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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

Part of Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security, in the Legal Services pathway.

Job zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 23-2011.00

What the work 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.

On a typical day

  • Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
  • Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
  • Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
  • Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case.
  • 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, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.

What it pays

$53,300
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $39,810
Experienced workers reach $87,530
  1. $40k10th
  2. $44k25th
  3. $53kMedian
  4. $68k75th
  5. $88k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $39,810, 25th $44,220, Median $53,300, 75th $67,650, 90th $87,530

About 2,900 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+13.9%

employment change in the Alamo region, 3,022 to 3,442 jobs · U.S. +0%

379

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 39,300

3,022

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 376,200

Typical entry education: Associate's degree

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Writing3.9
  2. Reading Comprehension4.0
  3. Active Listening4.0
  4. Speaking4.0
  5. Critical Thinking3.6
  6. Active Learning3.1
  7. Monitoring3.0
  8. Social Perceptiveness3.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less19%
  2. Certificate2%
  3. Some college2%
  4. Associate degree20%
  5. Bachelor's degree46%
  6. Doctoral or professional10%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • San Antonio
  1. Paralegal Program

    Certificate · Workforce course · Public Service

Apply to Alamo Colleges

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