Would you recommend the paralegal profession to someone seeking a career change?

[Kimtastic]

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Which area of law do you think is the most stressful?  Which is the least?

[ParalegalHell]

In my opinion family law is the most stessful, followed by litigation. Both have the
damn Discovery timelines ( which I hate).  Family law is full of emotional clients, and it is drama non stop.
My favorite area of law is Bankruptcy ( I am a minority on this) and Criminal. I have worked in almost every field and the only areas I would choose from now is Bankruptcy or Criminal.

Good luck on the career change!!

[Grumpy Humbug]

Much depends on the personality and skill set of the person.  Not everyone is cut out for the job, to be honest.  It's high-stress, low-reward work, often with long hours.  Law firms are filled with strong personalities and egos (including non-lawyers).  Certainly there are common skills that apply across the board.  High level of organization, a good memory, patience, strong language and communication skills.

As for which areas are more or less stressful, again that depends on the person, the firm, and even the specific attorneys you work for.  Working for a large firm and getting a little experience in several areas is the best way to find out what fits you best.  I enjoy the variety of litigation most, others like the complexity of bankruptcy or tax law, even the, ahem, "adventure", of criminal work.

It's not all doom, gloom and misery despite what many of us say.  There are good parts to this job. 

[Corporate Paralegal]

1.  You have to really want to do this not just use it as a transition to a new career - any career.  I teach in our local community college's paralegal program.  We see many students who were laid off or are looking for a new job, have watched The Good Wife or any of those realistic lawyer shows and think that it is what they want to do.  They don't really like the study of law or even understand how to interpret law.  Honestly, many think it will be an "easy" path - a glorified secretary position.  They don't succeed in the program or end up changing their career after they have graduated.  To me it is a bit like being a pilot.  You don't just fall into being a pilot.  "Oh well, there are no other jobs out there so I think I will be a pilot." You do it because you like flying.  Same can be said for a career in law.

2.  Don't think that you will eventually go to law school and this is a stepping stone.  Some paralegals do transition over to attorney.  But most of us do not.  I started in this career with the intention of going to law school and this would just be a stop over along the way.  Here I am 15 years later, no law degree and no desire to go that route. If you want to go to law school, then take the LSAT and go to law school and don't stop along the way to be a paralegal.  You will realize how much better it is as a paralegal.

3.  I think Grumpy is right on point about personalities matching to the area of law.  I love administrative law.  Probably one of the few out there who does.  But I love to research and that is what admin law is all about. 

4.  Have fun!  It really is an interesting and enjoyable profession.  Yeah...we complain here but every career needs a place to blow off steam.  This board keeps me from shooting someone at work or saying something that I will truly regret.  Like "I am not restarting the G-D computer one more time IT person."  I vent here and go back to being a super paralegal who gets along with everyone.  Our alter egos, so to speak.

[Kimtastic]

Thank you all!  I really appreciate this advice.  I know making a career change is a huge ordeal and not something to be taken lightly.  I want out of my current position because I feel like my brain cells are dying by the minute.  I feel like I have good skills that are not being utilized.  I've been reading a lot about the paralegal field and I find the law very interesting and I think I have what it takes to do the job.

[HSF]

Like "I am not restarting the G-D computer one more time IT person."

But, but, but, it'll fix it. I promise.

/