Also called: Law Associate, Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Paralegal Specialist What they do: Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Paralegals may be responsible for many cases at one time. The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. A common path is for candidates to earn an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from a postsecondary institution. The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. The median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $51,740 in May 2019. Paralegals and Legal Assistants. It includes solutions to real assignments and offers techniques and procedures to tackle problems at work The role of a Paralegal or Legal Assistant is essential for … An official website of the United States government We understand that the success and well-being of our clients and our staff is often rooted in our shared … Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of paralegals and legal assistants with similar occupations. If you have a similar background and are interested in working in a support role, there are a variety of options to choose from. Paralegals and legal assistants are found in all types of organizations, but most work for law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. Duties of Paralegals and Legal Assistants. There are several jobs that are similar to a paralegal for those who want to work in a similar profession. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents. Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government agencies on legal issues and disputes. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. They may also take care of other administrative tasks, such as billing clients. We are filling several Paralegal & Legal Assistant roles with various Law Firms in Orlando. Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. In addition to reviewing and organizing documents, paralegals may prepare written reports that help lawyers determine how to handle their cases. This should cause an increase in demand for paralegals and legal assistants. The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics. The .gov means it's official. Other professionals may only refer to themselves as "legal assistants." Associate’s and bachelor's degree programs in legal or paralegal studies usually offer paralegal training courses in legal research, legal writing, and the legal applications of computers, along with courses in other academic subjects, such as corporate law and international law. Many junior colleges offer courses toward a paralegal certificate. The legal assistant's work is more administrative. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Legal assistants can be found organizing working files and documents, and scheduling meetings for the attorney and paralegal. They do legal research and draft pleadings, contracts, leases, and other court and legal documents. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. Search 974 Legal Assistant Paralegal jobs now available on Indeed.com, the world's largest job site. For example, they may bill $100 an hour for the paralegal's or legal assistant's time and $300 for their own. In the past, it was used interchangeably for paralegals and legal secretaries. Paralegals and legal assistants provide legal support to lawyers by assisting them with administrative tasks. Paralegals and legal assistants typically do the following: Investigate and gather the facts of a case; Conduct research on relevant laws, regulations, and legal articles They usually work full time, and some may have to work more than 40 hours a week to meet deadlines. Because only a small number of schools offer bachelor’s degrees in paralegal studies, applicants will typically have a bachelor’s degree in another subject and earn a certificate in paralegal studies from a paralegal education program approved by the American Bar Association. Unlike a paralegal, a legal assistant does not need certification or specific training in law. Paralegals and legal assistants perform a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Paralegals and legal assistants work in all areas of legislation, offering a form of clerical support. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. Additional training needed (postemployment) to attain competency in the skills needed in this occupation. Paralegals and legal assistants earn a median annual wage of $50,940 1, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with the highest 10 percent earning more than $82,050. Paralegals and legal assistants may conduct legal research. Secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical and administrative duties. 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