Paralegals and Legal Assistants

At a Glance

Median Salary
$48,431

Local Jobs
497

Entry-Level Education
Associate's Degree

Occupation Profile

Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements. Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits. Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case. 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.

By The Numbers

Median Annual Earnings

$48,431

Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupation

Local Jobs

497

Jobs are any position in which a worker provides labor in exchange for monetary compensation (note: one individual may hold multiple jobs)

Entry-Level Education

Associate's Degree

This is the most common education level requested in entry-level job listings.

Daily Tasks

Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
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.
File pleadings with court clerk.
Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.

Occupational Skills

What skills are necessary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?

Hard Skills

Billing
Docketing (Court)
Law Practice Management Software
Lawsuits
Legal Depositions
Legal Discovery
Legal Hearings
Legal Pleadings
Personal Injury Law
Trial Preparation

Soft Skills

Communications
Customer Service
Detail Oriented
Filing
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office
Microsoft PowerPoint
Multilingualism
Spanish Language
Writing

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.

Education Programs

Del Mar College