Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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.
Table of contents
What they do
Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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 a 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.
- Investigate facts and laws of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Paralegals and Legal Assistants prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. They prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
A typical day for a Paralegal and Legal Assistant will also include:
- File pleadings with the court clerk.
- Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of the case.
- Investigate facts and laws of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that the law library is up-to-date.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Paralegals and Legal Assistants also arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches. They may also appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Paralegals and Legal Assistants meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of the case. They might also investigate facts and laws of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
In addition, they gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them file pleadings with the court clerks.
To some Paralegals and Legal Assistants, it is also their responsibility to prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
69% said they were satisfied with their job and 45% said they found their job meaningful.
Paralegals and legal assistants are an integral part of the legal system. These professionals support lawyers, law firms, agencies, and corporate entities by preparing legal documents, conducting legal research precedents and case investigations. Paralegals and legal assistants work in all areas of legislation, offering a form of clerical support. To become a paralegal or legal assistant, you will have to have a deeper understanding and advance knowledge of how legal systems work.
As a paralegal or legal assistant, your work can differ depending upon the niche of your employment. Daily, a paralegal has to provide legal client documents, which also involves clerical work. A lot of paralegals have expertise in their related fields. For instance, trial paralegals will have a significant amount of trial-related work experience. Simultaneously, the company’s in-house legal staff will spend a lot of time writing board resolutions and filing business-related paperwork. Although the job is hectic, it is equally rewarding in terms of money.
Pros
Talking about the pros first, as a paralegal, you will not have to pay hefty amounts of money to attend school, and there is no need to apply for office loans as it is inexpensive. The profession allows you to have a stable job with a wide range of job opportunities. And unlike lawyers, you will not have to give very long working hours to your job. As a paralegal, you can maintain a balance between personal and office life.
Cons
Now, the first con is that as compared to a lawyer, the profession does not pay much. Although you will have many job opportunities, the job doesn’t allow you to have greater public appreciation and recognition. Particularly for the fresh paralegals, it can be very boring, tedious, and repetitive. If you love to stay at home, then the job can be a nightmare for you because there is a lot of traveling and investigation involved.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Salary is below average.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $32,900 to $40,640 per year or $16 to $20 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $85,160 | $41 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $67,080 | $32 |
| Median | $52,920 | $25 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $40,640 | $20 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $32,900 | $16 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $134210 | $64.52 |
| Land Subdivision | $90360 | $43.44 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $85440 | $41.08 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $85350 | $41.03 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | $84300 | $40.53 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $83880 | $40.33 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $82620 | $39.72 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $82420 | $39.63 |
| Other Information Services | $82410 | $39.62 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | $80140 | $38.53 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Paralegals and Legal Assistants work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Paralegals and Legal Assistants including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services | 256840 | $54200 | $26.06 |
| Federal Executive Branch | 14670 | $72930 | $35.06 |
| Local Government | 14430 | $57130 | $27.47 |
| State Government | 10100 | $51390 | $24.71 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 7070 | $74390 | $35.76 |
| Insurance Carriers | 4160 | $68950 | $33.15 |
| Employment Services | 3670 | $55660 | $26.76 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 2150 | $66370 | $31.91 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | 1590 | $70800 | $34.04 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | 1530 | $69530 | $33.43 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
Legal Studies
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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