The following information is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants. Please visit the website for a more comprehensive breakdown of the data.
LINKS TO PARALEGAL & LEGAL ASSISTANT DIRECTORY PAGES
WHAT PARALEGALS & LEGAL ASSISTANTS DO
Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.
Job Duties
PAY
National Average Annual Pay (2019): $55,020
Top 5 States
1. Colorado
$62,250
2. California
$61,810
3. Massachusetts
$61,650
4. Washington
$60,840
5. New Jersey
$60,300
Bottom 5 States
50. Arkansas
$40,820
49. Kansas
$44,460
48. Kentucky
$44,650
47. Wyoming
$45,250
46. Mississippi
$45,960
STEPS TO BECOME A PARALEGAL OR LEGAL ASSISTANT
The path to becoming a paralegal is fairly straight forward. First you enroll in a paralegal studies course. When you complete the course, you are eligible to be a paralegal. There are several ways to go about this, however.
The first is to get an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. The AS degree program will take about 2 years to complete.
The second way is to have a bachelor’s degree in another field and then take a certification course in paralegal studies. This option is great if you already have a bachelor’s degree but are interested in becoming a paralegal. Employers also may prefer to hire paralegals with a bachelor’s degree. However, there are very few paralegal bachelor’s programs so the certification is allowed.
All paralegal programs must be approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
1. Enter a Program in Paralegal Studies
2. Become a Paralegal
QUALITIES OF PARALEGALS & LEGAL ASSISTANTS
Communication Skills
Paralegals must be able to document and present their research and related information to their supervising attorney.
Organizational Skills
Paralegals may be responsible for many cases at one time. They must adapt quickly to changing deadlines.
Computer Skills
Paralegals need to be familiar with using computers for legal research and litigation support. They also use computer programs for organizing and maintaining important documents.
Interpersonal Skills
Paralegals spend most of their time working with clients and other professionals and must be able to develop good relationships. They must make clients feel comfortable sharing personal information related to their cases.
Research Skills
Paralegals gather facts of the case and research information on relevant laws and regulations to prepare drafts of legal documents for attorneys and help them prepare for a case.