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The differences between paralegals 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 paralegal and a litigation paralegal. Additionally, a litigation paralegal has an average salary of $58,484, which is higher than the $49,943 average annual salary of a paralegal.
The top three skills for a paralegal include litigation, legal research and law firm. The most important skills for a litigation paralegal are litigation, law firm, and trial preparation.
| Paralegal | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Yearly salary | $49,943 | $58,484 |
| Hourly rate | $24.01 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 5,177 | 5,132 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Paralegals are law firm or legal department employees who work on cases with lawyers. They handle different activities, usually administrative or clerical, such as organizing and maintaining files, updating records, and managing correspondences, among others. Paralegals also handle different activities directly related to active cases being worked on by lawyers in the firm or department. They assist lawyers on cases by preparing materials needed for trials, conducting legal research, verifying trial facts, helping during interviews, getting statements from those involved in the case, and creating presentation materials. Paralegals should have knowledge of laws and should be familiar with landmark cases.
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.
Paralegals and litigation paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Paralegal | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Average salary | $49,943 | $58,484 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $70,000 | Between $40,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Arnall Golden Gregory | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between a paralegal and a litigation paralegal in terms of educational background:
| Paralegal | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Legal Support Services | Legal Support Services |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between paralegals' and litigation paralegals' demographics:
| Paralegal | Litigation Paralegal | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 22.4% Female, 77.6% | Male, 24.4% Female, 75.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 5.7% White, 59.6% 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% |