I work for the IRS as a paralegal. I'm still in training for my real responsibilities, but so far, my job has involved doing research and organizational tasks for the attorneys in my office and helping small businesses and self-employed people with their petitions for tax deficiency re-examinations.

EDUCATION | I have a Bachelor of Arts in Science, Technology and Society.

HOW TO GET STARTED | There's nothing in particular that you need to do or study to qualify yourself. Good grades coming out of college, experience working in an office or in any sort of research position, and a willingness to work hard is what most people seem to be looking for. When they hired me, my manager said that what appealed to them about my application was that I had been working more or less consistently since I was 16, that I had gone to a good school, and that I had a decently strong background in math, which isn't necessary in tax law but definitely helps. Interviewing confidently is also crucial.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Attention to detail. Good research, reading, and writing skills. It also helps to be familiar with Excel, Microsoft Office, powerpoint, LexisNexis, etc.

how I got started | I had taken legal studies classes in college and enjoyed them , which made me realize that law might be something I have an affinity for. As for the actual position, I first heard about it via my university's career services listserv.

why this job?| I love to read and write, I'm very detail oriented, I like to debate, and, above everything else, I want to truly care about what I'm doing. Law seemed like a career that would draw on my particular skill set while providing me with meaningful work. However, none of this matters if I don't end up enjoying law, which is why I'm working as a paralegal before actively considering law school.

why I love this job!| Working for the government right now, rather than in private sector, has very definite advantages. There is complete job security, the pay is very reasonable, especially if you're coming out of college, and has built in raises. The hours are also very very stable which enables me to really enjoy life outside work, unlike some friends of mine working high stress, long hour jobs in the private sector. It's pretty much 9:00 to 5:30 with an hour for lunch everyday. I also really enjoy the general working environment. The people are very open and friendly, and are actively trying to help me get work experience and to teach me about what they do.

my typical day| Lately, I have been spending most of my time answering petitions. I'm not an auditor, so it's not my job to see if people are paying the correct amount or to check their returns for errors. Rather, what I need to do is verify that their argument within a given petition is correct, that they've submitted the documents they claim to have submitted, and that they are in all other ways following procedure. My goal is to establish facts and get things in order as a case moves closer to trial. In the future, I will probably also work with government contractors and expert witnesses, but I am still completely training for those tasks.

what they are | Everything is still new to me, as I've only been in the position for 6 months, so every day presents challenges.

all about growth | There are paralegals in my office who have been in their current position for more than 15 years. The title doesn't change, but there are definitely large pay raises and an overall increase in responsibility over time. As for me, I'm just looking at the position as a learning opportunity on the way to potentially becoming a lawyer.

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