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Job outlook for legal administrators in the United States
Legal administrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected legal administrator job growth rate is 14% from 2018-2028.
About 49,900 new jobs for legal administrators are projected over the next decade.
Legal administrator salaries have increased 7% for legal administrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,152 legal administrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 56,419 active legal administrator job openings in the US.
The average legal administrator salary is $47,198.
Are legal administrator jobs in demand?
Legal administrator job and salary trends over time
Legal administrator jobs over time
Legal administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,152 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,098 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,055 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,749 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,450 | 0.00% |
Average legal administrator salary over time
Legal administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,198 | $22.69 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $46,145 | $22.19 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $45,432 | $21.84 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $44,959 | $21.62 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $44,148 | $21.22 | +1.4% |
Legal administrator jobs by state
Most common states for legal administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 146 | 21% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 112 | 15% |
| 3 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 811 | 14% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 890 | 13% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 98 | 13% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 156 | 12% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 77 | 12% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 343 | 11% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 753 | 10% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 708 | 10% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 554 | 10% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 396 | 10% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 111 | 10% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 95 | 10% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 56 | 10% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 171 | 9% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 99 | 9% |
| 18 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 976 | 8% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 134 | 8% |
| 20 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 69 | 8% |
Most common cities for legal administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax | 1 | 4% | $53,639 |
| 2 | Saint Cloud | 2 | 3% | $47,520 |
| 3 | Culver City | 1 | 3% | $52,026 |
| 4 | Evansville | 2 | 2% | $32,462 |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | 2 | 1% | $45,788 |
| 6 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $51,548 |
| 7 | Los Angeles | 2 | 0% | $52,034 |
| 8 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $64,026 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $41,109 |
| 10 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $59,050 |
| 11 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $43,651 |
| 12 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $38,317 |
| 13 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $46,517 |
| 14 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $52,471 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $33,949 |
| 16 | Lincoln | 1 | 0% | $42,735 |
| 17 | Modesto | 1 | 0% | $54,401 |
Legal Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of legal administrator experts
Berkeley College
Catholic University of America
Berkeley College
University of Hartford
California University of Pennsylvania
New England Law | Boston
Texas Tech University
Southern Illinois University
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Illinois State University
University of Maryland - Baltimore County
Indiana University Bloomington
Stonehill College
University of Baltimore
Kent State University
New College of Florida
Richard Olivieri
Professor, Legal StudiesBerkeley College
School of Professional St
What skills stand out on Legal Administrator resumes?
Richard Olivieri: Over the past decade, legal specialists have assumed a combination of responsibilities historically handled by legal secretaries, paralegals, office managers, and, in some law firms, the accounting and billing departments. As a result, when a law firm partner or hiring committee reviews resumes of prospective legal specialists, they typically focus on the experience and education backgrounds of candidates to ensure that they possess excellent communication and critical thinking skills. Legal specialists should also be proficient in legal technology. In addition to having knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, and Clio. Legal specialists should be familiar with time tracking and billing software (e.g., TimeSlips).
Chad Smith
Director of Legal ProgramsCatholic University of America
Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies
What skills will help Legal Administrators earn the most?
Chad Smith: I do not think there is a particular skill or set of skills that allows a professor to earn the most. Rather, it is a combination of everything from skills, legal knowledge, ability to teach dynamically, positive attitude, etc. In order to earn the most, you really have to be very good at all aspects of the job and a very strong educator that positively impacts student learning.
What soft skills should all Legal Administrators possess?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: Important soft skills include emotional intelligence and attention to detail. Working in the legal field, you may interact with attorneys, clients, or the public during stressful times. Accordingly, it is crucial to have self-awareness to be able to understand and control your emotions. It is also essential to gauge the feelings of others to provide the needed resources to support them and to show empathy, as working through the legal process may be emotional for some. Lastly, it is vital to exercise attention to detail when drafting documents or when talking with clients, as errors or not remembering important information about the client may imply that you or the office does not care about the client. Remember, you are a representative of the office, and your actions also reflect back on your colleagues.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Administrators?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: The most essential hard or technical skills needed for Legal Specialists are computer skills. Learning or improving on these capabilities through formal training, certifications, or even free online courses is wise if you are unfamiliar with trending programs or suites. COVID-19 has shown how essential it is to have technological skills since traditional workspaces have shifted into working from your home space.
What skills stand out on Legal Administrator resumes?
Traci Dingle Ph.D.: Skills that stand out on a Legal Specialist's resume include legal research and writing, analytical and logical skills, and time management. Prior experience with legal research and writing tells your future employer that you know or are familiar with the research and writing process. Moreover, it would be helpful to be familiar with at least one legal database, like Westlaw or LexisNexis. Analytical and logical skills warrant that you may reasonably use critical thinking and reasoning to solve problems that may arise in your day-to-day operations. Lastly, demonstrated skills in time management imply you can multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines while producing quality work.
What skills will help Legal Administrators earn the most?
Regina Graziani: Much of this answer depends on the practice area. Knowing the technology, processes, and the ability to research the law in a particular area of law are extremely important. Also important are professionalism, the ability to work independently and anticipate what is needed, always seeking to learn more and streamline processes, and is conscientious about their work.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Legal Administrators?
Brian Kohlhepp: Largely, this would be acquiring a Master's degree. Many folks obtain this degree for an advancement at their current employer or in order to make themselves a more attractive candidate to the overall job field.
Peter Towne
Assistant Director of Career Services and Pro Bono CoordinatorNew England Law | Boston
Career Services Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Legal Administrator job market given the pandemic?
Peter Towne: The legal world has been fortunate in not being hit as hard by the pandemic as other sectors of the economy. As with others though, we've seen a big shift towards remote work and increased flexibility in the workplace location. Thankfully, even now with many courthouses shifting to remote hearings and appearances for the time being, the past year has proven that most legal work can be done in a remote capacity and so there are still jobs and opportunity to be had. A silver lining here as well is that anything that was litigation based and had significant slowdowns due to the initial shutdown, will still likely see consistent work increases moving forward due to the now mounting backlog in the court system that will keep litigators busy for years to come.
Also, we are likely to see other upward shifts in legal work similar to other economic down turns, as there tends to be an uptick in the kinds of legal work that helps sort out the challenges faced when things go poorly. In other words, any areas where there are widespread economic challenges, the fallout tends to create legal work. For example, we'll likely see increases in bankruptcy filings, mortgage/foreclosure related litigation, evictions/housing disputes, issues around unemployment benefits, and general consumer protection actions related to consumer debt and predatory lending practices. Interestingly, despite the challenges of the pandemic, another area that has seen consistent work is real estate, resulting from the positive impact of lower borrowing costs, and perhaps some urban flight. There also is likely to be a continued uptick in divorce filings and family law related disputes.
Long term there will inevitably be other unique or novel challenges that crop up that attorneys will be called in to assist with as a result of the current crisis. Some of these may be related to contract disputes in the entertainment industry or event planning, as well as possible changes in the insurance landscape relating to business interruption insurance, workers compensation coverage, or health insurance issues.
What technical skills for a Legal Administrator stand out to employers?
Peter Towne: In a typical law office or other legal setting, technical skills aren't the biggest priority as much of the work in the legal world was still highly analog prior to 2020. Overall, the expectations are set fairly low in this category for legal practitioners as a result, but there is a certain amount of basic skill that is assumed in using software for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. The past year has created some opportunity for those that are skilled in a virtual setting, i.e. using video conferencing or knowing how to file documents electronically, to stand out.
I would encourage any law student to take advantage of the various opportunities in law school to learn as much as they can about using legal research platforms, including certifications offered by Lexis and Westlaw. Though it can be difficult to predict what methods a legal employer will use for this part of the job, the skills are easily transferrable. In a similar way, familiarity with practice management, billing, or administrative software can be an advantage. It may not be a "need to have" for a candidate to get a great job, but certainly a "nice to have" that can help boost a candidates profile.
What's a good job out of college for Legal Administrators?
Peter Towne: Out of law school, a good job can look very different depending on each person's interests and aspirations. That being said, generally a good job is one in legal practice, i.e. requires bar passage a license to practice law, or a position that requires a level of skill or knowledge that having a juris doctor degree provides an advantage, such as in compliance, regulatory affairs, corporate governance, data privacy/security, HR, or risk management.
What's a good job out of college for Legal Administrators?
Paula Smith: The first professional legal job out of law school covers every area of law and every geography. Every legal job provides opportunity for growth and experience in the profession. Students choose law firms, government agencies, and public interest jobs according to their interest and passion. Some graduates work in civil litigation, others work in criminal prosecution or criminal defense. Some choose a more client-centered practice area including family law, personal injury, or legal aid services.
What's a day at work look like for a Legal Administrator?
Jennifer Brobst: Recent graduates who are newly employed will be relieved to learn that there is always some leeway given to the new hire, at least for a little while. Even the harshest supervising attorneys will put together some form of onboarding. If they don't, and a recent graduate working as a deputy prosecuting attorney, for example, is sent to court without instruction, then it will show if they appear lost as to what to do. It's a little humiliating, but the best of attorneys have been through it. Recent graduates need to be willing to be professional and ask court clerks, opposing counsel, judges, and others in the profession basic questions when necessary.
On the other hand, new attorneys in large firms may find the onboarding process frustrating if it is very extensive, as they may want to jump in the deep end and have more responsibility more quickly. If the pandemic continues to impact whether attorneys must work from home, it may be a little lonely at first, working remotely at a new job. However, this will be temporary, and all new attorneys hopefully will remember to appreciate that they have successfully finished law school and passed the bar, a major accomplishment, in itself. During the pandemic, attorneys have been considered essential workers and there is a reason for that. They genuinely are of service to their communities, especially in times of crisis.
Jason Cieslik
Assistant Professor & Academic Advisor of Legal StudiesIllinois State University
Department of Politics & Government
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Legal Administrators to find work opportunities?
Jason Cieslik: The old saying in the legal profession used to be that 80% of the available legal jobs are not posted. Attorneys communicated their need to hire a legal professional by word of mouth and in-person interaction at social legal functions. It's not certain that this old adage holds true today. Attorneys may be utilizing more traditional methods of posting job opportunities.
Jobs are available, but certain legal specialties may be thriving more than others. However, this cyclical trend tends to hold true regardless of whether the country is experiencing a pandemic or not. Rather than focusing on the specific location of where jobs are located around the country, it appears that legal professionals seeking employment should focus on areas of law that have work and need employees to complete that work. The great aspect of the legal profession is that attorneys and paralegals have always been more than willing to assist one another. Employment is no different. Legal professionals seeking work need to start making as many connections as possible with other legal professionals by phone, email, and other socially distant forms of communication to establish a network.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Legal Administrators to find work opportunities?
Amy Froide Ph.D.: For History majors we are located in an ideal part of the country. History majors interested in working in government, or in public history sites like archives, museums, and historic homes benefit from opportunities in Maryland and in D.C. Our History students often get internship experiences because we are close to many of these sites and then get hired after graduation.
Eric Sader
Lecturer, Kelley School of BusinessIndiana University Bloomington
Department of Business Law & Ethics
What type of skills will young Legal Administrators need?
Eric Sader: The emphasis on high-level interpersonal skills is expected to continue. More than ever, graduates need to expect the unexpected in a turbulent and changing world. Those employees who best have exemplified leadership, active listening, patience, flexibility, and responsibility during recent months are assuredly ones management will look to for future promotions and advancement opportunities. Absolutely, technology is more important than ever, but what is it about personalities that we often see as "tech-savvy"? Sure, it helps to have grown up in the Internet age, but more broadly these personalities are often those who crave learning and new experiences, who are willing and eager to adapt to new modalities. And these traits are not limited to students of any age, with rewards far beyond the keyboard.
Dr. Karen Teoh
Associate Professor of History and Director of Asian StudiesStonehill College
Department of History
What general advice would you give to a Legal Administrator?
Dr. Karen Teoh: Be bold, but be humble. If you have worked hard and prepared well for the professional world, you should take stock of your strengths and present your best self with confidence and enthusiasm. At the same time, be aware that you are still in the position of proving yourself before your employer will give you major responsibilities. No job is perfect and few paths are simple. Try to learn something from every person or project you come in contact with; be respectful of others regardless of their position; and remember to thank people who help you along the way, whether in the form of an informational interview or a job recommendation.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Legal Administrators to find work opportunities?
Roger Hartley Ph.D.: The work shortage and the need for federal, local, and state government are high all over the nation. The concern now is if budget pressures delay the ability to hire.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Legal Administrator job market given the pandemic?
Leslie Heaphy Ph.D.: -New jobs will require students to have more knowledge of technology
-Job market for academic historians seems to be fairly static according to the AHA
-Most tenure track positions remain at research heavy institutions
-American history fields still are the largest, though open/multiple fields have increased slightly
-Increased focus on diversity hires
Frank Alcock Ph.D.
Director of Academic Initiatives and Special Projects, Professor of Political Science and Environmental StudiesNew College of Florida
Political Science Department
What general advice would you give to a Legal Administrator?
Frank Alcock Ph.D.: You're just beginning on what will hopefully be a long and rewarding journey. Career paths are less stable and more turbulent than they were a decade ago, so understand this at the outset. You may find yourself moving into a well-defined career path that you enjoy and that's great. But professional versatility is becoming an increasingly important asset. Versatility will build over time as you cultivate more skills and experiences. Lifelong learning will continue to be indispensable so always look for opportunities to learn from your setbacks as well as your successes. And embrace your future. It won't be boring.