Paralegal: Career Choice, Not Stepping Stone

"So, when are you going to law school?" Someone will ask me that, inadvertently mistaking a loaded question for a compliment of the highest caliber. That someone will look surprised when I say, "Never. I've chosen to be a paralegal." That someone also doesn't know how that question will follow me home, pop open a cold diet Coke, and flop down on the couch with me to nag me during commercials. Am I missing something? Did I make the wrong career decision? Did I settle for less? I'm left with nagging doubts about my career choice, and the well-meaning interrogator thought that he was complimenting me. As someone said on a paralegal message board I frequent, I wonder if good veterinarians get told that they should have gone to medical school.

The well-meaning folks who ask that question are very indicative of the general perception of paralegals. There are plenty of people who think that paralegals are either on their way to law school and using their paralegal job experience as a foot in the door, or just "can't cut it" in law school. There are lawyers who look down on the profession as a dead-end job, as one lawyer indicated when I told him what kind of classes I was taking. This lawyer then urged me to go to law school.

I like being a legal assistant/paralegal/whatever moniker you choose for it. I like working normal (for the most part) hours. I enjoy the time I spend with clients, and I'm actually relieved not to be giving them legal advice or representing in court. After over two years in the profession, this is where I want to be, not law school. As a paralegal, I can still have time for the rest of my life while having a challenging legal career.