Where Do Paralegal Jobs Come From?

 I know what you're thinking. You've looked through the want ads, through Craigslist, Monster, etc. You've wandered up and down the streets of Lafayette, plaintively checking the windows of law firms for "Help Wanted" signs. Sure, there were a few listings on Monster for paralegals. In Indianapolis. With five or more years of experience. But where are you going to get a job as a paralegal? Does anyone around here even hire paralegals?

The good news is yes! There are plenty of local opportunities for paralegals. But to find them, you need to understand a few things about how law firms are structured.

Most local law firms are on the small side. That is, they are comprised of 1-5 attorneys and support staff. There's no human resources department. So when a law firm needs a paralegal, it's not going to advertise and risk getting 200 resumes that the lawyer is going to have to wade through, or interview the 10 likeliest candidates. Time the attorney spends on the hiring process is time the attorney isn't spending earning money. Or golfing. Both of which are things he or she would much rather be doing.

So how do local attorneys hire paralegals? The attorney solicits the names of two or three highly recommended candidates from trusted sources: the current paralegal (if there is one) or other attorneys. The fact is that most job openings at small firms (and even many large ones) will come to you by word-of-mouth.

What does that mean for you? First, it means that one of the most valuable things you can gain from your time at Ivy Tech, besides a knowledge of the law and good writing skills, is a network. The faculty members here--including me--are delighted when we can introduce a promising paralegal student or alumnus to one of our fellow attorneys. We're helping you, and we're helping them. We are a great place to start building your network.

Part-time jobs and the practicum program are great ways to meet other local attorneys. The more attorneys you know (and make a good impression on, of course), the stronger your network.

But it also means that there's a lot of value in cultivating your relationships with your fellow students. As time goes by, these are the people you're going to turn to repeatedly for advice ... and for the latest word on who has a job opening (or will soon). The next time you're waiting for class to start, put down your phone and start a conversation with the person next to you. Years from now, you'll be glad you did.