How much does a paralegal make? The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the level of education and experience of the paralegal, the state the paralegal is employed in and the area of law in which they are working.
Different areas of the legal field pay different salaries, depending on whether the employer is a private law firm, a large corporation or a government agency. Larger cities pay higher salaries than smaller towns or rural areas, however, the cost of living must be taken into consideration.
Paralegal Education
Paralegals can receive Paralegal Certificates, Paralegal Degrees, or Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degrees in Paralegal or Legal Studies. They will generally command a slightly higher salary if they have a degree or certificate, although experience plays a large role in starting salaries for paralegals. Many paralegals simply receive on-the-job training and are able to obtain respectable paying jobs simply by having experience in the field. Most attorneys want a paralegal to be capable of “hitting the floor running” without much training and as such, will pay more for experience.
Roles and Responsibilities
Duties of a paralegal can vary depending on the firm, each individual attorney, as well as which state the paralegal works in. Typical duties include:
• Transcribing correspondence that attorneys have dictated
• Maintaining accurate case files and ensuring all documents are separated, indexed and filed in chronological order
• Keeping the attorney’s calendar up to date with all relevant deadlines related to the case
• Interviewing witnesses
• Preparing and answering discovery
• Scheduling depositions and preparing deposition questions
• Preparing exhibits and trial notebooks
• Preparing pleadings, such as Motions and Oppositions
• Filing documents with the court and serving them on the other party or their attorney
• Researching laws and regulations relevant to cases, as well as reviewing applicable legal articles
In smaller firms, a paralegal will be entrusted with all of the above-mentioned duties. In larger firms, they might be in charge of only a handful of these duties – typically legal secretaries or assistants in larger firms will handle file maintenance and correspondence.
In corporate firms, paralegals have different roles. They help attorneys prepare stock-option plans, employee contract, shareholder agreements and annual financial reports. They also stay on top of changes to government regulations to ensure their clients are up to date with any and all legal requirements so they can remain in compliance.
Paralegals need to be extremely organized in order to maintain the files properly, comply with all deadlines and to keep the cases flowing in an efficient manner. They also need to be good at communicating with clients, other attorneys and court personnel.
Salaries
On a general scale, according to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a paralegal is $22.44 per hour or $46,680 per year – for a paralegal with at least an Associate’s Degree. Paralegals working in corporate law firm or IP firms are typically paid above the average salary. The answer to “how much does a paralegal make” is varied, however, they receive a generous starting salary for very little education.
