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The differences between assistant paralegals and paralegal specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a paralegal specialist has an average salary of $61,244, which is higher than the $55,677 average annual salary of an assistant paralegal.
The top three skills for an assistant paralegal include law firm, litigation and paralegals. The most important skills for a paralegal specialist are legal research, litigation, and government agencies.
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $55,677 | $61,244 |
| Hourly rate | $26.77 | $29.44 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 6,331 | 4,185 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| 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.
A Paralegal Specialist provides assistance to lawyers and does many of the same jobs that lawyers do. They work in various areas, such as family, environmental, or real estate law.
Assistant paralegals and paralegal specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Average salary | $55,677 | $61,244 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $103,000 | Between $35,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | DLA Piper |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between an assistant paralegal and a paralegal specialist in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 52% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between assistant paralegals' and paralegal specialists' demographics:
| Assistant Paralegal | Paralegal Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9% | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% |
| 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, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |