New but burned out..

[its_k4rl4]

Is anyone else feeling completely overwhelmed as a new paralegal? I'm barely a few months in and already wondering if I made a huge mistake. The workload is just insane! I'm drowning in filings, discovery, and client calls, and it feels like I'm doing half a lawyer's job without any of the recognition. And let's not even get started on the pay. I knew it wouldn't be glamorous, but for the hours we put in and the responsibilities we have, it feels incredibly undervalued. I'm seeing job descriptions asking for years of experience but offering barely more than entry-level wages. Is this just how it is, or am I missing something? Feeling pretty burned out already.. If anyone has some good advice or knows a better environment for a new paralegal, please let me know!

 

[louisLIT]

Thats very standard. Starting as a paralegal IS overwhelming as it can be, with tons of work and little recognition or pay. It's pretty common for entrylevel roles to expect a lot but offer little in return. You can try tho to look for firms that actually support newbies and dont be afraid to set limits so you don't burn out . Stick with it a bit but try to voice out too, and you'll find better opportunities down the road.

 

[Baileyz]

Being new and overwhelmed is very common in this job and yeah, the pay often doesn't match the responsibility, a lot of us get burned out fast if we don't find the right firm or team that values us, maybe look for smaller firms or in house roles where the pace is less crazy and there's more support, you'll be fine

 

[stockmain3262]

You're not alone. so many new paralegals feel this way early on. It's a tough field. Have you thought about switching to a different area of law or even a smaller firm with better support? It will eventually get more manageable with time and the right fit!