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Senior paralegal vs corporate paralegal

The differences between senior paralegals and corporate 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 senior paralegal and a corporate paralegal. Additionally, a corporate paralegal has an average salary of $67,515, which is higher than the $60,125 average annual salary of a senior paralegal.

The top three skills for a senior paralegal include legal research, litigation and law firm. The most important skills for a corporate paralegal are litigation, corporate governance, and legal research.

Senior paralegal vs corporate paralegal overview

Senior ParalegalCorporate Paralegal
Yearly salary$60,125$67,515
Hourly rate$28.91$32.46
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs4,21313,482
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4646
Years of experience1212

What does a senior paralegal do?

A Senior Paralegal helps attorneys acquire the information needed for legal research, document preparation, and for other assignments delegated to them. They are usually specialized in certain areas of law, such as tax law.

What does a corporate paralegal do?

A Corporate Paralegal helps attorneys gather information and materials in preparation for different kinds of cases, hearings, or meetings. They also work in the legal departments of large corporations and for government agencies.

Senior paralegal vs corporate paralegal salary

Senior paralegals and corporate paralegals have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior ParalegalCorporate Paralegal
Average salary$60,125$67,515
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $92,000Between $42,000 And $106,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonCleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between senior paralegal and corporate paralegal education

There are a few differences between a senior paralegal and a corporate paralegal in terms of educational background:

Senior ParalegalCorporate Paralegal
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorLegal Support ServicesLegal Support Services
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior paralegal vs corporate paralegal demographics

Here are the differences between senior paralegals' and corporate paralegals' demographics:

Senior ParalegalCorporate Paralegal
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 23.3% Female, 76.7%Male, 20.8% Female, 79.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 5.6% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 5.8% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior paralegal and corporate paralegal duties and responsibilities

Senior paralegal example responsibilities.

  • Achieve sole responsibility for administration of all estates and guardianships.
  • Respond to active litigation in collaboration with internal custodians and external counsel, including responding to discovery requests and subpoenas.
  • Handle all corporate matters including annual shareholder documentation and shareholder meetings, prepare contracts and coordinate execution, and provide litigation support
  • Edit and proofread initial drafts, transcribes dictation and perform cite checking, copy assembly/attachments for filing and/or mailing.
  • Draft and prepare legal documents, correspondence, corporate resolutions and UCC's, together with file maintenance and organization.
  • Position entail all secretarial correspondence, dictation, expense reporting, record keeping and the handling of settlement documents and payments.
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Corporate paralegal example responsibilities.

  • Manage a team of five to prepare over 100 UCC-1 forms to meet a 48 hour deadline.
  • Achieve sole responsibility for administration of all estates and guardianships.
  • Prepare documents such as estoppel certificates, subordination agreements and commencement agreements.
  • Collect and prepare information and draft answers to department litigation including informational statements, pleadings, and affidavits.
  • Involve in all aspects of litigation support including legal research, factual investigations, document review/management, and trial preparation.
  • Analyze and review of new and existing commercial lease agreements, estoppel certificates, subordination and non-disturbance agreements and lease amendments.
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Senior paralegal vs corporate paralegal skills

Common senior paralegal skills
  • Legal Research, 13%
  • Litigation, 13%
  • Law Firm, 7%
  • Subpoenas, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Lexis, 3%
Common corporate paralegal skills
  • Litigation, 9%
  • Corporate Governance, 7%
  • Legal Research, 6%
  • Mergers, 5%
  • Securities, 5%
  • Excellent Organizational, 4%