If you work for a law firm, you will make most of your money in overtime. In San Francisco, at a big firm, you will make $85,000+. If you work for a company, expect to make less, 60,000+, but work more or less, 9–5. The paralegals I know are all very happy with their career choice. A few have moved on to go to law school, but that was their aim in the first place. A lot of people don’t realize this, but a lot of what makes you a successful lawyer at a firm is your ability to “sell.”. That is, your ability to get the firm new clients – this takes a lot of effort and requires schmoozing outside the office. It’s not just about doing legal work – paralegals don’t have to worry about that aspect. I used to work in the legal dept of a SF company, btw.