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Paralegal / Legal Studies Degrees

Career summary: Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Average Salary

$51,740

National Average, Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Career Outlook

Very Good

12% job growth by 2028, which is much faster than average

Earn a degree in paralegal / legal studies from an accredited college

If you are interested in law but can’t or don’t wish to spend the time and resources it takes to become a full lawyer, paralegal studies is probably your best option. Attorneys divide up their workload by delegating to assistants and secretaries. That’s where you come in. Your responsibilities would include researching case studies, analyzing data, managing daily tasks, and other work that needs to be done in a law firm.

Overview

Paralegal legal studies original

Why should I get a paralegal degree?

A legal career may appeal to you if you enjoy logic, law, writing and research, finance, working with people, and defending their rights. However, if you are unable or don’t want to commit so much money and effort to become a lawyer, a job as a paralegal offers much of the same work. You will not be able to present cases in court or give legal advice, but your duties will be similar to a lawyer’s in other ways. And if full attorneyship is your end goal, legal assistance could also serve as a launchpad.

Job Description

What kinds of jobs could I get with my paralegal degree?

You can choose to specialize in different areas, like litigation, bankruptcy, corporate law, intellectual property, family law, personal injury, or others. Besides paralegal, some jobs include secretaries, payroll specialists, court clerks, compliance assistants, and legal analysts. A few related careers are in criminal justice administration, claims examination, occupational health and safety, accounting, and real estate.

5 Common Jobs

  • paralegal
  • legal secretary
  • payroll specialist
  • compliance assistant
  • court clerk

Salary

How much do paralegals make?

The average salary for a paralegal/legal assistant is $51,740. Legal secretaries make around $47,300. Law clerks average $54,010. (Compare this to a lawyer’s earnings about $123,000.)

Career Outlook

How is the job market?

The outlook is excellent for careers in legal assistance! There will be competition, but prospects are projected to increase much faster than average. A growing demand for paralegals and secretaries, particularly who have proficiency with technology and software, provides many new opportunities in the coming years. The most common employers are law firms, federal agencies, insurance carriers, businesses, and employment services.

Career Path

What skills do I need?

The most important skills you need as a legal assistant are good communication, writing, and researching. Your job description is likely to include conducting interviews, scheduling things, taking statements, and interacting between clients, opposition, and your supervising attorney. You will also be expected to draft various legal documents and collect research and evidence. Also, organization, cooperation, and technology use are vital to paralegals.

What training will I need for my paralegal career?

Usually an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies will be sufficient, although you can go further. Over a thousand colleges and postgrad schools offer formal paralegal studies programs; some 260 paralegal studies programs are approved by the American Bar Association, giving you better opportunity for employment. Courses in these programs teach you legal research, computers and software, and other aspects of law and. They may also place you in an internship, which is particularly useful when seeking a job. Sometimes employers train you on the job.

Salary and career outlook data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Learning Format

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