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The differences between legal transcriptionists and litigation paralegals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a legal transcriptionist and a litigation paralegal. Additionally, a litigation paralegal has an average salary of $58,484, which is higher than the $48,622 average annual salary of a legal transcriptionist.
The top three skills for a legal transcriptionist include transcription, legal terminology and dictation. The most important skills for a litigation paralegal are litigation, law firm, and trial preparation.
| Legal Transcriptionist | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $48,622 | $58,484 |
| Hourly rate | $23.38 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 6,047 | 5,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A legal transcriptionist produces written transcriptions of audio recordings from various legal conversions such as consultations, interviews, and court proceedings. It is their responsibility to deliver accurate transcriptions, from dialogues to gestures and diction. To carry out their duties, they must maintain an active communication line with the employer, keep an eye out for errors and inconsistencies, and organize files accordingly. Moreover, a legal transcriptionist may directly work at government offices and legal firms. They can also work as independent contractors, typically working from home.
A litigation paralegal is a specialist who is responsible for assisting attorneys throughout the trial process. On the plaintiff side, litigation paralegals conduct initial client interviews and legal research for case preparations. They assist with the preliminary examinations of witnesses and jury selection in the courtroom. Litigation paralegals often assist attorneys with case settlements and help identify issues for appeals. They must also possess excellent skills in verbal and written communication and should have great attention in detail.
Legal transcriptionists and litigation paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Legal Transcriptionist | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $48,622 | $58,484 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $65,000 | Between $40,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a legal transcriptionist and a litigation paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Legal Transcriptionist | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between legal transcriptionists' and litigation paralegals' demographics:
| Legal Transcriptionist | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.5% Female, 93.5% | Male, 24.4% Female, 75.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 6.0% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |