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 I've Been A Legal Secretary For 16 Years, Is It Worth The Time/money To Go Back To School For A Paralegal Certificate? Is There That Big Of A Difference In Pay When It Comes To Certificate Vs. Experience? |
| I have been a legal secretary for almost 17 years now. I do legal secretary work and I do paralegal work. Is the pay that much different for legal secretaries vs. Paralegals considering how much experience one may have. Is there an option that would not require me to go back through all the schooling? In addition to my legal secretary position, I have a nanny position on weekend evenings, so time is one thing I do not have much of. |
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 17 May 2008 08:24
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It might net you a better paying job at a small law firm, but in the USA, paralegals do not make that much more and often less than legal secretaries. When I went to school to be a paralegal and so many in my class could not afford to work as a paralegal, in an entry level that they turned to waitressing and other jobs to make ends meet. With your 17 years experience i am certain that you would easily pass a class in that field and YOU, might well be able to make more money.
pencil 
I agree. I made great money as a legal secretary. I never wanted to do all the research work that paralegals get stuck with. I did do some paralegal work but I never wanted to get a certificate - didn't need to. I don't think you make that much more unless you get into a very unique job situation. You can make great money in a large litigation firm being a competent, reliable legal secretary. 
