One of the most important things you should know before starting your job is that staying late is the best thing you can do for yourself. When I was first adjusting to the job, staying late very early on, even just 30 minutes extra, really helped me get in the habit of NOT leaving at 5:30pm. I didn

You know how it goes, in every interview they ask if you have any questions, and naturally, you don't. BUT, what if I told you asking questions was one of the best ways to stand out! Would you think more beforehand about what you should ask? Below are some of the best questions I've asked i

Believe it or not, I didn't think I would end up as a paralegal in big law on track to become an attorney. It wasn't until high school that I thought about this as a potential path and not until after my college internship that I was really sold on it (but I love it)! In a way, my surprise

Paralegal Job Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Working as a paralegal in big job is quite a demanding job, but I'd rate it four out of five stars and here's why: 1. The connections I've made are invaluable: Networking is an important aspect in the legal industry, and you never know who you'll see in

I think people mistake Rachel Zane's life as what a day in the life of a paralegal looks like, but I fear that it is far from that. So, here's a typical day in my life as a litigation paralegal: 1. Usually, I clock in around 9:30 am and sort through emails from late last night/early this

In this post, I'm highlighting my desk set up and some of my favorite parts of it! The vibe in my office is super quiet (but friendly). Below are my fav parts of my desk and why! 1. My Daily Planner: This is a must have. So many tasks come in at the same time, so it's nice to write everythi

In order to secure a job in NYC, I had to have a very strong application (because it is so competitive), and my resume was a key factor for this. If there's one thing you take away from this post, let it be this: do not include high school accomplishments on your work resume. It's stale and

A major perk of working in larger companies or industries, such as Big Law, is that there are tons of different benefits and plans. Below, you can find a list of my favorite benefits that I receive and which I use on a daily basis. Benefits are such a game changer for my day to day life and provide

If you work in NYC (or a big city in general), you'll quickly learn to realize how important your work bag is. I mean this thing is my ride or die. So here's a look inside of my tote! My NON-NEGOTABLES: 1) An Umbrella! So many times I've been walking to or from work, and it starts raini

Like any job, there are pros and cons of being a paralegal. That being said, I want to highlight some of my experiences (the highest highs and the lowest lows). ✅ PROS: 1) The exposure to legal work I've received is going to help me so much during law school and when returning as an att

I took a job in big law, without a law degree, for experience before law school. I wanted to get a thorough understanding of the environment I would be committing to for the rest of my life before investing so much time (and money lol) into law school! I’d heard so many mixed reviews about going to

One thing I’d share with myself is that to stand out, you need to go the extra mile! Working late nights and spending the extra hour on a project will make a HUGE difference in your work quality and reflects well to associates. This was reflected in my mid year evaluation and bonus, so I would defi

After being one year into the job, I’ve definitely grown a lot professionally and personally. One of the biggest things I didn’t know was that working in big law (especially as a paralegal) is essentially a 24 hour job and there aren’t set hours, even though it’s technically a “9-5” job. I’ve had t

While working as a paralegal in NYC, I’ve had the opportunity to interact with paralegals in other departments than me and at different firms! One thing that is specific to being in the litigation departments (opposed to the corporate department) is that litigation paralegals have the opportunity t

My first job was a few summers ago after my sophomore year of college, and believe it or not, it was at the same firm I’m working at now! I started my legal career as an intern in the Knowledge and Innovation department at age 21. They paid me about $22/hour and I worked from 9-5. Most of my tasks

Most people think that going straight from Undergrad into Law School is the natural pipeline, so you don’t forget your study habits and procrastinate going back to school. However, this is not the case for me! After graduating from college in May 2024, I signed a 2 year contract to work at a firm b

While every firm operates differently, there’s a common range that paralegals make. For me, the first 35 hours of my week are on a salary basis, so a minimum is guaranteed. Then, the next 5 hours are considered OT regular and you get paid extra at your salary rate. After that is where it gets fun!