Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Paralegals
Molly, an Associate Counsel at JW Player, suggests that entry-level legal roles like "paralegals" or those in "legal Ops" offer great exposure to the industry. These positions, accessible to undergraduates, require "an interest in the law" and attention to detail, providing a pathway to explore a legal career before committing to law school, with many paralegals subsequently pursuing further legal education.
Legal Industry, Paralegal Roles, Entry-Level Positions, Tech Law, Career Paths
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Molly Noreika
Associate Counsel
JW Player
UCLA 2015
University of Pennsylvania School of Law, 2020, JD
History, Art History
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Technology
Legal
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Paralegals are always in demand at law firms and in-house companies, offering entry-level exposure to the legal field.
2. Legal Operations (Legal Ops) roles provide another entry point, requiring less prior training and offering insight into legal work.
3. Paralegal roles can be found in various sectors (litigation, corporate affairs, tech companies), providing flexibility and experience before committing to law school.
Transcript
What entry-level positions might an undergraduate college student consider in this field?
This is a great role to get exposure to the legal industry, especially if you want to be a lawyer in tech. Paralegals, whether at a law firm or in-house, are always in demand.
These roles might also be called "legal operations" or "legal ops." While it's not a role where you'll be practicing law, I think it can be a huge help. Someone in this position just needs an interest in the law, a willingness to pay attention to details, and the ability to follow instructions.
Eventually, you'll learn what you're doing, and it doesn't require a ton of prior training. There are paralegal courses available, but you don't necessarily need them to start, especially for a legal ops role.
This is a good way to see what lawyers do without committing to law school. You can work in many different fields, like a litigation paralegal or in corporate affairs at a law firm. Again, you could also work in-house at a tech company.
It's a good way to get started, and many paralegals go on to law school. Others decide it's not for them, but it's certainly a valuable experience.