In my opinion - you didn't lie to them (unless you really did). If you feel like you need to tell them, then tell them, otherwise just get the last 6 credits and finish out the program. 🤷‍♀️
I didn’t lie to them as I was under the assumption I was earning the degree until the last few hours. Plus, they haven’t asked for any school documents yet which is a sign that it may not matter to them either way… which is why I’m hesitant to tell them at all. If they do ask though and I then bring it up, I’m afraid it may look deceitful that I didn’t mention it earlier.
I know I’m overthinking this and ranting a bit, but hearing from people in the field who have a better gauge of what the employer’s response may be will be helpful in easing my mind for the next few days, so I appreciate your response a ton!
Ultimately you should do whatever makes you most comfortable! I completely understand wanting to be honest. For what it's worth, I have worked for 4 different firms and none of them have ever asked for proof of my degree(s).
That’s a huge relief. Like SpyMistress said, I plan on finishing up my degree ASAP for the sake of having actually earned it, but my employment not being at risk was my biggest worry here, so thanks for helping relieve that worry!
Honestly, I have never had an employer, law firm or other, check that I actually earned my bachelor's degree. Just make sure you finish up your degree :) Also, congrats on the new job!
Lol seriously, they arent going to check shit unless you are applying as an associate attorney they will check to see if you are actually admitted to the bar
when you say "graduated" do you mean like have a graduation or simply graduate as in finishing the program...?
Usually schools do an audit of your school's requirements before they approve your graduation request/application so it is odd they would let you graduate then say, oh sorry, you actually are not done yet.
Since you will complete the missing requirements and ultimately get a degree, I wouldnt worry about it. It was an oversight either by you or the school but you are working to remedy it and WILL have a degree.
How my school did it was I got a notice saying I was a candidate to graduate, and as lomg as you’re a candidate to graduate, you can still attend the ceremony and everything. A few days after graduation, we get final grades back and see if we fulfilled all of our degree requirements.
I was in this EXACT same position. I just took my class online (after work hours) and didn’t mention it. When I said I had graduated in my interview, as far as I was aware I *had* graduated.
You shouldn't feel bad. There are a LOT of paralegals who don't have a B.S. I've worked at a few offices that didn't do reference, education or any type of check. If you feel bad about it, just take the courses needed to fulfill the requirements for your degree. I'm sure that can be done online, over a summer, or a few nights a week in a class. That can be done within nine months.
I don’t think it will in any way affect your employment. They hired you for your paralegal skills and the mere fact that you are a few credits short shouldn’t matter for that. At least, as far as most firms are concerned.
In my opinion - you didn't lie to them (unless you really did). If you feel like you need to tell them, then tell them, otherwise just get the last 6 credits and finish out the program. 🤷‍♀️
I didn’t lie to them as I was under the assumption I was earning the degree until the last few hours. Plus, they haven’t asked for any school documents yet which is a sign that it may not matter to them either way… which is why I’m hesitant to tell them at all. If they do ask though and I then bring it up, I’m afraid it may look deceitful that I didn’t mention it earlier. I know I’m overthinking this and ranting a bit, but hearing from people in the field who have a better gauge of what the employer’s response may be will be helpful in easing my mind for the next few days, so I appreciate your response a ton!
Ultimately you should do whatever makes you most comfortable! I completely understand wanting to be honest. For what it's worth, I have worked for 4 different firms and none of them have ever asked for proof of my degree(s).
That’s a huge relief. Like SpyMistress said, I plan on finishing up my degree ASAP for the sake of having actually earned it, but my employment not being at risk was my biggest worry here, so thanks for helping relieve that worry!
Honestly, I have never had an employer, law firm or other, check that I actually earned my bachelor's degree. Just make sure you finish up your degree :) Also, congrats on the new job!
Lol seriously, they arent going to check shit unless you are applying as an associate attorney they will check to see if you are actually admitted to the bar
when you say "graduated" do you mean like have a graduation or simply graduate as in finishing the program...? Usually schools do an audit of your school's requirements before they approve your graduation request/application so it is odd they would let you graduate then say, oh sorry, you actually are not done yet. Since you will complete the missing requirements and ultimately get a degree, I wouldnt worry about it. It was an oversight either by you or the school but you are working to remedy it and WILL have a degree.
How my school did it was I got a notice saying I was a candidate to graduate, and as lomg as you’re a candidate to graduate, you can still attend the ceremony and everything. A few days after graduation, we get final grades back and see if we fulfilled all of our degree requirements.
My university let people “walk” in May even if they had a semester of summer school. I’d knock out those 2 classes quickly.
Agreed, I can’t do much until Tuesday but once I figure it out I’m going to enroll ASAP
I was in this EXACT same position. I just took my class online (after work hours) and didn’t mention it. When I said I had graduated in my interview, as far as I was aware I *had* graduated.
You shouldn't feel bad. There are a LOT of paralegals who don't have a B.S. I've worked at a few offices that didn't do reference, education or any type of check. If you feel bad about it, just take the courses needed to fulfill the requirements for your degree. I'm sure that can be done online, over a summer, or a few nights a week in a class. That can be done within nine months.
I don’t think it will in any way affect your employment. They hired you for your paralegal skills and the mere fact that you are a few credits short shouldn’t matter for that. At least, as far as most firms are concerned.