Plan B

Plan B

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers by performing a variety of tasks, such as maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.

Paralegals and legal assistants often work on teams with attorneys and other legal support staff. Paralegals and legal assistants work primarily in offices. Occasional travel may be required, such as to accompany attorneys to depositions or trials. Their work may be stressful because it can be fast paced, and they may be required to work on multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.

Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may consider candidates who have a high school diploma and experience.

The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $61,010 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,710, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $98,990.

Despite limited employment growth, about 39,300 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators, Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators, Judges and Hearing Officers Lawyers, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.

Paralegals and legal assistants held about 376,200 jobs in 2024.