Can you move up from being a paralegal?

Asked by: Jenifer Ratke  |  Last update: July 10, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (37 votes)

Becoming a lawyer can be a natural next step for a paralegal, especially if you already have a law degree. Think about whether you want to be an in-house attorney or work in a law firm. Typically, attorneys work in-firm first before moving to in-house, so that may add to the time it takes to get to your ideal role.

Can you move up from paralegal?

The skills you learn training for your paralegal career are transferable skills, and therefore, advancement opportunities and career development is a real possibility. Career advancement and development look different for each Paralegal. For you, advancement might occur within your current law office.

What jobs can I do after being a paralegal?

Alternative Paralegal Career Options
  • Legal Staffing Recruiter.
  • Professional Development and Training Manager.
  • Pro Bono Program Coordinator.
  • Project Manager for legal support vendor.
  • Legislative Affairs Director for a county government agency.
  • E-discovery Manager.
  • Professional Blogger/Marketer in the legal field.
  • Mediator.

How to progress from paralegal?

Typically there is no progression. Firms consider ``progression'' to be giving you greater responsibilities the longer you're with the firm. Larger firms sometimes offer a Senior Paralegal role, where you have 7-10+ years of experience and demonstrated expertise in a certain practice area.

What is higher than a paralegal?

Lawyers are licensed to practice law and represent clients, whereas paralegals are not. This means that lawyers are typically more highly trained and better compensated than paralegals.

What you need to know before becoming a Paralegal | What I wish I knew + Paralegal Advice | CrysHurt

40 related questions found

What is the highest paid paralegal?

Here are the 30 highest paying paralegal jobs:
  1. Paralegal Manager. $104,775. ...
  2. Legal Project Manager. $87,375. ...
  3. Intellectual Property Paralegal. $86,800. ...
  4. Nurse Paralegal. $82,687. ...
  5. Employment and Labor Law Paralegal. $80,685. ...
  6. Government Paralegal. $78,478. ...
  7. Senior Paralegal. $69,995. ...
  8. Corporate Paralegal. $66,134.

What is a step above a paralegal?

Becoming a lawyer can be a natural next step for a paralegal, especially if you already have a law degree. Think about whether you want to be an in-house attorney or work in a law firm. Typically, attorneys work in-firm first before moving to in-house, so that may add to the time it takes to get to your ideal role.

Can you work your way up as a paralegal?

Many paralegals seek to advance their careers to become more financially successful. Gain specializations: If you're passionate about a certain area of law, advancing your career from paralegal can be an excellent way to gain a specialization in your field of choice and help people in a particular way.

What are four things that a paralegal Cannot do?

Canon 1 – A paralegal must not: (a) engage in, encourage, or contribute to any act which could constitute the unauthorized practice of law; (b) establish attorney-client relationships, set fees, give legal opinions or advice, or represent a client before a court or agency unless so authorized by that court or agency; ...

Is paralegal a stable career?

Job Stability and Demand

Paralegals are in high demand, and the job outlook for paralegals is excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 10 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Can you make a good living as a paralegal?

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.

Why did I quit being a paralegal?

One of the top reasons for paralegals leaving the field is the result of a toxic work environment. The field of law is a high-pressure environment that can quickly wear down a paralegal. Cases are frequently won or lost on a technicality, and a paralegal can unwittingly introduce an error that causes a loss.

What is the life of a paralegal?

Paralegals are often employed by lawyers to perform many different specialty tasks, including: Case planning, development, and management. Attend legal functions such as the executions of wills, real estate closings, depositions, court or administrative hearings and trials with the attorney.

How old is the average paralegal?

Paralegals are everywhere. More than 345,000 paralegals and legal assistants are employed in the United States, with a workforce that is 83% female and median age of 43.9 years.

What are the cons of being a paralegal?

Cons of Being a Paralegal
  • Work Long Hours. While you may have a flexible schedule, you will still have to work long hours. ...
  • A lot of Pressure. ...
  • School is Required. ...
  • Tedious Cases. ...
  • Requires Consistent Learning. ...
  • Not a lot of Acknowledgment. ...
  • Plenty of Dull Tasks. ...
  • Little Room for Advancement.

Why is it so hard to find a job as a paralegal?

Unfortunately, regardless of what role a paralegal plays within a law firm, most attorneys only want to hire paralegals who have previous experience in the work force. They remember law school – it was great for teaching them about the law but did very little about teaching them how to practice law.

Are paralegals becoming obsolete?

While operational systems will evolve, paralegals do not need to fear for their jobs. Instead, they can thrive by embracing new technologies, adapting to innovative AI, and leveraging their unique human skills to help clients.

What else can a paralegal do?

Paralegal Careers

Duties may include overseeing budgeting and payroll operations, managing office space arrangements, gathering supplies, and overseeing other clerical employees in the legal department. Claims Adjuster/Investigator – Investigate, evaluate, and settle insurance claims.

Do paralegals appear in court?

Appear in court or at depositions

Because paralegals are not lawyers, they are generally not allowed to represent clients in court or take depositions. It's also important to be careful how you introduce or represent your paralegal with a client or in a court.

Do law schools like paralegals?

Standing out on your application and working your way into a law program may require more than just meeting the baseline criteria. Real-world experience is the gold standard of any college application, and working as a paralegal offers just that.

How can paralegals make extra money?

Supplementary income

On top of your regular work week, you can take on a few hours of freelance paralegal services to supplement your income. Working an hour per evening (or a couple of hours each day on the weekend) is enough to generate a tidy sum of additional earnings.

What is paralegal burnout?

Paralegal burnout is when you hit a wall because of the constant stress and overwork in the legal field. It feels like running on empty—mentally, emotionally, and physically. You might find yourself swamped, struggling to keep up, and feeling like every day at work is a bad day.

What is the highest paying paralegal field?

One of the highest-paying paralegal jobs is that of Corporate Paralegal, which focuses on the diverse aspects of corporate law; a few examples of these are: Patents. Bankruptcies. Contracts.

How many years is a senior paralegal?

Senior/Supervising Paralegal, 7+ Years' Experience.

What is the highest level of paralegal?

Master's degrees are generally the highest degree in the paralegal field. Individuals who complete master degrees often pursue careers as paralegal managers or teachers.