Legal Assistant & Paralegal Salary
Legal assistants and paralegals work in law offices to assist lawyers prepare and research cases. The assistant or paralegal performs many of the same duties as a lawyer, but cannot dispense legal advice or represent clients. The paralegal prepares reports for the attorney, files paperwork and takes affidavits, which help to determine how a case should proceed. The average salary for a paralegal or legal assistant is between $29,753 and $46,460, as of November 2010, according to Payscale.com.
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Types
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The type of law office the paralegal or legal assistant works in plays a role in the amount the individual can earn. Legal assistants who work in private law offices earn an annual salary between $31,691 and $47,187. Paralegals who work in government or public law offices earn salaries between $30,925 and $45,962 annually, as of 2010 according to Payscale.com.
Location
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The geographic location also plays a role in the salary of a paralegal or legal assistant. For example, paralegals working in San Francisco, California, earned an annual salary range between $42,500 and $72,933 while paralegals in Jacksonville, Florida, earn an annual salary between $30,000 and $47,023.
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Training and Certification
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Employers may not require certification for the legal assistant, but it is likely an applicant will be required to have an education in paralegal studies from an accredited college, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An associate’s degree from a community college is usually sufficient for an entry-level paralegal position. Paralegals can obtain a bachelors or masters degree in paralegal studies, which may enhance job opportunities and salary.
Certifications are usually not necessary for a position as a paralegal or legal assistant, but they can affect the salary the individual commands. The National Association of Legal Assistants offers certification for individuals, which requires education, examination and experience to qualify for the credential. The paralegals or legal assistants who obtain certification can use the Certified Paralegal, CP, credential or the Certified Legal Assistant, CLA, credential. This may enhance the available job opportunities with higher paying positions.
Advancement
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Legal assistants and paralegals can also increase their salary by taking on a supervisory role in a law firm. A supervising legal assistant may assign tasks and duties to other paralegals and assistants in the office. This position usually occurs after years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.
Benefits
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In addition to salary, legal assistants enjoy other benefits when working for a law firm such as paid vacations, bonuses, tuition reimbursement, as well as health insurance and paid sick time. These benefits add to the salary earned a by a paralegal or legal assistant.
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References
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