Paralegals and Legal Assistants

People in this field assist attorneys with preparing legal actions, formulating defenses, and conducting research for legal proceedings. On a daily basis, they gather information, analyze data, and document or record details using computers. Communication is a major part of the job, requiring regular interaction with supervisors, colleagues, and individuals outside the organization. They must organize, plan, and prioritize their tasks while handling administrative duties and keeping their legal knowledge up to date.

This work is highly conventional and demands strong skills in reading comprehension, writing, active listening, and critical thinking. Successful professionals must be skilled at complex problem solving and decision making. Important knowledge areas include law and government, administrative procedures, the English language, and customer service. To handle the daily responsibilities, workers need to show high attention to detail, dependability, integrity, and cautiousness. They must also demonstrate cooperation, perseverance, and self-control when working under pressure.

Entering this career typically requires medium preparation, which often involves vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience. The typical education level needed to enter the field is an associate's degree. Students preparing for this career path often major in legal support services or non-professional legal studies.

While preparing for the job, individuals can pursue professional certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Recognized credentials include the Certified Paralegal designation from the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., as well as the CORE Registered Paralegal and PACE Registered Paralegal credentials, both offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, so requirements can vary depending on the location of employment.

The median annual pay for paralegals and legal assistants is $62,890. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $44,740 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $101,500.

There are 392,880 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to experience little or no change, with a slight decrease of -0.3 percent. Despite this flat growth, the field expects about 40,800 openings each year to replace workers who leave the occupation.