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Part II of Our “Unwritten Rules” Series
By: Taye Akinola (Guest Blogger)
Newbies: We hope you enjoy these tips and find them helpful in your future communications with experienced paralegals in the land of legal!
Experienced Paralegals: Please (by all means) feel free to chime in with some additional tips and advice for the newbies regarding effective communication with their peers a/k/a you! We’d really appreciate your input on this topic.
Being an inexperienced paralegal or what some would dub a “newbie” in the paralegal world, I do not know the intricacies of breaking into the highly competitive job market in the paralegal field. I do not know if my resume should be one page or two. I do not know which professional associations I should join or which field of law I am interested in. Every year, newly minted degreed (associate’s, bachelor’s, certificate, or master’s degrees) students are looking for jobs. They are looking to break into the field. They are scouring the internet to find some reassuring messages that everything will work out if they have a game plan for finding their first post-graduation job as a paralegal or engaging in other networking opportunities.
Through my own personal observations, I have made a mental note of some trends emerging among paralegal students in their interactions with the experienced paralegals. As a newbie, I do not claim to “know it all,” but I have certainly made a mental note of some of the social interaction trends emerging between us (the newbies), and the experienced paralegals. Today, I want to share some of those observations I’ve made, here at The Paralegal Society, with the intent of helping my fellow paralegals – newbies and experienced paralegals alike.
In the wonderful world of social media, you can find an array of websites and blogs that paralegal students can join, which will allow them to interact with experienced paralegals; individuals who already waded through the trenches that the paralegal students now wade through. The experienced paralegals can provide advice, mentorship, guidance, and support for those who are trying to break into the field. However, based on my observations on various online forums and some conversations I’ve had with experienced paralegals along the way, there seems to be something missing.
Paralegal students want to know how they can break into the field and learn more about the paralegal profession. With that in mind, the experienced paralegals are more than willing to share their experience, knowledge, and vast expertise with paralegal students. However, there appears to be a major disconnect between the intention and the reaction and action coming from the part of the newbies toward the experienced paralegals. When a student reaches out to an experienced paralegal, they hope for (and often expect) a detailed response to their questions and concerns. But when it is their turn to respond or to maintain a dialogue with the experienced paralegal, it is often curt.
What I want you to take from this article are some real life tips and lessons that you (the newbies) can utilize during your budding, professional career and your interactions with experienced paralegals.
Fact Pattern #1: Robert, a paralegal student sent Susan, an experienced paralegal, an e-mail inquiring how to break into the field. Susan decided to respond to his e-mail during her lunch break, which resulted in a detailed 3-5 paragraph e-mail on how to break into the field. His response to her e-mail with a simple, “Thanks.”
Tip #1: The experienced paralegal took time out of her busy paralegal schedule to respond to a newbie’s e-mail and interact with the newbie on an online forum. The newbies can (and should) do the same, if they would like to continue to enjoy the full benefits of interacting with experience paralegals and learning as much as they can in the future. It is common courtesy. A simple “Thank you” in response to a 3-5 paragraph e-mail will likely not earn any newbie a coveted spot in the “inner circle” of an experienced paralegal.
Fact Pattern#2: Ava, a newbie, typed an e-mail to Tamara, a senior paralegal: “Hi Tamara, what’s up? I want 2 thank you 4 willing to help me out with the job search. It is like so ca-razy! And OMG, the job descriptions are an eyesore and some of them want like 3+ years of experience. And I am like – HELLO! I am new. How the hell can I get experience if I don’t have any. Do you feel me? And OMG – I was talking to this receptionist at this law firm and she was so majorly rude! I am like – I don’t like her. She is so mean. Don’t you agree, girl? Well, I gotta go. TTYL! P.S. You totally need to get better at responding to my e-mails.”
Tip #2: In e-mail correspondences, proper grammar and spelling are imperative. The interaction among your professional peers is not the same as interacting with your friends. Avoid using slangs and acronyms that are usually employed by teenagers (i.e. LOL, BTW, OMG, etc.). The person that you are interacting with will wonder if you are immature or if you have the professional capacity to interact in a professional setting if you use slangs and acronyms. (If you develop a relationship over time and an experienced paralegal corresponds with you in slang terms or “friendly chatter,” then it’s okay to reciprocate, but let the experienced paralegal initiate that switch in dialogue).
Also, do not expect them to reply to your e-mail right away. Experienced paralegals typically lead pretty busy lives. There are some days that your e-mail will not take precedence over pleadings due at 5 p.m. that day, a much needed lunch break or family obligations, so be patient when you are awaiting a response to your e-mail. Do your best to keep a dialogue going as you may learn a couple of new things along the way through continuous interactions with an experienced paralegal.
Fact Pattern #3: Jennifer, career changer, joined an online forum on LinkedIn, and for three months has not participated in any of the online forums. Even though, she could easily contribute the dialogue, she decides to stay back, observe, and only read the comments.
Tip #3: Speaking of dialogue, interacting on online forums cannot happen if you are only reading the comments. Get involved! Share an opinion in discussion that interest you. However, be sure to polite and respectful toward one your fellow group members and maintain a sense of decorum in the forums. You must keep in mind that what you type in those forums will be out there (on the world wide web) and you cannot take back what you’ve said. Potential employers or even co-workers may see the comments you make. Therefore, you must be careful and very mindful about engaging in conversations about controversial topics (such as politics, religion, and social issues). That’s what best friends (outside of the professional arena) are for. You cannot build a network if you never interact with anyone – so participate!
Fact Pattern #4: Rebecca, a paralegal manager, received a connection request from Sarah, an inexperienced paralegal, on LinkedIn. Rebecca is hesitant to accept the request because Sarah’s profile is not complete. It only has her name, incomplete work history, that she lives in the United States, and worked at a past job as a cashier at McDonald’s, complete with spelling errors, and no profile picture.
Tip #4: Have a complete LinkedIn profile that includes a picture of professional quality. It would be difficult for an experienced paralegal to interact with you if your profile is not complete (and they can’t tell much of anything about you). It leaves others to wonder what you are hiding and if you take social networking seriously? Posting a picture is very important. It is like going to a networking event in person or a first date – would you walk around with a bag over your head? No. By no means am I saying you should post your entire life story or write a personal biography, but rather, you should make an effort to at least share your professional story in a concise format to give readers a summary of your professional identity.
Fact Pattern #5: Jack, a newbie, reached out to Jonathan, paralegal, to seek feedback and advice on how to better market himself on LinkedIn. Jonathan responded by telling him to complete his profile, add a profile picture, and perhaps considering volunteering to add more legal experience to his profile. Jack responds saying, “Well, I don’t know much about LinkedIn. And honestly, do those things work? And I don’t want to become a victim of identity theft, so that’s why I don’t post my picture. Oh, and volunteering? I need a job and I think my experience on LinkedIn makes me a good candidate. Any employer would appreciate my past experience.”
Tip #5: When an experienced paralegal gives you constructive advice (or feedback) after you asked for it, do not become defensive. They are only trying to help because they want you to succeed. If you do not agree with their advice or feedback, then simply ignore it (after thanking them for taking the time to provide it). Do not criticize them for not knowing you that well or write them off because they never walked a mile in your shoes. This advice also extends to potentially lashing out at other paralegals when they are trying to help you in a group or on a forum. An experienced paralegal is way less likely to interact with a person if he or she is prone to lashing out at others. So, don’t be defensive — and don’t be a lasher!
Fact Pattern #6: Ivy, a career changer, always claims to know everything and have all the answers when conversing on online forums. She claims with over 10 years of experience working as a manager of a big corporation that she is ‘god’ in the legal world, even though she is struggling to break into the paralegal field.
Tip #6: It is okay if you do not know everything. It is okay to ask for help and to learn as much as you can about the field. It is also okay to ask others for help. If you were a big deal at another field and you are new in this field, it is okay to make mistakes, but as soon as the mistake is made, own up to it and try to fix it! Do not act like you know everything, when in actuality, you do not. It will make your network (or those who recommend you for a job) look really bad and will ruin your reputation before you even have a chance to build it.
Respect and civility will get you far. By employing these tips along with whatever other tips you may find will make yourself indispensable among your peers and an attractive candidate to prospective employers. It will make you a better professional as you navigate the paralegal field.
We all worry about finding our first paralegal job or attending our first networking event. I know I am. And I am doing everything I can to increase my chance of getting a job and meeting new people. And while I am doing that, I am partnering myself with a strong group of people in my professional field that I could tap into anytime for advice, support, and mentoring.
There are many great networking groups on LinkedIn: The Paralegal Society, The Paralegal Network, and several others. There are also many great blogs to choose from: The Paralegal Society, Practical Paralegalism, Atlanta Paralegal Services, and many more. The wonderful world of social media is at our fingertips and it is up to us to grab it by the horns (or in this case, our keyboards) and soar.
Taye Akinola is currently completing his graduate certificate in paralegal studies program at Texas State University-San Marcos. He is also a paralegal intern within the City of Austin Law Department in Austin, TX. Taye holds a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, master’s degree in deaf studies, and a graduate certificate in deaf history. He is interested in pursuing the intellectual property field, as well as corporate law and administrative law. He is very eager to begin his career as a paralegal.
If you have additional tips for me and my fellow newbies, please leave your tips, pointers and advice via a “comment.” I want to keep this dialogue ongoing because the more tips we have, the better off we will be.
Hey there, TPS readers – we hope all is well in your corner of the legal kingdom! If you missed Part I of our “Unwritten Rules” series, be sure to go to the top right of our blog and search “unwritten rules” to read Jennifer MacDonnell’s article: “Unwritten Rules for Office Survivial Basics.” Jennifer shares some great tips on everything from dress code to attitude, and all of the important things you’ll want to keep in mind when venturing into the paralegal field.
Please do leave a comment if you have any additional tips or advice to share with the newbies regarding communication, TPS readers. We’d love to hear ’em!
See you next time!
The Paralegal Society™ 
I just wanted to say a special thanks to Taye for taking the time to share these tips with us at TPS! We really admire the fact that a student would have the confidence and tenacity to write for us in an attempt to help the profession, at large. You serve as a shining example to other newbies, Taye!
I’d also like to add a tip. When working with my own, personal mentors (and wow, are they fabulous), I try to be as active, gracious, and thankful as possible. The way I see it, if someone that important and busy is taking the time out of their busy life to share a small piece of themselves and their knowledge with me (think super awesome editors or attorneys), it’s very important to take an active role in listening and learning, in addition to acknowledging and thanking them regularly (and often) for all they are doing to help you with your self-improvement and professional endeavors. It should be a standard part of the mentor/mentoree relationship. After all, this super amazing, busy person could be helping someone else, couldn’t they? Why should they want to help you? Because you are actively involved, engaged, heeding their advice, showing that you are very interested, and you’re just so pleasant and gracious to be around! Felt it definitely worth mentioning this one, regardless of which side of the mentorship equation you find yourself on! ~ Jamie
I thought this was a great article.
I agree with Garald, the article was wonderful and a credit to Taye. I do want to point out that after 35 years in the legal profession, some of the “newbies” need to understand that sometimes you have to step down in order to step up. (i.e., sometimes you might have to be a receptionist before you can be a paralegal, or a legal secretary before you can be a paralegal). Don’t ever put down a Legal Receptionist or Legal Secretary. They take as much flack and sometimes more than the paralegal(s).
I would agree with Karen – “don’t ever put down a legal representative or legal secretary”, by all means they are all doing the same job as a Paralegal (sometimes more). Unfortunately, they just have a different title that the employer chose to gave to them. In all my experience working in the legal field (15 years) my advice to a “newbie” is don’t give up and if you can’t get into a law firm as a Paralegal after just graduating sometimes the best way into a law firm is to start out as their receptionist. Good Luck to all “newbies” and keep your chin up and keep one foot in front of the other moving forward.
A good friend of mine, who graduated in May, took a job as a file clerk last year in one of the largest law firms in our city. A paralegal position opened up last month, and they offered it to her first. She is now working with great attorneys and is so glad she stuck it out. They were able to see her work ethic and even gave her a few overflow paralegal assignments while she was a file clerk. She was the obvious choice when there was an opening.
Hello!
I was searching for a while good advice for newbies and found this great article. It is really helpful!
I have some questions and I was wondering if you or someone here could somehow help me with it.
I am a newbie at a law firm I have been working for about three months. I have absolutely no background in law and to make things a little more difficult English is not my first language. There are two other executive assistant/ paralegal who the attorneys only give the work to. I feel left out and all I do is watch and make copies/ fax ( also I am the only one who does not have a computer or something to work on). and when I ask about something to understand things better it seems they don’t have the patience for it. I read done comment bellow which was really helpful about how you have to start from the bottom. But I wonder what is really my function here then? And where can I learn on the internet vocabularies or how to do paper work so I can finally practice. I am feeling really down today and some advice is needed – if someone does not mind, of course!
Thank you for all!
Hi Ta, thanks for commenting on the article and welcome to our wonderful profession – the paralegal profession. Without knowing the full story or your background, I think a couple things you could consider: 1. See if you could enroll in a paralegal program, which will give you the great foundation of what you expect to do as a paralegal. The reason why I mentioned this is because it seems you are not familiar with what exactly a paralegal can and cannot do and getting that training/educational background would be extremely helpful; 2. Take some ESL classes to improve your English skills. Another suggestion you could do is see if the law firm could lent you the “Black Law Dictionary” – that includes a lot of legal terminology. The reason why I mentioned this is because you mentioned English is not your first language.
You could also try talking to your supervisor about your concerns and see if what you can do to gain the attorneys’ trust in your respective office.
I hope some of what I suggested helps. Any other experienced paralegals have additional suggestions?
Thanks for your comments, Garald and Karen! We’re glad you enjoyed the article.
We had a discussion spring up on this one in our “social club” on LinkedIn, so I wanted to move my comment over here, onto the blog, as well, to hopefully help clarify some things! So, here goes:
As far as this topic goes, I think a lot of it has to do with the “way” that you say something. For example, Taye’s illustration regarding a 3-5 paragraph response from a mentor to a mentoree followed by a curt response of simply “thank you.” Just a few more meaningful words are all it would take to transform that simple “thank you” into something far more meaningful on the part of the receiver.
I want you to read these next 2 phrases. How do you feel when reading each of these phrases? Pretend this is in response to something you’ve done.
Phrase #1: “Thank you.”
Phrase #2: “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
It doesn’t “feel” the same when you’re reading it, does it? I think what we’re trying to convey isn’t that we (or any other mentors in the world) want people falling at our feet thanking us like crazy, all the time, day in and day out. Mentors like to help people, that’s why they do it. Yet, a little appreciation goes a LONG way! It’s just a matter of making the 30 second response a bit more warm and meaningful for the receiver, whomever that may be, a mentor, an attorney, a family member, a friend, a co-worker, etc. It applies to all walks of life.
I would compare this to when you’ve spent hours and hours doing something, be it cleaning the whole house spotless or detailing your car, to hear your spouse say (after being prompted) “looks good.” How much further would this phrase go in your mind? “Wow, you did a great job! I can tell you spent a lot of time on it.” It’s just a matter to aligning your words with your intended message.
If an editor spent 20 minutes reading a piece of mine and offering constructive and candid critiques of it to help me improve it and all I said in response was “thanks,” I’m guessing that would probably be my last high caliber critique session. My point is that this applies to ALL of us – regardless if we are newbies or experienced. It can (and does) apply to all of us in our interactions in paralegal world with other people. It can also be applied to our personal lives, as well.
I hope these few examples help to further clarifiy things a bit more! That was the goal.
With respect to the impersonal email response, I would also suggest the “newbie” follow up to that connection with additional questions, requests for insights, etc. Clearly if the experienced paralegal took the time to thoughtfully respond, in detail, there is much more information to be gleaned. If “newbies” in any career field, don’t see and take the opportunities for advancement and learning presented before their eyes, it is an indication to those – experienced – of what their future working characteristics and qualifications will be limited to. In this society of “instant” gratification through technology, experienced people in the legal field, still treasure and seek out employees that can effectively communicate, grow, learn and contribute to the firm, their clients and the relationships that are necessary to thrive.
How do I get a mentor? Silly question, I know, but I know no one in my field and the paralegal society I belong to holds meetings, but I can’t go because of my current job. I really don’t even know how to market myself or find a mentor who can help. Can you guys help?
Hi Clair, We’d love to help! I understand your situation. I think that’s true for a lot of paralegals out there – myself included. I, too, am a member of my local association, but can’t make the monthly meetings due to distance/timing. We can chat more privately if you want to e-mail me at jamietheparalegal@yahoo.com, but what specifically are you seeking help with, i.e., a particular area of law, certain tasks, career development, social media stuff, just someone to bounce ideas with…what are you looking for? That will help us to match you up with someone who may be able to help with your mentorship goals! ~ Jamie
Taye ,
Thank you for writing the article.
Polly Hall
Great article!
Really appreciated this article. As a paralegal with 30+ years in the legal field, I love sharing knowledge and information to “newbies.” However, I am also willing to learn for the “newbies” since they are likely to be more in tune with new ideas, using social networking, etc. For example, I tend to read comments and not participate in the conversation. I plan to work on changing that starting now! Thank you for providing suggestions to all of us.
Taye, your writing skills will definitely be of value in the legal field. You might even find a niche to use your deaf education in the legal community. This article was well thought out and gracious, yet highlighted the points or areas that needed to be addressed. Karen’s additional comment about “stepping down, to step up” is so very true. Some newbies may want to believe that they can walk into a law firm, without experience but with the education, and start working cases as a paralegal. Legal secretaries and file clerks get promoted to paralegals (or junior paralegals) in larger firms alot. Be open to starting at the bottom, so to speak, and working your way up. The learning nevers stops, even for the seasoned paralegals.
Taye, your writing skills will definitely be of value in the legal field. You might even find a niche to use your deaf education in the legal community. This article was well thought out and gracious, yet highlighted the points or areas that needed to be addressed. Karen’s additional comment about “stepping down, to step up” is so very true. Some newbies may want to believe that they can walk into a law firm, without experience but with the education, and start working cases as a paralegal – but that is usually not the case in the real world. Legal secretaries and file clerks get promoted to paralegals (or junior paralegals) in larger firms alot. Be open to starting at the bottom, so to speak, and working your way up. The learning nevers stops, even for the seasoned paralegals.
This was another very good post Taye. Social media is a golden opportunity for paralegals (new and experienced) to interact and form professional relationships. Relationships all take time to build. If a new paralegal would like advice and mentoring from someone more experienced I would recommend starting small such as commenting on a blog or on a group thread. The relationship can then grow into email, phone calls, etc.
Also, thanks for the mention of my blog. It is an honor to be included.
This is a marvelous article. Thank you for posting it. Those of us with experience and the newbies can learn from the information provided. As I transitioned from working in large law firms to starting my own business, I found “informational interviews’ extremely valuable. Many attorneys and experienced paralegals will take the time to interview you and give you ideas on how to proceed on your career path even though they personally are not able to hire you. You have the opportunity to meet these people, practice your interviewing skills and increase your network. An updated resume and a business card are a must. Through this process, I have been referred to other attorneys who in turn have become clients.
Thank you for the very useful insight as to the do’s and dont’s of the paralegal world. As someone who is just starting with paralegal training to become certified I found it extremely helpful.
I look forward to reading more about the new field I have chosen to be a part of.
Great article Taye! As a newbie myself, I have actively reached out to more experienced paralegals in my community and now online. I have found their advice and friendship extremely valuable!
As a student, I joined the local paralegal association and attended as many events as I could – meet and greets, MCLE events, holiday parties, anything that the association was doing. I met several wonderful paralegals and have formed friendships with a few of them.
I am so thankful to have a network of local paralegals that I can contact or seek advice from. These relationships have been tremendously helpful as a newbie!
Taye, as usual – great, insightful and entertaining read. You speak volumes in a few paragraphs. TPS is THE mentoring site for newbies and some not so newbies. We all need a hand sometimes and it’s great to have TPS to shout out a question to. For Clair – a mentor does not have to be “in your city/town or area.” Here at TPS you have a smorgasboard of paralegal knowledge to tap into. As away and someone will pipe up (probably many more than someone) with a suggestion and/or answer. Don’t be shy, we’ve all been there and are all there sometimes.
Kudos Taye!
I enjoyed reading the article. Thank you for sharing it with us – your fellow paralegals. Cammy
Thank you for writing such an informative and helpful article. I am in the process of signing up for additional education courses. In trying to decide which direction to go, I have reviewed current job postings, called staffing agencies, and scoured the internet for information such as this. It was refreshing to find a perspective coming from one very similar to my own.
Great article Taye. And the comments have some really good suggestions and tips. We experienced paralegals generally enjoy helping the newbies. Personally, one area I see a lot of newbies make mistakes in interacting with experienced paralegals is profesionalism. Taye was correct about keeping your emails professional and not using slang and acronyms. You should also be mindful of a similar professional presentation when meeting or working with other paralegals. For an example, I worked with a sharp, intelligent young woman and while she dressed professionally, she did not speak this way. She frequently chewed and snapped gum while speaking, used slang and had a generally immature, unprofessional presentation. I am sure this held her back professionally which is too bad because she was actually very bright even though her presentation did not immediately convey this. It may not be fair but it is a fact of life that first impressions are very important, especially in a professional setting.
As a student in the ABA Approved Post-Bachelor Paralegal Students Certificate Program at Peirce College who will graduate June of this year, this article was very informative. I plan on sharing the article with my fellow paralegal classmates.
This article was a great read. New paralegels need alot of guidance in this area. Education is one thing, working the field is another. I will take this information and apply it. I am a newbie (paralegal) looking to work in the insurance field.
Great article, Taye! I’m a newbie as well. I was fortunate enough to temp for a personal injury law firm last year. The relationships that I cultivated there enabled me to get my foot in the door as a legal assistant with my current employer. I’m finding that networking with seasoned paralegals is EXTREMELY important – this field is competitive, so us newbies can’t afford to blow potential opportunities by communicating ineffectively. Thank you – really helpful post.
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This is an amazing article, and I am not sure how I missed it back in February. I just shared the link with my paralegal students and stressed how important these things truly are…in every environment, in all areas of life.