When deciding to pursue a Legal Assistant/Paralegal education program, it’s vital to also consider the job outlook. Fortunately, there are many lucrative and promising options available for students. Our nation’s legal system has long enjoyed strong and steady growth.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth is expected to remain strong between 2020 and 2030, with the employment in the profession to grow by 12 percent – that’s much faster than the average job growth rate for all occupations during this time.
Throughout the next decade, the paralegal field should see about 43,000 openings nationwide each year due to new job growth, retirements and natural job turnover. In 2020, the Bureas of Labor Statistics reported a total of 345,000 jobs in the U.S. By 2030, this number is expected to increase to 387,000 jobs.
Because paralegals bill at a much lower rate than attorneys, attorneys are able to keep legal expenses to a minimum for clients. Paralegals have all the skill necessary to take on most administrative tasks associated with practicing law, which also frees up an attorney’s time to focus on practice-related tasks. As law firms try to increase the efficiency of legal services and reduce their costs, they are expected to hire more paralegals. In some cases, Paralegals can take on a hybrid role within the organization, performing some of the tasks taken on by an entry-level attorney. These tasks include:
- Investigate and gather facts of the case
- Conduct research on relevant laws, regulations and legal articles
- Gather and arrange evidence and other legal documents for attorney review
- Write or summarize reports to help lawyers prepare for trials
- Get affidavits and other formal statements that may be used in court
- File exhibits, briefs, appeals and other legal documents with the court of opposing counsel
- Plus so much more
Although law firms will continue to be the largest employers of paralegals, many large corporations are increasing their in-house legal departments in an effort to cut costs. The high cost of outside counsel makes it more economical to have an in-house legal department. This will lead to an increase in depend for legal workers in a variety of settings, such as finance and insurance firms, consulting firms, and heathcare providers.
Get started on the right path with a Legal Assistant/Paralegal Program.
