Law & Government
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.
Median salary (BLS)
$62,890
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$45k – $102k
Job outlook
No separate BLS projection for this specific role
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $105,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Education
Typical entry: Associate degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Entry / Junior
$44,740
~2 yrs to advance
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Established
$62,890
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Senior
$82,195
Key skills
A typical day
- •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 cases.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Law & Government
Explore all- Yale University5% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- Columbia University4% admit · $103,000 grad pay
- University of Chicago5% admit · $91,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.