If you want to work as a paralegal in 2017, you will probably find that the availability of jobs is about the same as it is for other jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook projects that paralegal and legal assistant positions will grow eight percent between 2014 and 2024, which is about as fast as average for all types of jobs.
Increased Efficiency
Law firms are trying to up the efficiency of their legal services and cut down on costs. To do so, they will probably hire more paralegals and legal assistants. Paralegals and legal assistants can expect to do the traditional work of paralegals but also take over some of the jobs other types of legal support employees would perform in the office.
The public is demanding less expensive legal services, so paralegals and legal assistants are now often doing the tasks that entry-level lawyers would do, which cuts down on costs for clients. This may result in a higher demand for paralegals and legal assistants.
Different Work Environments
Paralegals should look outside the traditional law firm environment for paralegal jobs in other types of organizations. Large companies often would rather hire in-house legal counsel than pay to have it outsourced, so jobs are becoming more plentiful in healthcare organizations, insurance and consulting firms, to name a few.
RobertHalf.com notes that the fastest growing industry in the Pacific, West North Central, East South Central, New England, South Atlantic, Mountain, and West South Central regions is healthcare. Some other fast-growing industries include manufacturing, real estate, financial services, technology, and construction.
Slower Economy
In a slower economy that has negatively impacted certain areas of legal practice, law firms may not be as busy because clients do not want to merge their businesses, become involved in litigation, or otherwise have to hire legal counsel. This will likely lead to fewer paralegals being hired.
Paralegals with plenty of experience – especially in specific practice areas -- and who are formally trained will have the best job prospects. Additionally, those with skills with computers and database management have an edge over other applicants. For example, according to RobertHalf.com, Real Estate Paralegals are the second most in-demand legal position in the South Atlantic Region, and Commercial Litigation Paralegals are the second most in-demand legal positions in the Mountain Region.
The Numbers
In 2014, the estimated number of paralegals and legal assistants was 279,500, and it is expected to increase to 300,800 by 2024, an increase of 21,200, or 8 percent.
The metropolitan area with the most paralegals was New York – Jersey City – White Plains, NY – NJ, as of May 2015. California had the highest number of paralegal jobs at 29,180, and Washington, D.C. paid the highest annual mean wage of $37.13 per hour, or $77,230 per year. The annual mean salary was $25.19 per hour, or $52,390 per year.
Looking through the data, one of the biggest separation gaps was in the realm of certifications for paralegals. In a competitive space and job market, the addition of a certification to your resume can only give you an extra leg on your competition.