Paralegals

Career summary

#No additional alternate titles CJ

Paralegals help lawyers manage their caseloads. They are often called legal assistants. They do almost everything that lawyers do, except give legal advice or present cases in court. They help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, and corporate meetings.

Paralegals research and analyze legal data to find support for cases. They find previous court rulings. They check facts of cases and make sure there are no holes in the arguments they build.

Paralegals prepare and organize the information they collect. They write rough summaries and arguments for lawyers to review. They prepare legal documents such as briefs and pleadings. They file pleadings with court clerks. They may send requests to witnesses so they will testify at hearings.

Paralegals may have other duties depending on the law firm. They may determine value and inventory property for estate planning, or manage real estate sales. They may answer questions about legal issues at civil hearings.

Paralegals work for:

• Law firms
• Legal departments of large companies
• Government agencies

Paralegals in smaller firms may work in all aspects of the work being done at that practice. Paralegals at large firms and corporations tend to focus on one area. Examples include personal injury, employee benefits, or criminal law.

Paralegals in larger offices may supervise other staff. They may update the law library and suggest new books or software.

Related careers

This career is part of the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Arbitrators and Mediators
• Budget Analysts
• Court Clerks
• Government Benefits Interviewers
• Human Resources Specialists
• Law Clerks
• Legal Secretaries
• Limited License Legal Technicians
• Management Analysts
• Market Research Analysts
• Regulatory Affairs Specialists
• Tax Preparers

Military careers

• Legal Specialists and Court Reporters

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to paralegals.

• Analyze and organize material for cases.
• Investigate facts and laws and decide how to prepare cases.
• Request witnesses to testify at hearing.
• Use computers to locate or organize legal records.
• Communicate with both parties involved in a case and help them try to solve their dispute.
• Gather and analyze laws or decisions that were made on similar cases.
• Prepare written reports for lawyers that summarize their research.
• Answer questions about legal issues for civil hearings.
• Determine value and inventory property for estate planning.
• Direct and coordinate office activity. Organize and maintain law libraries.
• File pleadings with court clerk.
• Prepare legal documents such as briefs, pleadings, wills, contracts, and real estate payment plans.

Common work activities

Paralegals perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Use computers
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Get information needed to do the job
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Evaluate information against standards
• Perform administrative tasks
• Document and record information
• Process information
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Analyze data or information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Schedule work and activities
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Perform for or work with the public
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, paralegals:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They talk to clients, lawyers, and other office staff.
• Are responsible for work outcomes and results of other workers.
• Communicate with coworkers and clients daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person. They must gather information from individuals and direct activity in the office.
• Write letters and memos on a daily basis. They must prepare legal documents and written reports.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.
• Occasionally are placed in conflict situations in which others may be rude or angry.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Work with other people, but usually in a separate office space.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work. Errors could result in serious legal problems for clients.
• Meet strict deadlines on a daily basis. They must be prepared for hearings.
• Repeat the same tasks over and over, such as preparing legal documents.
• Often make decisions that affect other people. They consult lawyers for some decisions, but make most without talking to a supervisor.
• Are able to set some tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor.

Hours/travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• Usually work 40 hours a week.
• May work nights and weekends to meet deadlines.
• May travel to another part of town to gather information about cases.

Physical demands

Paralegals frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for paralegals to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for paralegals to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

Skills and abilities

Paralegals need to:

Communicate

• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Paralegal Studies

Other programs of study to consider

• Law
• Legal Secretarial Studies
• Pre-Law

Training

To work as a paralegal, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete paralegal training.

Education after high school

There are several ways to prepare for this occupation. One option is to complete a paralegal training program. Universities, law schools, community and junior colleges, and business schools all offer these programs. The program length, admission requirements, and content vary by school.

Certificate programs are usually three to 12 months in length. Associate degree programs are usually two years in length. Bachelor's degree programs are four years. Earning a bachelor's degree has become the most common way to prepare for this occupation.

In a paralegal program you take courses on law and legal research techniques. You also learn about real estate, family law, contracts, and criminal law. Many programs also teach computer skills.

Work experience

A job as a legal secretary is good preparation for this occupation.

On-the-job training

Some employers hire college graduates and train them on the job. You may receive training for up to two years.

Many paralegal training programs include an internship. During the internship you work under the guidance of a lawyer or experienced paralegal.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be legal specialists. This military occupation includes paralegals. Training lasts from six to ten weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Business Law
• Computer Applications
• Consumer Law
• Law Studies
• Legal System

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Many employers prefer applicants who have completed a formal training program. However, some employers prefer to train paralegals on the job. They hire college graduates or promote legal secretaries to paralegal positions.

Some employers will hire paralegals who do not have any experience. Other employers prefer to hire paralegals who have one to four years of experience. These employers may look for applicants who have experience in their area of law. Thus, tax lawyers look for applicants who have an accounting background.

Employers look for applicants who have good writing and speaking skills. Paralegals must be able to communicate their findings and ideas to their supervisors. They also need an understanding of legal terms. Employers look for applicants who have good research, computer, and investigative skills.

Completion of a two-year paralegal or legal assistant program approved by the American Bar Association is recommended. Some employers prefer paralegals who are certified through organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants . Employers also look for workers who are detail-oriented, well organized, and can work independently.

#Moved info on certification from Tips section to here since survey of job announements through state assn showed many employers look for that. Sentence after cert info pulled from prefs/reqs noted in these same job listings, 3/15/07, CJ. ABA and cert info still correct, 3/19/09 & 3/15/11, 4/15/13, 3/17/15, 12/13/16, 4/8/19 cj.

Tips

Work experience in a law office as a file clerk, messenger, or legal secretary provides a good background for becoming a paralegal. Contact schools offering paralegal programs to find out ratio of graduates placed in jobs. Taking temporary or freelance paralegal positions can provide experience to help you get permanent, full-time work. Joining a professional association is helpful for networking with people in the field.

#Deleted refernce to volunteering a law office as seems unlikely to be an option unless you are a college student who does a unpaid internship, 3/15/07, CJ.

Costs to workers

Some paralegals join professional associations, which may have membership fees and annual dues.

Licensing/certification

The Washington State Bar Association has not yet established a professional certification program for this occupation. Voluntary certification is available through the National Association of Legal Assistants and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations.

#This information still true as of 12/13/16 cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Paralegals and Legal Assistants 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by the paralegal's education, training, and experience. In general, the more education and training paralegals have, the higher their wages. The type and size of the employer and the area of the country also affect wages. Those who work for large firms in large cities generally earn the highest wages.

Many paralegals also receive bonuses when cases are successful or the firm has shown a profit that year.

Paralegals who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some paralegals also receive a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Private law firms
• Local, state, and federal government agencies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will grow faster than average. The expected growth in the population should create more jobs for paralegals. Law firms are trying to meet customers' needs and lower their costs. Hiring additional paralegals instead of lawyers lowers the amount a firm pays in wages. Legal aid, which works with low income and elderly people, may also hire paralegals to continue to offer legal services at a low cost.

Competition will be strong as there are many applicants for jobs. Job prospects will be best for those who are fully trained and have experience with computers and databases.

Other resources

About Paralegals 

American Association for Paralegal Education 
222 South Westmonte Drive, Suite 111
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
407.774.7880

American Bar Association 
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312.988.5000

Become a Legal Technician 

NALS of Washington: The Association for Legal Professionals 

NALS: The Association for Legal Professionals 
P.O. Box 470348
Tulsa, OK 74147
918.582.5188

National Association of Legal Assistants 
7666 East 61st Street, #315
Tulsa, OK 74133
918.587.6828

National Federation of Paralegal Associations 
3502 Woodview Trace, Ste. 300
Indianapolis, IN 46268
847.686.2247

US Department of Justice 

Washington State Law Library 
360.357.2136

Washington State Paralegal Association 
PO Box 58530
Seattle, WA 98138
206.623.8632

References

Career cluster

• Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security

Career path

• Conventional (Business Operations)

O*Net  occupation

• Paralegals and Legal Assistants (23-2011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Legal Investigator (119.267-022) 
• Paralegal (119.267-026) 
• Patent Agent (119.167-014) 

Strong Interest Inventory

• Paralegal

Holland occupational cluster

• Conventional/Investigative/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Communication