Legal Assisting/Paralegal Careers

Legal Assisting and Paralegal — Career Paths

Opportunities for paralegal work exist in all areas of law, including family law, bankruptcy, employee benefits, personal injury, litigation, copyrighting, criminal law, labor law, immigration, and real estate. While seven out of ten paralegals work for law firms, many others are employed by the government or corporate legal departments.

All paralegals assist lawyers with the creation of legal documents and conduct research on laws, court cases and contracts, but some duties will vary depending on the employer. Those entering this field with little or no prior experience will typically perform routine tasks, taking on the additional responsibility of more varied tasks after gaining the appropriate experience.

Private sector paralegals - Legal assistants working for law firms or corporations often assists on such topics as employee benefits plans, shareholder agreements, financial reporting, and government labor regulations.

Public sector paralegals - Duties for legal assistants working for government agencies depend on the specific focus of that agency. Those employed at the community level may assist with projects that help people who otherwise could not afford legal services. If working in litigation, the paralegal may assist with file maintenance, policy research, the preparation of explanatory documents about regulations and policy relating to that agency, and compiling data for agency hearings.

Freelance paralegals - In some states, paralegals are able to freelance for lawyers, law firms or legal departments. They may work in a specialty area of the law or provide general assistance on exceptionally large or short-deadline projects.

Work environment

Legal assistants are typically employed in an office setting and spend their time on the computer or in a legal library. Legal assistants may work part or full-time depending on the employer’s needs. Full-time employees typically receive a comprehensive benefits package including health care and retirement savings plan(s). A 40-hour work week is standard for most full-time paralegals however those employed by law firms may be required to work additional hours to meet court deadlines. Legal assistants may need to take precautions against eye strain and carpel tunnel, symptoms which occur more often for workers spending many hours at a computer.

Career advancement

Professionals in the paralegal field advance by taking on greater responsibility; this includes a greater diversification of duties, tasks that prove critical to case work or deadlines, and supervising other department personnel. Upon completing an associate degree in paralegal/legal assisting, experience is the largest factor in advancement; however, obtaining a bachelor degree will help most paralegals advance at a faster pace and earn a higher income. Certifications are also available for paralegals who wish to maximize promotional and employment opportunities.

Legal Assisting and Paralegal — Career Outlook

Legal assistants and paralegals are taking over many duties once performed by lawyers. This saves an employer money and increases demand for qualified legal assistants. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that Paralegal and Legal Assistant employment will continue to grow at a rate of 22% through 2016, a rate that is much faster than the average for all occupations. Further information can be found at the US Department of Labor–Bureau of Labor Statistics web site.

Salary Surveys

Salaries for paralegals vary greatly depending on location, education, training, experience and employer type. Typically, those employed in larger cities earn more than those in smaller areas. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for paralegals/legal assistants was $47,600 in May 2007.The lowest 25% earned $35,270 or below, and the highest 25% earned over $57,500.

Median annual income by employer type:

Federal government$56,080

Management of companies
and enterprises$52,220

Local government$42,170

Legal services$41,460

State government $38,020

*Information on salaries is taken from the US Department of Labor–Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. Further information can be found at the US Department of Labor–Bureau of Labor Statistics

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