Paralegals are critical to the legal profession, offering significant support to the attorneys and making sure the operations run smoothly and seamlessly. In 2024, an average of 376,200 legal assistants and paralegals were employed in the US, with an estimated 39,300 openings per annum because of the retirements and replacements, showcasing a strong employment opportunity in the field.
With the growing demand for legal services across industries, paralegals are not just administrative assistants anymore; they’ve become a key player in keeping the legal processes streamlined and leveraging technology to maximize efficiency while also playing a crucial role in maximizing easy access to justice.
If you’re also eager to grab a share from this burgeoning employment opportunity and wondering how to become a paralegal, this article guides you with everything you’ll need to know.
Key Takeaways:
- High Demand for Paralegals: The legal industry is growing, with 39,300 annual job openings due to retirements and replacements, highlighting a strong career outlook for paralegals.
- Diverse Educational Paths: You can enter the field through various routes, such as certificate programs, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies, depending on your career goals and timeline.
- Core Responsibilities: Paralegals assist with legal research, document drafting, evidence management, client communication, and court filings, all under the supervision of attorneys.
- Skills for Success: Essential skills include legal research and writing, proficiency with legal technology, strong communication abilities, and exceptional organizational and time management skills.
- Career Advancement Opportunities: Paralegals can specialize in areas like litigation, corporate law, or family law, or advance into managerial roles or transition to becoming a lawyer.
- Future Trends: The profession is evolving with the rise of AI, remote work opportunities, and increased specialization in areas such as cybersecurity and legal operations. Adaptation to these trends will enhance career growth.
Step 1: What Does a Paralegal Do? Understanding the Role
Paralegals play an instrumental role in the overall operations of a law firm, government agencies, corporate legal departments and nonprofits, etc. Their job usually consisted of working under the supervision of legal attorneys, providing support with varying tasks that are relevant to handling the legal cases effectively.
However, if you’re looking for what exactly does a paralegal do on a day-to-day basis, here’s a detailed description of five common tasks you can expect to be a part of a paralegal’s workday:
- Legal Research: A core job responsibility of a paralegal is to conduct legal research and investigate case laws, legal precedents and statutes to provide attorneys with all the important background information around cases.
- Drafting Documents: Preparing legal documents, including the pleadings, contracts, and discovery forms, is also a part of many core responsibilities of a paralegal.
- Evidence Organization: A paralegal is also responsible for gathering evidence as well as cataloging and managing it to present in front of the courts.
- Client Communication: The role also requires you to serve as a point of contact for the clients, providing them with all the necessary updates related to the case and gathering significant information from them.
- Court Filings: Making sure each legal document is rightfully filed with the appropriate government agencies and courts also fall under the responsibilities of a paralegal.
In addition to these day-to-day tasks, paralegals are often also required to assist attorneys during trials, help with developing court strategies and attend depositions, etc. Although paralegals are not meant to provide legal advice to the clients or represent them in courts, their job requires offering full support to the attorneys and making sure the case operates without hassle.
Step 2: What to Study to Become a Paralegal
To become a paralegal requires following a specified educational path such as getting an associate or graduate degree with specific majors that reflect your niche like criminology, civilian, or corporate law. You can always make choices based on your interests, current qualifications, and career goals. Whether you’re starting from scratch or aiming to advance in your existing career, here’s a detailed description of the routes you can choose from:
Certificate Programs
If you’re switching from another field of work or simply want to join the workforce quickly, getting a paralegal certificate can be your finest option. There are several certificate programs available which take between 6 to 12 months and are the best option for candidates with a degree in a relevant field.
- Certificate in Paralegal Studies by University of Washington
Location: Online
Duration: 11 or 17 months
Times: Evenings, Flexible
Cost: $9,420
- Paralegal Studies Certificate by Bryan University
Duration: 2 years
Cost: $18,650 (included $25 registration fee)
2. Associate Degree
A common entry point into this field is securing an associate degree in paralegal studies. The degree usually takes around 2 years to complete and train students in both generic education and the coursework that focuses on paralegal knowledge. An associate degree can help you secure entry-level jobs in law firms and can put down a strong foundation for further specialization and career advancement.
Some of the best associate degrees in paralegal studies offered includes:
This program has been designed to match the flexibility requirement of working professionals, with curriculums designed for both full-time and part-time students. It is also an ABA-approved program and mainly focuses around legal ethics, research and family law.
Duration: 2 years
Tuition Cost: $371 per credit-hour
This degree is known for offering a great combination of academic rigor with real-world exposure for the students. It offers students direct access to the legal market of Washington D.C., offering internships and hands-on learning opportunities without much hassle.
Duration: 2 years
Tuition Cost: $1,350 per credit hour
3. Bachelor’s Degree
Most corporations or law firms prefer applicants with a bachelors in either paralegal studies or something relevant. These programs are often designed to help students get an in-depth understanding of the field and can take up to 4 years in completion. Though not necessary, the degree can certainly give you an edge in the very competitive job market.
Some of the best bachelor’s programs offered in paralegal studies include:
The program is designed to offer students with a thorough knowledge around the meanings, values, practices, and institutions of legality and law.
Tuition Cost: $16,347 for in-state students and $50,547 for out-of-the-state students
With a prestigious faculty of professional experts, you get the practical exposure and a thorough learning experience from this program. It helps you prepare for various, worth-taking roles in law corporations, firms and government agencies.
Tuition Cost: $25,020 in total
4. On-the-Job Training
Although formal, academic education is critical, real paralegal knowledge can be gained with on-job training and real-world exposure. It can help you all the depths as you work under the expert guidance of a legal professional or an attorney. If you’re already employed in the legal sector, this is a great opportunity to learn from experience and become an expert.
Step 3: Get Certifications and Professional Credentials
Gaining professional certifications can often be the best approach towards growing your career as a paralegal. While these are not mandatory for securing a job, they can certainly help enhance your employment opportunities, showcase your dedication to the profession and maximize the earning potential.
Following are some of the professionally acclaimed certifications you can secure for a promising career as a paralegal professional:
1. NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants) Certifications
Certified Paralegal (CP) is one of the many common certifications offered by NALA. It is primarily focused upon showcasing your proficiency in core legal tasks. If you want to secure this certificate, you must meet the following criterion:
- An associate degree in paralegal studies or equivalent
- Bachelor’s degree with a paralegal certificate
- A high school diploma with at least 7 years of professional working experience
NALA also offers a specialized, Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) certification for those aiming to pursue specific areas in the legal field.
2. NFPA (National Federation of Paralegal Associations) Certifications
NFPA offers two major certifications, including:
- Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE): For entry-level paralegals with an associate degree.
- Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE): For experienced paralegals with additional training and professional experience.
Step 4: Gaining Essential Skills Every Paralegal Needs
There are some skillsets very critical for a paralegal professional, including both technical and soft skills. While legal knowledge is important, a paralegal must also be adept at the use of technology, knows how to manage workload, and how to maintain efficient communication with colleagues and clients.
- Legal Research and Writing: paralegals are often required to conduct thorough legal research, analyze existing case studies, legal precedents and statutes to provide assistance to the attorneys. It is also equally important to gain some writing skills for the job that requires drafting many legal documents such as pleadings, contracts and discovery requests. You can master tools such as LexisNexis and Westlaw to enhance productivity and accuracy.
- Legal Technology Proficiency: a thorough understanding of legal technology is important if you’re aiming to secure a promising career as a paralegal. You must have command over popular software like PracticePanther and Clio, etc. Additionally, learning how to use eDiscovery platforms such as Thomson Reuters AI and Relativity can maximize your chances of employment.
- Communication Skills: given that paralegals are the core point of contact between the attorneys and clients, communication skills, both verbal and written, should be on-point. You must be capable of communicating the legal processes very clearly to the clients and coordinating with stakeholders.
- Organizational and Time Management Skills: the very ability to handle multiple cases at a time, meet tighter deadlines, and stay calm and organized is the core reflection of a successful paralegal. From coordinating meetings to keeping all the files arranged, efficient time management skills are unavoidable in this role.
- Emotional Intelligence: This is one of the most critical soft skills that often help paralegals navigate through the high-pressure environment of their job. Working as a paralegal requires handling the clients’ concerns with empathy, managing their stress and work in collaboration with the team.
Step 5 How to Gain Experience before Graduation
Though it’s important to gain formal education, real-world experience matters the most when you’re aiming to secure promising paralegal roles. If you already start gaining practical exposure while studying, it can add to your portfolio and give you a major edge over competition.
Internships: they help you gain unmatched experience in the field, offering you an opportunity to apply what you learn in classrooms in the real-world setting. There are multiple law firms, corporations and government agencies that offer internships to deserving students. They include:
- LawCrossing
- Indeed
- Handshake
- Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI)
Volunteering with Legal Aid: another great means of gaining experience is by serving communities that are underprivileged for free. There are several legal aid organizations helping the underserved and volunteering with them can greatly enhance your skills in client communication, case management and so on. They include:
- ProBono.net
- VolunteerMatch
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Court Observations: a great way of gaining practical exposure into the legal world is attending court trials, hearings, and depositions, etc. It can help you understand the legal processes and procedures followed inside courtrooms. Some institutions and law schools themselves offer students to experience this firsthand by connecting them to the courts.
Student Legal Clinics: several educational institutions offer legal student clinics, where students can work under the direct supervision of licensed attorneys and gain practical exposure. This hands-on experience allows you to specialize in skills that interest you and further grow in the field.
Networking with Attorneys and Paralegals: It is very important to build professional connections in this field. Attending legal conferences, local paralegal associations and seminars can help you connect with fellow paralegals and attorneys. It can not only help with networking but also open your doors to potential job opportunities.
- LawLink
- American Bar Association (ABA) Membership
- Legal Conferences and Seminars like The National Paralegal Association’s (NALA) Annual Conference or The American Association of Paralegal Education’s (AAfPE) Annual Conference
Popular Lawyers You Can Follow on Social Media
- Bryan Stevenson
- Gloria Allred
- Preet Bharara
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RIP)
Step 5: Which Career Paths are Open for Paralegals
There are various different career paths you can choose as a paralegal. As you grow with experience, there are multiple areas of law you can specialize in and take-on managerial roles within the legal teams. Here’s the list of some very common and high-paying career choices you can make as a paralegal:
Litigation Paralegal: This role requires involvement with evidence management, trial preparation, and discovery. You are much likely to assist attorneys in litigation, from the initial, pre-trial preparation to the activities required post-trial. It requires strong skills in organization and management as well as a thorough understanding of the litigation process.
Corporate Paralegal: This role requires working with corporations and assisting them in areas such as drafting contracts, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions, etc. You must have a sound understanding of business law and compliance issues to take on such roles.
Family Law Paralegal: The role often requires working with cases related to divorce, adoption, custody or any other family-led legal issues. The specialization requires very strong interpersonal skills for paralegals to have to deal with multiple emotionally charged cases most of the time.
Criminal Law Paralegal: Paralegals in criminal law are meant for defending or prosecuting criminal cases. As a criminal law paralegal, you can be responsible for preparing case files, research around the criminal statutes, and assist through the jury selection and trials. Having a work or academic background in criminal justice can really benefit in succeeding this specialization.
Immigration Paralegal: The role of an immigration paralegal usually requires assisting with green card petitions, visa applications, and citizenship applications, etc. You are much likely to work with individuals who’re seeking for immigration help or are involved in deportation cases.
Real Estate Paralegal: Paralegals in real estate usually require dealing with property-related transactions, title searches and closings, etc. You are likely to help with legal document preparation related to property buying and selling, ensuring all the legal steps are followed effectively.
Government and Nonprofit Paralegal: The role usually requires working with public interest organizations, offering legal services to the underprivileged communities. You are likely to work around issues such as environmental law, civil rights, and criminal justice reforms, etc. The average salary of a paralegal working with federal government agencies is around $77,940/annum.
What Kind of Compensation to Expect: Salary, Job Outlook, and Growth Opportunities for a Paralegal Professional
As a paralegal, you can get multiple career options and choices with massive opportunities for growth. While the job market is growing at a stabilized pace given the advancements in technology, paralegals still play a critical role in the legal industry. The average salary of a paralegal professional is between $62870 and $128900 per annum.
However, it’s important to understand the salary expectations, employment opportunities, and job growth potential if you’re planning to pursue a successful career as a paralegal.
a. How Much Can You Earn As A Paralegal Professional?
The earning potential of paralegals vary on the basis of specializations, experience and geographic location. Here’s a breakdown for you to understand:
| Mid-Level Annual Salary | 61,010 ($29.33/hour) |
| Experienced Paralegal Salary (5+ years of experience) | $39,710 annually |
| Senior Paralegal Salary (10+ years of experience) | $78,000 – $98,990+ |
b. What are the Highest Paying States and Cities for Paralegal Professionals?
While the field is popular for its great earning potential, some of the highest paying states for paralegal professionals include:
| States | Salary Per Annum |
|---|---|
| California | $79,210 |
| New York | $78,850 |
| San Jose | $97,740 |
| San Francisco | $85,230 |
Bonus: Career Progression and Advancement Opportunities
The paralegal profession is expected to experience little to no change in job growth from 2024 to 2034, with a 0% growth rate as per the latest BLS data. This stagnation is largely due to the increased use of AI and automation in legal tasks. However, about 39,300 job openings are expected annually, mainly due to replacements or retirements.
Paralegals who choose to specialize or develop niche skills often have the best opportunities for career advancement. Here are a few potential career paths:
- Senior Paralegal: Managing complex cases and handling high-level tasks.
- Paralegal Manager: Overseeing a team of paralegals and managing workflow.
- Specialized Roles: Specializing in high-demand areas such as eDiscovery, intellectual property, or corporate compliance.
- Transition to Lawyer: Many paralegals eventually go to law school to become attorneys.
Your Questions Answered (FAQS)
Can I become a paralegal with a criminal justice degree?
Yes, you can. A criminal justice degree provides a solid foundation for a career as a criminal law paralegal. Many law firms and organizations accept criminal justice degrees, though you may need a paralegal certificate to meet certain job qualifications.
How long does it take to become a paralegal?
The time it takes to become a paralegal depends on the educational path you choose:
- Certificate Program: 6-12 months
- Associate Degree: 2 years
- Bachelor’s Degree: 4 years
- Post-Bachelor’s Certificate: 1 additional year
Do paralegals become lawyers?
Yes, many paralegals transition to become lawyers. Working as a paralegal gives you valuable insight into legal procedures, and it can be an excellent stepping stone to law school. After earning a bachelor’s degree, you must pass the LSAT, attend law school for 3 years, and pass the bar exam to become a lawyer.
What is the difference between a paralegal and a lawyer?
The main difference is in the level of responsibility and education. Paralegals assist lawyers by conducting research, drafting documents, and managing cases. Lawyers, on the other hand, are licensed professionals who can represent clients in court and give legal advice.
Looking Forward to a Future in the Paralegal Profession
The future of the paralegal profession looks promising, although the landscape is evolving rapidly due to technology and AI integration. While the role of the paralegal will continue to grow, it is expected that the profession will be transformed by emerging trends.
1. Technology & AI Integration
Artificial intelligence is already playing a significant role in legal work, and paralegals will increasingly be expected to use AI tools to assist in research, document review, and case management. Paralegals who embrace these technologies will be better equipped to stay relevant in the evolving field.
2. Remote Legal Work
With the rise of remote work, paralegals are seeing more opportunities to work from home or in virtual settings. This trend is expected to continue, offering more flexibility in the workplace.
3. Increased Specialization
As the legal field grows more complex, paralegals will be called upon to specialize in niche areas such as cybersecurity, data privacy, or legal operations. Specialization can provide a competitive advantage and higher earning potential.
4. Expanded Roles in Legal Operations
The role of paralegals is expanding beyond traditional legal tasks. Many paralegals are now taking on more responsibilities related to legal operations, project management, and even the integration of technology into law firm workflows.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a paralegal is a rewarding one, filled with opportunities for growth and career advancement. Whether you choose to specialize in a particular area of law or advance into higher-level positions, the demand for skilled paralegals remains strong.
As the legal industry continues to evolve, paralegals will play an essential role in supporting legal operations, driving efficiencies, and embracing new technologies. The path to becoming a paralegal may vary, but with the right education, skills, and experience, you can build a successful career in this fast-paced and dynamic field.
Take the first step today, and embark on a journey that promises both professional fulfillment and personal growth. Remember, your hard work and dedication will pave the way for a fulfilling career in the legal world.
