Q. What is a JD paralegal?
For the most part, they are the recent law school graduates mentioned at the end of the previous answer. Many of them offer a skill set that can be tapped into for paralegal or junior attorney work. For example, many worked as paralegals before law school. Others gained valuable experience during law school as interns, law clerks or summer associates with law firms and companies. Many graduate with quality experience in litigation, corporate law, real estate, intellectual property and contract drafting, to name a few.
back to top
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. How would a JD paralegal be helpful to me?
JD paralegals are excellent candidates for projects such as document review and due diligence matters. Moreover, JD paralegals are often interested in performing paralegal assignments in order to gain further experience, especially those experiences that build resumes. In hiring a JD paralegal, you get the benefit of their experience and education for either the same price as a paralegal or for a few more dollars per hour.
back to top
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Why would you not have a paralegal to fill my paralegal needs?
The paralegal market is not what it used to be. There are fewer and fewer career paralegals out there. In fact, most law firms know how difficult it is to retain even recent college graduates for the initial two-year commitment! Many working paralegals are quick to enroll in law school or other graduate programs, or they transition to other careers. Therefore, as the paralegals pool continues to shrink, the number of quality paralegals, especially those available for temporary projects, similarly decreases. The hiring of JD paralegals has become a highly successful and well-accepted substitute for paralegal hiring.
back to top
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. How can I be sure a JD paralegal will have a positive attitude about doing paralegal work, including reporting to other paralegals, and not leave me for a permanent job?
The short answer is that you cannot. But this is where SLS' screening process comes in to play. We explain to JD paralegals that many jobs involve paralegal tasks, and we listen to their response. In our years of recruiting, we have developed excellent instincts in identifying those with a whatever-it-takes attitude, and it is those candidates that we suggest for paralegal positions.
Keep in mind that a paralegal may be just as likely to leave a temporary job for a permanent job. In fact, the market for permanent paralegals is better than the market for permanent attorneys (see the answer to question 6 above). Therefore, hiring a JD paralegal does not increase the chances of the candidate leaving . . . it may decrease them!
http://www.strategicworkforce.com/client/legal_qa.htm#5
What do you think? I guess there are some people out there who think this is not such a ridiculous idea.