A Day in the Life of a Paralegal

Are you passionate about entering the prestigious legal field?

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts an 18% job growth for paralegals over the next 10 years with an average annual salary in Atlanta of $51,620. Additionally, Yahoo ranked paralegal as the No. 1 career field that is high in salary and short on school.

We caught up with one of our recent Paralegal Certificate graduates to learn more about the program and the career field.

Rae Cook recently completed the program in August and landed a position with local law firm. Here’s what she had to say:

Share your experience in our Paralegal program.
My experience with the KSU Paralegal program has been very positive. I found most of the classes interesting and I looked forward to attending class each week.

I generally took one day and one evening class each week. One session I took two day classes and one evening class. This allowed me to complete the required 13 classes in about one year.

The instructors were always knowledgeable and more than willing to answer questions. Most shared practical knowledge to supplement the coursework based on their own cases and experience.

My favorite classes were Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing I and II, and Estate Planning and Probate.

Did you land an internship through our program?
My Criminal Law instructor recommended me for an internship with the Paulding County District Attorney’s office.

This was a great experience that taught me some practical aspects of criminal law and afforded me the opportunity to observe many courtroom activities. This internship was an important distinguisher on my résumé.

How has the program helped you with your career goals and aspirations?
I entered the KSU Paralegal program to pursue a second career. I have a master’s degree in electrical engineering and I enjoyed an engineering and aerospace career for 12 years before I left my technical career to stay home with my two children. Now that my children are nearly grown, I felt that it was time to return to work.

I was attracted to the KSU Paralegal program because I’ve always been interested in the practice of law and it provided a fairly quick way to prepare myself for a new career.

I attended an information session and was impressed with the instructors as well as the organization and management of the program. I signed up for the program immediately and am happy that I did.

What are you doing now?
I began a job as a paralegal with a small law firm in Marietta about one month after I completed the program in August 2015. A recommendation from one of my instructors helped me obtain the initial interview.

I have been pleased with this position and I am continually learning the practical aspects of my paralegal role.

I truly enjoy working with the attorney and the other paralegals in the practice — most of whom completed the KSU Paralegal program as well.

My paralegal coursework and my technical background have combined together to make this position a good fit and I foresee a long career at this firm.

What advice would give potential students considering this program?
My advice for potential students considering the program would be to first attend one of the information sessions. The sessions are very informative.

Also take the opportunity to meet with Program Manager Jennifer Henderson to discuss your career goals. She was extremely helpful to me in planning out my class schedule and providing résumé advice.

Additionally, I would encourage each student to set a goal to finish the program in as short a time as possible. Two to three classes each session is reasonable if you work part-time. One or two may be better if you work a full schedule. Check with other students or Jennifer to find out which classes are more homework intensive than others and plan your schedule accordingly.

Finally, I encourage you to take the time to get to know your instructors. They are willing to provide guidance and advice and they often have knowledge of positions available and can provide recommendations.

You Can Do It
Learn more about how our Paralegal program can benefit you. Day and night classes are held throughout the year.