Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
Also called: Immigration Paralegal · Law Associate · Legal Analyst · Legal Assistant · Legal Clerk · Legal Processing Assistant
Median pay (national)
$61,010
$39,710–$98,990 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
367,220
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+0.2%
~39,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Associate's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for paralegals and legal assistants shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $98,990 versus $39,710 at the bottom 10% — 2.5x. The median of $61,010 leaves roughly 62% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +0.2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 39,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $99,300, +63% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $38,640 — a 157% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Writing, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
- Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning.
- Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that the law library is up-to-date.
- File pleadings with court clerks.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Orion Law Management Systems Orion
- Thomson Reuters Westlaw
- Google Workspace software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Zoom
- a la mode WinTOTAL
- AbacusNext HotDocs
- American LegalNet USCourtForms
- Appligent Citation FDFMerge
- Blumbeg Drafting Libraries
- Bowne JFS Litigator's Notebook
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Education and Training