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Job outlook for labour and employment certified paralegals in the United States
Are labour and employment certified paralegal jobs in demand?
Labour and employment certified paralegal job and salary trends over time
Labour and employment certified paralegal jobs over time
Labour and employment certified paralegal job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 139 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 137 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 136 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 128 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 120 | 0.00% |
Average labour and employment certified paralegal salary over time
Labour and employment certified paralegal salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,980 | $31.72 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $64,509 | $31.01 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $63,511 | $30.53 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $62,851 | $30.22 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $61,716 | $29.67 | +1.4% |
Labour and employment certified paralegal jobs by state
Most common states for labour and employment certified paralegals
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 166 | 24% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 186 | 21% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 159 | 17% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,253 | 15% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 610 | 15% |
| 6 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,423 | 14% |
| 7 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 961 | 14% |
| 8 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 761 | 12% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 75 | 12% |
| 10 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 491 | 11% |
| 11 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 435 | 11% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 150 | 11% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 65 | 11% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,344 | 10% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 889 | 10% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 708 | 10% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 581 | 10% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 301 | 10% |
| 19 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 284 | 10% |
| 20 | Alaska | 739,795 | 72 | 10% |
Most common cities for labour and employment certified paralegals
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norman | 1 | 1% | $49,681 |
| 2 | Ontario | 1 | 1% | $75,677 |
| 3 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $58,976 |
| 4 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $47,736 |
Labour And Employment Certified Paralegal job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of labour and employment certified paralegal experts
University of Memphis
Brigham Young University
The University of Oklahoma
Troy University
University of Colorado
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
NALA
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Labour And Employment Certified Paralegal job market given the pandemic?
Alena Allen: I am not sure that anything about the pandemic has been predictable. So I am hesitant to make predications, but I think the acceptance of working from home is here to stay. I think that coupled with the increased acceptance of the UBE will create more opportunities for, in particular, transactional attorneys to work for employers who are not necessarily in the same city or state.
Corporate clients, I would expect, will greatly curtail travel for outside counsel. So, many meetings that would have required a plane ride or a drive will now simply be conducted by Zoom.
I expect that trust and estates, tax, labor and employment, and family practices in particular will see growth.
Nathan Rockwood Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorBrigham Young University
Department of Philosophy
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Labour And Employment Certified Paralegals to find work opportunities?
Nathan Rockwood Ph.D.: Like other college graduates, philosophy students are going to want to get jobs in the knowledge economy (as opposed to service jobs or skilled labor, for example). These jobs have traditionally been in larger urban areas, but over the last decade or so, many of these jobs have moved to midsized urban areas such as the Provo-Orem area. This has only accelerated because of the pandemic.
Shelly Grunsted
Executive Director - Center for Student Success, Director, First Fidelity Integrated Business Core Program (IBC), Associate ProfessorThe University of Oklahoma
Management & International Business Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Labour And Employment Certified Paralegal job market given the pandemic?
Shelly Grunsted: The most significant trends we see include flexibility, communication through emails and zoom conference calls effectively, and adaptability. A lot depends on how the student will be reporting to work, but these three trends tend to be what we hear the most.
Dr. Jeffrey Rush
Coordinator, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Assistant Professor of Criminal JusticeTroy University
Division of Anthropology, Sociology and Criminology
What Labour And Employment Certified Paralegal skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Jeffrey Rush: Communications and relationship building. Any position that allows the student to improve in these areas will help them pursue a criminal justice position.
Mary Ann Cutter Ph.D.
ProfessorUniversity of Colorado
Philosophy Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Labour And Employment Certified Paralegal job market given the pandemic?
Mary Ann Cutter Ph.D.: The biggest trends are (1) working remotely and (2) delivering products (including educational ones) online and virtually. (Note how companies are moving to these modes of delivery, despite the consequences to brick-and-mortar stores and institutions.) A third trend is (3) thinking about 1 and 2 in innovative and creative ways. Because of 3, philosophy and its focus on critical thinking skills have great relevance in our lives!
What general advice would you give to a Labour And Employment Certified Paralegal?
Emily Allen-Hornblower: "I would say, think broadly. Your CV gives you an edge - you chose a course of study that is somewhat atypical, original (and a great conversation starter!) that gave you widely applicable skills.
I mean, who studies Classics? Who willingly subjects themselves to the rigors of Latin or Greek - or both? Who commits to navigating the intricacies of an interdisciplinary path that combines some of the most vital areas of inquiry for our time: social and cultural history, political science, philosophy, psychology, literary studies, material culture?
A go-getter. Someone who is passionate. And is Driven.
And you know what? Employers know that. They see that on your CV, and they think, wow - here is someone interesting and hard-working and who thinks out of the box. And they are right. Xerox saw that. Macy's saw that. The Air Force Intelligence Officer who hired one of our (female!) undergraduates as an officer saw that. The software engineer who hired another one of our grads to join his team as a full-time software engineer saw that. Oxford University Press in New York City saw that - and hired another recent grad as a full-time intern in their Higher Education Editorial Development department. SO: Classics majors, think big and broad. There is no restricted path for what is next.
So - Graduating seniors in Classics (and other Liberal Arts degrees), as you prepare to go forward into the world, you have good reason to go forth with pride, and enter the world after college, with all its question marks and inevitable bumps in the road, with confidence.
A Classics major is excellent preparation for the pursuit of a wide range of careers in a large number of fields, including, but not limited to, government, law, education, business, journalism, library science, publishing, foreign service, finance, the entertainment industry, museum, and preservation work, pharmaceutical sciences, music, and the arts, foundations, technology, web design, and labor relations. So think broadly. You've got this. "
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Labour And Employment Certified Paralegals?
Vanessa Finley: Entering the workforce in 2020 as a paralegal will, naturally, be different than in previous years, but the demand for legal support positions will not be as negatively impacted as the demand for many other professions. Prior to the pandemic, the paralegal field was growing at a rate significantly higher than the average occupation in the U.S. The legal field is well-established, and there will always be demand for legal services through the public, private, and non-profit sectors, even in financially tight times. In fact, the demand could grow even more, as law firms and legal departments seek cost-effective ways to manage through an uncertain economy.
As defined by the American Bar Association, a paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training, or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Adding a paralegal position to support and expand the capacity of existing lawyers is far less expensive than hiring a new lawyer, often with comparable results.
As millions of positions have shifted to remote/at-home work environments in 2020, young people entering the workforce have some distinct advantages over established workers due to their comfort level with the technology that comes with remote work and their embracing of the gig economy. There are growing opportunities for project-based jobs for paralegals, especially as lawyers seek expanded legal support but are not yet able to create a new permanent position.
NALA has some specific advice for paralegals entering the field at this time. First, be open to positions that have growth potential. You might have to start in a less-complex role to get your foot in the door, but starting "smaller" is better than not starting at all. An internship or an administrative support position in the right company can open the door to many more opportunities that are better fitted to your interests and education.
Second, stand out in the paralegal profession by becoming a Certified Paralegal (CP). Becoming a CP is a mark of high professional achievement. Passing takes determination, time, and effort. Achieving this designation shows employers and fellow professionals that you are willing to go above and beyond to learn, grow, and excel in your professionalism and knowledge of the legal field.
And finally, strive to be a team player in any position or role you are in. Once technical skills are learned and demonstrated, more often than not, it is the emotional intelligence and soft skills that will really help a paralegal excel and advance in the field.