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Hey everyone! So I am currently in college majoring in legal studies to become a paralegal. After I graduate and get my paralegal certification I want to work in DC. I am from NJ and have lived here my whole life. I want to move to DC and I was wondering if anyone had any insight on job opportunities for paralegals and also where is best to live? In DC or I was looking into the northern Virginia area like Alexandria or Arlington. I would want to rent a studio/one bedroom apartment. And lastly if anyone has made the move from NJ to DC. Any insight is helpful!
Why DC? You can be a paralegal in any number of places with a much lower cost of living. This area is much more expensive than anywhere in NJ, unless you are talking about right across the river from Manhattan (and even then DC might be more expensive). Are paralegal salaries especially high here to make up for the higher COL? I don't know but I doubt it.
Also it is a bit pointless to figure out where to live in the DC area until you know where your job will be. We have some of the longest commuting times in the country here. You will want to live somewhere convenient to your job. That could be dozens of different places.
Well yes salaries for paralegals are way higher in DC than anywhere else, with a low cost of living comes low salaries especially for paralegals. And another thing is paralegal job opportunities a harder to come by in low cost of living areas. Nothing is set in stone I am weighing options and planning out where the best place to get a good job will be.
Yes salaries are higher but higher enough to make up for the higher cost of living? Keep in mind that DC is more expensive than every city other than New York and San Francisco. Paralegal jobs can be found anywhere. I would really question that you couldn't find jobs in other big cities that pay as much or nearly as much as in DC but once you account for cheaper rent you'd come out ahead.
Okay! Thank you very much for your input! Its hard to know exactly how much more expensive DC really is because looking at statistics makes it seem easier! So I appreciate your help! I'll definitely look in other cities and check it out! And just a general question so you think if I go somewhere with lower cost of living and less salary that is better right? If I don't have to pay too much for rent and cost of living then I'll be able to come out ahead even if my salary isn't super high so it will balance out better?
My advice to you would be to determine what type of paralegal work you want to do and then pursue jobs to support that wherever they are located. For instance, unless you really want to work government, policy, etc., related paralegal cases, then DC shouldn't be your first pick. If you want to live in DC because you really want to be in this city, then maybe the type of paralegal work you do is less important.
My philosophy: a job I thrive in and a location where I'll be happy.
My advice to you would be to determine what type of paralegal work you want to do and then pursue jobs to support that wherever they are located. For instance, unless you really want to work government, policy, etc., related paralegal cases, then DC shouldn't be your first pick. If you want to live in DC because you really want to be in this city, then maybe the type of paralegal work you do is less important.
My philosophy: a job I thrive in and a location where I'll be happy.
I disagree. There are plenty of paralegal jobs in all areas of law in the DC area. Don't forget that policy work is related to law in all other fields, including corporate, malpractice, environmental, trade and communications, etc. DC has the highest number of lawyers per capita in the country, and those lawyers need paralegals.
OP, you may need a roommate the first couple of years if those salaries are any indication, but so do most people starting out in the area. If you're just getting out of school, I'm assuming you're young, so Arlington or Alexandria on the Virginia side, Bethesda on the Maryland side, if you don't want to live in DC proper.
Or you can go in on a group house.
Or, if you have a car, you can go further out, but yes, the commutes can be ugly.
I would suggest just living in DC. You won't need a car..... Plus you can get a roomate. You can always go to Arlington just 5 mins away without living there.
We should all encourage growth inside of the city for singles instead of the suburbs. Unless you have a family or a job in the burbs I don't see the point.
Okay! Thank you very much for your input! Its hard to know exactly how much more expensive DC really is because looking at statistics makes it seem easier! So I appreciate your help! I'll definitely look in other cities and check it out! And just a general question so you think if I go somewhere with lower cost of living and less salary that is better right? If I don't have to pay too much for rent and cost of living then I'll be able to come out ahead even if my salary isn't super high so it will balance out better?
The higher cost-of-living is not offset by the higher salaries. You should know that before you move. A studio here starts at $1200.
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