Loni Morganelli
©by Chere B. Estrin
Loni Morganelli
American Paralegal Working in London, England
If you have ever flirted with the idea of working abroad, Loni Morganelli is the paralegal to consult. Petite, vivacious and in love with life, this 25-year-old walking vitamin pill has successfully conquered what some of us only dream – living and working in Europe.
Sitting in her office, clad in London’s latest designer business casual outfit, Morganelli graciously allowed us a peak at her exciting new life.
CBE: Tell us about your background.
With regard to my educational background, I studied Government and Paralegal Studies at Suffolk University in Boston. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science’s degree in Government and a minor in Paralegal Studies. I achieved a 4.0 GPA in my Paralegal Program and a 3.6 in my major. After college, I kept up my legal education by attending Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education seminars, Massachusetts Paralegal Association seminars, and participated in monthly online webinars in Concordance and Summation technology.
CBE: Did you start in another specialty?
The year before my move to England, I began reading up on UK and European law, the professional legal structure in the UK, various law firms, and working requirements. I had always considered studying abroad in London during school but never took the chance. I felt this was the right time to make a move while I was young and flexible. I was also very attracted to working in the UK because of the generous vacation time and closeness to the rest of Europe for traveling.
CBE: What are the striking differences?
Public transportation is probably the most popular form of transport here as it is very expensive to own and drive a car in London. The working culture is also very different from the U.S. It seems as though offices are much younger and more relaxed in London, with employees getting together at least once a week every week for drinks after work. It is very common to wear jeans to work here too, as opposed to the more common business casual in America!
In terms of benefits, every UK employee and citizen receives national health insurance, unlike in America where insurance is privatized. However, both forms of insurance exist here, but everyone receives at least national insurance to start. UK companies also offer employees more vacation time with some firms handing out 25 days a year plus holidays. In terms of compensation, paralegals do not earn as much as their American counterparts, however, paralegals hold a law degree from their undergraduate studies. In general, paralegals commonly earn 23,000 – 25,000 GBP ($45,525 - $49,480) per year.
Most paralegals only work for 1-3 years and then they continue their education to qualify as a solicitor or lawyer. English paralegals also do not do as much intensive work as American paralegals. Here, paralegals are more apt to review and make edits to documents, as opposed to actually drafting documents under the supervision of an attorney. It is very common for paralegals, however, to review documents and do some research, although in larger firms, they have research assistants (which in America, may be known as law clerks in some firms) to do that. In the UK, legal secretaries do work that is most similar to a paralegal working in America. While there are many paralegals working in the UK, the position is not looked upon as a long-term profession the way it is in America.
CBE: What are the similarities?
U.S. Corporate Team. I’m responsible for organizing and managing the library dedicated to US Corporate law and Security and Exchange Commission. I supervise three entry-level paralegals, also American, on projects involving this library. I also assist my supervisor, a Senior Associate for the US Team, on training seminars and legal programs for new associates, clients, and other firms.
CBE: What do you like best about your job?
I enjoy the vast amount of in-house training and continuing legal education opportunities available to me every month. The firm is very supportive of their staff attending such events and keeping their skills up-to-date. I also enjoy all the benefits of working for a large firm, including my generous vacation leave and gym membership.
LM: In terms of work culture, most people work 9:00 – 5:00 or 9:30 – 5:30 with an hour lunch at law firms. Employees are given pretty much the same benefits as in U.S. firms, except for the differences in vacation time and insurance as mentioned above. In law firms, the dress code is pretty much business casual with Fridays sometimes being more casual. In terms of the larger firms, it is common to find restaurants and gyms on the premises just like many of the larger firms in America. Overtime is also popular here among paralegals and in big firms, it is always available and compensated well. In terms of travel, similar to America, a paralegal is unlikely to travel with an attorney unless they are heavily involved in a case or transactional deal.
CBE: What are your responsibilities at your firm? What do you like least?
LM: My toughest challenge was actually locating a position with a firm that would sponsor me for a work permit. In the UK, a citizen of the U.S. or of a country not part of the European Union needs to prove that no one else can do the same job or that only they possess the skills to do the job. As you can imagine, that can be quite difficult to prove sometimes.
LM: My greatest reward has been being able to travel around Europe and experience new cultures and people. There is nothing better than gaining an appreciation for another country’s history and culture than seeing it first hand through your own eyes. It has been a wonderful learning experience and has given me a clearer, more open, intelligent, and informative perspective on the world.
LM: The only think I dislike at this stage is my commute. In London, all of the law firms are located in the East and I live in the West so it is about an hour commute each way on a crowded subway train.
CBE: What has been your toughest challenge? How did you find your job?
LM: On a personal note, I want to say how honored I am to have been included in this publication. I fully support the work that Estrin LegalEd does and believe that it continues to enhance and add prestige to the paralegal profession.
LM: I located my job through networking with the American Women Lawyers in London group. This group is great for contacts, support, and information. There are several paralegals and other legal professionals in this group and most of the women work for U.S. law firms that are open to sponsoring Americans for work permits.
LM: I would advise other paralegals interested in working in my specialty to do a good amount of networking and research prior to their move abroad. I would especially target US firms located abroad, or US Practice Teams in firms abroad. I would also advise anyone interested in working abroad to learn a second language, particularly French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Russian. Knowing one of these languages instantly makes you an attractive candidate and gives an employer more incentive to sponsor you. If it were applicable, I would also find out if you could apply for dual citizenship based on your family ancestry.
LM: London is a great city to explore so as you can imagine, I spend a good amount of time visiting new places, restaurants, museums, parks, and seeing friends. I love to travel, exercise, cook, make floral wreaths and put together different flower arrangements in my home. I also enjoy reading, especially books covering topics such as current international affairs, globalization, politics, and fashion. My boyfriend and I also attend many soccer games both in England and abroad!
LM: I’m a member of the American Women Lawyers in London group and a member of the Massachusetts Paralegal Association. I’m also an active member of the Estrin Legal Advisory Committee that I thoroughly enjoy, and I’m an alumni mentor for the Suffolk University Paralegal Program. I am very passionate about the law so having the opportunity to speak to aspiring paralegals about the profession is a very rewarding experience for me.
LM: After another year or two in London, I plan to relocate back to the United States and pursue a career in legal education and professional conferences or seek a position with the U.S. Government. I’m very interested in and passionate about the work that Homeland Security does to protect the nation against acts of terrorism and would love to help in that effort. I’m also considering pursuing a master’s degree in event planning or possibly heading to law school in the future.
LM: With regard to working abroad in London, I think this can be a wonderful experience for the right person. If you are seeking a cultural, professional, and personal change, a temporary move to London could be the right choice. Living and working abroad is a very meaningful experience that is bound to leave you with a new perspective on life and a passport full of stamps!
LM: Living and working in England is very interesting. The pace of life is very fast, much faster than in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. It is also one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, which can make things a bit challenging sometimes. The standard of living is also much lower compared to America; however, if you are earning in the higher salary range, you can still live as comfortably as you would in America.
LM: Before starting at Herbert Smith, I did some work for a sports marketing firm. This was a truly great experience as it took me on a business trip to Dubai! My paralegal skills were exceptionally useful to me in this position as organization and attention to detail were of top importance. In this role, I was responsible for reviewing client contracts in media, publishing, finance and legal backgrounds and seeing that they were executed properly. Most rewarding, however, was helping to carry out a major business conference for the sporting industry as I had the opportunity to meet some of the biggest and most prominent stakeholders in the world. Aside from this temporary position, I had always worked in commercial litigation. Yet again, I am now working in a new area of law, corporate.
LM: After working in Boston for seven years at the same firm, I decided I needed a professional change and a whole new environment. In order to enhance my legal career and increase my marketability and chances of working in a major international firm, I decided it would be wise to move abroad for some time to gain both a cultural experience and an international legal experience.
LM: Before coming to London, I worked for the law firm Cooley Manion Jones LLP in Boston, MA, USA for seven years. There, I worked in commercial litigation for the defense team. I was exposed to various casework in employment law, environmental law, insurance defense work, asbestos litigation, and property damage claims. I started out at the firm as a file clerk while in high school and continued to work my way up the professional ladder through college until I became a senior level paralegal. My experiences at CMJ set the foundation for my future, providing me with top knowledge and the best mentors in the Boston legal community.
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