Lawyers have their hands full when it comes to serving their clients. Following up with clients, researching the details of a case, and preparing legal documents are just a few of the tasks that fall on their plates.
After almost a decade of education and training, it’s amazing that they have the energy to do their jobs when it’s all over. Luckily, lawyers have help from skilled and trained legal assistants called paralegals.
A career as a paralegal allows you to experience the fast-paced legal field without the time and financial investment involved in becoming a lawyer. Also, a paralegal position can promise some exciting earning potential. Salaries for paralegal careers in various industries and geographic locations are discussed below.
Average Salary of a Paralegal
On average, paralegals in the United States earn $45,000 to $50,000 annually. Because this is the median salary for the paralegal field, you can imagine that some professionals earn more and others earn less than this figure. In fact, the range of pay among paralegals is considerable. Some earn as little as $25,000 annually while other experienced paralegals enjoy a six figure income. The options are endless and the best part is that you have some control over how much you earn as a paralegal.
Starting Out as a Paralegal
Experience and training are everything when it comes to your earning potential in this field. Attorneys will certainly pay more for a legal assistant who has substantial training and experience under his or her belt. An experienced paralegal can help with more difficult and time-consuming tasks which is invaluable to a busy lawyer. With that said, entry-level paralegals can expect to start at the lower end of the pay scale; the average starting paralegal salary is $23,000 to $32,000 annually. However, as your skills and experience increase, you will be able to command a better salary.
Increasing Demand for Paralegals Means Better Wages
The legal field has always been a popular path and every year, more lawyers enter the field. There is an ever-increasing demand for experienced legal assistants. Also, the American public experiences a growing demand for legal services. Lawyers aren’t just for the wealthy anymore. More individuals find that they require legal services or council in order to start businesses, protect their growing assets or manage their real estate holdings.
However, demand for legal assistants does seem to follow economic trends. When the economy suffers, demand for legal assistants goes down and/or paralegal salaries suffer, too, as private and public attorneys must reduce their overhead costs. As the economy continues to recover over the coming years, you should see an increase in available paralegal positions and salaries.
How Much Money Does a Paralegal Make?
In a career with such a wide range in potential earnings, how do you know what you can expect to earn as a paralegal? Paralegal wages are determined by a number of factors, including:
- Geographic location
- Experience
- Training
- Specialization
- Type of employment
Geographic location affects salaries in every career field and legal assistants are no different. Cost of living is an ever-present factor in determining salaries all over the country. For example, a paralegal working in San Francisco or New York City stands to earn significantly more than a paralegal working in Atlanta, Georgia. Location is a factor affecting the legal assistant pay scale that you can’t always control.
However, you do have some control over the other determining factors. Experienced, formally trained paralegals are in the highest demand all over the country. With due diligence and extensive training, you can work your way to the top in this field.
Specialization and type of employment also affect paralegals salary. Paralegals with experience or specialization in certain types of legal work are rare in the field and can command better pay. Also, the type of employer can increase your legal assistant salary. Private law firms are the most common employers of paralegals and consistently offer the highest earning potential. However, paralegals working for the federal government also earn higher wages, with an average of $52,000 annually. Paralegals employed by state and local governments earn slightly less.
Increase your Paralegal Salary
There are a number of things you can do to increase your salary as a paralegal. First of all, it’s important to pursue formal training and credentials. Some employers may be willing to train, but by pursuing your own training, you make their job that much easier. Associate’s degrees in paralegal studies are offered at community colleges as well as some online colleges. If you already have a college degree, you may be able to pursue a certification in paralegal studies.
Certification is another way to boost your value as a paralegal. Certification isn’t required to work as a paralegal, but it shows that you have certain skills and your commitment to your performance. Most certifications, such as Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP) require an examination. After that, be patient and work hard to do your best. Good performance and experience will add up over time.
Related Paralegal Salary Articles:
