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The differences between paralegal specialists and legal analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a paralegal specialist, becoming a legal analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a paralegal specialist has an average salary of $61,244, which is higher than the $57,497 average annual salary of a legal analyst.
The top three skills for a paralegal specialist include legal research, litigation and government agencies. The most important skills for a legal analyst are legal research, litigation, and powerpoint.
| Paralegal Specialist | Legal Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $61,244 | $57,497 |
| Hourly rate | $29.44 | $27.64 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 4,185 | 6,478 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
A Paralegal Specialist provides assistance to lawyers and does many of the same jobs that lawyers do. They work in various areas, such as family, environmental, or real estate law.
A legal analyst is responsible for evaluating legal documents and reports to support and resolve legal matters by complying with state regulations and legislation procedures. Legal analysts compile researches to understand legal cases and coordinate with clients for in-depth counseling and executing necessary actions. They also attend court hearings and sessions to represent clients and investigate lawsuits. A legal analyst must have excellent knowledge of the law industry to examine legal contracts and assist clients with case resources.
Paralegal specialists and legal analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Paralegal Specialist | Legal Analyst | |
| Average salary | $61,244 | $57,497 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $106,000 | Between $33,000 And $98,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | DLA Piper | Schiff Hardin |
| Best paying industry | Government | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a paralegal specialist and a legal analyst in terms of educational background:
| Paralegal Specialist | Legal Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Legal Support Services | Law |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between paralegal specialists' and legal analysts' demographics:
| Paralegal Specialist | Legal Analyst | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.8% Female, 62.2% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 6.4% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |