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Paralegal Job Description

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Overview

paralegal
250
The number of occurrences in our database.
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A paralegal is an individual who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. Paralegals perform tasks requiring knowledge of the law and legal procedures. The exact nature of their work and limitations that the law places on the tasks they are allowed to undertake vary between nations and jurisdictions. A paralegal is not a lawyer but is typically employed by a law office or internal legal department of a company. Paralegals generally are not allowed to offer legal services independently in most jurisdictions. Paralegals operate under a form...

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Steps to take to start your career as a Paralegal and other jobs like it

  • Earn a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as pre-law, political science, or criminal justice. A bachelor's degree provides a solid foundation in legal concepts, critical thinking, and research skills that are valuable for a legal career and so while not always required, it does open more opportunities to get a job and advance in your career.
  • There are standardized requirements to becoming a paralegal which vary across states and include paths that don’t require a 4 year degree. You can usually meet this requirement through specific certificate programs and or meeting a min level of legal course work. If a bachelor’s degree isn’t a practical option for you, look up the alternate paths in your state.
  • Seek opportunities to gain experience in the legal field, such as internships, volunteer work, or entry-level positions in law firms, government agencies, or corporate legal departments. There are roles that match with almost any experience level in the legal field so if you have a passion for this career, start early as familiarity with the professional environment in this space will help.
  • Consider pursuing additional education or training to enhance your qualifications such as attending law school, earn a certificate or enroll in related programs. While certification is not always required, obtaining certification from a recognized professional organization, such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), can demonstrate your proficiency and commitment to the profession. To become certified, you'll typically need to meet education and experience requirements and pass a certification exam. Once you have the necessary education and experience, start applying for positions in law firms, courts, government agencies, or other legal settings.
Hear from someone who’s had the job or one like it
"There are many areas of law you can specialize in. This in house counsel knew she wanted to work with big tech in Silicon Valley and choose her specialization carefully. Learn about her path and advice working in law. "
Career Video Transcript
Examples of Current Open Paralegal Positions
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indeedImg
Avg Pay: $42K
Jobs: 11,887
glassdoor
Avg Pay: $54K
Jobs: 10,528

Education you need to become a Paralegal

These are the most common degrees or certificates earned by Jobtrees users prior to becoming a Paralegal

There may be other required degrees or certifications needed for this job. The below info shows you the most commonly desired education level from employers when hiring for this job.

  • Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies
    The number of occurrences matches with Paralegal in our database.
    Avg. Duration:24 monthsAvg. Fees:$16,864Type:Mostly full timeView more on Studyportals
  • Bachelor of Arts (b.a.) in Political Science
    The number of occurrences matches with Paralegal in our database.
    Avg. Duration:48 monthsAvg. Fees:$31,495Type:Mostly full timeView more on Studyportals
  • Bachelor Degree in Legal Studies
    The number of occurrences matches with Paralegal in our database.
    Avg. Duration:48 monthsAvg. Fees:$31,628Type:Mostly full timeView more on Studyportals
  • Bachelor Degree in Political Science
    The number of occurrences matches with Paralegal in our database.
    Avg. Duration:48 monthsAvg. Fees:$31,495Type:Mostly full timeView more on Studyportals
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Annual Pay Estimate for Paralegal and Other Important Info

See how many years Paralegal's are in their job, how much they make, how long it took to get there and how available this job is in terms of open positions.

4.6 years
$48K
The average years of experience in the workforce prior to having this role
4.17 years
Experienced
The average number of roles it took our users to get to this one
4
1015 out of 4016

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Career Paths for Paralegal

Find data driven insights on the path to get to this role and where it can lead

Jobs to start your career in becoming a Paralegal

These are the most common roles Jobtrees users had to start their career that eventually lead them to Paralegal. If you’re looking to get into this career these are jobs to consider to get your start. We’ve included below some current open job postings that match those roles. Click to search for more.