Breaking into the legal field isn’t always about applying harder or waiting for permission. For many aspiring paralegals and legal professionals, the real challenge is gaining access in a hiring market that demands experience before opportunity. This piece explores a more human, strategic approach to getting your foot in the door one rooted in contribution, proximity, and confidence especially within small law firms that need help before they define a role.

When law firms ask paralegals about artificial intelligence in interviews, they aren’t testing technical skill. When law firms ask paralegals about artificial intelligence in interviews, they are not testing technical fluency or tool familiarity. They are evaluating judgment—specifically, whether a candidate understands where assistance ends and responsibility begins. AI may support efficiency, but accountability never transfers. The professionals who thrive are those who can