Statistics for Careers & Jobs in Paralegal

Paralegal Careers Statistics

The median annual salary for paralegals was $37,950 in 2002.
The top 10% of paralegals earned over $61,150, including bonuses, in 2002.
Paralegals employed by the federal government averaged $53,770 in 2002.
Paralegals and legal assistants held approximately 200,000 jobs in 2002.
Private law firms employed about 70% of all paralegals and legal assistants.
There are about 600 paralegal training programs in the US; roughly 250 of them are approved by the American Bar Association.
Having excellent computer skills is an absolute must for today's paralegals.
Classes may cover such topics as: philosophy, literature, ethics, organizational behavior, math, psychology and sociology, writing, environmental studies, and history.
The field is exciting, fast-paced, and very stressful.
Most paralegals continue their education throughout their careers.
Paralegals usually handle more than one case at a time, so organizational skills are key.