Hiring a paralegal professional? Need to know how and where to find the best candidates? Here is a comprehensive guide to finding the best paralegal professionals. Read on!<\/p>\n\n
What is a paralegal profession? <\/span>Paralegal professionals are also known as legal assistants. Their main job role is to assist attorneys and legal professionals in the research and preparation of legal documentation. They hold specialization in areas such as real estate, bankruptcy, immigration, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n What is a Freelance Paralegal? A Paralegal who works independently and mostly provides paralegal services online.\u00a0Attorneys need paralegals to help them with basic office and administrative tasks. <\/span><\/p>\n This article provides all the information you would need to hire a paralegal. It covers topics such as certifications and skills to look for in a paralegal profile, freelance paralegal rates, popular job boards, interview questions, hiring trends, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n Also Read: Hire Accountants | A how-to guide for beginners<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the paralegal market is predicted to grow by 10% in the 2019 to 2029 decade. The growth rate is much faster than most of the other occupations. Paralegals with formal training and Database Management skills are going to be highly in demand. <\/span><\/p>\n Close to 35,300 more jobs will be created from the year 2019 to 2029. <\/span>The rise in demand is owed to law firms <\/span>hiring paralegals instead of lawyers to streamline their operational costs and savings. Hiring Paralegal professionals is a cost-efficient alternative. <\/span><\/p>\n The paralegal profession has hence been considered very promising in terms of growth for those looking for a stable career. CNN has named the paralegal profession as the top 20 best careers to enter. <\/span>The five top-paying countries for a paralegal are Japan, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, United States. <\/span><\/p>\n While there are multiple industries where you can <\/span>find a paralegal working, almost 72% of the paralegals work in the legal services industry.\u00a0<\/span>These are the most common industries that hire paralegal professionals,<\/p>\n Also Read: Hire Sales Representatives | An ultimate read for best results<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n A Paralegal professional can take up any of the below job titles based on their years of experience, specialization, job industry, area of interest, etc. You can hire paralegals for different roles by searching \u201c<\/span>paralegals near me\u201d, \u201cparalegal service near me\u201d,\u00a0 \u201cparalegal for hire near me\u201d on online job portals.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n The entry-level Paralegal\/Legal Assistant helps attorneys with administrative work related to legal matters such as preparing and maintaining legal documents. The average salary of an entry-level Paralegal\/Legal Assistant is $58,040 per annum. To work as an entry-level Paralegal\/Legal Assistant, an experience of 0 to 2 years is expected.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n The Paralegal\/Legal Assistant II researches and analyses law sources. They are responsible for preparing legal documents. The average salary of a midlevel Paralegal\/Legal Assistant is $67,480 per annum. To work as a midlevel Paralegal\/Legal Assistant, a related experience of 2 to 4 years is expected.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Senior Legal Paralegals assist attorneys with researches or due diligence. They have a strong understanding of technical legal terminology. The average salary that a Senior Paralegal earns is $79,800 per annum. A relevant experience of 4 to 7 years is typically required to work as a Senior Paralegal.<\/b><\/p>\n The paralegal Specialist role requires researching and analyzing several law sources. They are also responsible for the creation and administration of legal databases. The average salary of a Paralegal Specialist is $90,300 per annum. To work as a Paralegal Specialist, a minimum experience of 7 years is expected.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Litigation Paralegals assist attorneys who specialize in litigation, or settling legal disputes in court. They are also responsible to manage legal cases before, during, or after the litigation process. The average salary of a Litigation paralegal is $56,152 annually. At least one year of experience is required.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Probate Paralegals work with attorneys in fulfilling the last wishes of a client as per the will, provide help with child adoption or custody case, related cases. The average salary of a Probate Paralegal is $61,927 annually. At least one year of experience is required.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Paralegal\/Legal Assistant Team Leader holds the responsibility of ensuring that the legal research is done efficiently for each case. The average salary of a Paralegal\/Legal Assistant Team Leader is $45,024 per annum. Experience of 3-5 years is expected to apply for this job role.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Legal Secretary plays an important role in the everyday workings of a law office. They perform secretarial tasks that are specific to the law field. The average salary of a Legal secretary is $50,302 per annum. This is an entry-level role that requires little to no experience to apply.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Immigration Paralegal usually works for government agencies or firms that focus on immigration law. They assist immigration attorneys in cases related to the citizenship process, deportation proceedings, or related matters. The average salary of an immigration paralegal is $53,321 per annum. An experience of 3-4 years is required.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Bankruptcy Paralegal assists lawyers and their clients through bankruptcy proceedings. They possess a broad knowledge of bankruptcy procedures and help represent creditors and debtors. The average salary of a bankruptcy paralegal is $45,024 per annum. Experience of 3+ years is expected to apply for this job role.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n A corporate Paralegal is someone who works in the legal department of a corporate organization. They specialize in corporate law matters and work under the supervision of licensed attorneys. An experience of 1-2 years is required to apply for this job role. Corporate Paralegal earns an average salary of $68,137 per annum.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Criminal Law Paralegals are responsible to assist criminal defense attorneys and prosecutor\u2019s office. Their expertise lies in the area of criminal law. The average national salary for this job role is $55,020. To work as Criminal Law Paralegal a minimum of 3 years of experience is required<\/span>.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Personal Injury Paralegal is responsible for conducting interviews, taking notes, creating detailed medical records, conducting legal research, preparing settlement proposals, etc. The average salary of a Personal Injury Paralegal is $49,459 annually. To get hired for this job role, a minimum experience of 1-2 years is required.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Family Law Paralegals assists attorney in matters related to child custody, divorce, adoption, social services, and any other issues concerning family or the law. The average salary for this job role is $62,448 annually. An experience of 1+ years is needed to work as a Family Law Paralegal.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n The legal Assistant manager is responsible for managing and monitoring a team of paralegals by assigning them cases and overlooking the work. The average salary for this job role is $106,500 annually. A supervisory experience of 1-3 years is needed to work as a Legal Assistant manager.<\/span><\/p>\n Also Read: Hire Game Developers | A priceless list of tips to succeed<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n There are no mandatory educational requirements to provide paralegal services. However, companies hiring a paralegal, prefer candidates with some sort of legal training.\u00a0A paralegal professional should have completed a formal paralegal education program consisting of at least 18 semester hours of paralegal-related subjects. <\/span><\/p>\n Professionals should have completed either of the following programs,<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0List of Universities offering paralegal education programs,<\/span><\/p>\n After earning a degree, a CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) and CP(Certified Paralegal) certification provided by the National Association of Legal Assistants helps in determining and measuring a candidate\u2019s abilities and skills. After this, a paralegal can provide<\/span> online paralegal services or work for a law firm.<\/span><\/p>\n Also Read: Hire Software Developers | A comprehensive guide for beginners<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Recruiters should look for the following technical and non-technical skills while looking for <\/span>contract paralegal services,<\/b><\/p>\n Also Read: Hire Bookkeepers | A complete guide<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Paralegal certification programs are conducted both online and in-person. <\/span>Paralegals wanted to work professionally should get additional certifications to add to their resume. <\/span>We have listed down some of the certifications that recruiters should look for while looking for <\/span>freelance paralegals for hire,<\/b><\/p>\n 1. Paralegal Online Program by Duke University – <\/b>The paralegal course by Duke Univesity is suitable for those who are looking for a career change and transition into the paralegal profession.<\/p>\n Estimated cost: <\/b>$6,995\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Course Duration: <\/b>300 hours\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Course Format: <\/b>Online<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 2. Paralegal Certificate Program by the University of California – <\/b>During this program, a candidate will gain the necessary legal knowledge and administrative skills to land a Paralegal job.<\/span><\/p>\n Estimated cost: <\/b>$7,970<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Course Duration: <\/b>6 months to 1 year<\/span><\/p>\n Course Format: <\/b>Online<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 3. Paralegal Studies Certificate by Brighton College –\u00a0<\/b>This certificate program makes you eligible to sit for the National Association for Legal Assistants Certification Exam after completion.<\/span><\/p>\n Estimated cost: <\/b>$4,745<\/span><\/p>\n Course Duration: <\/b>1 year<\/span><\/p>\n Course Format: <\/b>Online<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 4. Paralegal Studies Certificate by American National University –\u00a0<\/b>This program provides students a broad understanding of core legal areas including terminology useful in understanding legal documents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Estimated cost:<\/b>$12,160\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Course Duration: <\/b>8 months<\/span><\/p>\n Course Format: <\/b>Online<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 5. Paralegal Certificate Program by Rasmussen College –\u00a0<\/b>Perfect for candidates who already have a Bachelor\u2019s or Associate\u2019s degree<\/a>. The course provides the core legal knowledge and skills to get started as a Paralegal.<\/span><\/p>\n Estimated cost: <\/b>$10,425<\/span><\/p>\n Course Duration: <\/b>minimum 8 months<\/span><\/p>\n Course Format: <\/b>Online<\/span><\/p>\n Also Read: Hire Database Administrator | Know before you start<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the median pay of a <\/span>freelance legal assistant is $24.87 per hour. The freelance paralegal fees can vary based on different factors such as educational qualifications, certifications, additional skills, job location, etc.<\/p>\n New York offers the highest salary for Paralegals in the U.S. As per Salary.com, the average rate of independent paralegal services is $28 per hour. The typical salary range of self employed Paralegals falls between $25 and $32.<\/p>\n In the United Kingdom, an entry-level paralegal salary starts from \u00a325,000 for permanent roles. An<\/span> independent paralegal salary starts at \u00a316 per hour. The average salary range for paralegal contractor professionals working in law firms and in-house roles is \u00a328,000 – \u00a332,000 per annum. Independent Paralegal services in language-dependent roles are paid higher and can earn up to \u00a330 per hour.<\/p>\n In India, Independent paralegal fees for freelance paralegal services are INR 245 for an hour. The average pay for professional paralegal services is INR 510,480 per year. Asian market offers cheap paralegal services without compromising the quality. If recruiters need paralegal services at pocket-friendly prices then outsourcing from Asia is a good option.<\/span><\/p>\nHiring market for paralegal professional<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Top 15 recent job titles for paralegal professionals<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Entry Level Paralegal Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Midlevel Paralegal Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Senior Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Paralegal Specialist<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Litigation Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
6. Probate Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
7. Paralegal Assistant Team Leader<\/b><\/h3>\n
8. Legal Secretary<\/b><\/h3>\n
9. Immigration Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
10. Bankruptcy Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
11. Corporate Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
12. Criminal Law Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
13. Personal Injury Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
14. Family Law Paralegal<\/b><\/h3>\n
15. Legal Assistant Manager<\/b><\/h3>\n
Qualifications to look for in paralegal professional<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Skills to look for in paralegal professional<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Certifications to look for in paralegal professional<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Rate per hour of paralegal professional<\/strong><\/h2>\n