FALL 2014

my program at UCI Extension, I found a part-time opportunity so I could work while I studied, and found I really liked the field,” she recalls. Before she finished the program, one of her instructors invited her to apply at First American. “After being out of work for so long, it was nice to be employed again,” Clause says. “The best part is my job is never boring. I like getting into the minutiae of regulatory filings, even if others might find it tedious.”

Tom Pokladowski, Esq., Director of Law and Finance, UC Irvine Extension, confirms that half of the program’s students are career changers in mid-career, like Dahl and Clause. Journey to “I loved my job as legal secretary, and I knew that being a paralegal was what I wanted to pursue as a long- Corporate Paralegal term career,” says First American paralegal Jen Martin, who began Why more college grads and career changers are working after school as a file clerk drawn to this fulfilling and lucrative field. at age 15. “But in order to do that, I needed a paralegal certificate.” With A gratifying, multi-faceted career as The Paralegal Career Path an associate’s degree and seven years of experience, she earned her a paralegal is a perfect fit for those When Karen Dahl was laid off from her certificate while working full-time and who wish to enter the legal profession job at an Internet company, her boss attending classes at night. “The day I without becoming an attorney. It’s no encouraged her to explore the legal graduated from the program was the wonder that a variety of backgrounds field. She began as an administrative exact day I began at First American, and personal journeys are becoming assistant for the regulatory counsel with my instructor as my new boss,” attracted to this booming field of and eventually became a paralegal Martin remembers. She landed her immense opportunity. at First American. Similarly, paralegal position rather unconventionally: by The U.S. Bureau of Career and pleading her case on the last page of Labor Statistics has forecast an her final exam, vowing to give 110% above-average need for paralegals “I wasn’t quite ready as his hardest-working employee. through the next decade or so. More to take the plunge to specifically, the corporate paralegal Yet another group of paralegals have field is growing rapidly as companies enroll in law school earned their bachelor’s degrees and of all sizes embrace the smart may still entertain the prospect of advantage of staffing an in-house after college.” law school at a later date, with the legal department. paralegal certificate as a stepping Tanya Chopra, Paralegal stone. “I had always been interested In speaking with four paralegals at in the legal field, but I wasn’t quite First American Financial Corporation ready to take the plunge to enroll in Santa Ana—all of whom have Denise Clause worked as a marketing in law school after college,” says earned their paralegal certificates manager in the automotive industry paralegal Tanya Chopra. She began from the University of California, and in customer service at a health the UCI program at the same time Irvine Extension—it is quickly clear insurance company before she lost that she was hired at First American. that paralegals not only enjoy being her job in 2008. Struggling to find “I gained real-world experience while an important part of a legal services another marketing position, Clause learning in the classroom,” Chopra delivery team, but also derive became intrigued by the paralegal says. “Then I got involved in a meaningful satisfaction from knowing field after hearing about it during paralegal association to keep up with that their work makes a difference. career seminars. “As I moved through the industry.” Employee Experience as a ones working overtime with you, doing you a favor at the eleventh Benefits of a Corporate Corporate Paralegal hour or bringing you that Starbucks’ Paralegal Career A rather self-selecting career, the mocha while you’re working on a Corporate paralegals are quick to corporate paralegal path tends to spreadsheet,” Dahl says. They face share many of the reasons they attract people with the same distinct and solve their obstacles together. look forward to reporting to work personality traits regardless of their each day and making a difference previous experience: highly organized, on the job. Here is a quick snapshot hard-working, and attentive to detail. Value of Corporate Paralegals of the elements that equal high They’re unafraid to take initiative and Though paralegals cannot practice job satisfaction among today’s have a knack for prioritizing even law, they can and do assist attorneys paralegals: the longest list of time-sensitive in their practice. On any given day, matters. Paralegals make a name for a corporate paralegal might draft Variety and opportunity. No two themselves as fast learners who are contracts and legal documents, days are the same, as paralegals intense listeners and equally strong sit in on board meetings, help to constantly face new challenges that communicators. They also possess a review leases and trademarks, test their know-how and problem- natural ability to quickly shift from a maintain and organize files, conduct solving skills. micro perspective on a project to the client interviews, assist with case Less expensive than attending law big picture in a legal context. management, do investigative school and completed in a shorter research, perform legal analysis, period of time. Pay-as-you-go “In the corporate world, things are summarize depositions or attend programs such as University of always changing,” Martin says. “You hearings. California, Irvine Extension’s have to be flexible, accommodating, Paralegal Certificate Program and open to learning new things. As a “I like the fast-paced environment,” eliminate the need for loans, enabling paralegal, I learn and grow on a daily says Martin. “Every day is an students to attend on a schedule basis,” she says. She has another adrenaline rush.” that suits their lifestyle. key word for paralegals: teamwork. As a part-time instructor at UCI in Less stressful and shorter hours “A paralegal is a supportive role to business law and intellectual property, than an attorney position. Though the attorneys, so it’s very important to Zachary Zaharek, Vice President and extremely hard-working, paralegals work well with others.” Senior Operations Counsel at First tend to find it easier to maintain a Corporate paralegals savor the added American in Santa Ana, has hand- work-family-life balance, and with bonus of having a built-in social picked top students like Martin from greater flexibility. network and close camaraderie his classes to fill paralegal positions. Room for ongoing learning and within the corporation. “You consider “Paralegals are the cornerstone of the growth. Those who find their niche your co-workers to be your best legal department, making sure it runs in an entry-level paralegal position friends at times because they’re the smoothly and efficiently,” he says. may gain on-the-job knowledge to move up the ranks to a senior-level role, proving themselves through demonstrating exacting performance and a track record of significant achievements. Competitive wages. For their relatively reasonable educational investment, paralegals are well paid and enjoy a comfortable quality of life. Some companies are open to negotiating a compensation arrangement—whether salary, hourly, bonuses, etc. All clients are in-house. From the finance department to operations and sales, paralegals interface with their customers often and build rewarding long-term relationships Paralegals at First American Financial Corporation, Santa Ana, CA (left to right): with both clients and colleagues. Denise Clause, Tanya Chopra, Jen Martin, Karen Dahl

Learn more at extension.uci.edu/legal