Comments on: Corporation or Private Law Firm?????? http://theparalegal.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/corporation-or-private-law-firm/ News and Trends for Today's Paralegal Professional Fri, 30 Jan 2009 20:55:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: The Paralegal http://theparalegal.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/corporation-or-private-law-firm/#comment-41 The Paralegal Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:41:42 +0000 http://theparalegal.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-41 When I first started working I did not have any idea what it was that I wanted to do. I worked for a firm that had various departments and somehow landed in the personal injury department. I'm not sure how I wound up there. I enjoyed it and in my opinion it is probably the easier way to learn the procedures. My suggestion to you, is to pick somewhere where there will be choices. Once you are at the firm and you are comfortable with your work try to get work from other departments. Most firms welcome this type of initiative from their paralegals. In this way you can better figure out what you want to do without the stress of having to learn everything at once. I also think it's important to find a mentor. Does not have to be another paralegal. But someone who you can go to with questions and who can point you in the right directions when you need that. As far as my criteria to move from a law firm to a corporation. I'm really not sure I planned it. It is not something was looking for. At the time I felt that I needed to learn a new area of the law and began looking into finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions... anything that was completely different from what I had done. This opportunity presented itself and I went on an interview. I really do not think one is better than the other. Each has their good points and their bad points. At times I miss the law firm and at times I'm glad I'm not at a law firm. I have to say that in the past year I have learned a lot and that was the main reason for wanting to move. Keep in mind that it is important to always learn something new. Thank you for your question and I hope I answered your question. When I first started working I did not have any idea what it was that I wanted to do. I worked for a firm that had various departments and somehow landed in the personal injury department. I’m not sure how I wound up there. I enjoyed it and in my opinion it is probably the easier way to learn the procedures. My suggestion to you, is to pick somewhere where there will be choices. Once you are at the firm and you are comfortable with your work try to get work from other departments. Most firms welcome this type of initiative from their paralegals. In this way you can better figure out what you want to do without the stress of having to learn everything at once.

I also think it’s important to find a mentor. Does not have to be another paralegal. But someone who you can go to with questions and who can point you in the right directions when you need that.

As far as my criteria to move from a law firm to a corporation. I’m really not sure I planned it. It is not something was looking for. At the time I felt that I needed to learn a new area of the law and began looking into finance, securities, mergers and acquisitions… anything that was completely different from what I had done. This opportunity presented itself and I went on an interview.

I really do not think one is better than the other. Each has their good points and their bad points. At times I miss the law firm and at times I’m glad I’m not at a law firm. I have to say that in the past year I have learned a lot and that was the main reason for wanting to move.

Keep in mind that it is important to always learn something new.

Thank you for your question and I hope I answered your question.

]]> By: Elizabeth Forsyth http://theparalegal.wordpress.com/2008/09/10/corporation-or-private-law-firm/#comment-40 Elizabeth Forsyth Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:54:19 +0000 http://theparalegal.wordpress.com/?p=13#comment-40 I sm presently a student in the Paralegal Studies program at Kaplan University Online. In the next year or so I will have to declare a specialty, (family law, ADR, etc.) I wondered, you mentioned that when you worked at a law firm, you worked in several different areas. When you graduated, did you have one area of law that you considered your specialty? Also, what criteria did you use to decide to switch from a law firm to a corporate setting? Thank you in advance for your input I sm presently a student in the Paralegal Studies program at Kaplan University Online. In the next year or so I will have to declare a specialty, (family law, ADR, etc.) I wondered, you mentioned that when you worked at a law firm, you worked in several different areas. When you graduated, did you have one area of law that you considered your specialty? Also, what criteria did you use to decide to switch from a law firm to a corporate setting?

Thank you in advance for your input

]]>