Paralegals & Legal Assistants

Also Called: Law Associate, Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Paralegal Specialist

Associate's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$39,710

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Paralegals & Legal Assistants do

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

  • Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
  • Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
  • Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
Industry Areas:

Finance and Business

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Electronic Mail
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Spend Time Sitting
  • Telephone

Tools

  • Scanners
  • Optical character recognition systems
  • Laser fax machine
  • Photocopiers
  • Notebook computers

Technology

Document management software
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Dropbox
Information retrieval or search software
LawManager
LexisNexis
Data base user interface and query software
Data entry software
Microsoft Access

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Writing
  • Critical Thinking

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities
English language
Business
administrative services
customer service
Safety and Government
law and government
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics

Education

  • 50% Associate's degree
  • 34% Bachelor's degree
  • 7% Post-secondary certificate

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Title Examiners, Abstractors, & Searchers

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Legal Secretaries & Administrative Assistants

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

Paralegals & Legal Assistants Currently Selected

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Brokerage Clerks

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Anthropologists & Archeologists

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Aaniiih Nakoda College

    Harlem, MT

  • Abilene Christian University

    Abilene, TX

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Enterprising (Persuader)
    • Investigative (Thinker)

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Cooperation
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Paralegals & Legal Assistants across the country typically make.

$19.09 / hour
$39,710 /year

Entry Level

$29.31 / hour
$60,970 /year

Median Level

$47.51 / hour
$98,830 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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