General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If you are white, do you take advantage of the benefits of being white? [View all]HeiressofBickworth
(2,682 posts)Since in the beginning paralegals were female legal secretaries with advanced training, there was little salary difference between Paralegal and Secretary. But yes, once men got into it, there was recognition that it was a profession and salaries rose above the salaries of secretaries. Eventually, community colleges offered 2-year paralegal degrees and as a consequence, not all paralegals had secretarial background which elevated it from "women's work". I taught at a local University's Paralegal Studies Program for about 5 years (winter quarter). About 1/3 of the classes were men. As long as I worked in law firms, I always had the feeling (but no way to confirm) that the male paralegals made more than the women (who couldn't shake the onus of having been "mere" secretaries, at least in the eyes of management). It was only when I started working in the business sector that it was different. I made more, and made it faster, than I ever did at the law firm.