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Deal with People
Mostly Sitting
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$57,000
Average Salary
Paralegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.
DutiesParalegals and legal assistants typically do the following:
Paralegals and legal assistants help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings.
Paralegals use technology and computer software for managing and organizing the increasing amount of documents and data collected during a case. Many paralegals use computer software to catalog documents, and to review documents for specific keywords or subjects. Because of these responsibilities, paralegals must be familiar with electronic database management and be current on the latest software used for electronic discovery. Electronic discovery refers to all electronic materials obtained by the parties during the litigation or investigation. These materials may be emails, data, documents, accounting databases, and websites.
Paralegals’ specific duties often vary depending on the area of law in which they work.
Corporate paralegals, for example, often help lawyers prepare employee contracts, shareholder agreements, stock-option plans, and companies’ annual financial reports. Corporate paralegals may monitor and review government regulations to ensure that the corporation is aware of new legal requirements.
Litigation paralegals maintain documents received from clients, conduct research for lawyers, retrieve and organize evidence for use at depositions and trials, and draft settlement agreements. Some litigation paralegals may also help coordinate the logistics of attending a trial, including reserving office space, transporting exhibits and documents to the courtroom, and setting up computers and other equipment.
Paralegals may also specialize in other legal areas, such as personal injury, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate.
Specific job duties may also vary by the size of the law firm.
In small firms, paralegals’ duties tend to vary more. In addition to reviewing and organizing documents, paralegals may prepare written reports that help lawyers determine how to handle their cases. If lawyers decide to file lawsuits on behalf of clients, paralegals may help draft documents to be filed with the court.
In large organizations, paralegals may work on a particular phase of a case, rather than handling a case from beginning to end. For example, paralegals may only review legal material for internal use, maintain reference files, conduct research for lawyers, or collect and organize evidence for hearings. After gaining experience, a paralegal may become responsible for more complicated tasks.
Paralegals and legal assistants often work in teams with attorneys, fellow paralegals, and other legal support staff.
Unlike the work of other administrative and legal support staff employed in a law firm, the paralegal’s work is billed to the client.
Paralegals may have frequent interactions with clients and third-party vendors. In addition, experienced paralegals may assume supervisory responsibilities, such as overseeing team projects or delegating work to other paralegals.
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Most paralegals and legal assistants have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, or a bachelor's degree in another field and a certificate in paralegal studies.
EducationThere are several paths a person can take to become a paralegal. Candidates can enroll in a community college paralegal program to earn an associate’s degree. However, many employers prefer, or even require, applicants to have a bachelor’s degree.
Because only a small number of schools offer bachelor’s and master's degrees in paralegal studies, applicants typically have a bachelor’s degree in another subject and earn a certificate in paralegal studies.
Associate’s and bachelor's degree programs in paralegal studies usually offer paralegal training courses in legal research, legal writing, and the legal applications of computers, along with courses in other academic subjects, such as corporate law and international law. Most certificate programs provide intensive paralegal training for people who already hold college degrees.
Employers sometimes hire college graduates with no legal experience or legal education and train them on the job. In these cases, the new employee may have experience in a technical field that is useful to law firms, such tax preparation, nursing, or criminal justice.
Other ExperienceIn many cases, employers prefer candidates who have at least 1 year of experience in a law firm or other office setting. In addition, a technical understanding of a specific legal specialty can be helpful. For example, a personal-injury law firm may desire a paralegal with a background in nursing or health administration.
Work experience in a law firm or other office setting is particularly important for people who do not have formal paralegal training.
Many paralegal training programs offer an internship, in which students gain practical experience by working for several months in a private law firm, the office of a public defender or attorney general, a corporate legal department, a legal aid organization, or a government agency. Internship experience helps students improve their technical skills and can enhance their employment prospects.
CertificationsAlthough not required, some employers may prefer to hire applicants who have completed a paralegal certification program. Many national and local paralegal organizations offer voluntary paralegal certifications to students able to pass an exam. Other organizations offer voluntary paralegal certifications for paralegals who meet certain experience and education criteria. For more information about paralegal certifications, see the More Info section.
Important QualitiesCommunication skills. Paralegals must be able to document and present their research and related information to their supervising attorney.
Computer skills. Paralegals need to be familiar with using computers for legal research and litigation support. They also use computer programs for organizing and maintaining important documents.
Interpersonal skills. Paralegals spend most of their time working with clients and other professionals and must be able to develop good relationships. They must make clients feel comfortable sharing personal information related to their cases.
Organizational skills. Paralegals may be responsible for many cases at one time. They must adapt quickly to changing deadlines.
Research skills. Paralegals need good research and investigative skills to conduct legal research.
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Top Careers Before Paralegal Internship | |
Administrative Assistant
11.9%
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Internship
9.7%
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Cashier
8.3%
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Sales Associate
7.3%
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Legal Assistant
6.6%
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Office Assistant
5.7%
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Paralegal
5.1%
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Volunteer
4.9%
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Receptionist
4.7%
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Office Manager
3.8%
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Assistant Manager
3.7%
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Server
3.3%
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Legal Secretary
3.0%
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Manager
2.5%
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Secretary
2.4%
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Legal Extern
2.3%
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Assistant
2.2%
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Teller
1.9%
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Teacher
1.8%
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Top Careers After Paralegal Internship | |
Paralegal
30.0%
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Legal Assistant
17.2%
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Internship
4.3%
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Litigation Paralegal
3.7%
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Cashier
3.4%
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Office Assistant
3.3%
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Sales Associate
3.2%
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Volunteer
3.0%
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Legal Secretary
2.7%
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Receptionist
2.7%
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Legal Extern
2.6%
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Law Clerk
2.2%
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Server
2.2%
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Office Manager
1.7%
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Case Manager
1.6%
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Assistant Manager
1.6%
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Contractor-Paralegal
1.5%
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Have you worked as a Paralegal Internship? Help other job seekers by rating your experience as a Paralegal Internship.
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Gender | |
Female 67.9% |
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Male 21.7% |
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Unknown 10.4% |
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Ethnicity | |
White 60.8% |
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Hispanic or Latino 17.4% |
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Black or African American 11.2% |
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Asian 7.0% |
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Unknown 3.6% |
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Foreign Languages Spoken | |
Spanish 54.5% |
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French 11.3% |
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Russian 4.6% |
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Mandarin 3.9% |
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Chinese 3.9% |
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German 3.7% |
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Italian 2.8% |
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Arabic 2.6% |
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Japanese 1.7% |
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Hindi 1.3% |
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Portuguese 1.3% |
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Polish 1.3% |
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Korean 1.1% |
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Ukrainian 1.1% |
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Cantonese 1.1% |
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Persian 0.9% |
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Hebrew 0.9% |
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Urdu 0.7% |
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Turkish 0.6% |
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Armenian 0.6% |
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Schools | |
University of San Diego 9.8% |
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Bryant and Stratton College 8.6% |
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Roosevelt University 7.3% |
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Inver Hills Community College 6.6% |
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University of Phoenix 5.7% |
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Minnesota School of Business 5.7% |
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Kaplan University 4.6% |
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University of Toledo 4.5% |
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Branford Hall Career Institute - Branford Campus 4.4% |
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale 4.3% |
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San Francisco State University 4.2% |
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Heald College - Central Administrative Office 4.2% |
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New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York 4.1% |
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Hamline University 4.0% |
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California State University - Chico 3.9% |
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Sullivan University 3.9% |
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Loyola University of Chicago 3.7% |
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Fairleigh Dickinson University 3.6% |
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Columbus State Community College 3.5% |
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Central Piedmont Community College 3.4% |
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Majors | |
Legal Support Services 58.8% |
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Criminal Justice 7.8% |
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Legal Studies 6.2% |
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Business 5.5% |
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Law 5.5% |
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Political Science 4.3% |
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Psychology 1.7% |
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Legal Research And Advanced Professional Studies 1.5% |
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Sociology 1.0% |
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Accounting 0.9% |
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History 0.9% |
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English 0.9% |
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Human Resources Management 0.7% |
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Communication 0.7% |
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Management 0.7% |
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Liberal Arts 0.7% |
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Public Administration 0.6% |
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Finance 0.6% |
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Criminology 0.5% |
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Writing 0.5% |
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Degrees | |
Associate 30.6% |
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Bachelors 29.9% |
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Certificate 17.4% |
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Other 10.7% |
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Masters 6.5% |
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Doctorate 3.7% |
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Diploma 0.9% |
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License 0.2% |
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OOTD - Law Internship! 1-23-2012
Should You Do An Unpaid Internship?
Paralegal | A Legal Career Without the Law Degree [WEBINAR]