Lawyers ask paralegals to perform some of the worst tasks our jobs have to offer. If it’s not utterly mind-numbing copying and filing, it’s assigning them important, detail-oriented tasks without bothering to explain them adequately. For some it becomes a career and they basically become junior associates — the master sergeants to some clueless lieutenants. For others it’s a way station for figuring out that law school is not in their future. In either case, it’s a mostly thankless job.
But here’s a new wrinkle in the universe of paralegal job requirements: child care.
You know, the average rate of a babysitter in [North Dakota is $10.25/hour], so at $15/hour you’re really coming out ahead.
Now some may knock this job listing, but actually it exposes a sad reality of the modern economy. Providing critical legal services like pursuing civil rights claims can’t make a guy enough money to secure full-time child care for his kid. That’s one more lawyer with everything leaning on him to chuck representing the low-income aggrieved for better opportunities. We should applaud him for trying to make this work for his clients and getting to spend quality time with his child while he does it.
And yeah, that means this paralegal gig isn’t for everyone. It probably means this gig isn’t for most people. But of all the tasks the profession demands of a paralegal, looking after a kid for a couple of hours isn’t the worst by any means.
Hiring A Paralegal To Babysit Your Kid
BY Joe Patrice