It’s official. The sour economy has hit the paralegal job market in Minnesota.
I just got back from an interview with Minnesota Paralegal Association president Lori Boris, who works as a paralegal at Foley & Mansfield. In the course of our conversation, she told me that job opportunities listed on the MPA’s website, which had remained “healthy” through the first part of 2008, had since “slowed to a crawl.”
With the economy in the toilet, law firms are presumably putting the breaks on new hiring (although quite fortunately we have not heard that layoffs are an issue right now). Boris pointed out that the currently bleak market is likely to impact hardest on those graduating from the growing number of paralegal programs in Minnesota, many of whom may have difficulty finding placement.
I don’t want to be too much of a gloomy gus here, as there are lots of positive trends in the paralegal field. I discussed the major trends during an enjoyable and wide-ranging discussion with Boris, the substance of which will be incorporated into an article appearing in a new monthly focus section that Minnesota Lawyer is debuting in late February. The section will highlight legal-support topics.
![[Print]](http://minnlawyer.com/minnlawyerblog/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/print.png)
![[Email]](http://minnlawyer.com/minnlawyerblog/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/email_2.png)
![[Facebook]](http://minnlawyer.com/minnlawyerblog/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/facebook.png)
![[Twitter]](http://minnlawyer.com/minnlawyerblog/wp-content/plugins/dmc_sociable_toolbar/twitter.png)
Is the economy changing the way attorneys think about utilizing alternative staffing methods and office locations?
I have been working at home as a virtual paralegal for attorneys in many states for some time now. I have been seeing a growing trend of attorneys seeking more information on utilizing a virtual paralegal. I would like to write an article on the growing trend and would like input from the group on their thoughts whether or not they would consider contracting a virtual paralegals vs. hiring an in house employee. There are many cost cutting benefits to utilizing a virtual paralegal and with the current economy, I believe that is why I am seeing a growing trend of interest in the legal community.
I am also seeing a trend of attorneys working from home as well.
I would very much appreciate your input. If you don’t know much about what a virtual paralegal can do, you can visit my web site before commenting at http://www.thevirtualparalegal.com .