PARALEGAL CAREER OUTLOOK
ABOUT THE PROFESSION
Responsibilities of a Paralegal:
- Preparing and writing court documents, including trial notebooks and jury instructions
- Conducting client and witness interviews
- On-site investigation and photos
- Ensuring all case documents are readily available for a law firm and preparing legal documents for trial
- Performing research via online portals and reference libraries for evidence in cases
Legal specialty areas to explore:
- Boutique Firm (practices one type of law, i.e. tax, family law)
- Corporations with in-house counsel (bank, insurance company, medical company)
- Governmental Agencies (social services, defense)
- Home-Office (freelance)
Benefits of a paralegal certificate:
According to the American Bar Association, the average cost of a law degree from a private school is $34,300 annually and more than $16,800 at a public school. The median annual salary for a paralegal nation-wide is $60,970 ($71,110 in the Philadelphia region), and allows a professional to work in the legal field without the debt of a law degree. Working as a paralegal also provides a foundation of knowledge and opportunity for advancement in a law firm.
Job Outlook
About 43,000 openings for paralegals and legal assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
INDUSTRY STATISTICS
The United States Bureau of Labor provides a foundation of statistics and career search data for professionals to make informed decisions regarding paralegal certification. Be sure to read the statistics below and visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics website to learn more about the paralegal field and industry growth forecast.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
2023 Median Pay |
$60,970 per year (nation-wide) $71,110 per year (Philadelphia area) |
Work Experience in Related Occupation |
None |
On-The-Job Training |
None |
Number of jobs in 2022 |
354,300 |
Job Outlook, 2022-2032 |
4% |
Typical Entry-Level Education |
Associate's Degree |
College of Professional Studies
800 E. Lancaster Avenue
Vasey Hall, Room 103
Villanova, PA 19085
Important Notices for Distance Education Students
The following includes important information for students participating in online courses, online programs and/or on-ground clinicals or practicums while physically located outside of Pennsylvania.
VALUE OF A PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM:
Enhance your resume.
Professional education classes enable you to add new skills, expertise, or credentials to your resume and make you even more valuable to your employer.
Expand your professional network.
Communicating and building relationships with your classmates and instructors can open new doors in your career.
Learn from industry experts.
All programs are taught by instructors who have worked or who are currently working in the field, and who are able to share practical applications and real world examples of topics in the course.
