Paralegal Jobs

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), paralegals have one of the 30 fastest growing jobs in the nation.

Who Hires Paralegals?

Paralegals are an increasingly important part of the legal industry who play a supportive role for attorneys.  They may be employed by a law firm, lawyer, corporation, or government agency, or decide to work freelance for several attorneys.  The majority of paralegals are employed by private law firms (75%), while the remaining 25% are employed by government agencies or corporate legal teams.  Only a handful of paralegals do freelance work.

Departments within the U.S. government that hire paralegals include the U.S. Department of Justice, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Possible Job Titles

Paralegals are also known as legal secretaries, legal assistant, or paralegal supervisor.

Paralegal Education

In order to gain the important credentials and credibility required as a paralegal, it’s wise to invest in a good paralegal program through a community college.  The most common education for paralegals is a certificate or associate’s degree which will prepare them to fulfill their roles in an entry-level paralegal position.  Through an accredited paralegal program, you’ll learn the critical legal acumen that you’ll need on the job.  Paralegals can also choose to specialize in one or more areas of law including criminal law, family law, personal injury law, real estate law, immigration law, or bankruptcy law.

Paralegal Office Environment

The majority of a paralegal’s day is spent indoors conducting research or on administrative tasks at the computer.  Paralegals employed by law firms often have their own office while those employed by the government or a corporation will likely work from a cubicle or shared office.  Depending on the particular case or attorney they are working for, paralegals may have a high-stress work environment.

Paralegal Salary

There are some things that will determine a paralegal’s annual salary, including geographic location, education, experience, demand, and employment location.  Paralegals make anywhere from $36,800 to $60,600 annually with $47,000 as the average salary.  The highest paid paralegals make in excess of $75,700.