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The differences between assistant paralegals and paralegals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an assistant paralegal and a paralegal. Additionally, an assistant paralegal has an average salary of $55,677, which is higher than the $49,943 average annual salary of a paralegal.
The top three skills for an assistant paralegal include law firm, litigation and paralegals. The most important skills for a paralegal are litigation, legal research, and law firm.
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $55,677 | $49,943 |
| Hourly rate | $26.77 | $24.01 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 6,331 | 5,177 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Assistant paralegals are legal professionals who plan, develop, and manage cases. The assistant paralegals collect and arrange evidence and legal documents for review by attorneys and case preparation. They draft correspondence, document responses, discoveries, and pleadings. It is their duty to analyze and either write or summarize reports so that attorneys can prepare for their trials. They contact and have a conference with their clients. Among the skills the paralegal assistant needs to possess include communication, writing, research, organization, and confidentiality.
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
Assistant paralegals and paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $55,677 | $49,943 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $103,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Arnall Golden Gregory |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between an assistant paralegal and a paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between assistant paralegals' and paralegals' demographics:
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9% | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |