Pros
Some coworkers are very amazing and motivated people. The majority of people working with clients in a paralegal capacity have a direct connection to the immigrant community and really care for the work they do. Tremendous satisfaction when things go right and clients' cases are approved. Pay is decently competitive, benefits are okay (50% health, paid parking, vision/dental, 401k after 6 months). Lots of autonomy in managing your caseload, which is both a pro and con. Located in Ktown, close to transit and freeways.
Cons
Little to no training or onboarding, so if you don't already have experience in whatever you are doing, you will struggle and likely fail. Management is disconnected from daily tasks of the paralegals and the firm doesn't seem to really care about it's employees' wellbeing. The attorneys are great, but are responsible for huge caseloads, and usually there are only one or two per department, so they never have time to deeply engage with feedback or case matters, so there are always urgent matters or emergencies that will sneak up on you. The firm's COVID response was to give staff hand sanitizer and reduced everyone's hours to part time shifts, but still requiring everyone to come in to the office physically, even after confirmed cases in building and in the office. They only offered remote work after one month, but even then, it was not the greatest. Any concerns about procedures fall on deaf ears, as company is mostly concerned about their bottom line, even if it comes at the cost of the client's cases being mishandled. The intake department is toxic and predatory, consistently lying to clients and telling them things will be done faster if they pay more. Also, because clients' expectations are messed up, by the time clients speak with paralegal that will work on their case, they are mad and very difficult to manage. Staff spend a lot of time appeasing angry clients and management doesn't care, only wants more filings done. Also, they are very stingy with office supplies, the CFO will literally yell at you (yes, you read that right) for trying to get a pen or some staples. Perhaps this was a great place to work at once upon a time, but nowadays, it feels like you are constantly expected to take on more cases and handle more clients, with little regard for your personal wellbeing during a global pandemic and during mass civil unrest. If you are someone who just cares about getting a paycheck and doesn't mind dealing with angry clients all the time, you'll be fine. However, for people who actually care about the immigrant community, there is a huge feeling of burnout throughout the office and you don't need to listen too hard to hear heavy sighing everywhere you go.