A skill in Legal Compliance is associated with high pay for this job. Add this chart to your site: Paralegals perform legal-, regulatory- and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization.

These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. Paralegals may have to interview clients either by phone or in person prior to referring them to their organization's lawyers; they may have the authority to accept or reject potential clients.

Paralegals also edit pleadings, technical papers, briefs and other documents, helping review legal documents to make sure that relevant facts are included. They may have to travel to various courts to accompany their organization's lawyers, and they may have to train and coach new or more junior paralegals.

An associate's degree or certificate in paralegal studies is generally needed in this position; some employers require that paralegals have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Previous experience as a paralegal is often required or preferred as well. Paralegals should have excellent written and oral communication skills, know relevant legal terminology and principles, be able to work in a team environment and be proficient with basic computer programs such as the Microsoft Office suite.

Pay by Experience for a Paralegal has a positive trend. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay. Cost of Living Calculator. What are you worth? Find out what you should be paid. PayScale in the News. What am I worth? What should I pay?

X All compensation data shown are gross 10th to 90th percentile ranges.

How Much Do Paralegals Make in Average? | Legal Education

Take the PayScale Survey to find out how location influences pay for this job. X Total Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.

It does not include equity stock compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits e. National Hourly Rate Data? Is Paralegal your job title? Get a personalized salary report! Find Out Exactly What You Should Be Paid Job Title: Job Description for Paralegal. Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas. Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing.

Paralegal Salary Information | US News Best Jobs

Investigate facts and law of cases to determine causes of action and to prepare cases. Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions and legal articles, codes and documents. Common Career Paths for Paralegal. Plan your career path. Drag job titles to investigate a particular path and click on a link to see where particular career can lead. Popular Employer Salaries for Paralegal. Popular Skills for Paralegal. This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Pay by Experience Level for Paralegal. Pay Difference by Location. What is it like working as a Paralegal? I love the opportunity to help people. I like being able with a hands on firm that actually knows their clients as opposed to them being treated like a number.

The stress is not for the faint of heart. There are days I go home so mentally exhausted that I feel like a vegetable. For every really good clients comes the few terrible, difficult and needy ones that make your job feel futile. You can't let those get you down though. It just comes with the territory.

I get to work with intelligent people, in an environment that is driven by client relationships, and I get to help people. Dealing with clients who have no knowledge of the process and are very rude, unattainable deadlines and pressure to reach them, attorneys who treat paralegals poorly and are condescending, work load is way to high.

I like that I get to use my brain, instead of brawn which is waning. There is purpose to everything I do, and I feel I am well suited for that purpose. I especially grateful that my job has a great deal of flexibility, since I have an chronic health condition and must work around treatments. I'm doing a few activities that were not a part of my job description. I am having to create some projects from the ground up, but sometimes feel rushed to provide results.

I am spending more time supervising other employees than I expected. The freedom to work independently. I can always ask for guidance or clarification if I need it. Everyday is a learning process. My attorney provides the opportunity to grow in my career field.

How Much Do Paralegals Make: Low, Median, And High End

I am the only assistant, no legal secretary or other paralegals. Only one attorney in the office. Not the most interesting area of law to work in. I work for two wonderful people. We mostly deal with divorce which can be one of the worst times in a person life and my personal goal is to try to make it less so. Both of my bosses try to find a way for couples to work together rather than have to go to court and we all try to find ways to reduce costs and help I just don't know a lot of law firms who have that mind set, mind you I am new to the field and only know so much.

That is complicated and has more to do with an individual than the work I do.

Sometimes deadlines come up fast and last minute work has to be done but once it is a done it's a huge relief. The small atmosphere and the people that I work with. I enjoy being as busy as well. I don't feel as though I am pressured or stressed by my boss.

The lack of structural organization. A lack of incentive. The attorney and his wife are easy going people. I enjoy a position of trust. They depend on me.

Things are often put off until the last minute. Then, everything is "urgent.

What I Wish I Knew BEFORE Becoming a Paralegal

Paralegal or Legal Assistant. Key Stats for Paralegal. Years of Experience Less than 1 year. Experience Affects Paralegal Salaries. Skills That Affect Paralegal Salaries. I need salary information for… Myself. Pay the right way. Jobs , Employers , Degrees. PayScale takes your privacy seriously and is sensitive to the nature of information collected on this site.

Terms of Use Privacy Policy. All rights reserved 1st Ave South, Seattle, WA