment through a legal placement firm. I happily drove into work every day, and was giddy to have an income after spending most of our savings and all of the inheritance my dad had left me just to keep our home and vehicles. The firm knew that I wanted a full time position, and even told me when I left early one day for an interview to let them know if an offer was made, as they would want to consider offering me a full time position, probably. Then, two weeks before Christmas, the case I was up-to-my eyeballs in went into mothballs as the client decided he wanted to explore settlement options with the two international corporations involved in his claims. OOPS!!! Suddenly, no job, no income and back to square one.
The Problem
Did I mention that the following week, the firm advertised for a paralegal with 5 – 7 years of experience? No, well, that’s the story of a senior paralegal: firms want you for your ability to hit-the-ground running on a case, yet don’t want to keep you on their payroll due to how much they know they should be paying for your experience. Also, if you apply for a position that may need knowledge outside your immediate comfort zone, e.g. intellectual property litigation, most firms are not willing to look at you because you do not meet their “specific” requirement of “some experience with intellectual property”.
Is Location the Issue?
It is hard to explain to some of my peers in other parts of the country exactly what the job market is like in the Sun Belt. I’ve seen lots of job postings for New Orleans, Houston, Atlanta, Philly, New York, Washington, San Francisco, Seattle and other areas of the county. But it’s not easy to simply pick up and leave: I have a house (with an up-side down mortgage); a husband whose business is here, so that moving would require starting over for him; extended family and friends here where we’ve lived for over two decades; and my husband’s health which does not allow us to live in the colder climes.
Is Age the Issue?
Additionally, some of the problem for senior paralegals at this time is too much experience and being “too old”, although no one can come out and say that directly without getting sued for age discrimination. I’ve had several people tell me my resume is intimidating; they’ve ask why I never went to law school (never wanted to!); told me to “dumb down” my resume (please help me with that one – I have no idea how to do that!); and to simply give up and find another type of work. Sure, that’s the easy solution, but folks look at your resume and know the minute the market turns, you’ll be out looking for the work you love to do.
The Lost Paralegals
From the outset of my lack of work, I have taught on-and-off for a local paralegal program. It has been hard to tell those interested in the profession that there is little out there for them – no one wants to take on the newbies, nor the elders of our profession. I teach what I know, but warn my students to be prepared for a hard row-to-ho when looking for a job.
In the past week I’ve had four interviews, two of which have gone south due to the fact I was too experienced; the other two are still pending. I spend my days on the phone, searching job boards, firm and corporate web sites, governmental job banks, and I continue to hope and pray that I will still have my home and my sanity in the next six months.
Perhaps some of you are thinking “well perhaps this paralegal isn’t personable, doesn’t interview well, has lost her touch or isn’t the total package.” Think again! I can assure you that’s absolutely not the case. Disturbingly, this appears to be a growing trend for senior paralegals all across the country. This certainly isn’t the first story we’ve heard on this particular topic.
Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share after reading this post? Have you had a similar experience? Do you think it’s a matter of cost, age or location? Do you have any words of advice to offer? Please feel free to leave a comment, TPS readers! We’d love to hear from you.
The Paralegal Society™ 
Dear Anonymous – I feel your pain. My story is very similar, however, I took losing my position as a senior paralegal as the proverbial ‘when one door closes, a window opens’ opportunity.
I thought my position was safe – after all I was a senior paralegal in the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights groups of the Atlanta office of an established law firm based in Chattanooga. In fact, I had been with the firm for 8 years (I also have a couple of certifications and will soon have my J.S.M.; oh, right, I’ve been a paralegal for a ‘very long’ time) . In 2008, I was ‘downsized’ – oh, there were several contributing factors and a few red flags. In fact the team had hired a ‘new’ (younger, less experienced, but formerly employed by the firms largest client) paralegal as an asset to our team – I was even given assurances that my position was not in jeopardy (um, right).
I have heard it all too – dumb-down your resume; don’t list all of your accomplishments or education; change careers; relocate … and you’re right, none of that is feasible, nor is it reasonable to expect anyone to be something or someone they are not.
Yes, I thought bankruptcy was the safe haven of law practice … unless you were in a large firm that wanted to capitalize on the value of billing out a paralegal at a much lower rate. (Me, well, my billable rate was $230).One thing I did realize early on was that everything I did as a bankruptcy paralegal could be done as effectively if I worked virtually and provided my services to attorneys who would appreciate my skills. The good news is, my plan worked. No, I don’t have the cushy benefits package anymore, but I have a life which I control and, even more rewarding, the respect of attorneys and paralegals all over the US.
This year, my colleagues and I will be launching a training program to help other paralegals and displaced corporate professionals to find their virtual voice and thrive in this economy. I will share more information as our programming becomes available – in the meantime, please contact me directly. I would love to discuss your research on this issue because it speaks directly to my thesis.
I am curious to know how things have progressed insofar as the training program Pamela Starr mentioned in earlier post, Jan. 23, 2012. I am a senior paralegal currently working full time at a law firm but not necessarily feeling stability. I also moonlight as a virtual paralegal. My goal is to work virtually only and would appreciate any advice with regard to that pursuit. Thanks for your time.
I too readers have been caught in this situation. Downsized in 2007, took some time to care for an elderly parent who died in 2009.
I have been told by the Registry (and I have a copy of that letter), that after 35 years as a senior litigation paralegal, I do not have enough experience and I am too old.
Interviews are zero. I have put out over 500 resumes and belong to every job search engine available. I check craigslist every day (Craigslist Indianapolis) does not charge a fee for listings.
I too am living off of my savings, this March putting my home up for sale, and doing everything I can and to no avail. There are 13 million people out of work and that does not include those in the military.
Attorneys are cheap. Their rates have changed little, however, pay scales have changed much. So what are we to do. We are the new hobo’s depicted from the last depression. We go with the flow and pray.
I really appreciate the honesty of this post, and think it’s one that all paralegal wannabes and students should read. It’s also extraordinarily well-written and informative. I think this economy has been devastating for anyone in their 40s, 50s and 60s, laid off after years of stellar employment and extraordinary work product.
Your post illustrates the challenge for older paralegals trying to get back into the workforce after being down-sized. I hope that the author – and any commenters in the same position – find an opportunity to use their skills and be fairly compensated for them, soon. I, too, work in the South, and while the want ads for legal jobs are picking up a little recently, know it’s difficult to transition into another job even if you want to, and that salaries aren’t what they used to be. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Thanks for your thoughtful and insightful comments, Pamela, Karen and Lynne. I can tell you that this “anonymous” paralegal felt much better after reading your comments and following the discussion in our social club forum, as she now knows that she is not alone.
Pamela, I think your idea of freelancing seems like a good option to consider. Whether it will work for this particular paralegal, I do not know, but it was definitely a good suggestion which may be viable for others who find themselves in this situation. Thanks so much for taking the time to weigh in on this “heavy,” but necessary discussion topic. So happy to see you all on TPS!
~ Jamie
Hi, I was looking for information regarding if my age will be an ‘issue’ to find a job as Inmigration Paralegal. I’m 60 now, and I was thinking registering in an intensive course to et my certificate. reading all your reviews I almost decided not to do it. I will lost my investment paying this course.
Thanks
I am interested in your decision on starting your certificate program. I am 51 and have been seriously planning on getting my certificate in Paralegal Studies, but certainly these comments concern me. I live in the Baltimore/DC area.
Anonymous and fellow “Older Paralegals,” Excellente article. Karen, I am sorry for your loss. I lost my mother in 2008 and I am still adjusting. As anyone on the paralegal blogs knows, I am an “older paralegal.” Really when did I turn of the corner from experienced paralegal to Older Paralegal (hereinafter “OP”)? We spent our “youth” learning, working and getting experience, because “the more experienced the better.” Well apparently in the 21st Century that adage is not the case. Go figure. In 2007, seeing what was happening to the economy and specifically law firms and those who worked for law firms/attorneys, I took the certified process server exam in my county. I passed and got my “license” to serve non-enforceable process. I tried to start a business while still holding my job and frankly couldn’t do it. If the process serving had gone better I would have left the job and continued with the process serving. I had great clients, firms, large large large firms giving me work all over the country. Problem though, they don’t pay for 60 or 90 days or even sometimes 6 months. You have to pay servers right away though; money out, waiting for money to come in. I still have my job today, I’ve been there 9 years now. I only work 4 days (cut-back) because there isn’t enough work for me for a full week. I get paid less but at least I can count on a pay check on the 1st and 15th and I have my benefits. I don’t always do the kind of work I prefer and am qualified to do but, again, I have a steady income. I am grateful to my firm for making this adjustment and not laying me off – certainly. I go on interviews, sometimes, looking for a position that will give me 5 days work and more substantive work and I am faced with the same walls Anonymous wrote about: too experienced, too expensive, lack of experience in their particular document management program. At the end of the day, honestly, really, too old. But I’m not too old or too experienced or too expensive, not when the case matters and you want it done correctly, not when my experience which comes with age and knowledge will ultimately cost the client less and get the job done correctly. I believe, we, OPs, are in adjustment period. The attorneys will hire the inexperienced or less experienced and cases will not get taken care of as they should and it will require more work from the attorneys and the clients will wonder why they have to pay 10 hours paralegal time when before it only took 2 hours – with the older paralegal. There is no replacement for experience. These newer paralegals can have an entire alphabet soup behind their name but until you have sat in the seat and lived the moments you can’t do the job as well as an Older Paralegal. Again, this was a great article and certainly close to my “old ticker.” (How many [sic]s can you find in my post?) (Just a little joke between Jamie and I)
Unfortunately southern states like south Carolina , where I live do not pay paralegals reasonably at all. I am almost a senior paralegal and my salary is so low that im living paycheck to paycheck. Sad huh? Paralegal jobs only pay you well if u live in a big city like Chicago or Washington ,dc. It is what it is…
I don’t think it has anything to do with your age. The problem is your location.
What if you have it in writing that you are too old to work. Throws location right out the window.
I too am a Senior Paralegal with over 25 years experience and in the same boat. The company I worked for as a Paralegal Supervisor closed the location a year ago. At the time it was a blessing because my mother, too, was very ill and passed away three days before Christmas. Since her passing, its been very hard but I’m now ready to start looking for a job. I was fortunate in that we were given more than a year’s notice and paid retention bonuses before the company closed. Because jobs were lost to foreign competition (company owned by international German corp.), we were approved for federal benefits and training benefits in addition to state unemployment. Because of my mother’s situtation, I took advantage of these federal benefits and have enjoyed returning to school but now feel it’s time for me to get back into the working world. I live outside of Philadellpha and am hopeful I can find something. Good luck to everyone. Don’t give up, you have so much to offer.
Part of the problem is that PA, and NJ and now IN have advised that the unemployed need not apply. Yes it is discrimination. Obama has stated that if the feeling is that a person has been discriminated against they should file a discrimination complaint. My reply to that is a class action with however many Plaintiffs vs however many Defendants. The unemployed, who need work the most “need not apply”, what have we become as a nation and a people?
Well this is very interesting because I have had the same experience as a Cosmetology Teacher. I came across this article because I am considering becoming a Paralegal. I too, have many years’ experience, a Master’s degree in Education and advanced certifications and accomplishments. I have taught in private and vocational high schools as well as community colleges. I am often asked to be a guest speaker at schools and colleges. It seems I am now “over qualified” and perhaps too old. I too, have dumbed down my resume and taken off the Master’s degree, indeed, I should probably just take off the Bachelor’s degree as well. It is a sad state of affairs that our country has become. I am unsure how to operate in it. We were born and raised in a time when education and accomplishments were rewarded with jobs, promotion and seniority. The newer, younger managers I work for not only do not believe in seniority, they believe that we are all stupid, stuck in our ways (maybe they work?) and unable to change with the times. I had one manager made us read Who Moved My Cheese and write a report on it. Yes, the teachers had to write reports. I wrote that the mice running around had no mission and no plan and had no idea where they were going. They could just as easily end up dead from starvation as the ones who stayed behind if they had no plan or backup plan. That did not go over well. But I enjoyed it. So, here I am on a Sunday (after a second layoff in a year) researching becoming a Paralegal. I don’t know if things have changed in four years or not. If you are still reading your posts, perhaps you can let me know.
Ann: Do not waste your time if you are 60 like me and my best friend. I have lots of education like you and completed my AAS at an ABA approved community college program. It took my best friend who is well educated 2 and one-half years to locate a position Fortunately she had saved a boatload of money since her husband was laid off during that timeframe. She now works at a job in the field however she earns 60 per cent less than she did and her husband retired at 60. The deal is unless you network and know someone who knows someone you won’t get a job any more and let me tell you age discrimination is alive and well here. You should have heard some of the questions I was asked at my last interview. I am single and very conservative in my spending thank goodness and live in a very inexpensive apartment large enough to taken in a roomie. I am going to go out the door and apply for every retail/bagel job I can find on Mon. and make ends meet. Do not wait for the perfect job to come along and try to go broke like the gal who posted earlier. One of the gals in my building just moved in with her boyfriend so she would not be homeless. Many many people in my age group are being forced to make that choice! The numbers of homeless in my age group are increasing as getting into subsidized housing is very hard. I graduated with honors but no job in site (5/2014 graduate). Good luck!
Why don’t all of us Senior paralegals get together and start a franchise called “Senior Paralegal Services Corp.” and open an office in every city and town like Starbucks?
Dear all,
Never posted a comment before and not in the practice of social media platforms, however the frustration shown in the opening letter letter has become so familiar to me that it has prompted me to write and to endorse if nothing else the very valuable comments made. I will also add my opinion on the issue of ‘why cannot skilled experience people get a job’.
I am highly skilled in a very different sector Risk/Crisis Management and Investigation as well as Intelligence.
Served 30 years with the Metropolitan Police in London and the last 18 years of my service at Specialist Operations at New Scotland Yard.
When I retired in 2007 I was head-hunted and held the position of CEO for 4 years, I resigned in 2011 to retain my good name and integrity when certain changes were being made which I disagreed with.
I have been out of work (bar some consultancy here and there) since.
I too have sent out numerous C.V’s – been shortlisted, told to tone down my C.V. look for another type of employment so, on and so on.
I am now approaching 60 even though I am fit healthy and energetic, but get the distinct impression that iIam not wanted due to age.
I did in-fact have one comment from one potential employer after seeing my C.V quoted as saying ‘This guy is going to want a lot of money’. I was not even invited for an interview!
The conclusion I come too is – that for the following reasons we are not a desirable option;
1. Know too much – maybe more then those who would be managing you
2. Expect a reasonable salary
3. Think and process things differently to the present generation of 25-35 year old’s
4. We cannot compete visually with someone much younger
5. An employer will be able to hire someone much younger pay a lot less as quality, integrity and honesty do not really rank as high on the list
Best wishes,
Chris…….
Chris: You are right on target. Today’s attorney is not looking for the polish of we “elder and seasoned” paralegals. They want young, nice looking, low pay expectant paralegals. We dinosaurs are only appreciated by senior attorneys and most of them have either retired or died. We all feel your pain and are in the same situation. I have decided to become a GAL/CASA here in Indiana as a volunteer. Who knows, something may come of it. Good Luck to us all.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your reply.
Of-course I am not a paralegal, but it was something I considered. Not now of-course as I do not see the possibility of success and securing a job.
I just came across this site and the synergies struck me and i started to question why, especially as I have been working in a different sector.
I feel we must somehow try and think outside of the box and try to manipulate and massage the existing control being practiced by H.R/Job Sites know it all personnel. I have not figured it out yet, but working on it.
CASA/GAL gosh,,,,,,challenging, painful, I wish you well.
Although I have ethics and do not wish to break them, I don’t think ethics comes into this, so we must play a little dirty. I am not suggesting lying of-course just simply using a little poetic licence.
The odd thing is that from my recent experience I have found that none of these people can do a full 5 day week and what’smore are never available to speak to.
I believe it was Reuben Blades that said;
“I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance.”
Good luck to all with your endeavours.
BW,
Chris……
Wow, thank you for writing this excellent article. Also, many thanks to everyone for their equally enlightening commentary! I am 48 and thisclose to enrolling in community college for Paralegal studies. Well, I mean . . . I WAS thisclose. Now I’m just kinda sick to my stomach… (whimper).
I a, now feeling better about getting out of the paralegal/legal assistant field. HArd work, long hours and yeah – you hit 50 and you are screwed. Rather than get down to nothing I am going to probably take a job as a “sales associate” for 10% over minimum wage. Lovely.
I was thinking about changing careers but that was *yikes you better rethink that*…thanks for the raw honesty.