We’re all pretty familiar with attorneys. They’re usually the ones arguing cases, questioning witnesses, and donning poker faces across from opposing counsel. But believe it or not, much of the research and preparation that goes into a case happens behind the scenes at a paralegal’s desk.
What are paralegals, exactly?
In a nutshell: Paralegals research laws and past court decisions and prepare legal documents, all under a lawyer’s supervision. And you don't need to go to law school to become one! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for paralegals and legal assistants was $62,890 in May 2025.
The future of paralegal jobs is kind of mixed, partly because of artificial intelligence (AI), but BLS still projects about 40,800 job openings each year, on average, as people retire or change careers.
Below, we'll cover what the work involves, what it pays, how you can get hired without a law degree, and what the outlook means if you’re just starting out.
What do paralegals do day to day?
The American Bar Association (ABA) describes a paralegal as someone who handles substantive legal work delegated by a lawyer, who remains responsible for that work. Paralegals can't give legal advice, but they do a lot of the groundwork attorneys rely on.
According to BLS, typical duties include:
- Investigating the facts of a case
- Researching laws, regulations and legal articles
- Organizing and maintaining case documents
- Drafting correspondence and legal documents, such as contracts
- Getting affidavits and other sworn statements
- Helping attorneys during trials with exhibits, notes and transcripts
- Filing documents with courts and agencies
- Scheduling interviews, meetings and depositions
The size of the firm shapes the job. At a small firm, you might handle every phase of a case. At a large firm, you're more likely to focus on one stage, such as preparing witnesses for depositions.
Many paralegals also build expertise in one practice area, such as bankruptcy, intellectual property, or litigation. To see where different specialties could take you, explore our guide to 20 paralegal specializations.
When you're applying for jobs, you'll often see both "paralegal" and "legal assistant" in postings. BLS groups the two titles together. Although the ABA dropped "legal assistant" from its definition in 2020, plenty of employers still use the term.
Where do paralegals work?
Law firms are by far the biggest employer. BLS reports that in 2025, 75% of the nation's 404,900 paralegal and legal assistant jobs were in legal services. Other major employers included:
- Local government: 5%
- Federal government: 4%
- State government: 3%
- Finance and insurance: 3%
Most paralegals spend their workdays in an office alongside attorneys and other support staff, but some travel to depositions or trials. Most paralegals work full-time. And with several cases and deadlines to juggle, the job can certainly feel stressful.
Basically, it is a desk job. According to O*NET, 80% of surveyed paralegals said they sit continually or almost continually. Seventy-nine percent said being exact or accurate is extremely important in their work.
How much do paralegals make?
BLS reports that paralegals and legal assistants earned a median annual salary of $62,890 in May 2025. That’s nearly $12,000 more than the $50,980 median for all occupations! Pay spans a wide range: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,740, while the top 10% earned more than $101,500.
Your pay also depends on your employer. For example, here's how median annual pay compares across several major industries employing paralegals in May 2025:
- Federal government: $81,470
- Finance and insurance: $80,120
- Local government: $63,370
- Legal services: $61,770
- tate government: $59,320
In other words, paralegals at federal agencies and in finance and insurance earned medians about $18,000 to $20,000 higher than those at law firms. Experience, specialty, and location matter, too. Our article on the top factors affecting earning potential explains how each one influences your pay over time.
Job forecast: flat growth, but steady turnover
BLS projects paralegal employment to stay essentially flat from 2025 to 2035, slipping from 404,900 jobs to 403,800.
Technology is part of this reason. BLS says AI and other tools help paralegals research and prepare documents more efficiently, which could reduce how many employers need.
More importantly, flat growth isn't the same as no hiring. BLS still predicts about 40,800 openings for paralegals and legal assistants each year, on average, over the decade. If you get hired, you'll likely be filling a position left by someone who retired or changed careers, rather than a brand-new role.
So, what does all this mean if you're just getting started? A 2025 BLS analysis of AI's effect on legal jobs noted that AI-generated work still needs detailed human review because it can contain errors. For a new paralegal, that's a good reason to build strong research and proofreading habits and to get comfortable with legal research and document tools early. O*NET lists Westlaw and Microsoft Office programs among the in-demand technology skills for the job.
With no law school required, how do you become a paralegal?
There's no single required path. According to BLS, most paralegals complete an associate's degree or a certificate in paralegal studies. Some employers prefer a bachelor's degree plus a paralegal certificate, and others hire people with no legal background and train them on the job.
Still, expectations vary by employer and region. Before you enroll anywhere, read through a dozen or so paralegal job postings in your area and note what they ask for, from education to specific software.
Certificate vs. certification
Despite how similar these words sound, they mean different things. As the ABA explains:
- A paralegal certificate shows you've completed a paralegal education program.
- Professional certification comes from a paralegal organization, usually after you pass an exam and meet its education or experience requirements.
Certification is voluntary, though BLS notes that some employers prefer or require it. National groups such as NALA, the Paralegal Association, and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations offer certification exams. Each sets its own eligibility rules based on education, paralegal work experience, or both. If you don't have a degree, certification may be something you work toward after gaining experience on the job. Just be sure to check each organization's current requirements before planning around a specific exam.
Planning to work in California?
California is the only state with specific paralegal regulations, according to the ABA. Under state law, anyone who uses the title "paralegal" must meet set education or experience requirements and complete ongoing continuing education. If you will work in California, review those requirements before choosing a program.
Is paralegal work right for you?
BLS lists communication, attention to detail, organization, and research among the most important qualities for paralegals, with writing ranked at the top of the skills list by O*NET. Do you have what it takes to be a paralegal? Ask yourself these questions:
- “Do I like tracking down an answer and noting exactly where I found it?”
- “Can I write clearly and catch my own mistakes when I proofread?”
- “Am I comfortable working on someone else's priorities and deadlines?”
- “Can I keep several projects moving without losing track of details?”
- “Would a desk job with lots of reading keep me engaged?”
Your work might not be as dramatic as Julia Roberts' in “Erin Brockovich,” but that doesn't mean you can't make a real difference in someone's life.
If you're still weighing the trade-offs, our breakdown of the pros and cons of being a paralegal covers the day-to-day pressures and limited independence that come with the job.
Train online with U.S. Career Institute
With us, you won’t need to cram a two-year associate’s degree into an already busy schedule. U.S. Career Institute's Online Paralegal Certificate Program is self-paced, with no due dates or deadlines, so you can study around your job and family. You can finish in as little as four months or take approximately four to eight months if you're studying part time.
The program's 25 lessons are grouped into four units:
- The paralegal's role: paralegal duties, the U.S. court system and Constitution, and the basics of legal writing
- Legal research and criminal law: federal, state and statutory research, plus the elements of a crime, prosecution and defense
- Trial preparation and civil law: exhibits, briefs, interrogatories and interviews, along with torts and family law
- Paralegal specialties: hands-on legal document writing and areas like contracts, wills and trusts, real estate, business and environmental law
You'll check your progress with 25 open-note quizzes that have no time limit. Instructors are available by phone and email, and you'll also have access to one-on-one career coaching, including resume help and interview support. The program's lead instructor, Kelly Wingo, has worked as both a senior paralegal and a judicial assistant.
When you finish, you'll earn a U.S. Career Institute certificate of completion. The program teaches general legal principles rather than the laws of any one state, so remember to check the requirements where you plan to work. U.S. Career Institute is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
Before you decide, sketch out where study time could fit in your week, then compare that with the four- to eight-month part-time timeline. You'll find the full curriculum and payment options on the Online Paralegal Certificate Program page.
If you can picture yourself researching cases, organizing evidence, and helping a legal team prepare for what's next, U.S. Career Institute is a great place to start!