master's degree in paralegal studies or law school? Forum
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master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
looking at a master's degree from GW in paralegal studies vs. a lower tiered law school. Which degree offers the better job prospects?
http://onlinegwu.com/plx/program_overview.asp
http://onlinegwu.com/plx/program_overview.asp
- nealric
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
You should be able to get a paralegal job with your undergrad degree. The idea of a masters seems pretty asinine to me.
If I were you, I would get a job as a paralegal now and see how you like it. You can always go to law school later.
If I were you, I would get a job as a paralegal now and see how you like it. You can always go to law school later.
- Bert
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
Not everywhere. In some southern states and I believe in DC as well, a paralegal certificate is needed to be recognized as a paralegal (as opposed to a legal assistant), and you need to get a paralegal degree in order to get the paralegal certificate.nealric wrote:You should be able to get a paralegal job with your undergrad degree. The idea of a masters seems pretty asinine to me.
If I were you, I would get a job as a paralegal now and see how you like it. You can always go to law school later.
- prezidentv8
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
Bert wrote:Not everywhere. In some southern states and I believe in DC as well, a paralegal certificate is needed to be recognized as a paralegal (as opposed to a legal assistant), and you need to get a paralegal degree in order to get the paralegal certificate.nealric wrote:You should be able to get a paralegal job with your undergrad degree. The idea of a masters seems pretty asinine to me.
If I were you, I would get a job as a paralegal now and see how you like it. You can always go to law school later.
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
I'm a paralegal in DC w/ no certificate, although my job is no different than what other firms call a legal assistant.
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- Bert
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
Thanks for clearing that up.
Maybe a paralegal certificate is merely encouraged in DC then. FWIW, my brother is a paralegal in DC and needed to have a certificate in order to be considered at the firms at which he interviewed.
Maybe a paralegal certificate is merely encouraged in DC then. FWIW, my brother is a paralegal in DC and needed to have a certificate in order to be considered at the firms at which he interviewed.
- SteelReserve
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
I think some of the biglaw firms require their paras to have those degrees. Paras at bigfirms make big money but they do work pretty hard and I do not know what the market is for biglaw paras right now; presumably it's better then the market for JDs but I doubt it's a great market.
Also, if you do decide later to go to law school, you will have an awesome in at your firm and you could go to a cheap law school and still get into biglaw. I know two people at my school that did this; the will be working for the same biglaw regional offices that they worked for as paralegals yet they have full rides at my school.
It's a great 'backdoor' to biglaw which enables you to get around the T14 issue and also avoid the T14 debt.
Also, if you do decide later to go to law school, you will have an awesome in at your firm and you could go to a cheap law school and still get into biglaw. I know two people at my school that did this; the will be working for the same biglaw regional offices that they worked for as paralegals yet they have full rides at my school.
It's a great 'backdoor' to biglaw which enables you to get around the T14 issue and also avoid the T14 debt.
- Pleasye
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
I'm pretty sure there are some places where a paralegal certificate is necessary in order to be paralegal.
I doubt a masters in paralegal studies is necessary.
I doubt a masters in paralegal studies is necessary.
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
This is arguable; at my firm, anyway, you still need the same excellent grades that they would require of any other incoming associate. And most of the time, a top school.SteelReserve wrote:I think some of the biglaw firms require their paras to have those degrees. Paras at bigfirms make big money but they do work pretty hard and I do not know what the market is for biglaw paras right now; presumably it's better then the market for JDs but I doubt it's a great market.
Also, if you do decide later to go to law school, you will have an awesome in at your firm and you could go to a cheap law school and still get into biglaw. I know two people at my school that did this; the will be working for the same biglaw regional offices that they worked for as paralegals yet they have full rides at my school.
It's a great 'backdoor' to biglaw which enables you to get around the T14 issue and also avoid the T14 debt.
Last edited by Doodsmack on Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
There are different tiers of paralegals at biglaw firms in DC. Most have 2 or 1 year paralegal programs for new grads and then another staff of senior/career paralegals who usually have a certification in a specialized area of law.
I believe many smaller firms only hire specialized paralegals, as they have the skills to take on more substantive work while also doing the more secretarial side of being a paralegal, simply because they can't afford to keep on two different paralegal staffs.
I believe many smaller firms only hire specialized paralegals, as they have the skills to take on more substantive work while also doing the more secretarial side of being a paralegal, simply because they can't afford to keep on two different paralegal staffs.
- nealric
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
Not in DC. My fiancee is a paralegal here with just an undergrad. AFIK there is no formal category of "legal assistant" as opposed to "paralegal".Not everywhere. In some southern states and I believe in DC as well, a paralegal certificate is needed to be recognized as a paralegal (as opposed to a legal assistant), and you need to get a paralegal degree in order to get the paralegal certificate.
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
If you want to be a para, start applying for paralegal jobs. You definitely don't need that Master's degree to be a paralegal. My guess is that this Master's program is another recent invention to cash-in on students that don't know any better. A lot of universities are coming up with all sorts of BS Master's programs because they are big moneymakers.
If the idea of attending a lower tiered law school bothers you, try to study more for the LSAT to get a higher score the next go around, take a prep course, hire a tutor, etc.
If you are unsure about law school at all, working as a paralegal might help you decide whether its for you or not. Law school isn't going anywhere and you can always go in a couple years if you want.
I wouldn't waste money on a paralegal certificate of any kind either, unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure you need one in order to be a paralegal in your city/state.
If the idea of attending a lower tiered law school bothers you, try to study more for the LSAT to get a higher score the next go around, take a prep course, hire a tutor, etc.
If you are unsure about law school at all, working as a paralegal might help you decide whether its for you or not. Law school isn't going anywhere and you can always go in a couple years if you want.
I wouldn't waste money on a paralegal certificate of any kind either, unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure you need one in order to be a paralegal in your city/state.
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
Pretty sure that the original post is just an unpaid advertisement for this on-line paralegal degree.
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- SteelReserve
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
Doubtful since the post invites debates over job prospects, but why so anonymous? Don't be afraid.Pretty sure that the original post is just an unpaid advertisement for this on-line paralegal degree.
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Re: master's degree in paralegal studies or law school?
One of my classmates was a paralegal at a big NYC firm, they basically told him/her, "call us if your grades are good" when she left for law school. So I'm guessing YMMV with region and firm when attempting this "backdoor."SteelReserve wrote:I think some of the biglaw firms require their paras to have those degrees. Paras at bigfirms make big money but they do work pretty hard and I do not know what the market is for biglaw paras right now; presumably it's better then the market for JDs but I doubt it's a great market.
Also, if you do decide later to go to law school, you will have an awesome in at your firm and you could go to a cheap law school and still get into biglaw. I know two people at my school that did this; the will be working for the same biglaw regional offices that they worked for as paralegals yet they have full rides at my school.
It's a great 'backdoor' to biglaw which enables you to get around the T14 issue and also avoid the T14 debt.
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