Paralegals work in law firms (68%), corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits, performing legal research, document preparation, trial support, and client interviews. With a median salary of $60,970 (2024 BLS) and steady 4% job growth projected through 2032, paralegal careers offer diverse opportunities across multiple practice areas and specializations.
Paralegal careers offer remarkable diversity in both work environment and job responsibilities. Whether you’re drawn to the fast-paced world of litigation, the structured environment of corporate law, or the mission-driven work of public service, there’s a paralegal position that fits your interests and skills.
The legal field continues to rely heavily on paralegals to handle complex legal work at a lower billing rate than attorneys, making them essential team members. This guide explores where paralegals work, what they do daily, and how to advance your career in this growing profession.
Where Do Paralegals Work?
According to the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), approximately 68% of paralegals work in private law firms, while the remaining 32% find employment in corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and independent practices. Each work environment offers distinct advantages, challenges, and career trajectories.
Law Firms: Small, Mid-Size, and Large
Law firms remain the primary employer of paralegals, offering everything from boutique practices to major international firms.
Large Law Firms provide sophisticated technology, extensive resources, and clear advancement paths. These firms often have dedicated paralegal departments with managers and supervisors, creating opportunities for career growth. You’ll typically specialize in one practice area and work with state-of-the-art legal research tools and comprehensive law libraries. Major firms like Baker McKenzie (4,363 lawyers), DLA Piper (3,756 lawyers), and Norton Rose Fulbright (3,371 lawyers) employ dozens to hundreds of paralegals.
Small to Mid-Size Firms offer greater variety in your daily work. You’ll likely handle multiple types of cases and take on broader responsibilities, sometimes including administrative tasks. Angela M., a Pittsburgh-based paralegal, notes “you’re more likely to wear multiple hats” in smaller firms. Many paralegals appreciate feeling valued team members and enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere of smaller firms.
Corporations and In-House Legal Departments
Large corporations maintain in-house legal counsel to handle employee contracts, benefit plans, stock options, regulatory compliance, and shareholder issues. Corporate paralegals work on matters related to environmental laws, antitrust regulations, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, and other business-specific legal requirements.
The corporate environment offers regular hours without billable hour requirements and competitive benefits. While the work is less varied than in law firms (you’re supporting one client), many paralegals value becoming subject-matter experts in areas like banking, insurance, or healthcare law. Companies like General Electric, Citigroup, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, and JPMorgan maintain substantial legal departments.
Government Agencies
Federal, state, and local government entities employ paralegals across numerous departments. At the federal level, the Department of Justice (DOJ) employs the most paralegals, followed by the Social Security Administration and the Department of the Treasury. Other major employers include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and court systems.
Government positions typically offer excellent job security, may provide competitive or sometimes higher salaries than private sector counterparts, depending on the agency and location, comprehensive benefits, and predictable schedules. You might work for district attorneys, public defenders, or specialized agencies handling everything from immigration to environmental enforcement.
Non-Profit Organizations
Advocacy groups hire paralegals to support their legal missions. These organizations range from environmental groups to civil rights organizations to legal aid societies serving disadvantaged populations. Major employers include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Immigration Law Center, and the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Non-profit work appeals to paralegals passionate about specific causes. While salaries may be lower than in corporate or large-firm positions, many paralegals find the mission-driven work deeply fulfilling. These organizations often offer more casual work environments and opportunities to make a direct social impact.
Independent and Freelance Paralegals
According to a 2020 NALA survey, approximately 3% of paralegals are self-employed or own paralegal businesses. Independent paralegals work directly with clients (not under attorney supervision for specific tasks) and prepare forms related to taxes, bankruptcy, and estate planning. While you can’t provide legal advice or represent clients in court, you can offer valuable document preparation services.
Independent practice requires several years of experience, strong business skills, and often additional certifications. Some states have specific regulations governing independent paralegal work, so research your jurisdiction’s requirements carefully.
What Do Paralegals Do? Core Job Duties
Regardless of where you work, you’ll perform substantive legal work under attorney supervision. Paralegals handle complex legal issues, freeing attorneys to focus on providing legal advice and representing clients in court. Because paralegals bill at lower rates than attorneys, your work helps keep legal costs manageable for clients.
| Job Function | Key Responsibilities | Skills Required |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Research | Locate relevant laws, regulations, case law, and precedents using legal databases and libraries | Research proficiency, attention to detail, analytical thinking |
| Document Preparation | Draft contracts, pleadings, motions, wills, and deeds under attorney review | Writing skills, legal formatting knowledge, accuracy |
| Investigation | Gather evidence, interview clients and witnesses, conduct field investigations | Communication skills, organization, thoroughness |
| Trial Support | Organize exhibits, prepare visual aids, maintain trial calendars, assist during proceedings | Organization, multitasking, technology proficiency |
| Case Management | Track deadlines, manage discovery, maintain case files, coordinate communications | Time management, detail orientation, reliability |
Investigations involve gathering evidence through fact verification, client and witness interviews, and, sometimes, fieldwork. This time-consuming but critical function provides attorneys with the information needed to effectively represent clients.
Legal Research requires locating current laws and regulations that apply to specific cases, then determining how they affect legal strategies. You’ll use legal databases, public records, and specialized resources to find relevant information.
Document Work encompasses drafting, filing, reviewing, and organizing legal documents. You might draft contracts, prepare pleadings and motions, file documents with courts, organize trial exhibits, and maintain comprehensive case documentation.
Trial Preparation includes extensive pretrial work, such as organizing exhibits, creating visual aids, preparing juror questionnaires, and developing trial motions. During trial, you’ll bring files and evidence to court, take detailed notes, and provide real-time support to attorneys.
How to Advance Your Paralegal Career
Most paralegals enter the profession by earning an associate degree or certificate from an accredited program. Some transition from roles such as legal secretary or law clerk after gaining exposure to legal work and decide to formalize their education.
Career advancement takes several paths. Some paralegals pursue voluntary certification through organizations like NALA or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), demonstrating expertise and commitment to the profession. These credentials can lead to higher salaries and supervisory positions.
Others return to school for bachelor’s or master’s degrees in paralegal studies, particularly those interested in teaching at colleges and universities. Some paralegals eventually attend law school, leveraging their legal experience as a foundation for becoming attorneys.
Rose Turzak, a Columbus-based paralegal who later became a lawyer, recommends contacting your local American Bar Association (ABA) chapter to shadow attorneys in practice areas that interest you. This exposure helps you identify specializations that align with your career goals.
Popular Paralegal Specializations
While most paralegal programs prepare you as a generalist, specialization typically develops through work experience, continuing education, and additional certifications. Specialists develop deep expertise in specific legal areas, making them highly valuable to employers.
| Specialization | Focus Areas | Common Employers |
|---|---|---|
| Family Law | Divorce, child custody, adoption, support agreements | Small to mid-size firms, legal aid organizations |
| Civil Litigation | Personal injury, contract disputes, property law | Law firms of all sizes, insurance companies |
| Corporate Law | Mergers and acquisitions, contracts, compliance | Large firms, corporate legal departments |
| Criminal Law | Defense or prosecution support, case investigation | District attorney offices, public defenders, criminal defense firms |
| Intellectual Property | Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets | IP firms, technology companies, large law firms |
| Real Estate Law | Property transactions, title searches, closings | Real estate firms, banks, title companies |
| Estate Planning | Wills, trusts, probate, conservatorships | Estate planning firms, banks, elder law practices |
| Bankruptcy | Debt relief, creditor representation, trustee support | Bankruptcy firms, corporate legal departments |
Emerging specializations include environmental law, elder law, medical law, and international law. The intellectual property field continues to grow rapidly due to advances in technology and software development.
Paralegal Salary and Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, paralegals earned a median annual salary of $60,970 in 2024. The lowest 10% earned approximately $39,710, while the highest 10% earned $98,990 or more, with variation based on location, experience, specialization, and employer type. Learn more about paralegal salaries by state and specialization.
Government paralegals may earn competitive or sometimes higher salaries than their private sector counterparts, depending on the agency and location, with comprehensive benefits and job security. Large law firms in major metropolitan areas typically pay the most, particularly for experienced paralegals with specialized skills.
The job outlook remains positive, with the BLS projecting 4% employment growth from 2022 to 2032. This steady growth reflects continued demand as law firms and legal departments seek to control costs by delegating substantive legal work to qualified paralegals. Approximately 34,000 job openings are expected annually through 2032, including openings driven by growth and workforce turnover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most paralegals work?
Approximately 68% of paralegals work in private law firms, ranging from small boutique practices to major international firms with thousands of attorneys. The remaining 32% work in corporate legal departments, government agencies, non-profit organizations, or as independent contractors.
What’s the difference between working in a law firm versus a corporation?
Law firm paralegals typically work with multiple clients on diverse cases and track billable hours. Corporate paralegals support one employer’s legal needs without billable hours, often enjoying more regular schedules but less variety in their work. Corporate positions may offer better work-life balance, while law firms may provide more diverse legal experience.
Can paralegals work independently without attorney supervision?
Independent paralegals can prepare legal documents, such as bankruptcy petitions, tax forms, and estate planning documents, directly for clients. However, they cannot provide legal advice or represent clients in court (except sometimes at administrative hearings). Independent practice typically requires several years of experience and may be regulated differently by the state. Always research your jurisdiction’s specific requirements.
What are the main responsibilities of a paralegal?
Paralegals perform legal research to find relevant laws and cases, draft legal documents including contracts and pleadings, conduct investigations by interviewing clients and witnesses, prepare for trials by organizing exhibits and evidence, and manage case files and deadlines. All work is performed under the supervision of an attorney.
Do government paralegals earn more than private sector paralegals?
Government paralegals may earn competitive or sometimes higher salaries than private sector counterparts, depending on the agency and location, along with comprehensive benefits packages including pension plans, health insurance, and job security. Federal positions, particularly with agencies like the Department of Justice, often offer excellent compensation and advancement opportunities.
How do I choose a paralegal specialization?
Specialization typically develops through work experience rather than initial education. Most experts recommend gaining broad expertise first, then identifying areas that interest you. Contact your local ABA chapter to shadow attorneys in different practice areas, take continuing education courses in specialties that appeal to you, and pursue certification in your chosen field through organizations like NALA or NFPA.
What’s the job outlook for paralegals?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4% employment growth for paralegals from 2022 to 2032, which is about average for all occupations. This steady growth reflects continued demand as law firms and legal departments seek to control costs by utilizing paralegals for substantive legal work. Approximately 34,000 job openings are expected annually through 2032.
Key Takeaways
- Paralegals work in diverse settings, including law firms (68%), corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and independent practice, each offering unique advantages and career trajectories
- Core paralegal duties include legal research, document preparation, investigation, trial support, and case management, all performed under attorney supervision to help control legal costs
- Career advancement opportunities include voluntary certification, specialized training, supervisory roles, teaching positions, or law school for those seeking to become attorneys
- Popular specializations include family law, civil litigation, corporate law, criminal law, intellectual property, real estate, estate planning, and bankruptcy, typically developed through work experience
- The median paralegal salary is $60,970 (2024 BLS) with 4% job growth projected through 2032, offering stable career prospects with approximately 34,000 annual job openings
- Government positions may offer competitive or sometimes higher salaries and comprehensive benefit,s depending on agency and location, while large law firms in major cities typically pay the highest rates for experienced specialists
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2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2025.
