Paralegal careers provide ample scope for diversity and variety, as well as career advancement. Although the salary of an entry level paralegal is not considered high, as time goes by and you gain experience, you can become a highly paid paralegal with considerable responsibility.
Going to paralegal school or attending a university program specializing in paralegal law is the best way to begin this exciting career. There are many areas of expertise that paralegals can work in, so gaining an understanding of what they are is a good way to decide where you want your career to progress over time.
Types of paralegals include:
Nursing Paralegal – An excellent choice for paralegals who have some experience or interest in the medical profession.
Patent Paralegal – These paralegals have the potential to earn the most money while helping patent attorneys and patent agents file patent-related paperwork.
Immigration Paralegal: A Unique Paralegal Career Choice.
Real Estate Paralegal – These paralegals assist in the property buying and selling process for clients.
Bankruptcy Paralegal: A paralegal niche area that is growing.
Family Law – Deals with all legal matters related to families, such as divorce and estate planning.
Litigation Paralegal: These legal assistants work with lawsuits of different types.
Real estate paralegals are one of the most common areas of paralegal work. These paralegals perform a variety of tasks, including preparing closings, performing due diligence, liaising with clients during the process of buying and exchanging property sales contracts, and researching title and administrative processes. Real estate law covers all aspects of buying and selling property, as well as financing and leasing property (both commercial and residential). Paralegals work closely with real estate attorneys to ensure the property exchange process goes smoothly.
Litigation paralegals resolve claims. These paralegals should be familiar with civil procedure and discovery, but it will depend on the type of litigation the paralegal is involved in. The two types are civil and criminal. Litigation paralegals must do a lot of work per client, making it one of the most arduous branches of the profession. Some litigation paralegal tasks include interviewing witnesses, fact-finding, assisting in the preparation of appeals, tracking court deadlines, and drafting pleadings.
If you’re interested in the law but don’t want to become a lawyer, consider a career as a paralegal. It’s just as exciting as a career as a lawyer, but it doesn’t require a law degree. As you can see, there are also many different branches of the paralegal profession that you can choose from based on your interests.
Paralegal Salary Data
Paralegal careers are very popular due to the interesting work and potential salary of the employees. The average salary for a paralegal is around $45,000, but there are many possibilities and opportunities to drastically increase your salary through more education, more experience, and a smart job search.
There is always a wide variation in salaries between law firms. Large companies will generally pay a paralegal more than very small companies. Government agencies also offer excellent salary opportunities for paralegals with higher incomes and more benefits. Most of the time, attorneys pay paralegals based on the quality and quantity of work delivered.
Law firms sometimes favor specific qualifications in their paralegals, and as such, if you meet these requirements, you will be entitled to higher salary and benefits. Paralegals often receive bonuses. The average bonus per year is around $3,400. The average salary for a paralegal is said to increase by around $1,700 per year, but this number can fluctuate based on economic conditions.
Paralegals have been known to work exceptionally long hours. Depending on the terms of your contract, you may be eligible for overtime as a paralegal. As mentioned, bonuses are also paid as a reward for your dedication.
Paralegals and paralegals earn different average salaries based on education and experience, as well as the quality of the employer. In general, law firms in major cities will pay considerably more than those in rural or regional areas.
Junior paralegals typically start out with a low salary of around $25,000, but progress quickly as they gain experience and most receive a salary increase each year. The best paralegals can charge upwards of $60,000 per year and these individuals are usually experts in one area of the paralegal profession.
Some common tasks performed by paralegals include:
– Customer contacts
– Redaction of documents
– Organization of client files.
– Indexing of transcripts
– Preparation of clients for judicial hearings.
– Review of legal material.
– Maintenance of the schedule schedule.
– Keep track of pending legislation that could affect clients
All of these tasks combine to make a job that requires a lot of attention to detail and knowledge of the legal system. And that’s why paralegals can potentially earn a great salary. So if this sounds interesting to you, consider pursuing a career as a paralegal, it’s an exciting career field that doesn’t require years of study or experience.