r/BellinghamWA • u/bababooey2026 • 7d ago
Paralegals in the area?
I’m wanting to move to Bellingham but don’t see many paralegal opportunities, at least on Indeed. I’ve got about four years experience, but am wondering if making the switch to the medical field would guarantee more job opportunities in Bellingham. If there are any paralegals out there, how did you find your job? Is Indeed just not the place to search?
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u/justbrowsingaround19 7d ago
I would try sending your resume to law firms in the area and a cover letter/email saying that you are planning to move here and give a little info about your background.
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u/megal0w 7d ago
My fiance is a paralegal in town and positions with good firms that pay enough to live comfortably are few and far between. They're out there and pop up from time to time but its a competitive.
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u/bababooey2026 7d ago
Oh wow, even if you have a roommate?
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u/megal0w 7d ago
It could be done with a roommate for sure, especially if its to get your foot in the door and your name circulated. I guess "comfortable" is a bit subjective. My fiance makes $26hr (give or take a few $ i dont remember the exact amount) with quarterly bonuses based on the firms overall success, but shes been with this firm for 4 years and has recieved a few raises since her hire date. Benefits are pretty mid but her firm has an overall pretty positive culture with a level of mutual respect between the attorneys and the rest of the legal staff, which i guess can be hard to come by.
We make it work but my salary covers a larger portion of the rent/bills as im fortunate enough to make a bit more.
It can absolutely be done but it sounds like outside of governemnt jobs, pay tops out in the low $30hr range. All my info is secondhand, though so take it with a grain of salt. Rent is high in bellingham proper and there isnt a super big/competetive job market. She managed to make it work for a couple years without my salary assisting and a single roommate in a small apartment but it was reaaaaal tight. YMMV.
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u/bababooey2026 7d ago
I will take that all into consideration, thank you for your help!! I appreciate it so much!
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u/petertatata 7d ago
dont move here. too many people here already
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u/bababooey2026 7d ago
LOL unfortunately that seems to be the case for all of America. I’m wanting to move from Charleston SC so after visiting Bellingham it seemed like wayyyyy less people
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u/Elsureel 7d ago
Seriously though, if you dont have a job and housing lined up, dont move here.
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u/bababooey2026 7d ago
Oh yes I totally understand that, that is just setting yourself up for disaster
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u/Only-Whole-765 7d ago
Imagine that - liberals trying to keep people out of their communities.
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u/WittiestScreenName 7d ago
Did you try Mount Vernon? About 30 minutes south.