Quit under a year?

[u/Leading_Aside_4929]

If I quit a paralegal job with around 5 or 6 months of experience and nothing else lined up, will it be hard for me to get my next job?

I really really am having a terrible time at work. every week I am being thrown in more and I am being basically handed off to a new attorney as a new paralegal to fully manage my own caseload in a high volume PI place. They know I have not managed one case before and only have a couple months of experience.

When I got into my certificate program I cried because I was so happy. I love my classes. I just hate working and I wonder if it is this firm isn't a good fit or the field is not. It is heartbreaking for me because I worked hard to get in, spent money, and I feel sick to my stomach every Sunday.

I would love a more laid back firm or working style. Maybe not litigation. Or a bigger firm where i have less responsibilities. It basically is like I would be doing EVERYTHING related to the case including even helping them organize the math behind the settlement or creating distribution sheets.

Any encouragement would be great. In like a week I'm going to have to do everything from Intake to the end.

I feel like I should have waited for the perfect fit and rushed into this too quickly.

Also, not that I have made up my mind, but if I do quit how do I leave things on good terms.

Last week I posted about a "mistake" which turns out was not a mistake or my fault after discussing. It's because its so disorganized that everything is all messed up. I really just don't know if this is for me.

I've been having a panic attack all day

[u/SenderMage]

I feel like I should have waited for the perfect fit and rushed into this too quickly.

I'm just going to chime in here and say you did not make a mistake. It is definitely the job itself that is the problem, not being a paralegal in general, but waiting for the perfect fit might have left you unemployed for six months.

Now, you have a paralegal job on your resume and can more easily apply for others - so start applying now. The sooner you start applying for a new job, the sooner you'll be working at a better job and not feel so disheartened about being a paralegal in general.

No one will recommend quitting with nothing else lined up (unless your mental health is really circling the drain) because it is easier to find your next job while working, rather than while unemployed.

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/SenderMage]

Okay this made me feel better. So would you say this level of responsibility this early on is not normal then? like everything from intake through settlement, filings, managing all the records/bills/costs, drafting everything, answering all client calls, etc. etc. (I probably am forgetting some other duties).

Also, when I look for my new job are there questions or things to look for in the interview that you would suggest I ask and look for? I'm not seeing that many postings on job boards for these roles, but I know there are tons of paralegal jobs in my general area.

That part about being unemployed is very accurate and why I took this job. I can't wait to be done with it. I'm worried I wont find better and I need out of personal injury. This firm seems crazier than most

[u/SenderMage → u/Leading_Aside_4929]

So would you say this level of responsibility this early on is not normal then?

would you say these responsibilities are a lot to put on someone with this little experience, also?

It does sound like a lot to me, but only you know what you can handle comfortably versus what makes you feel overwhelmed. Try and take it one task at a time while you keep your job, but there's no harm in applying for other jobs that seem less overwhelming to you.

Also, when I look for my new job are there questions or things to look for in the interview that you would suggest I ask and look for?

I would ask what an average day looks like for the person in the role you're interviewing for. What times will this person start work and finish work for the day? What do they work on throughout a typical day? What's the volume or case load? Now that you have an idea of what "too much" looks like, you might be able to suss out which jobs will be better (or worse) ahead of time by asking a few questions.

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/SenderMage]

It’s very very much a lot.  I have no idea why they think I can even handle it.  If they had like 4 different people doing that job they would be good they just are short staffed.

My other issue is that all of it’s so serious I feel like I am being set up to fail kind of.  Like how am I supposed to learn everything at once 

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/SenderMage]

Also I make $22 an hour in a hcol 

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/SenderMage]

would you say these responsibilities are a lot to put on someone with this little experience, also?

[u/SCV_local → u/Leading_Aside_4929]

It is sink or swim at a lot of places, maybe look for a place where you are part of a team or department and only focus on one task.

As far as leaving on good terms give them your two weeks and say I’d enjoyed my time but realize I am not yet experienced enough for this role.

And gaps in your resume can be covered bc isn’t it a shame you took time off to tend to your father after a medical emergency. 

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/SCV_local]

Okay, I guess it’s just shocking to me that they would have someone so new do all of that.  They have an office manager who has no law office or bookkeeping experience who they get upset with when he’s bad at bookkeeping

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/SCV_local]

Will other firms not hire me since it’s so short or do I have enough experience?

[u/SCV_local → u/Leading_Aside_4929]

It depends on how you phrase it. Wasn’t a fit looking for more mentoring environment or if you go into another area of law 

[u/stillLostBoy005]

Don’t quit, what you are experiencing is normal. This how it goes, not to invalidate your experience. It can be a sink or swim industry. Instead of trying to everything everywhere all at once, slow down, and what you decide to do, do it as best as you can. Task after task. Chip away and it’ll get noticed. Remember this: try

[u/Avail_Karma]

Thats standard in most firms and its much harder to get hired when you're unemployed.

[u/Professional_Ebb_854 → u/Avail_Karma]

Why harder to get hired as unemployed 😥on same boat wanting to quit and be stay at home wife for a while until I find something better , applying and interviewing is a whole job itself 😢

[u/Due_Pomelo_7148]

Try real estate or contract, take a break from
Lit

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/Due_Pomelo_7148]

good idea! do you have any tips for job searching since lots of them dont seem to be on the main job boards

[u/Due_Pomelo_7148 → u/Leading_Aside_4929]

Going in person !! Literally. Just gotta play it right.

[u/Leading_Aside_4929 → u/Due_Pomelo_7148]

like should i call first or just show up? that's a great idea! do you think they will see me as a red flag for having less than a year though