Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

Also Known As:

Immigration Paralegal Law Associate Legal Analyst Legal Assistant Legal Clerk Legal Processing Assistant Litigation Paralegal Paralegal Paralegal Specialist Real Estate Paralegal

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2033 Projected Employment

370,500

1% Change From 2023

Explore Paralegals and Legal Assistants video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.