Legal
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Also called: Immigration Paralegal, Law Associate, Legal Analyst, Legal Assistant
US median pay
$62,890
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-0.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
40,800
404,900 employed
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
- File pleadings with court clerks.
- Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
- Call upon witnesses to testify at hearings.
- Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Service Orientation3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Coordination2.9/5
- Persuasion2.8/5
- Negotiation2.8/5
Knowledge
- Law and Government4.8/5
- English Language4.4/5
- Administrative4.2/5
- Computers and Electronics3.9/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Associate's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree37%
- Associate's degree20%
- High school diploma19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.