Paralegals and Legal Assistants

What the job really is

Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action.

At a glance

• Sector: Legal
• O*NET-SOC code: 23-2011
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
• Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
• 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.
• Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
• Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
• Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
• File pleadings with court clerks.
• Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
• Call upon witnesses to testify at hearings.
• Arbitrate disputes between parties and assist in the real estate closing process, such as by reviewing title searches.
• Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning.
• Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that the law library is up-to-date.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Google Docs, Google Workspace software, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Word

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
• Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
• Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
• Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
• Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
• Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
• Correspondence Clerks

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Paralegals and Legal Assistants — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.