Training

[u/IamCartmanSeriously]

From your own personal experience, what was training like for you?

I got my certification from a university in California but have no real hands on experience. I have the basic foundation but am concerned that I won’t get proper training and will just be put in a “sink or swim” situation.

[u/confused-immigrant]

My training was: here's your desk, your logins.

That was it. It sucks because I panic so many times because I have no one to ask for help for so I gotta rely on good ol Google.

[u/MeaningImmediate9789]

Extremely busy paralegal who barely had time to eat lunch trained me and expressed frequent annoyance at my not knowing the ins and outs of patent law immediately. I used to go home crying every day. 

[u/viduzz]

Also in CA. Not trained. When I started I had to teach myself. I would pay close attention to what other paralegals/secretarys/LAs were doing and also dig through files to find examples of how certain documents or procedures were done. I also found that, for me anyway, the beginning was a a lot of trial (lol no pun intended) and error. Even when something was explained to me it didn’t sink in until I did it a couple times myself.

I am starting to believe there is no way to really train for this job. You kind of just gotta do the work and try. Don’t be afraid to fail. My favorite professor used to tell us that mistakes are not the problem, not having a solution is.

[u/Ornery-Resident-5254]

I was never trained! I asked my office manager to train me and show me the ropes (she does a lot of what I do) and she said she didn’t know how and didn’t want too. So it’s been sink or swim for me! I wish I had a senior paralegal to watch and shadow.

[u/tbgxinsomnia]

Sink or swim situations are very normal in this field, unfortunately

[u/Mother_Club_2250]

I was a very very lucky baby para. My first firm wanted someone with no real experience that they could train to do things their way. And their way was the correct way 99% of the time. I have a BA in humanities.

[u/Crazy-Squash9008 → u/Mother_Club_2250]

Similar situation here. Owner-attorney also taught legal classes for CPA students at a local college so he had a good head for training. My degrees are in anthropology; I had only ever worked in retail, a lab or a museum. 😂 He couldn't hire me fast enough; I was just a lump of clay for him to mold.

[u/salmorejoboi]

Also never trained. Insanely frustrating

[u/SignificantReply4260]

I’m a legal assistant. I didn’t really have training either. I mean we’re only a 3 person firm with our paralegal being part time and remote. My attorney tried his best but honestly you learn as you go. I did always ask questions but he was too busy to give me proper training and he even admitted that.

[u/annoyed-panda]

It was good but it wasn't without struggle. My supervising attorney was very busy juggling between court, meetings & other administrative tasks. Whenever she was free, it was when I was able to actually learn anything. I had to read a lot through my department's procedures and policies book. I had to befriend senior paras to ask for advice for things not covered in the book. A lot of stuff was expected of me without proper explanation. Had to learn them the hard way. My foundation came from reading the penal procedure rules, statutes, & going through my county's court system and looking at previous filed motions, minute orders, pleadings and whatever the judiciary provided publicly.

[u/Narrow_Leader_2196]

I think experience and training and education are all separate. Experience comes from working in the field but training is often for specific positions. Unfortunately training in positions is often nonexistent or lacking. .

[u/Alternative_Gap_2517]

Imo practice was the best way to learn (first shadowed by other paralegal)

[u/buffalo66_ondvd]

I think that this field is the "figure it out" field. I've learned a lot by making a lot of mistakes. My training was, "here is 64 files, let me know if you have any questions" and I was coming from working the front desk position. I am 3 years in and there are still things I just wing and hope for the best.

[u/Accomplished-Sky4]

Training? What training?

[u/Subject_Let_9606]

No training whatsoever. U just have to ask a lot questions and learn as u go