Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Did You Know:
- Despite projected much faster-than-average employment growth, competition for jobs is expected.
- Formally trained, experienced paralegals should have the best employment opportunities.
- Most entrants have an associate degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in another field and a certificate in paralegal studies.
- About 71 percent work for law firms.
Industry Areas
- Legal Services
- Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)
- Local Government (OES Designation)
Day-to-Day Tasks
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
Overall Kind of Work
Although lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they often delegate many of their tasks to paralegals. In fact, paralegals-also called legal assistants-are continuing to assume new...
Work Environment
Civilian
Paralegals handle many routine assignments, particularly when they are inexperienced. As they gain experience, paralegals usually assume more varied tasks with additional responsibility. Paralegal...
Military
Legal specialists and court reporters work in military law offices and courtrooms.
Workweek Breakdown
The hours worked per week by people currently pursuing this career.
- 4.00% (0-20 Hours)
- 7.07% (21-34 Hours)
- 12.64% (35-39 Hours)
- 67.53% (40 Hours)
- 3.09% (41-49 Hours)
- 5.67% (Over 50 Hours)
This data also pertains to Paralegals and legal assistants (23-2011)
Type of Work
The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.
Data: 
People: 
Things:
Skills at a Glance
The levels of different skills helpful in this career.
Verbal skills: 
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving:
Equipment Operation & Maintenance:
Math & Science Skills:
Technology Design & Control:
Leadership:
Workplace at a Glance
The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.
Responsibility:
Exposure to Job Hazards:
Physical Activity:
Decision Making:
Repetitiveness:
Level of Competition:
Time Pressure:
Business Breakdown
The different sectors people in this career currently work in.
- 81.16% (Private For-Profit)
- 2.94% (Private Not For-Profit)
- 7.59% (State and Local Govt)
- 4.25% (Federal Government)
- 4.07% (Self-Employed)
Military Breakdown
The number of people who currently hold this career in the Military.
3,638 Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the military