What's it like to work in the legal field? I'm trying to make a career choice.?

Just looking for some real world views of what it's like to work in the legal field, particularly as a paralegal. Even more specific, in the area of animal rights. Yeah, I know it's pretty grassroots right now. I've always wanted to work to change the laws for animals. I would consider working in another area of law to pay the bills, and volunteer my services in the area I'm more passionate about. Does anyone do this?Are paralegals valuable, and sought after? Where else can you find employment other than at a law office? What's it like to work in Family Law, adoption work, and also domestic violence protection? I like standing up for the underdog, will I be disappointed with our justice system, or is the system only as good as what you can make of it? I like paperwork, research, and writing. Does it take a certain type of personality to work in law? What's it like to be a freelance paralegal? Looking forward to hearing from some legal assistants and paralegals? Thanks.

I have been an attorney since 1991. I didn't find the law to be especially rewarding on any level except monetarily. I'm transitioning into a career of mixed legal and counseling (therapy) and hope that will provide more personal satisfaction. Paralegals make pretty decent money, though the opportunities outside of the law office aren't much. The system works okay, but it's not great. I assume a freelance or contract paralegal job is unsteady income. It depends on where you live, too, in terms of supply and demand. A contract paralegal might be able to make decent money in a large city like Los Angeles.

Dana (attorney, M.S. Counseling)

Well, I'm not a paralegal, but I think that as little as lawyers can/do realistically do for idealistic justice, paralegals can do/actually do even less than that. Right now, paralegals are in demand even more so than lawyers are. It seems like a lot of law firms, in particular, are trying to replace low-level associates with paralegals, probably because they can pay paralegals less to do similar kind of work and likely don't have to deal with as much turnover with paralegals. Yet, as far as I know, you're not going to do anything but write about and research issues, for the most part.

I don't know anything about "animal law"--never hear about it--and I'm not sure it's usual for paralegals to be picky about what areas of law they want to work in. Still, I suspect that area is just too narrow for you to realistically target jobs or law-related volunteer opportunities in it. I'm betting that area is a sub-area of environmental law, though, so you might want to broaden your horizons to that.

I can't tell you specifics about any of the areas you're asking about. But I answer several questions here regarding practicing law and/or attending law school and anyone who pays attention to my responses knows I'm very down on law school and the legal profession (I just graduated law school). One of the reasons why IS because I feel like the justice system keeps injustice going rather than works towards ending it. I think it takes someone who is larger than life to get into the profession and go work against the status-quo mindset of the legal profession. You hear about great lawyers who have brought social change throughout history, but, trust me, those people are definitely the exception...especially nowadays. Relatively few people in the legal profession fight for the underdog, and the ones who do are unhappy either because they're not getting paid well or they don't feel like they're really making a difference. The majority of the people I know who are realistically able to even try are women who are married to men who make good money. But it's really hard to be one of the few championing causes that matter--everyone thinks you're crazy because you're not in it for money, and the entire legal system is working against you because it is, in and of itself, anti-change.

My passion is social justice issues, particularly race, and I've realized that the best way for me to work on those issues and really make a difference is outside of the legal profession. Unfortunately, it took over $150000 worth of debt to realize this. Hopefully, I will eventually be able to make a living writing books/articles about my interests, keep researching/reading/learning about those areas, maybe find a civil rights org where I can get hired to not practice law, and use innovative ideas such as comedy to make people think about and discuss issues that we otherwise try to avoid. I cannot fight things like racism, sexism and so forth in a profession where those problems are rampant...and even if they weren't, it's still the case that the profession is no longer about change and justice...if it ever was.

Another reason I "hate" the legal profession is because, yes, I DO feel like it takes a certain personality to work in law--frankly, boring white males who care first and foremost about money, prestige and status...NOT justice. Don't get me wrong--people from all walks of life and people who care about the right things are in the legal profession, and some of them love what they do. But the people who do the best in the profession and really enjoy it--and this is just how I feel about it according to my observations--are those who are not the slightest bit well-rounded, are very happy with tedious/mundane tasks and doing the same things all the time, and are willing to give up or put a distant second all other aspects of their lives to their career...including family. This is one of the reasons why fewer women "excel" in the profession by the profession's standards, i.e. working at a high-paying law firm and eventually making partner...women are just not going to drop everything else in life for their career.

I don't mean to insult you if you're willing to put your passion before everything else, because it does sound like you're passionate about your interests. Nothing's wrong with that, but I still think the profession should define "success" differently than it does. I can't think of any other places where I see ads for paralegals besides law firms, but, as you mentioned, you can volunteer at nonprofit orgs, at least ones dedicated to family law issues like adoption and domestic violence.

One last thing--per my comment about people thinking you're crazy because you're not all about the money...understand that with most law firms, you will be working for the people who basically hurt those you're likely looking to help, or at least have some role in hurting those animals/people. Law firms tend to be where the money's at...that's why everyone wants to go to one of those. But those lawyers making those big bucks at those law firms represent corporations that test their products on the animals you want to fight for or put harmful toxins out into environments where animals live, or the companies that own/run battered women's shelters that don't adequately provide the protection those women need. Those law firms don't really care or they try not to think about their part in injustice and try to rationalize why those companies help us. But really, their concern is money. It's way past the point of being viewed as abnormal to be in the legal profession for anything else.

Paralegals are sought after in areas where there is a need; don't expect to stay in your town of 300 where the only lawyer has an assistant who has worked for him for the past 20 years. I don't think a freelance paralegal would be of interest to many law firms, given the fact t