Summary of Research on Paralegal Income

Over the past weeks, I have explored quite a bit of information pertaining to the potential income that can be earned by a paralegal. In summary of this blog, I would like to summarize all that I have learned from my research.

The main factors that affect a paralegal’s income are education and experience, as well as the area of law which you are employed. As far as education, it is important to obtain an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited school. The ABA posts a list of accredited schools on their website at: http://www.abanet.org/legalservices/paralegals/directory/oh.html. A paralegal’s income will also increase with the additional education he or she receives, such as a Bachelor’s degree.

Becoming a certified or registered paralegal can also prove to be financially rewarding. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) offer certification programs that require paralegals to meet certain education and experience standards. There is also an examination involved with this certification. The American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI) also offers a certification that requires education and experience, but includes no examination.

The area of law in which a paralegal works, can have a dramatic effect on the income that he or she can expect. I found that the fields yielding the highest income level include: tax, intellectual property, securities, and corporate. While the lower income levels for paralegals include the fields of workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law and administrative law. The income level for a paralegal can also be associated with the geographical area in which he or she works. The income level is much higher in larger cities because of the larger companies and law firms that offer employment to paralegals.

The most encouraging information I found in my research is the increased need for paralegals in the future. The need for paralegals and legal assistants is expected to increase by 22% in the next decade. This increase is due to companies and law firms reducing costs and becoming more efficient, by delegating many tasks to paralegals that used to be performed by attorneys. Paralegals are performing a wide variety of duties, which makes them a greater asset to employers. The future for paralegals is looking bright!

Sources: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos114.htm#projections_data http://www.allcriminaljusticeschools.com/criminal-justice-resources/paralegal_certification?src=trl_acjs