Relocating to Reston, Partner is Paralegal with no B.A. (find a job, college)

[ATLtoNOVA]

We're relocating from Atlanta to Reston in 6 weeks. We've found a place to live and I have a contract job for at least 12 months, so I am set for now.

My partner has 8 years of experience as a bonafide paralegal, but she is now in a panic because all of the job listings she sees in the NOVA area require a B.A. which she does not have. She has great references and is fantastic at her job. This has never been an issue in ATL. In fact, she almost always (no matter what the economy is doing) has been able to find a job in Atlanta within 30 days of beginning her search.

Our living arrangement will require that we both work and she needs to make at least 50K. She has other types of experience, but that experience dates back more than 10 years and will not pay very much.

Are we panicking to soon, or do we have a real problem?

Thanks for any insight.

[JD984]

Originally Posted by ATLtoNOVA

We're relocating from Atlanta to Reston in 6 weeks. We've found a place to live and I have a contract job for at least 12 months, so I am set for now.

My partner has 8 years of experience as a bonafide paralegal, but she is now in a panic because all of the job listings she sees in the NOVA area require a B.A. which she does not have. She has great references and is fantastic at her job. This has never been an issue in ATL. In fact, she almost always (no matter what the economy is doing) has been able to find a job in Atlanta within 30 days of beginning her search.

Our living arrangement will require that we both work and she needs to make at least 50K. She has other types of experience, but that experience dates back more than 10 years and will not pay very much.

Are we panicking to soon, or do we have a real problem?

Thanks for any insight.

My sense is that most law firms of any size in this area require new paralegals to have a college degree. They get plenty of resumes and it's one way to screen them.

Can she get more than standard references? In other words, can she get someone she works with currently to affirmatively reach out to someone they know in this area? That might help her break through some red tape.

If she doesn't find anything, perhaps she can look at a document management firm like IKON, which has openings in the area. They do a lot of work for local law firms on an outsourced basis and it might give her an opportunity to meet people within firms she otherwise wouldn't get to know.

[ATLtoNOVA]

JEB77 - These are both great suggestions. I had thought of mentioning your first idea to her. Someone she has worked with before HAS to have a colleague in the area.

I like the IKON idea as well. Thank you again!

[agauthierLTS]

I have an opening for a Project Administrator in Reston, VA.... Looking for someone with a Paralegal background who could see themselves becoming a Project/Case Manager. Please contact me to discuss further. [email]agauthier@legaltechnologystaffing.com[/email]

Best,
Alicia