Occupation · SOC 23-2011
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.
Median wage
$61,010
$39,710–$98,990
Projected growth
+0.2%
Slower than average
Annual openings
60
per year
Employed (US)
367,220
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
383 mapped
Core skills
WritingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingTime Management
Knowledge areas
Law and GovernmentEnglish LanguageAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsCustomer and Personal Service
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific softwareDocument management softwareInformation retrieval or search softwareDesktop publishing softwareCategorization or classification software
Representative tasks
Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documPrepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internetManage attorneys' calendars and schedule meetings.Request, review, and summarize relevant records for the cases.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Legal correspondence and affidavits — draft basic versions under attorney supervision in a law office or corporate legal department.Paper and electronic filing systems — organize and maintain case documents following established office protocols.Legal terminology and document formats — recognize and apply standard conventions when formatting pleadings and briefs under direct guidance.Public records and internet sources — locate and retrieve basic factual information to support case preparation under supervisor direction.Office suite software and document management platforms — use to create, save, and retrieve legal files in a supervised work environment.Client intake information — collect and record accurately during initial meetings with attorneys and clients present.Legal statutes and codes — read and identify relevant provisions under close attorney direction during assigned research tasks.Trial exhibit folders and binders — assemble and label under attorney instruction to support courtroom preparation.Deadlines and task lists — follow time management protocols to complete assigned paralegal duties within established schedules.Oral instructions from supervising attorneys — listen actively and confirm understanding before executing document or research tasks.
developing
Pleadings, appeals, and real estate closing statements — prepare and edit with reduced oversight, applying learned format standards in a busy legal practice.Legal research databases and information retrieval software — conduct targeted searches of statutes, case decisions, and legal articles to identify causes of action.Case investigation files — compile and organize facts, public records, and source materials independently to support attorney case strategy.Wills, contracts, and transactional documents — review and flag substantive issues for attorney review in a real estate or estate planning context.Client meetings and professional consultations — participate and capture accurate case details, summarizing findings in written memoranda.Trial preparation checklists — execute and coordinate exhibit organization, witness schedules, and document logistics ahead of court dates.Document management software — maintain version control and categorization of active case files across multiple matters simultaneously.Research data on statutes and legal decisions — analyze and synthesize into structured summaries that inform attorney recommendations.Competing deadlines across multiple cases — prioritize and manage workload using time management tools in a mid-size law firm environment.Routine procedural problems in filings or docket entries — identify discrepancies and resolve them by applying learned court rules and office procedures.
proficient
Complex legal briefs and appellate documents — independently draft, edit, and finalize for attorney review across diverse practice areas including litigation and transactional law.Multi-source legal research — design and execute comprehensive searches using analytical software, library resources, and case law databases to build complete legal arguments.Causes of action and legal theories — evaluate case facts against statutes and precedent autonomously, presenting well-supported conclusions to supervising attorneys.Non-routine document review and due diligence projects — lead review of large document sets, applying deductive and inductive reasoning to surface key issues.Client and expert witness communications — manage ongoing professional relationships, gathering and conveying case-sensitive information with appropriate discretion.Full trial preparation workflows — coordinate exhibits, deposition summaries, and demonstrative materials across multiple trial teams without direct oversight.Cloud-based data access and document sharing platforms — implement and manage secure file-sharing protocols for case teams and outside counsel.Regulatory and legislative materials — interpret and apply complex statutory language to novel factual situations, advising attorneys on risk and compliance implications.Judgment calls on procedural ambiguities — resolve independently using accumulated knowledge of court rules and jurisdictional requirements in a litigation support role.Quality and accuracy of paralegal work product — monitor and evaluate own output against professional standards, proactively identifying and correcting errors before submission.
advanced
Paralegal practice standards and workflows — establish and continuously improve across an entire legal department or large multi-practice law firm.Junior paralegal and legal assistant staff — mentor, train, and evaluate to build team competency in document preparation, research, and case management.Legal technology strategy — select, implement, and champion document management, categorization, and research software platforms at the organizational level.Complex, high-stakes transactional or litigation matters — lead paralegal support operations, coordinating resources and timelines to meet firm-wide demands.Knowledge management systems — design and maintain practice-specific precedent libraries and research repositories that increase efficiency across attorney and paralegal teams.Cross-functional relationships with clients, courts, and outside counsel — represent the firm's legal operations at senior meetings and procedural conferences.Risk and compliance frameworks for document handling and confidentiality — develop and enforce policies that align with bar association guidelines and data privacy regulations.Paralegal workflow bottlenecks and quality gaps — analyze root causes using monitoring data and implement systemic solutions that reduce error rates firm-wide.Budgets and resource allocation for legal support functions — manage staffing levels and tool investments to optimize cost-effectiveness in a corporate or large-firm environment.Emerging legal technology trends and best practices — evaluate and integrate innovations such as AI-assisted research and e-discovery tools into organizational practice at a strategic level.
Also known as
28 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Litigation Legal AssistantPrincipal Law ClerkParalegalCorporate Legal AssistantImmigration ParalegalLegal AnalystPatent AgentSummer AssociateLegal ClerkParalegal AssistantContracts SpecialistDocument ProcessorFamily Law ParalegalEstate Planning ParalegalLegal InvestigatorTrademark ParalegalLegal AssistantLitigation ParalegalLegal Processing AssistantLegal AideReal Estate ParalegalPersonal Injury ParalegalParalegal SpecialistLaw AssociateCertified ParalegalCorporate ParalegalIntellectual Property ParalegalContract Preparer