Best companies to work for in Orlando?

[johnatl]

Hi WinterberryFarm - I sort of answered you in one of the Atlanta threads in the Georgia Forum, but I would be more than happy to offer any info you would like.

Don't want to step on any toes in the Orlando forum though........

[wildwoodcrest1957]

We don't want to steer Your decision, but I have been here in Central Florida for 15 Years, and now I am Moving back to NJ (Wildwood) to be exact. I found out a couple of really important things while Living in Florida .... #1- is that I miss the Jersey Shore so much #2- Central Florida is Way too crowded for Me (lots of Tourists Driving) & #3- The most important one..... I found out that sometimes We think that the Grass is Greener on the other side of the Fence, but We find out that sometimes it's not. Unfortunetely, it took Me 15 Years to find that out. No regrets, Per Sey, but I 'Gotta Go Home' Good Luck in everthing You do.

[onwillowbay]

Last year our family moved to the memphis area and found out that (even though I grew up there) it's not "great to go home". Our house in Orlando didn't sell, my husband and retired and I am a paralegal (CLA, APC, 15+ yrs exp) have done some extensive searching and there seems to be several openings for paralegals in the central Florida area. Many Great firms, too, Carlton-fields; Dean-Mead; Winderweedle ward; and lots of big companies (fedex; tupperware, etc.) Good luck in your search. I loved Central Florida and even though I got fed up with the tourists, traffic, etc., there's nothing like the big blue beautiful Florida sky. Can't wait to get back

[sunstate]

I am a paralegal who left Florida because I could not live on the $10 an hour paid by most firms. Ah yeah, you must be bi-lingual as well.

[cbreemull]

MXG,

I am sure you won't have problems finding a job here in Orlando. Send your resume out and keep an eye out for postings on jobs.

Crystal M.

[beckycat]

I see jobs for Legal Secretaries on craigslist They vary in salary significantly by firm and how much experience you have. My daughter is 17 and has no exerience in the field, but wants to attend college for Legal seceretary. She was just offered a job today for $9/hr., paid medical, dental, 401K, gym membership, holidays, and vacation. She found it on craigslist. With 8 years experience, you should do much better. Good luck!

[JPI]

The cost of living in Orlando is less than the cost of living in NJ - at least Newark. I have attached a link to a cost of living calculator you may find helpful. According to this resource, $55K in Newark is the same as $43K in Orlando. I am an attorney at a small firm in Orlando, approximately 10 attorneys, and we pay our administrative assistants around $35 - 40K, to start, depending on experience. Our paralegals make more, but, again, this is based upon your experience.

I would do some more research if I were you. I think some of these people might be supplying you with bad information. We are a much more expensive state than we used to be, but we are not NJ.

Finally, schools in Florida are not the greatest, but I disagree with the characterization of a FL "A" equating to a NJ "C." My wife is a High School teacher and has been at two schools in the past five years (both "A" schools). Her good friend was a teacher here in Florida and has since returned to her home state of NJ to teach in Palmyra (I think that's the right town). Anyhow, she said that schools here are just like schools there. Good one's are really good and bad ones are really bad.

Cost of Living - Cost of Living Calculator from CNNMoney.com

[JPI]

You do not have to be bi-lingual to work in Central Florida. The amount of money you make will depend on the quality of the firm for which you work. These small firms that don't do very complicated stuff are not going to pay you well.

I know a paralegal that recently left our firm with 6 years of experience and she is currently making around $70K. However, she does work a lot of hours.