Job Features

• Legally, paralegals can perform many of the same job duties as attorneys. They help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials and corporate meetings. Paralegals research the facts of cases and gather relevant information. They identify relevant laws and prior judicial decisions, and they draft and prepare various legal documents including pleadings, contracts, trusts and mortgages. Paralegals also assist attorneys during trials.
  
  

Salary by Experience

• An associate degree in paralegal studies is the typical entry-level requirement for a paralegal. Many paralegals have a bachelor's degree with a major in a different subject and a certificate in paralegal studies. The certificate generally takes six months to one year to complete. Another option is a bachelor's degree in legal studies or criminal justice. The starting median salary range for paralegals in January 2011 was about $28,900 to $38,800, according to PayScale, a website that compiles information from survey respondents. Paralegals with one to four years of experience were making $31,300 to $44,000 per year, and those with five to nine years of experience, $38,000 to $52,400.
  
  

Salary Range

• The average salary for paralegals as of May 2009 was about $24 per hour, or $50,000 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those on the middle 50 percent of the earnings scale were making $36,800 to $60,600. The bottom 10 percent of the salary range was below $29,800, and the top 10 percent more than $75,700 per year. The average annual salary for paralegals employed in legal services was about $48,500. Those working for local government agencies were earning $50,500 on average, for state government $44,200, and for the federal government $62,600.
  
  

Considerations

• Paralegal positions in large law firms, financial services and corporations generally pay higher salaries than paralegal jobs in smaller organizations. In addition, paralegals working in large metropolitan regions usually have higher incomes than those working in small towns or rural areas, but must also consider the higher cost of living. Full-time paralegals receive paid vacations and holidays, a 401(k) or other company-matched savings plan and company-contributed health insurance. Paralegals often receive annual bonuses and funding for continuing education.