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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.

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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...

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Work Environment

Military

Legal specialists and court reporters work in military law offices and courtrooms.

Status

What is the difference between enlisted and officer?

Enlisted:
Enlisted members enter the Military with a high school diploma (in some cases a GED), at a minimum. They are employed in almost every type of military career, often in hands-on roles.

Officers: Officers either enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater or served previously as enlisted members, and are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require intensive training.
  • no Officer
  • yes Enlisted

Military Breakdown

The number of people who currently hold this career in the Military.

3,638 Paralegals and Legal Assistants in the military

Service Branches

Legal Specialists and Court Reporters work in the following services:

Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force

Type of Work

The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.

Data: Medium
People: Low
Things: Low

Skills at a Glance

The levels of different skills helpful in this career.

Verbal skills: High
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Low
Equipment Operation & Maintenance: Low
Math & Science Skills: Low
Technology Design & Control: Low
Leadership: Medium

Workplace at a Glance

The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.

Responsibility: Low
Exposure to Job Hazards: Low
Physical Activity: Low
Decision Making: Medium
Repetitiveness: High
Level of Competition: Medium
Time Pressure: High