Hiring Paralegals and Legal Assistants

What do paralegals and legal assistants do?

• Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
• Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
• Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
• Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
• Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
• Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 23-2011.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET Job Zone 3, SVP (6.0 to < 7.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Thomson Reuters Westlaw for this role.

What do paralegals and legal assistants get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for paralegals and legal assistants in 92 of the metro areas we publish data for. The median ranges from $45,780 to $99,250 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $61,270. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 23-2011.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest median any metro we publish data for pays paralegals and legal assistants is $99,250 a year, place of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $19,850 to $29,775 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a paralegal search fill?

Typically 23 to 35 days, and typically 2 to 3x faster than a contingency search, per our recruiting partner's published figures. Both are typical rather than guaranteed.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.