Paralegal Job Outlook: 2025 Guide – Trends, Predictions, and More

Paralegals and legal assistants support lawyers and law offices, working behind the scenes to ensure success by communicating with clients, organizing legal documents, drafting motions, conducting legal research, and much more. So how healthy is the job outlook for paralegals in the coming years?

What Is the Current Job Market Like for Paralegals?

Demand for Paralegals by Industry

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that around 37,300 openings for paralegals and legal assistants will be created each year, on average. The largest employers of paralegals are law firms, but fulfilling roles can also be found within healthcare providers, government agencies, consulting firms, and more.

Demand for Paralegals by Region

The best-paying markets for paralegals are San Jose, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C.; Seattle, Washington; and Los Angeles, CA; according to U.S. News. Overall, the best-paying states are D.C., California, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York, though of course paralegals are also in high demand in cities with lower costs of living.

Average Salary for Paralegals

Salaries can vary widely according to location, level of experience, and more. In 2022 the median salary for a paralegal was $59,200, and the best-paid quarter of those paralegals earned $75,560 that year. The lowest-paid quarter earned $46,850 in the same year.

As you’re planning to enter the legal profession, be sure to consider governmental jobs and roles within finance, which offer some of the highest salaries in the field.

Key Trends Affecting the Paralegal Field

Specialties for Paralegals

Are you considering specializing in your practice as a paralegal? Focusing your law career on cybersecurity, cannabis, energy, family law, and other highly targeted areas can open up new career options in exciting fields. What type of law are you most passionate about?

Work Life Balance and Job Satisfaction

Did you know that U.S. News ranked paralegals as one of the Best Social Services Jobs in 2024? These rankings focus on careers that feel like more of a calling than simply a job, and paralegals came in at #7 out of 27 such roles. For these rankings, U.S. News takes into consideration average salary, the health of the job market, potential for future growth, amount of stress, and work life balance. Paralegals have high job satisfaction due to below-average stress and a wide array of opportunities for advancement and higher earnings.

Projections for Paralegals in 2025 and Beyond

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for paralegals is projected to grow 4.2% between 2022 and 2032.

Overall, lawyers and law firms are finding more ways to use paralegals, challenging them to take on more responsibilities to free up lawyers for the specific work they are licensed to do. As paralegals become even more valuable, they also become more in-demand.

Paralegal Educational and Professional Development Requirements

While no specific degree is required to become a paralegal in many cases, it is ideal to have a degree in Paralegal Studies or a post-degree certificate in order to enter the field. This degree or certificate in Paralegal Studies can prepare you for the specific vocabulary of the world of law and the skill sets that will set you up for success in your new career. (Educated paralegals also tend to earn more money!)

How to Make the Most of Your Paralegal Career

Continuing Education

The world of law is changing all the time – and so is the world of paralegals! It is important to participate in continuing education in order to remain relevant within the law field, take on new and developing responsibilities, and ultimately earn higher salaries.

Discover How UC Can Help Your Law Career

When considering a Degree in Paralegal Studies or a post-degree certificate, the most important factor to consider is whether the program is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). This approval ensures that the program aligns with their high standards – and employers will certainly look for this accreditation.

The University of Cincinnati offers the following degree programs for future paralegals: Associate of Applied Business in Law & Paralegal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Law & Paralegal Studies, Post-Associate Certificate in Law and Paralegal Studies, and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Law & Paralegal Studies. No matter where you’re starting your journey, and whether or not you currently have a degree in another field, UC has the program you need to begin the law career you’re dreaming of.

These ABA-approved degree programs are offered 100% online (no campus visits required), which means you can balance your current career and personal life with your coursework. Learn more about UC’s paralegal programs and don’t wait another day to get started in the legal field!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Paralegal Jobs

Will Paralegals Be Needed in the Future?

Yes, paralegals have a strong job outlook. The legal profession is always finding new ways to put paralegals to work and hand off a growing number of legal responsibilities. This makes the paralegal position more valuable than ever — and since the legal field will always be in demand, so will the legal assistants that work behind the scenes.

Is AI Replacing Paralegals?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on everyone’s mind. How will it affect the paralegal profession? Savvy paralegals will learn how to harness AI in order to automate and manage more mundane tasks, freeing them up for more strategic thinking and for adopting additional responsibilities within their firm or agency. AI will not replace paralegals, but it will certainly replace certain aspects of paralegal jobs (and create new ones!).

What State Pays Paralegals the Most?

If you want to vie for the highest possible average salary, head to Washington, D.C. or California — but expect a sky-high cost of living as well!