What Does a Paralegal Specialist Do?

We looked at the average paralegal specialist annual salary and compared it with the average of a litigation assistant. Generally speaking, litigation assistants receive $7,361 lower pay than paralegal specialists per year.

Even though paralegal specialists and litigation assistants have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require legal research, litigation, and family law in the day-to-day roles.

As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a paralegal specialist responsibility requires skills such as "contract law," "government agencies," "international law," and "appeals." Whereas a litigation assistant is skilled in "phone calls," "law firm," "discovery responses," and "attorney review." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

Litigation assistants receive the highest salaries in the construction industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $63,516. But paralegal specialists are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $70,328.

Litigation assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than paralegal specialists. In fact, litigation assistants are 2.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

The next role we're going to look at is the attorney's assistant profession. Typically, this position earns a lower pay. In fact, they earn a $8,389 lower salary than paralegal specialists per year.

Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Paralegal specialists and attorney's assistants both include similar skills like "legal research," "litigation," and "family law" on their resumes.

But both careers also use different skills, according to real paralegal specialist resumes. While paralegal specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "contract law," "government agencies," "international law," and "appeals," some attorney's assistants use skills like "law firm," "pleadings," "expense reports," and "schedule appointments."

In general, attorney's assistants study at similar levels of education than paralegal specialists. They're 0.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

The third profession we take a look at is summer associate. On an average scale, these workers bring in lower salaries than paralegal specialists. In fact, they make a $18,895 lower salary per year.

Using paralegal specialists and summer associates resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "legal research," "litigation," and "contract law," but the other skills required are very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from paralegal specialist resumes include skills like "government agencies," "international law," "appeals," and "technical guidance," whereas a summer associate might be skilled in "first hand," "client facing," "team work," and "financial models. "

Summer associates make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $86,415. Whereas paralegal specialists are paid the highest salary in the government industry with the average being $70,328.

Summer associates typically study at similar levels compared with paralegal specialists. For example, they're 4.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 6.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than paralegal specialists. On average, executive legal assistants earn a difference of $7,802 lower per year.

While both paralegal specialists and executive legal assistants complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like legal research, litigation, and legal support, the two careers also vary in other skills.

While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "contract law," "government agencies," "international law," and "appeals" are skills that have shown up on paralegal specialists resumes. Additionally, executive legal assistant uses skills like expense reports, law firm, calendar management, and administrative tasks on their resumes.

Executive legal assistants earn a higher salary in the telecommunication industry with an average of $64,232. Whereas, paralegal specialists earn the highest salary in the government industry.

In general, executive legal assistants reach similar levels of education when compared to paralegal specialists resumes. Executive legal assistants are 1.7% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 3.9% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.