### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Paralegals and Legal Assistants Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			paralegals and legal assistants imageParalegals and legal assistants help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings.							
						Quick Facts:     Paralegals and Legal Assistants2023     Median Pay
            						$60,970     per year
										$29.31     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Associate's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    354,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    14,800What Paralegals and Legal Assistants Do
                                                
                        
                        
Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by performing a variety of tasks, such as maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Paralegals and legal assistants typically work in offices for a variety of employers, including law firms and government agencies. Most work full time.
            
                                                How to Become a Paralegal or Legal Assistant
                                                
                        
Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may consider candidates who have a high school diploma and experience.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $60,970 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 38,000 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for paralegals and legal assistants.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of paralegals and legal assistants with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about paralegals and legal assistants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Paralegals and Legal Assistants Do 
            

			Paralegals and legal assistantsParalegals and legal assistants may conduct legal research.			
Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by performing a variety of tasks, such as maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.
Duties
Paralegals and legal assistants typically do the following:
Investigate and gather the facts of a case
Research laws, regulations, and legal articles that are relevant to a case
Gather, organize, and maintain legal documents
Draft correspondence and legal documents, such as confirmation letters and contracts
Obtain affidavits and other formal statements that may be used as evidence in court
Help lawyers during trials with tasks such as handling exhibits, taking notes, or reviewing trial transcripts
File exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents with the appropriate court, government agency, or opposing counsel
Call clients, witnesses, lawyers, and others to schedule interviews, meetings, and depositionsParalegals and legal assistants help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and other proceedings. For example, they may conduct legal research, write reports and other documents, and file materials related to trials or cases.
Specific duties for paralegals and legal assistants may vary depending on the area, such as bankruptcy or intellectual property, or type of law in which they work. For example, in litigation, paralegals and legal assistants may help lawyers to prepare for trial, such as by researching case law and drafting documents, and to coordinate trial logistics, including by transporting exhibits to the courtroom and setting up equipment.
Paralegals’ and legal assistants’ roles also may vary based on the size of the firm that employs them. In small firms, for example, they may work on all aspects of a case from beginning to end. In larger firms, they may work on a particular phase of a case, such as helping to prepare witnesses for deposition or trial.
 Work Environment
			Paralegals and legal assistants.Most paralegals and legal assistants work in law offices.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Paralegals and legal assistants held about 354,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of paralegals and legal assistants were as follows:
        Legal services
                74%Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                5Federal government, excluding postal service
                5Finance and insurance
                4State government, excluding education and hospitals
                3Paralegals and legal assistants often work on teams with attorneys and other legal support staff.
Paralegals and legal assistants work primarily in offices. Occasional travel may be required, such as to accompany attorneys to depositions or trials.
Their work may be stressful because it can be fast paced, and they may be required to work on multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
Work Schedules
Most paralegals and legal assistants work full time.
 How to Become a Paralegal or Legal Assistant

			Paralegals and legal assistantsMany paralegals and legal assistants have an associate’s degree or a certificate in paralegal studies.			
Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may consider candidates who have a high school diploma and experience.
Education
Prospective paralegals have several paths to enter the occupation. A common path is for candidates to earn an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from a postsecondary institution.
Some employers prefer or require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree. Many of these candidates major in a subject such as social science or business and earn a certificate in paralegal studies.
Programs in paralegal studies, which are offered at various education levels, are accredited by the American Bar Association. These programs usually include courses in legal research, legal writing, and an introduction to law and the legal system. They also include courses in specific areas, such as criminal, family, or contract law.
Employers sometimes hire candidates who have no legal experience or legal education and train them on the job.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Although not required, some employers prefer or require candidates to have completed a paralegal certification program. Certification typically requires passage of an examination. To sit for the exam, candidates must meet eligibility requirements for educational attainment and work experience. Maintaining certification typically requires completion of a specified number of hours of continuing education.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.*** Paralegals and legal assistants must be able to effectively document and present their research and related information to attorneys.
***Detail oriented.*** Paralegals and legal assistants need to be precise in gathering, organizing, and filing documents and other information related to a case.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Paralegals and legal assistants spend most of their time with clients and colleagues. They must be able to develop relationships and work well as part of a team.
***Organizational skills.*** Paralegals and legal assistants may be responsible for many cases at one time. They must be able to keep track of documents and adapt quickly to changing deadlines.
***Research skills.*** Paralegals and legal assistants need to gather facts of a case and study relevant laws in order to help attorneys prepare for it.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Paralegals and Legal AssistantsMedian annual wages, May 2023Paralegals and legal assistants$60,970  Legal support workers$60,690  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $60,970 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,710, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,830.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for paralegals and legal assistants in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Finance and insurance
                $77,630Federal government, excluding postal service
                74,380Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                61,240Legal services
                59,660State government, excluding education and hospitals
                51,420Most paralegals and legal assistants work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               Paralegals and Legal AssistantsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Paralegals and legal assistants4%  Legal support workers3%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 38,000 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Law firms will continue to be the largest employer of paralegals and legal assistants, as these workers are needed to help prepare and organize legal documents. However, many large corporations are increasing their in-house legal departments to cut costs. This should lead to an increase in the demand for legal workers in a variety of settings.
			

                        Employment projections data for     paralegals and legal assistants, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Paralegals and legal assistants**
			23-2011
			354,300
			369,100
			4
			14,800
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Paralegals and legal assistants **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of paralegals and legal assistants. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators**
            Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims.
            See How to Become One
            $75,020**Lawyers**
            Lawyers advise and represent clients on legal proceedings or transactions.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $145,760**Secretaries and Administrative Assistants**
            Secretaries and administrative assistants do routine clerical and organizational tasks.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $46,010**Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators**
            Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators facilitate negotiation and dialogue between disputing parties to help resolve conflicts outside of the court system.
            Bachelor's degree
            $71,540**Judges and Hearing Officers**
            Judges and hearing officers oversee legal matters in court or administrative proceedings.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            $132,950
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about paralegals and legal assistants, visit
Association for Legal Support Professionals
National Association of Legal Assistants
National Federation of Paralegal Associations
For a list of American Bar Association approved paralegal education programs, visit
American Bar Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Paralegals and Legal Assistants
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Monday, April 22, 2024


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