Kristy Russell, a paralegal with experience in criminal and civil law, shares insights from her career working in the Missouri Attorney General’s office and a small general practice firm. She discusses the realities of working in estate planning, family law, and civil litigation, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, maintaining an open mind about legal specializations, and being prepared for the emotional aspects of client work.
Choosing a career path means understanding what the day-to-day reality looks like beyond job descriptions and salary ranges. Kristy Russell, a paralegal with over a decade of experience, offers an inside look at the paralegal profession—from her unexpected entry into the field to the challenges and rewards of working across multiple practice areas.
In this interview, Kristy shares candid insights about transitioning from criminal to civil law, the importance of keeping an open mind about specializations, and the essential skills that separate successful paralegals from those who struggle. Whether you’re exploring paralegal work as a career option or already in school, Kristy’s real-world experience provides valuable perspective on what it truly takes to succeed.
Kristy Russell has had an interesting career, starting out as a docket clerk with the Missouri Office of the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit and making her way to her current job as a paralegal with a small law firm where she works in Estate Planning, Family Law and Civil Litigation. Kristy opened up about a dynamic career that has given her the opportunity to work in both civil and criminal law.
About Kristy Russell
My name is Kristy Russell and I am a paralegal for a small law firm in Linn, Missouri. I am married to Zach Russell and have two daughters, Isabella and Paige. In my spare time I teach Zumba, I raise money for the Trisomy 18 Foundation and the NICU at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Columbia in memory of my daughter Paige, and I am part of our local community theater group, Osage Community Players, Inc.
How She Became a Paralegal
I got a job at the Attorney General’s office—I started out as a docket clerk, typing stuff for their worker’s compensation department. There’s a huge turn over at the Attorney General’s office. Everyone kept leaving, which meant I kept getting promoted. I came to be in the legal secretary position and realized how much I enjoyed it, and they actually offered a tuition reimbursement program for me to go back to school, so I thought, well, I’ll get my paralegal studies degree. I did that, and then got promoted to a paralegal job in the public safety unit.
It was kind of just getting moved up and ending up here. I actually went to school for computer programming, so this is completely different for me.
Working in Different Areas of Law
I started my paralegal career at the Attorney General’s Office working in Public Safety, specifically with the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit. That job was not easy, but I did it knowing I was doing the right thing and helping people. That type of law is all I dealt with at that point. I wish I had known how intense it can be at times. There were times that I felt I couldn’t do it because of being easily overwhelmed, but you learn how to handle it.
Fast-forward to my current job where we do all types of law. The office consists of me and the attorney and she practices everything from estate planning to family law to civil litigation. Because this is a general practice office, you really have to be diligent and pay attention to the law for each specific matter. I have been at this job for 6 years and I’m still learning new things every day, but I am more confident in my ability. I have learned how to switch from Estate Planning to Family Law without losing track. I have been able to quickly change my mindset from one type of law to another.
One thing is that you don’t realize how involved you’re going to get in some of these matters. You bring your work home with you sometimes. We do a lot of guardianship cases, and we really go above and beyond when it comes to kids. I wish I would have known how involved it would be. When I was an official in the sexual predator unit in the Attorney General’s office, I saw a lot of heavy stuff, heard a lot of stuff. All different types of law require you to get involved, but when it involves children, it’s a little more intense.
We’ve dealt with emergency guardianships, preparing estate planning documents as quickly as possible because a client wasn’t going to have much longer to live, and we’ve dealt with many Family Law instances where we felt the kids were in a bad place and it’s our number one goal here to put the kids first.
You definitely don’t want to do guardianship or even family law, as it can get pretty ugly sometimes, if you can’t handle it. Keep your mind open when you’re in school and learning about the different types of law- figure out what it is that you want to deal with every day. I’m in general practice, but there are a lot of specialized people out there too.
Preparing for Success
You have to do the job to be prepared. My educational program gave me an idea of how things would be and kind of opened the door, but you have to do the job. Especially since each law firm is different, you have to do what they want you to do.
As long as you have an overview, it seems like each law firm likes it if you get your experience from them— or working directly in the field—as opposed to a bunch of schooling. I’ve heard that quite a bit.
Strengths of the Job
I love my boss, I enjoy the work that I do. I like knowing at the end of the day that I’ve helped someone, that’s my big thing. I’m from a small town, so I know a lot of our clients. Just knowing that I’ve helped them is a big thing for me. I enjoy doing research, I love to research the law. It’s not a huge part of what I do—since it’s just me and the attorney in the firm, I do a lot of things, and whenever I get to do research I enjoy it a lot. I don’t get to do it as much as I would like to.
As a paralegal you have to be prepared for whatever comes your way. I have people waiting at the door the first thing in the morning, and have to figure out what they want. While I’m doing that, the phone will ring, and my boss will need something, and somebody else will walk in. There are just a lot of things that go on, and you have to be able to multitask for sure. You kind of have to be ready for anything. Some days are kind of slow, but most days there’s always something, you just keep going. If a client needs something right away, then I have to drop everything and do that.
My attorney doesn’t ask more of me than forty hours a week, but sometimes I volunteer. If we have a trial we need to prep for or something like that, I’ll volunteer to work late, it’s not a big deal.
Important Traits for Paralegals
You have to have a little bit of a backbone. You don’t want to be tough with clients, but you want to let them know, ‘hey, this is the deal.’ You can’t be afraid to speak up.
You have to love your job. If you don’t love it, if you don’t love the law that you’re doing, it’s going to be hard.
You need to be friendly, you need to be able to use the phone a lot. A lot of people don’t like talking on the phone, and I had trouble with that when I first started. I wasn’t very good at talking on the phone.
You kind of have to not be dependent on your attorney, and know what you’re doing every day. You have to be independent on your tasks without leaning on the attorney.
You have to be able to switch gears pretty quickly. If we need to file an emergency guardianship right away, everything else has to go on the back burner to get that accomplished.
| Essential Skill | Why It Matters | Kristy’s Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Multitasking | Handle multiple clients, phone calls, and urgent requests simultaneously | “You have to be ready for anything. People waiting at the door, phone ringing, boss needing something—all at once” |
| Independence | Complete tasks without constant attorney supervision | “You have to not be dependent on your attorney and know what you’re doing every day” |
| Adaptability | Switch between different areas of law and urgent priorities | “You have to be able to switch gears pretty quickly” when emergencies arise |
| Communication | Interact professionally with clients, court staff, and attorneys | “You need to be friendly and able to use the phone a lot. Always be nice to circuit clerks” |
| Assertiveness | Advocate for clients and speak up when necessary | “You have to have a little bit of a backbone and not be afraid to speak up” |
Tough Situations
When clients come in and they’re not very nice, I’m not very good at knowing how to calm them down. It gets a little frustrating. Dealing with difficult clients is probably my least favorite. Especially those who walk in and demand to see the attorney right away with no consideration about how busy we may be at the time. It gets frustrating, but just like everything else, you learn how to handle it. I never hesitate to ask my boss if I have a question or concern.
When you’re depending on other people to do their part of the job so that you can do yours, and they mess it up, you’re often the one who has to re-do something, and that can be irritating. One thing I like to urge paralegals is to always be nice to the circuit clerks, or any of the clerks you talk to over at the courthouse. Whether you might be a little unhappy with them or they are a little rude, always be nice to them, because they’re the ones that can get you what you need. I’ve learned that the hard way. I’ve been there—I was a docket clerk—basically anytime someone had an injury with the state, I would input that information and their claim into the computer, I was typing all day.
Most Interesting Aspects
Since we’re in a rural community, we do a lot of land cases, people fighting over property and things like that. To me, it’s interesting to see what exactly they’re fighting over or what the issue may be. There’s a lot of work that we do with the assessor’s office and I like to see what the big deal is that causes those conflicts. There’s a lot of interesting things in the estate planning, civil litigation and land disputes.
Paralegal Salary in Missouri
For those considering a paralegal career in Missouri, understanding earning potential is important for planning your educational investment and career path. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals in Missouri have strong earning potential across the state.
Kristy’s experience in both government and private practice reflects the range of opportunities available. Government positions often provide stability and benefits like tuition reimbursement, while small firm positions can offer variety and direct client interaction. Your earning potential will depend on factors including location, practice area, experience level, and firm size.
| Location | Entry Level (10th Percentile) | Median Salary | Experienced (90th Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri (Statewide) | $38,870 per year | $54,260 per year | $81,240 per year |
| Kansas City | $40,430 per year | $58,750 per year | $86,820 per year |
| St. Louis | $41,090 per year | $58,420 per year | $85,660 per year |
| Columbia | $35,700 per year | $50,840 per year | $73,970 per year |
Missouri’s paralegal job market is projected to grow steadily through 2032, with opportunities expanding as law firms increasingly rely on paralegals to handle substantive legal work. The BLS projects consistent demand for qualified paralegals across both urban and rural areas of the state.
Salary Disclaimer: 2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2025.
Advice for Aspiring Paralegals
Find a good firm with the law that you want—that’s how you get your experience. Keep your mind open and don’t just stick to one area of law because it’s what’s set in your mind, because you never know what you’re going to love. If I have learned anything, it’s that you must always be willing to learn something new. Law is ever changing and you have to stay informed and up to date.
Also, I recommend being more open minded while you are in school. I was so adamant that I would never do estate planning and I absolutely wanted to do family law. We practice both in this office, and my preference has flipped. I do not enjoy family law, but I really do like working with estate plans. It’s all about preference, of course, but I recommend keeping an open mind.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions, that is how you learn. I still ask questions and I’ve been here for 6 years.
Related Resources
Continue exploring the paralegal career path with these helpful guides:
- How to Become a Paralegal in Missouri – State-specific requirements, ABA-approved programs, and certification options
- Paralegal Salary Guide – Comprehensive national and state salary data
- Paralegal Certification Options – NALA, NFPA, and state certification requirements
- What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Paralegal – More real-world insights from experienced paralegals
- Paralegal Interview Questions – Prepare for your first paralegal job interview
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most challenging part of being a paralegal?
According to Kristy, dealing with difficult clients and the emotional involvement in cases, especially those involving children, are the most challenging aspects. You also need to manage multiple urgent tasks simultaneously and depend on others who may not always deliver on time. The ability to handle stress and switch between different types of legal work quickly is essential.
Do I need a specific degree to become a paralegal?
While Kristy started with a computer programming degree, she earned a paralegal studies degree through her employer’s tuition reimbursement program. Most employers prefer or require a paralegal studies certificate or associate degree from an ABA-approved program. However, Kristy’s experience shows that on-the-job training and hands-on experience are equally important for success in the field.
How important is on-the-job experience versus education?
Kristy emphasizes that “you have to do the job to be prepared.” While education provides an important foundation and opens doors, many law firms value direct experience and prefer to train paralegals in their specific methods. Each law firm is different, so hands-on experience is crucial. Kristy notes that firms often like when you get experience working directly with them rather than relying solely on academic preparation.
Should I specialize in one area of law or work in general practice?
Kristy strongly recommends keeping an open mind while in school and during your early career. Her own preferences changed completely—she initially wanted family law and avoided estate planning, but now prefers estate planning work. General practice exposes you to multiple areas of law and helps you discover what you truly enjoy. Try different areas before committing to a specialization, as you may be surprised by what resonates with you.
What skills are essential for paralegals?
Key skills include strong multitasking ability, effective phone communication, independence in completing tasks, ability to switch between different types of work quickly, and a backbone to speak up when necessary. You also need to be friendly, adaptable, and willing to ask questions. Kristy emphasizes being nice to court personnel and circuit clerks, as maintaining positive professional relationships is crucial for getting things done efficiently.
How emotionally involved do paralegals become in their cases?
Kristy notes that you don’t realize how involved you’ll get until you’re in the field. She brings work home with her sometimes, especially with guardianship cases involving children. This emotional investment is particularly intense in family law and cases where vulnerable populations are involved. If you can’t handle becoming emotionally invested in client outcomes, certain practice areas like guardianship or family law may not be the right fit.
What’s the work-life balance like for paralegals?
According to Kristy, work-life balance depends on your employer and the firm’s culture. Her attorney doesn’t require more than forty hours per week, but she sometimes volunteers to work late when preparing for trials or handling urgent matters. In general practice, you need to be prepared for busy days with multiple interruptions and priority shifts, but some days are slower and more manageable.
Key Takeaways
- Keep an open mind about specializations: Your preferred area of law may change once you gain real-world experience—Kristy’s preferences completely flipped from family law to estate planning after working in both fields
- Hands-on experience is critical: Education provides the foundation, but you truly learn the job by doing it—each law firm has unique processes and you’ll develop expertise through practice
- Develop strong people skills: Success requires managing difficult clients, communicating effectively on the phone, and maintaining positive relationships with court personnel and circuit clerks
- Be ready for emotional involvement: Paralegal work, especially in family law and guardianship cases, often means caring deeply about client outcomes and bringing work concerns home
- Multitasking is essential: Paralegals must juggle multiple priorities, handle constant interruptions, and quickly shift focus between different types of legal work throughout the day
- Never stop asking questions: Even after 6+ years in practice, Kristy continues to ask questions—staying curious and willing to learn is crucial for long-term success in this ever-changing field
- Be strategic with career relationships: Building positive relationships with everyone from attorneys to court clerks makes your job easier and more effective in the long run
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