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The differences between paralegal interns and summer associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a paralegal internship and a summer associate. Additionally, a paralegal internship has an average salary of $52,476, which is higher than the $42,349 average annual salary of a summer associate.
The top three skills for a paralegal internship include legal research, legal correspondence and trial preparation. The most important skills for a summer associate are powerpoint, litigation, and financial models.
| Paralegal Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $52,476 | $42,349 |
| Hourly rate | $25.23 | $20.36 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 54,408 | 7,546 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A paralegal intern is responsible for assisting the paralegal department of an organization, familiarizing with law standards and legal procedures, and applying law school knowledge on practical applications. Paralegal interns perform various administrative and clerical tasks under the supervision of tenured paralegal staff. They also assist with collecting and processing legal documents, observe court functions and procedures, respond to clients' inquiries and service requests, schedule appointments, research on court appeal cases, verify the accuracy of submitted documents, and coordinate with other law enforcement institutions.
Summer associates are law students hired seasonally by law firms. The aim is for future lawyers to be exposed to the practical aspects of a firm. Typically, this program lasts for nine weeks, beginning in May and running through July. Summer associates are expected to be friendly and kind to people, preserve company reputation, support other associates, and perform legal tasks appropriately.
Paralegal interns and summer associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Paralegal Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Average salary | $52,476 | $42,349 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $85,000 | Between $22,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Crowell & Moring |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a paralegal internship and a summer associate in terms of educational background:
| Paralegal Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Legal Support Services | Law |
| Most common college | Winona State University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between paralegal interns' and summer associates' demographics:
| Paralegal Internship | Summer Associate | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.0% Female, 76.0% | Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 5.7% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.0% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |