Support lawyers by researching cases, drafting documents, and organizing evidence and files.
You may also see this posted as: Legal Assistant, Legal Clerk, Paralegal Specialist, Immigration Paralegal, Law Associate, Legal Analyst.
Law offices or remote; at a desk, detailed research and writing.
Full-time; overtime around trials and deadlines.
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Investigative
solving problems, analyzing evidence, and figuring out how things work
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
O*NET job zone 3 of 5
Medium preparation—often vocational training, an associate degree, or substantial experience—is usually needed.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 1.4% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Associate degree
Training path: Associate degree or certificate.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
No license required; a certificate or degree is the usual path.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Law-firm work without law school — and a proving ground before committing to a JD.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 23-2011. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.