Dependability and creativity are important as a paralegal.

What are your job responsibilities?

Reed Smith LLP is an international law firm with its main office in Pittsburgh and offices in 15 other cities, including NY, Phl, DC, LA, London, San Fran, Richmond, and Princeton among others. Clients are in a variety of sectors including Energy, Financial Services, Life
Sciences, Media/Entertainment, and Technology. The primary client that I am doing work for is the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, a non-profit org. dedicated to funding research
and improving the lives of people living with paralysis.

I write letters to executives of companies such as Tiffany & Co., Warner Brothers, etc. to seek corporate partnerships and branding opportunities. I also do research on health-related non-profits and seek the best ways to run organizations such as CRPF and keep a strong Board of Directors.

Other clients include wind farms/wind farm operators and hospitals: my responsibilities for them include maintaining bound sets of contracts, agreements, and other legal paperwork; researching competitors and potential clients in these fields; and helping clients form LLC's by filing their Certificate of Formation and other necessary forms.

How did you discover and obtain your current job?

I began my job search by looking up every law firm in Philadelphia and sending my resume to them, expressing interest in an entry-level position. This did not prove too successful so I ventured out of that area and sent my resume to an international firm with an office in Princeton, NJ. Luckily enough, the attorney who I now work for has two sons at Bowdoin, one who plays lacrosse. Based on the fact that I went to Bates, played lacrosse, and had a decent resume, I was hired on the spot. I definitely recommend that you are persistent when looking for a job, even if you have to leave the specific area where you hoped to be working.

What advice would you give students interested in working in your field?

If you are thinking about going to law school, be sure that it is something that you want to do. After all, it is three more years of school and (tens of) thousands of dollars. Working before going to law school has many bonuses- you are making money, you can see what the legal field is really like, you can get more experience, and finally you'll be a stronger applicant when and if you do apply to law school. The biggest asset to me of working before law school was that I was able to decide on a specific practice in which to concentrate and gain experience in that field.

How can students gain insight into this career?

Check out webpages for different firms- it will give you a look at different practices within law that you can specialize in- immigration, business, litigation, environmental, family, etc.

What is the potential growth for your field?

The legal field continues to grow- jobs continue to be available both at firms and as attorneys practicing with a company as in-house counsel.

What are important characteristics of people who succeed in your career?

Dependability and creativity are important as a paralegal. If the attorney you work for needs something researched or needs a memo prepared, it is important that you get it done in a timely manner. Strong writing skills are essential because you may need to write letters to clients or handle other correspondence with people outside of the firm. There is a lot of research involved in paralegal work so it is important for you to be able to conduct internet and database searches.

How can students best prepare themselves while still in college?

Any courses that would help your writing skills are useful in preparing you for a job in the legal field. Also knowing correct citation form will be helpful for presenting your research as a paralegal.

What are your future plans?

I plan to go to law school in a year or two. I am very happy with my job at this firm and I hope that once I have a law degree, I will be able to return as an attorney, if I so choose. I have seen a variety of clients and the work involved with each of them, and because of this, I have been able to decide which practice interests me the most. I would like to stay in the legal field and in a few years be a practicing attorney.