Paralegal Studies

Alternative Job Titles for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Immigration Paralegal
• Law Associate
• Legal Analyst
• Legal Assistant
• Legal Clerk
• Legal Processing Assistant
• Litigation Paralegal
• Paralegal
• Paralegal Specialist
• Real Estate Paralegal

Job Tasks and Activities for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.
• Arbitrate disputes between parties to resolve legal conflicts.
• Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing.
• Confer with court staff to clarify information.
• Coordinate legal schedules or activities.
• Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
• Evaluate information related to legal matters in public or personal records.
• Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
• Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
• Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date.
• Maintain the order of legal documents.
• Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
• Meet with individuals involved in legal processes to provide information and clarify issues.
• Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
• Prepare legal documents.
• Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
• Represent the interests of clients in legal proceedings.
• Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.

Interests for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Conventional
  Following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting.
• Investigative
  Studying and researching scientific subjects and human behavior.
• Enterprising
  Managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations.

Skills for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

In order of importance

• Writing
  Writing things for co-workers or customers.
  Importance: 75/100
• Active Listening
  Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  Importance: 72/100
• Reading Comprehension
  Reading work-related information.
  Importance: 72/100
• Speaking
  Talking to others.
  Importance: 66/100
• Critical Thinking
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  Importance: 56/100
• Monitoring
  Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  Importance: 50/100
• Social Perceptiveness
  Understanding people's reactions.
  Importance: 50/100
• Active Learning
  Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  Importance: 50/100
• Time Management
  Managing your time and the time of other people.
  Importance: 50/100
• Service Orientation
  Looking for ways to help people.
  Importance: 50/100
• Complex Problem Solving
  Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  Importance: 50/100
• Judgment and Decision Making
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  Importance: 50/100
• Coordination
  Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  Importance: 47/100
• Persuasion
  Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
  Importance: 44/100
• Negotiation
  Bringing people together to solve differences.
  Importance: 44/100
• Instructing
  Teaching people how to do something.
  Importance: 31/100
• Learning Strategies
  Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
  Importance: 31/100
• Systems Analysis
  Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  Importance: 28/100
• Systems Evaluation
  Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
  Importance: 25/100
• Mathematics
  Using math to solve problems.
  Importance: 25/100
• Management of Personnel Resources
  Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
  Importance: 25/100
• Programming
  Writing computer programs.
  Importance: 19/100
• Operations Monitoring
  Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
  Importance: 19/100
• Technology Design
  Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
  Importance: 16/100
• Operations Analysis
  Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
  Importance: 13/100
• Science
  Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  Importance: 10/100

Knowledge for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

In order of importance

• Law and Government
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  Importance: 95/100
• English Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Importance: 86/100
• Administrative
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Importance: 79/100
• Computers and Electronics
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Importance: 73/100
• Customer and Personal Service
  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  Importance: 66/100
• Administration and Management
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  Importance: 58/100
• Mathematics
  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  Importance: 40/100
• Economics and Accounting
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Importance: 39/100
• Education and Training
  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  Importance: 39/100
• Personnel and Human Resources
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  Importance: 39/100
• Telecommunications
  Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  Importance: 32/100
• Public Safety and Security
  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  Importance: 32/100
• Medicine and Dentistry
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  Importance: 29/100
• Communications and Media
  Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  Importance: 29/100
• Psychology
  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  Importance: 26/100
• Sales and Marketing
  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  Importance: 25/100
• Biology
  Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  Importance: 21/100
• Geography
  Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Importance: 18/100
• Transportation
  Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  Importance: 18/100
• Sociology and Anthropology
  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Importance: 17/100
• Production and Processing
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  Importance: 17/100
• Engineering and Technology
  Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  Importance: 15/100
• History and Archeology
  Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Importance: 14/100
• Therapy and Counseling
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  Importance: 13/100
• Foreign Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  Importance: 11/100
• Philosophy and Theology
  Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Importance: 7/100
• Design
  Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  Importance: 5/100
• Chemistry
  Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  Importance: 5/100
• Physics
  Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  Importance: 5/100
• Mechanical
  Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  Importance: 4/100
• Fine Arts
  Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Importance: 3/100
• Building and Construction
  Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  Importance: 3/100
• Food Production
  Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  Importance: 3/100

Physical Abilities for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

In order of importance

• Written Comprehension
  Reading and understanding what is written.
  Importance: 75/100
• Oral Expression
  Communicating by speaking.
  Importance: 72/100
• Written Expression
  Communicating by writing.
  Importance: 72/100
• Oral Comprehension
  Listening and understanding what people say.
  Importance: 72/100
• Near Vision
  Seeing details up close.
  Importance: 69/100
• Speech Recognition
  Recognizing spoken words.
  Importance: 69/100
• Speech Clarity
  Speaking clearly.
  Importance: 69/100
• Problem Sensitivity
  Noticing when problems happen.
  Importance: 63/100
• Inductive Reasoning
  Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  Importance: 56/100
• Deductive Reasoning
  Using rules to solve problems.
  Importance: 56/100
• Information Ordering
  Ordering or arranging things.
  Importance: 53/100
• Category Flexibility
  Grouping things in different ways.
  Importance: 50/100
• Perceptual Speed
  Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
  Importance: 47/100
• Selective Attention
  Paying attention to something without being distracted.
  Importance: 47/100
• Flexibility of Closure
  Seeing hidden patterns.
  Importance: 47/100
• Far Vision
  Seeing details that are far away.
  Importance: 44/100
• Fluency of Ideas
  Coming up with lots of ideas.
  Importance: 44/100
• Originality
  Creating new and original ideas.
  Importance: 41/100
• Memorization
  Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
  Importance: 41/100
• Time Sharing
  Doing two or more things at the same time.
  Importance: 28/100
• Mathematical Reasoning
  Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
  Importance: 25/100
• Finger Dexterity
  Putting together small parts with your fingers.
  Importance: 25/100
• Visual Color Discrimination
  Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
  Importance: 25/100
• Speed of Closure
  Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
  Importance: 25/100
• Visualization
  Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  Importance: 25/100
• Number Facility
  Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
  Importance: 25/100
• Auditory Attention
  Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
  Importance: 25/100
• Hearing Sensitivity
  Telling the difference between sounds.
  Importance: 22/100
• Trunk Strength
  Using your lower back and stomach.
  Importance: 22/100
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
  Importance: 22/100
• Manual Dexterity
  Holding or moving items with your hands.
  Importance: 22/100
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  Keeping your arm or hand steady.
  Importance: 13/100
• Control Precision
  Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
  Importance: 10/100
• Dynamic Strength
  Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
  Importance: 3/100

Tools and Technology used by Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Scanners
• Optical character recognition systems
• Laser fax machine
• Photocopiers
• Notebook computers
• Desktop computers
• Personal computers
• Document management software
  • AbacusNext HotDocs
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Appligent Citation FDFMerge
  • CaseSoft DepPrep
  • CaseSoft TextMap
  • Document management system software
  • Electronic transcription management software
  • Inmagic DB/TextWorks
  • IntelliPDF CURVES
  • Iron Mountain Accutrac records management software
  • LexisNexis File and Serve
  • LexisNexis Total Search
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
  • NetDocuments
  • Nuance Power PDF
  • OmniRIM Records Management Suite
  • PDF Snake Easy Bates
  • Records management software
  • Summation Blaze
  • iManage document management software
• Word processing software
  • Google Docs
  • Legal document software
  • LexisNexis CheckCite
  • Microsoft Word
  • The Sackett Group MacPac for Legal
  • Word processing software
• Information retrieval or search software
  • American LegalNet USCourtForms
  • Fastcase legal software
  • FindForms
  • FindLaw Code of Federal Regulations CFR
  • LawManager
  • LexisNexis
  • LexisNexis Company Analyzer
  • LexisNexis SmartLinx
  • Online database search and retrieval software
  • Online public records search software
  • Online title search and property report software
  • Ovid SilverPlatter WebSPIRS
  • THOMAS Global Register
  • Thomson CompuMark SAEGIS
  • Thomson Reuters Westlaw
  • Thomson Reuters Westlaw Edge
  • Thomson West FindLaw
  • dtSearch
• Data base user interface and query software
  • Bridgeway eCounsel
  • Corporate Focus Solium Shareworks
  • Database software
  • Fund Software ATIDS
  • LexisNexis CaseMap
  • LexisNexis CodeMaster
  • LexisNexis Time Matters
  • Microsoft Access
  • Orion Law Management Systems Orion
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Relational database software
  • Relativity e-Discovery
  • Saga Practice Manager
  • TrialWorks
• Analytical or scientific software
  • Case analysis software
  • Electronic discovery software
  • LexisNexis Applied Discovery
  • LexisNexis Concordance
  • LexisNexis CourtLink Strategic Profiles
  • Litigation support software
  • Uniscribe
  • Wilson's Computer Applications RealEasy Appraisals
  • a la mode WinTOTAL
• Desktop publishing software
  • Blumbeg Drafting Libraries
  • Dataflight Opticon
  • Digital contract software
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • ProForce Paralegal Pro-Pack
  • Sure Will Writer
• Office suite software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Google Workspace software
  • Microsoft Office software
• Cloud-based data access and sharing software
  • Dropbox
  • Google Drive
  • Microsoft SharePoint
• Electronic mail software
  • IBM Notes
  • Microsoft Outlook
• Accounting software
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Tax software
• Customer relationship management CRM software
  • Software Technology PracticeMaster
  • Thomson West ProLaw
• Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Spreadsheet software
• Pattern design software
  • CaseSoft TimeMap
• Categorization or classification software
  • Bowne JFS Litigator's Notebook
• Optical character reader OCR or scanning software
  • Optical character recognition OCR software
• Video conferencing software
  • Zoom
• Video creation and editing software
  • Thomson Reuters LiveNote Stream
• File versioning software
  • Zylab ZyImage
• Transaction server software
  • Tumbleweed SecureTransport
• Business intelligence and data analysis software
  • MicroStrategy
• Internet browser software
  • Web browser software
• Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Project management software
  • Microsoft Project
• Library software
  • Computer access catalog software

Employment Industries for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Legal services
  272,900 employed
• Federal government, excluding postal service
  17,800 employed
• Local government, excluding education and hospitals
  16,600 employed
• State government, excluding education and hospitals
  11,800 employed