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Assistant paralegal vs paralegal secretary

The differences between assistant paralegals and paralegal secretaries 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 secretary. Additionally, an assistant paralegal has an average salary of $55,677, which is higher than the $50,901 average annual salary of a paralegal secretary.

The top three skills for an assistant paralegal include law firm, litigation and paralegals. The most important skills for a paralegal secretary are legal correspondence, legal pleadings, and litigation.

Assistant paralegal vs paralegal secretary overview

Assistant ParalegalParalegal Secretary
Yearly salary$55,677$50,901
Hourly rate$26.77$24.47
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs6,33110,948
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Associate Degree, 44%
Average age4646
Years of experience1212

Assistant paralegal vs paralegal secretary salary

Assistant paralegals and paralegal secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant ParalegalParalegal Secretary
Average salary$55,677$50,901
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $103,000Between $35,000 And $73,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between assistant paralegal and paralegal secretary education

There are a few differences between an assistant paralegal and a paralegal secretary in terms of educational background:

Assistant ParalegalParalegal Secretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Associate Degree, 44%
Most common majorPolitical ScienceLegal Support Services
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaTexas Wesleyan University

Assistant paralegal vs paralegal secretary demographics

Here are the differences between assistant paralegals' and paralegal secretaries' demographics:

Assistant ParalegalParalegal Secretary
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 30.1% Female, 69.9%Male, 6.0% Female, 94.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 5.9% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between assistant paralegal and paralegal secretary duties and responsibilities

Assistant paralegal example responsibilities.

  • Lead communications with courts, and other regulatory authorities in multiple state jurisdictions to ensure jurisdictional and regulatory compliance in litigation.
  • Assist asbestos supervising attorney in all litigation tasks for product liability suits.
  • Produce innovative bankruptcy PowerPoint marketing presentation
  • Assist in depositions, providing administrative support to prominent law firms and DOJ officials.
  • Analyze and relay intelligence communications of significance to appropriate DOJ officials.
  • Edit and compile legal documents relating to military separations and courts-martial
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Paralegal secretary example responsibilities.

  • Perform administrative tasks for managing partner and trial attorney at a medical malpractice litigation firm including daily transcription and stenography.
  • Draft interrogatories and production of documents, and responding to request of the same in family law proceedings.
  • Draft legal documents including but not limit to estate planning, probate, quitclaim, personal representatives, and warranty deeds.
  • Draft legal documents including correspondence, pleadings, interrogatories.
  • Direct and coordinate delivery of subpoenas for medical records and witnesses.
  • Handle multiple case management responsibilities through entire litigation cycle for busy practice groups.
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Assistant paralegal vs paralegal secretary skills

Common assistant paralegal skills
  • Law Firm, 12%
  • Litigation, 11%
  • Paralegals, 10%
  • Status Reports, 7%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Subpoenas, 4%
Common paralegal secretary skills
  • Legal Correspondence, 12%
  • Legal Pleadings, 9%
  • Litigation, 9%
  • Real Estate, 8%
  • Discovery Responses, 7%
  • Legal Research, 5%