Working As a Paralegal

You think you might want to be a lawyer, but you are not yet ready to take the plunge. Or you want to earn some money first. Or the thought of more exams next year is more than you can bear. There are a lot reasons to consider spending a few years working as a paralegal, and many large law firms hire recent college graduates to serve as paralegals or legal assistants. This handout can help you to get started in your search for these opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why would I become a paralegal?
Before you begin your search, you should know that there are pros and cons to working as a paralegal at a large firm.

Here are a few of the pluses:

• If you think you might someday practice at a large law firm, this might be your best chance to get a glimpse of a lawyer's lifestyle. Once you are in law school (and especially after your second year of law school) you may be hired by a large firm as a "summer associate." Frequently, firms will offer summer associates full time jobs after law school graduation. Consequently, firms work hard to recruit summer associates and to keep them happy. They give their summer associates plum assignments and lots of good food.  As a result, the summer associates often do not get a full picture of what firm life is truly like. On the other hand, for better or worse, firms do not focus on recruiting paralegals.  Paralegals get to see it all - the good and the bad. At two in the morning when the new lawyers are furiously working on a filing, the paralegals will be beside them pulling together documents. The summer associates will be home sleeping.
  
• You will have the chance to ask lawyers lots of questions about law school and the practice of law. Were they happy with their law schools? What do they like best and least about their practice areas? Are the loans too burdensome? Would they do it again?
  
• Many paralegals enjoy the social aspect of their jobs. You will get to know other recent graduates who are considering law school. Some firms host periodic happy hours for paralegals, and paralegals often socialize informally as well.
  
• Paralegals make a decent salary. In DC you can expect a base salary in the low to mid 30s. In NYC you can expect a base salary in the mid to high 30s. And overtime will be paid at time-and-a-half. Some busy paralegals nearly double their salary with overtime. Keep in mind however that if you are earning that much, you are working around the clock.

There are also some minuses:

• The work often is not intellectually stimulating and is sometimes tedious.
  
• Your hours may be long and unpredictable.
  
• Working as a paralegal does not allow you to explore what you might want to do if you decide not to go to law school. Keep in mind that law schools will NOT hold it against you if you spend a few years working in a field unrelated to law. In fact, a job in a different area might make your law school application stand out! Paralegals applying to law school are a dime a dozen. So, if you think you might want to be a journalist, a teacher, or a chef (you get the idea), it is much easier to explore that possibility now than it will be after you spend all that time and money on law school.

2. Do I need a paralegal certificate?
Some law firms require paralegal certificates. Many do not. Georgetown has a well respected paralegal studies program. There is both a year long evening program and an intensive summer day program. For more information contact the director, Barbara A. James, at (202) 687-8466.

3. What is the time frame for paralegal positions?
During January and February, many firms begin to hire paralegals who will start work during the following summer or early fall. Other firms will wait until late spring or even early summer to start the hiring process. It is common for firms to require paralegals to make a two year commitment. There are, however, a few large firms that will only require a one year commitment.

4. Do you have any cover letter, résumé tips or interview tips?
Cover letters need not be long. Law firms value efficiency and appreciate applicants who can communicate in a direct manner. If the law firm has not told you that it is hiring paralegals to work with a specific group, it is probably best not to limit yourself by stating in a cover letter that you are interested in just one or two legal areas. You should do your best to get your résumé down to one page. Dress in business attire when you are interviewing, even if you are visiting a firm that allows its employees to dress in "business casual attire." During an interview you should highlight your organizational, writing, and research skills. Law firms want to hire people who pay close attention to details. It also helps if you have a realistic expectation concerning the type of work that paralegals perform. Finally, do not be surprised if you are asked to cover your own expenses when traveling to interview for a paralegal job.

5. Where are the paralegal jobs?
Check for listings on Hoya Career Connection. Some law firms visit our campus each spring for on-campus interviews. Remember that in order to drop résumés for on-campus interviews you must participate in a brief On-Campus Interviewing workshop. Check our website or with the front desk for an OCI workshop schedule. Because only a few law firms will interview here on campus, you will need to search for additional opportunities on your own. Identify large law firms in the city where you want to work, and review their websites. Frequently, a law firm will post specific openings or information about how to apply for a paralegal position on its website. If the website is not useful, then contact firms early in the spring semester and ask about their hiring needs. Remember that you make your initial impression the first time you contact the law firm. Martindale.com will allow you to search for firms with over 50 attorneys in specific cities. American Lawyer frequently publishes surveys about law firms and is a good source for information about a firm's reputation, work environment, and specialties. You can also find listings on the site of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

DC/NYC Firms With Paralegal Programs

We frequently hear from students interested in working in D.C. or New York. Those students might want to look at the law firms listed below. Make sure to verify all of the information below before contacting these firms. When available, basic information about each firm's program is provided. (Some of these firms will have offices in other cities, but only DC and NYC offices are listed.) Remember, this is just a sampling of firms that hire recent graduates. You should conduct additional research. And if you are interested in other cities, you can come up with a similar list by using the websites mentioned above.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
www.akingump.com

Washington Office
Robert S. Strauss Building
1333 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202.887.4000
Fax: 202.887.4288

New York Office
590 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022-2524
Tel: 212.872.1000
Fax: 212.872.1002

Basic Program Information: Hiring process usually begins in late spring; paralegals are offered training; assigned to work with a specific practice area, 2 year commitment.

Arnold & Porter LLP
www.arnoldporter.com

Washington Office
555 Twelfth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1206
Tel: 202.942.5000
Fax: 202.942.5999

New York Office
399 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022-4690
Tel: 212.715.1000
Fax: 212.715.1399

Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton
www.cgsh.com

Washington Office
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202.974.1500
Fax: 202.974.1999

New York Office
One Liberty Plaza, 38th floor
New York, NY 10006
Tel: 212.225.2000
Fax: 212.225.3999

Basic Program Information: Hires approximately 10 paralegals; core paralegal groups include corporate and litigation; minimum 2 year commitment; actively recruits individuals with foreign language capabilities, particularly romance languages.

Coudert Brothers LLP
www.coudert.com

New York Office
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Tel: 212.626.4400
Fax: 212.626.4120

Basic Program Information: Paralegals are assigned to specific work groups and work directly with partners and associates in a team environment.

Covington & Burling LLP
www.cov.com

Washington Office
1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2401
Tel: 202.662.6000
Fax: 202.662.6291

New York Office
1330 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Tel: 212.841.1000
Fax: 212.841.1010

Basic Program Information: Approximately 25 paralegals hired in DC office and 10 in NY office; 2 year commitment; orientation and training program; in DC most paralegals work on general litigation matters, in NY most work on general litigation or corporate matters; paralegals also do translation work in international practice, and some work on pro bono projects or specialize in particular areas.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
www.cravath.com

New York Office
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019-7475
Tel: 212.474.1000
Fax: 212.474.3095

Basic Program Information: Legal assistants work in the litigation or corporate department assisting associates and partners in all aspects of their practices; there are 160 in the litigation department and 35 in the corporate department; legal assistants work in teams; 2 year program.

Davis Polk & Wardwell
www.dpw.com

New York Office
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212.450.4000
Fax: 212.450.3800

Washington  Office
1300 I Street, NW
Tenth Floor East
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202.962.7000
Fax: 202.962.7111

Basic Program Information: Applicants can apply to both litigation and corporate sections; minimum 2 year commitment.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
www.debevoise.com

Washington Office
555 13th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202.383.8000
Fax: 202.383.8118

New York Office
919 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212.909.6000
Fax: 212.909.6836

Dewey Ballantine LLP
www.deweyballantine.com

Washington Office
975 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202.862.1000
Fax: 202.862.1093

New York Office
1301 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6092
Tel: 212.259.8000
Fax: 212.259.6333

Basic Program Information: Approximately 20 legal assistants work in the DC office and 50 in the NY office; approximately two-thirds of paralegals are recent college graduates; extensive training programs; mentor program.

Hogan & Hartson LLP
www.hhlaw.com

Washington Office
555 Thirteenth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202.637.5600
Fax: 202.637.5910 

New York Office
875 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212.918.3000
Fax: 212.918.3100

Basic Program Information: New graduates are hired as legal assistant clerks, but the process usually does not begin until late April or May; legal assistants are assigned to specific practice groups; résumés can be submitted to laresumes@hhlaw.com; positions will be posted on firm website.

Holland & Knight LLP
www.hklaw.com

Washington Office
2099 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 100
Washington, DC, 20006
Tel: 202.955.3000
Fax: 202.955.5564

New York Office
195 Broadway 24th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Tel: 212.513.3200
Fax: 212.385.9010

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
www.hugheshubbard.com 

Washington Office
1775 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-2401
Tel: 202.721.4600
Fax: 202.721.4646

New York Office
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, NY 10004-1482
Tel: 212.837.6000
Fax: 212.422.4726

Basic Program Information: Litigation paralegals only; many more paralegals hired in NY office; hiring process begins in late April or May; 1 year commitment required.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, PC
www.mintz.com 

Washington Office
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-2608
Tel: 202.434.7300
Fax: 202.434.7400

New York Office
Chrysler Center
666 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212.935-3000
Fax: 212.983.3115

Basic Program Information: New graduates are hired as Project Analysts; analysts research legal and factual issues, review and analyze documents, organize data, draft reports and produce computer presentations, conduct financial analyses, track regulatory activity and monitor industry trends, create and maintain databases to facilitate communication between Mintz Levin and their clients; 2 year program. (Note that Mintz Levin conducts on-campus interviews during the spring semester.)

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
www.morganlewis.com

Washington Office
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202.739.3000
Fax: 202.739.3001 

New York Office
101 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10178-0060
Tel: 212.309.6000
Fax: 212.309.6001

Basic Program Information: Washington office has approximately 75 paralegals; NY office has 25-30 paralegals; minimum 2 year commitment; assigned to specific practice area with some flexibility; paralegals hired year round depending on need.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
www.paulweiss.com 

Washington Ofice
1615 L Street, NW Suite 1306
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202.223.7300
Fax: 202.223.7420

New York Office
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
Tel: 212.373.3000
Fax: 212.757.3990

Basic Program Information: Minimum 2 year commitment; must have cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; hiring approximately 40 paralegals to work in litigation department; training and orientation provided; all paralegals assigned a more senior paralegal mentor; reimbursement of a post-graduate prep course (i.e. LSAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT) up to $1,000 after 6 months of employment. (Note that Paul Weiss conducts on-campus interviews during the spring semester.)

Shearman & Sterling LLP
www.shearman.com

Washington Office
801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 900
Washington, D.C. 20004-2604
Tel: 202.508.8000
Fax: 202.508.8100

New York Office
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Tel: 212.848.4000
Fax: 212.848.7179 

Basic Program Information: Minimum 2 year commitment; assigned to specific practice groups; training and orientation program; mentoring program; law school preparation seminar and LSAT prep course opportunities. (Note that Shearman & Sterling conducts on-campus interviews during the spring semester.)

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
www.sidley.com

Washington Office
1501 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202.736.8000
Fax: 202.736.8711

New York Office
787 Seventh Ave.
New York, NY 10019
Tel: 212.839.5300
Fax: 212.839.5599

Basic Program Information: New graduates are hired as legal assistants and project assistants and participate in a training and orientation period; mentor program. (Note that Sidley conducts on-campus interviews during the spring semester.)

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
www.stblaw.com

Washinton Office
601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW North Building
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202.220.7700
Fax: 202.220.7702

New York Office
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212.455.2000
Fax: 212.455.2502

Basic Program Information: Usually hires approximately 20 to 25 new college graduates each year; paralegals work in both the corporate and the litigation departments; 1 year commitment required.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
www.skadden.com

Washington Office
1440 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202.371.7000
Fax: 202.393.5760

New York Office
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Tel: 212.735.3000
Fax: 212.735.2000

Basic Program Information: Comprehensive in-house training program; currently employs approximately 500 legal assistants in ten domestic and twelve foreign offices.

Sullivan & Cromwell
www.sullcrom.com

Washington Office
1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006-5805
Tel: 202.956.7500
Fax: 202.293.6330

New York Office
125 Broad St.
New York, New York 10004
Tel: 212.558.4000
Fax: 212-558-3588

Basic Program Information: Minimum 2 year commitment; foreign language fluency particularly encouraged; assigned to specific practice groups; extensive training program. (Note that Sullivan & Cromwell conducts on-campus interviews during the spring semester.)

White & Case LLP
www.whitecase.com

Washington Office
701 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: 202.626.3600
Fax: 202.639.9355

New York Office
1155 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-2787
Tel: 212.819.8200
Fax: 212.354.8113

Basic Program Information: Must have cumulative GPA above 3.0; three practice groups include corporate and financial services, litigation, and Intellectual Property and Tax; orientation and training program; mentor program.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
www.willkie.com 

Washington Office
1875 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-1238
Tel: 202.303.1000
Fax: 202.303.2000

New York Office
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019-6099
Tel: 212.728.8000
Fax: 212.728.8111

Basic Program Information: Minimum two year commitment; assigned to a particular practice group; mentor program; in-house training