| Deciding whether to attend paralegal school or law | | | | operate in a shared office environment, which some |
| school is not an easy task. Both have significant pros | | | | may view as a con to the job. |
| and cons, making the decision a challenging one. If you | | | | Pros to Attending Law School |
| are trying to decide between these two career paths, | | | | The main two benefits to attending law school are |
| here is some valuable information you can use to help | | | | unlimited career growth potential and the fact that a |
| make your decision. | | | | good lawyer has unlimited earning potential. If you are |
| Pros of Pursuing a Paralegal Career | | | | successful as a lawyer, you can grow in your |
| Paralegal school is much more affordable than law | | | | profession and pursue a broad range of specialties. If |
| school. In fact, many paralegals can start their careers | | | | you start your own firm, you will not be limited by the |
| with just three months of paralegal-specific training, | | | | direction others wish you to pursue. |
| provided they have the right college education behind | | | | A successful lawyer has a lot of perks. Secretarial |
| them. Most paralegals start working with little school | | | | support and the help of paralegals are all benefits |
| debt other than the college loans that most people | | | | enjoyed by leading lawyers. Lawyers typically work |
| have, in comparison to lawyers who graduate law | | | | out of private offices and enjoy a diverse assortment |
| school with tremendous amounts of debt, usually | | | | of tasks throughout the day. |
| pushing the six-figure mark. | | | | Cons of Law School |
| Paralegals do not have to pass a school entrance | | | | The main drawback to law school for many people is |
| exam. Those who take the LSAT and do not receive | | | | the tremendous cost. If your LSAT scores are high |
| high enough marks to enter law school often have no | | | | enough, you may be able to get aid. However, most |
| choice but to enter the paralegal program, unless they | | | | people end up graduating from law school with a lot of |
| want to continue taking the LSAT in order to improve | | | | debt. |
| their marks. | | | | The other drawback is all of the testing you will have |
| Paralegals also have less stress in the field than | | | | to do. First, you will need high enough LSAT scores to |
| lawyers. Since they must work under an attorney or | | | | qualify for a law school program. Once you graduate, |
| lawyer, paralegals answer to someone other than | | | | you will have to pass the bar exam in order to |
| themselves for their actions. Also, working in law | | | | become a lawyer. It is entirely possible for a student to |
| requires long hours. Paralegals are usually able to get | | | | go all the way through law school and fail to pass the |
| overtime pay. This is not the case for lawyers. | | | | bar exam, which means that a career as a lawyer is |
| Cons of a Paralegal Profession | | | | impossible, in spite of the money spent on school. |
| Pursuing paralegal school when you qualify for law | | | | So which career path should you pursue? Only you |
| school limits your advancement opportunities. There is | | | | can answer that question. If you desire to have |
| only so far you can go in the system as a paralegal. | | | | unlimited income potential and feel you have the |
| The highest you can earn in most markets is $90,000 | | | | knowledge and resources to pass the rigorous testing |
| a year. | | | | required for law school, then pursue that option. If, |
| Some people feel that the tasks assigned to | | | | however, you wish to take the safe route, a career as |
| paralegals are mundane and become routine over | | | | a paralegal may be the best option. You now know |
| time. This eliminates some stress, but also may | | | | the benefits and risks of each career, so you can |
| eliminate the challenge of the job. Paralegals usually | | | | make a more informed decision. |