Post job

What is an attorney's assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
introduction image
The average attorney's assistant salary is $52,855. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an law major. It usually takes 6-12 months of experience to become an attorney's assistant. Attorney's assistants with a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 14% and produce 49,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreAttorney's AssistantUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,855

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.0

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.41%

Black or African American 8.32%

Hispanic or Latino 21.72%

Unknown 4.73%

White 59.42%

Gender

female 69.67%

male 30.33%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
7.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Attorney's assistant career paths

Key steps to become an attorney's assistant

  1. Explore attorney's assistant education requirements

    Most common attorney's assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.5 %

    Associate

    16.8 %

    Doctorate

    12.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific attorney's assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Law Firm9.52%
    Litigation7.59%
    Pleadings6.53%
    Legal Research5.78%
    Trial Preparation5.76%
  3. Complete relevant attorney's assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New attorney's assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an attorney's assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real attorney's assistant resumes.
  4. Research attorney's assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage active caseload of labor arbitrations.
    • Assist patent attorneys by managing invention disclosure documentation and relate correspondence with outside counsel and USPTO.
    • Draft jury demands, discovery responses, subpoenas, and closing letters for the attorney's cases.
    • Draft legal complaints, summons and interrogatories.
  5. Prepare your attorney's assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your attorney's assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an attorney's assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable attorney's assistant resume templates

    Build a professional attorney's assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your attorney's assistant resume.
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
    Attorney's Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for attorney's assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an attorney's assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first attorney's assistant job

Zippi

Are you an attorney's assistant?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average attorney's assistant salary

The average attorney's assistant salary in the United States is $52,855 per year or $25 per hour. Attorney's assistant salaries range between $35,000 and $78,000 per year.

Average attorney's assistant salary
$52,855 Yearly
$25.41 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do attorney's assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Attorney's assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

The interesting cases, typing briefs and long, detailed reports.

Cons

The attorneys


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Working with good people & good clients trying to help them

Cons

Like to work in good atmosphere


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2020
Pros

Autonomy, independence, salary, substantive research projects.

Cons

My work is often task-based, so I don't get the full picture.


Working as an attorney's assistant? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.