8. The way we find a job and present ourselves professionally: You must have a LinkedIn profile.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile or haven’t paid any attention to the one you do have, you are shooting yourself in the career foot. Employers today spend two seconds viewing your resume looking for keywords and then look you up on LinkedIn to see a) whether your profile matches the resume b) whether you are promoting yourself as a paralegal (and not an actor or something else) and c) yes, to view your professional picture. (Don't remind us it's illegal. We know that.) They want to see your summary indicate your personality and if you are up on social media.
The more you are up-to-date, the more they feel they are getting someone savvy enough to work for them. If you are not seeking employment, you still need to be on LinkedIn as quite frankly, it’s the professional thing to do.
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$95,000 in major metro-politan cities.
4. Why the paralegal pool seems smaller: It isn’t, really. Paralegals are moving into roles with different titles such as Litigation Support or eDiscovery. Employers are hiring paralegals with excellent technology skills.
These paralegals now have titles such as Litigation Support Analyst, Coordinator, or Manager and earning very decent salaries. If you check the backgrounds of highly successful eDiscovery Case Managers and Lit Support professionals, you probably will find a paralegal back- ground.
Develop your technology skills where you find the money and upward move- ment. Salaries can range from $80 - $110,000 or higher, depending upon level of management duties, sophistication of computer background and region of the country.
5. Speak another language? Foreign language skills are in demand:
We’re seeing more requests for bilingual abilities in many practice specialties including Spanish for legal support professionals.
6. You absolutely, positively must have knowledge of eDiscovery:
Unfortunately, too many employees know nothing about eDiscovery. In fact, they repeat the question with, “Do you mean eFiling?” Come on, folks! eDiscovery has been around for years and years now. If your firm “isn’t into it”, it is dying, dying, dying and eventually, you’ll be out of a job. Then what?
7. It’s all about the Internet and Distance Learning:
Distance learning, also known as e-learning, is one of the fastest-growing segments of continuing legal education. Media and interactive technologies have increased the e-learning possibilities in the academic setting and the workplace.
The flexibility of taking classes at any time from any location is now the norm. Distance learning appeals to all employees, and is popular with busy paralegals on limited CLE budgets or those with families.
eDiscovery is NOT eFiling