Becoming a Lawyer is Career Suicide, Yes. But What About Becoming a Para?

We received this letter and I was hoping someone who knows more about the paralegal industry and getting a paralegal degree could comment and guide this lost lemming:

Hi Angel and Hardknocks,

I came across your 'disenchanted lawyer' blog because I've been looking into starting a Paralegal Certification program this Fall -- career change from being a teacher to a paralegal.  So while I don't have any tips for you about the legal profession, I was hoping I could trouble you with some questions?

For one thing, I'm terrified about putting in the time and money to earn a Paralegal Certificate only to be left unemployed, as this seems to be a huge problem for lots of paralegals and others working in the legal profession.  Why are there so many unemployed paralegals, and why is it so difficult to find a job, and yet at the same time, there are TONS of articles floating around praising the paralegal profession as America's "Top Growing Profession," discussing the supposedly high demand for paralegals?  Are those articles all just bullshit?  Or is it a case where it depends on your location, like some places have a high demand for paralegals while others don't?

Another thing I wondered -- do you think that WHERE you obtain paralegal certification plays a role in obtaining a job?  I'm trying to decide between two ABA approved programs in my area -- one is COD, a community college that just got ABA approved 1 year ago.  It's the cheapest option by far, but I worry that the quality of the classes will be lacking.  

The other option is Loyola University, a private school in Chicago that has been ABA approved for a long time but costs approximately 4 times more than the other program...  My main concern is finding a job afterwards -- if the expensive university will better prepare me for the work, and will guarantee better job opportunities, then the extra tuition is worth it.  But if law firms don't care where you obtain certification, then I should go for the cheaper option.  What do you think?

Thanks so much for any help you can offer, and good luck with your work!

Dearest Para-to-Be,
My guess is that paras are suffering just as much as lawyers because new and unemployed and unemployable lawyers are infiltrating their ranks as well.  That's just a guess.  As for what type of certification?  I don't even know that it's necessary.  I, for one, would rather a college grad who is smart and sharp and will work for pennies.   Don't kill me because I'm honest.  I've actually never had a paralegal work under me that was "trained" as a paralegal--except for one. I hated that bitch.  She knew the CPLR far better than I and held her knowledge hostage like a prison warden.

What do you guys think?  Paralegal v. Teacher v. Lawyer?  What about marrying rich?  Is that option on the table?

What About Becoming a Paralegal?

So, I try to be charitable--even though I am poor--by giving out legal advice when someone cannot afford to pay me.  I was in the Court of Appeals one day on one matter and I saw a couple there who were being victimized by the Family Court System.  I spent some time speaking to them and found out that they were both unemployed, but the mother was being denied access to her son from a previous relationship and had no idea why. I told them to call me if they needed any help.
I got a call a few weeks later and I coached the mama on how to do a Motion that I would have done, if they had retained me. I sent her examples and read through her work and told her how to file it and serve it.
Yesterday was the big day in court, where she would go in and argue her motion.  She called me in the afternoon all giddy and said that she kicked ass and had a "Matlock" moment.  She now wanted to become an attorney.  She asked if I would sponsor her to go.  LMAO. I don't have the money to sponsor myself, by way of paying my loans on time.  I didn't want to shut her down. I didn't know what to say. So, I said, "Why don't you look into becoming a paralegal.  It's cheaper and quicker and you will do a lot of the work that the lawyer does--except go to Court."
Did I say the right thing? I'm not even sure how paras are doing during the recession.  Does anyone know?  I'd like to give this "client" some real guidance and I know law school is NOT the right option.
At my big firm, the paras were paid $40K with OT.  Some paras there got 100K when the the getting was good.  I found this article that says that they are earning decent salaries when living in a metropolitan area.   I currently outsource to a paralegal who is self employed for as much as $199 to $250 a case, depending.  I think he is probably doing well. I owe him $600 as we speak.
Anyone have any ideas?