Paralegal Salaries Soar

by Sarah Clark
sarah.clark@careertrainingdirectory.com
Career Training Directory Columnist

Fortune’s 2006 “100 Best Companies to Work For” list rated companies according to salary, benefits, and other factors. Several law firms were among the companies that rated highest on compensation. Aspiring legal secretaries and paralegals take note; the demand for qualified legal support personnel is sending salaries for paralegal jobs skyrocketing.

Strong Earnings at Top Firms

According to the report, legal secretaries at Morrison and Forester earned average annual salaries of $67,800. Base salaries for legal secretaries weren’t so shabby either at $60,334. Boston-based Bingham McCutchen paid its paralegals an average of $63,821 in 2005. Other companies paying higher than average salaries include Nixon Peabody, Alston and Bird, and Arnold and Porter.

Paralegal Jobs Grow in Number

If that isn’t good news enough, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that legal secretary jobs are expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations—at least 27 percent—through the year 2014. The best paying jobs will be with large law firms or firms in metropolitan areas, reports the BLS.

Challenging, Fast-paced Work

While most legal secretaries work a standard 40-hour week, some legal secretaries, especially those working in litigation, may work longer hours. If a big case is going to court, a paralegal might be work on a weeknight or weekend. Many employers compensate legal secretaries for their extra effort through bonuses and paid time off.

Paralegal School

Paralegal schools may offer two-year associate degree programs, certificate programs, or bachelor’s degree programs. Certificate programs are most popular among those who already have a bachelor’s degree but no formal paralegal training. There are over 1,000 paralegal schools or programs in the U.S., but only 260 are approved by the American Bar Association, according to the BLS. Graduation from an ABA-approved program can “enhance one’s employment opportunities,” reports the Department of Labor.

During paralegal school, students may learn how to use various technologies to organize, label, and scan documents. Students can be introduced to common legal forms such as contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, tax forms, and estate planning documentation.

Paralegal school can pay off big when it comes time for the job search. If the practice of law intrigues you, now is the time to invest in your career.

Sources

The Bureau of Labor Statistics
CNN

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer who often covers topics related to career development and postsecondary education.