Explore Careers Paralegal and Legal Assistant O*NET-SOC: 23-2011.00 Legal Assists lawyers by researching legal precedent, drafting documents, organizing case files, and preparing for trials, hearings, and closings under attorney supervision. See your fit Take the quiz to see how you match Take the Quiz $61K Median Salary +4% Stable Associate's Degree Min.

Education Moderate Balance Work-Life Balance About This Role Paralegals and legal assistants support attorneys by handling much of the research, writing, and organizational work that keeps cases moving forward. They spend a large part of their day in legal research databases, searching for prior court decisions, statutes, and regulatory guidance relevant to active cases, then distilling what they find into clear memos with accurate citations. They also draft legal documents such as motions, contracts, and formal question sets for opposing parties, checking every detail against the client's file before sending drafts to the attorney for final review.

A Day in the Life 8:30 AM Check emails and court filings Review overnight messages and scan the court docket for any new filings or deadlines that need immediate attention, then flag urgent items for the supervising attorney. 9:00 AM Research case law Search legal databases for prior court decisions relevant to an active case, then summarize the key findings in a memo with specific citations for the attorney to review. 11:00 AM Draft legal documents Write or revise formal documents such as motions, contracts, or sets of written questions for the opposing party, cross-checking facts against the client's file. 12:30 PM Lunch break Take a break, though sometimes review deposition transcripts over lunch to note any inconsistencies that may need follow-up. 1:30 PM Client communication Call a client to provide a case status update, gather additional documents they may need to provide, and schedule any upcoming meetings. 3:00 PM Organize case files Sort and index evidence and documents collected during the discovery phase, redact personal information where required, and upload files to the firm's secure document system. 4:30 PM Prepare trial materials Assemble exhibit binders, draft witness outlines, and confirm scheduling details with the court clerk for an upcoming hearing. 6:00 PM Log time and wrap up Enter billable hours into the firm's time-tracking system, send draft work to the supervising attorney for review, and organize the desk for the next day. Tools & Technologies Word Processing

Microsoft Word

Google Docs

LexisNexis CheckCite The Sackett Group MacPac for Legal

Office Suites

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace software

Corel WordPerfect Office Suite

Document Management

Adobe Acrobat

Microsoft SharePoint

AbacusNext HotDocs

Appligent Citation FDFMerge

CaseSoft DepPrep

Databases & Data Tools

Microsoft Access

Orion Law Management Systems Orion

Bridgeway eCounsel

Corporate Focus Solium Shareworks

Fund Software ATIDS

Email

Microsoft Outlook

IBM Notes

Spreadsheets

Microsoft Excel

Salary Details Salary Distribution Salary distribution for Paralegal and Legal Assistant: 10th percentile $40K, 25th $48K, median $61K, 75th $78K, 90th $99K Median $40K $48K $61K $78K $99K Most professionals earn between $48K and $78K Paralegal and Legal Assistant salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $40K 25th $48K 50th (Median)



$61K 75th $78K 90th $99K Salary by State Paralegal and Legal Assistant salary by state map Paralegal and Legal Assistant salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $99K $60K - $128K Washington $78K $51K - $115K Massachusetts $75K $50K - $108K Colorado $73K $49K - $106K California $73K $48K - $105K Minnesota $67K $45K - $98K New York $66K $48K - $106K Oregon $64K $48K - $100K Maryland $64K $46K - $100K Connecticut $63K $45K - $95K Vermont $63K $47K - $79K New Jersey $63K $45K - $98K Illinois $62K $44K - $102K Nevada $62K $27K - $79K Michigan $61K $44K - $88K Nebraska $61K $40K - $89K Arizona $61K $43K - $97K Virginia $61K $44K - $98K Alaska $61K $46K - $95K Pennsylvania $61K $41K - $95K Hawaii $61K $49K - $84K New Hampshire $61K $36K - $87K Florida $60K $37K - $82K Delaware $60K $47K - $98K North Dakota $60K $42K - $77K Texas $60K $38K - $97K Ohio $59K $38K - $84K Missouri $59K $37K - $85K Maine $59K $38K - $78K South Dakota $57K $47K - $84K New Mexico $57K $44K - $78K Wisconsin $57K $44K - $82K Utah $56K $41K - $88K Tennessee $55K $38K - $77K Georgia $55K $37K - $93K Rhode Island $55K $39K - $82K Montana $54K $45K - $77K Idaho $54K $29K - $75K Iowa $53K $37K - $79K Indiana $51K $40K - $94K Oklahoma $50K $36K - $79K Wyoming $50K $40K - $73K West Virginia $50K $32K - $87K North Carolina $49K $37K - $82K Kentucky $49K $38K - $78K Kansas $49K $37K - $80K South Carolina $49K $36K - $68K Louisiana $48K $31K - $77K Arkansas $47K $35K - $77K Alabama $46K $30K - $73K Mississippi $39K $34K - $68K Paralegal and Legal Assistant salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $99K $60K - $128K Washington $78K $51K - $115K Massachusetts $75K $50K - $108K Colorado $73K $49K - $106K California $73K $48K - $105K Minnesota $67K $45K - $98K New York $66K $48K - $106K Oregon $64K $48K - $100K Maryland $64K $46K - $100K Connecticut $63K $45K - $95K Vermont $63K $47K - $79K New Jersey $63K $45K - $98K Illinois $62K $44K - $102K Nevada $62K $27K - $79K Michigan $61K $44K - $88K Nebraska $61K $40K - $89K Arizona $61K $43K - $97K Virginia $61K $44K - $98K Alaska $61K $46K - $95K Pennsylvania $61K $41K - $95K Hawaii $61K $49K - $84K New Hampshire $61K $36K - $87K Florida $60K $37K - $82K Delaware $60K $47K - $98K North Dakota $60K $42K - $77K Texas $60K $38K - $97K Ohio $59K $38K - $84K Missouri $59K $37K - $85K Maine $59K $38K - $78K South Dakota $57K $47K - $84K New Mexico $57K $44K - $78K Wisconsin $57K $44K - $82K Utah $56K $41K - $88K Tennessee $55K $38K - $77K Georgia $55K $37K - $93K Rhode Island $55K $39K - $82K Montana $54K $45K - $77K Idaho $54K $29K - $75K Iowa $53K $37K - $79K Indiana $51K $40K - $94K Oklahoma $50K $36K - $79K Wyoming $50K $40K - $73K West Virginia $50K $32K - $87K North Carolina $49K $37K - $82K Kentucky $49K $38K - $78K Kansas $49K $37K - $80K South Carolina $49K $36K - $68K Louisiana $48K $31K - $77K Arkansas $47K $35K - $77K Alabama $46K $30K - $73K Mississippi $39K $34K - $68K Lower ($39K-$69K)Middle (~$69K)Higher ($69K-$99K) Highest Paying States 1.District of Columbia$99K

2.Washington$78K

3.Massachusetts$75K

4.Colorado$73K

5.California$73K Lowest Paying States 1.Mississippi$39K

2.Alabama$46K

3.Arkansas$47K

4.Louisiana$48K

5.South Carolina$49K Certifications, Training & Memberships Essential Certified Paralegal (CP) NALA Certification Rigorous exam-based credential testing paralegal competency in ethics, research, and procedures essential for credibility.

Recommended Registered

Paralegal (RP) National Federation of Paralegal Associations Certification Professional designation requiring education,



experience, and continuing legal education.

Certified Legal Assistant

Specialist (CLAS) NALA Certification Specialty certification in areas like litigation or probate for advanced expertise.

Helpful Paralegal Core Competency

Certificate (PCCC) NALA Certification Foundational skills program in legal analysis and document drafting.

Professional Memberships

Membership in American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI) American Alliance of Paralegals Membership Network offering ethics guidelines, job boards, and professional development for paralegals.

Work Environment Remote Work Hybrid (Remote + Office) Work Setting Traditional office / indoor Physical Activity Mostly sedentary Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction Schedule Extended hours common Your Skills & Attributes Skills &

Competencies Matches (46) Writing Strong Match Reading Comprehension Good Match Active Listening Good Match Speaking Positive Match Critical Thinking Moderate Match Frequently Asked Questions Is Paralegal and Legal Assistant a good career? Paralegal and Legal Assistant can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $61K and job outlook is stable (4% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match. What degree do you need to become a Paralegal and Legal Assistant? The typical education requirement for a Paralegal and Legal Assistant is a Associate's Degree. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience. How long does it take to become a Paralegal and Legal Assistant? Becoming a Paralegal and Legal Assistant typically requires about 2 years of post-secondary education. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements. What is the work-life balance like for a Paralegal and Legal Assistant? The work-life balance for a Paralegal and Legal Assistant is moderate, with some periods requiring extended hours or flexibility. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location. What is the job outlook for Paralegal and Legal Assistant? The job outlook for Paralegal and Legal Assistant is stable. Employment is projected to grow by 4% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization. Find Paralegal and Legal Assistant Jobs Google Jobs (opens in new tab) Aggregated listings from across the web Search Paralegal and Legal Assistant jobs Indeed (opens in new tab) One of the largest job search engines Search Paralegal and Legal Assistant jobs LinkedIn (opens in new tab) Professional network job listings Search Paralegal and Legal Assistant jobs Related Careers Use arrow keys or swipe to scroll through related career cards Legal Arbitrator / Mediator Facilitates negotiation and conflict resolution between disputing parties outside of the court system, using mediation, arbitration, and conciliation techniques to reach settlements.

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