Paralegal Blog

David Mosier had already been working as a paralegal for decades when he enrolled to be a student at Center for Advanced Legal Studies.  David was in the litigation support industry, and the job prospects were withering due to a declining economy.  As an independent contractor, it was becoming increasingly difficult to land jobs.

A Legal Background

Ironically, David's father is one of the most prominent real estate attorneys in Harris County.  Why did David not follow the well-worn footsteps of his father and become an attorney?

It certainly wasn't for lack of trying on his father's behalf.  When David was in high school, he would help out at his father's busy law practice.  He learned how the office ran and a little bit about the practice of law.  But David went to college for music education, until life happened and he needed to drop out of school to take care of his new family.  His father encouraged him to finish college and then go on to law school so David could carry on the family business. 

But David chose a different path to the legal field.  Since he already had a “mild background in the legal industry,” he and his brother started a litigation support business.  For 25 years, that was enough, but five children later, David needed better security and a chance to make a better living.

Thanks to its recognition as a highly-skilled and hugely helpful profession, the paralegal career is gaining in popularity and becoming more in-demand.  A significant number of people are setting their sights on becoming paralegals because the job is rewarding and the career outlook is sunny.  Many people desire a legal career without the time and cost of law school.  Others desire to use a paralegal career as a helpful stepping-stone to becoming an attorney.

Paralegals can take several different paths to enter the legal profession.  These typically involve different levels of education, on-the-job-training, and certifications.  Where paralegals work and what specific tasks they perform, however, depends on the kind of skills, experience, and education they have.

Do you know which area of law you want to work in after you graduate from your paralegal program? Do you know if you want to work for a small or large firm? Do you know how you are going to enter the paralegal profession with no office skills? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you should consider participating in an externship.

Are you considering becoming a paralegal? The choices you make can have a big impact on the salary you earn.