Who makes more, a paralegal or a legal secretary?
Asked by: Mack Hodkiewicz | Last update: September 7, 2025Score: 4.6/5 (64 votes)
Since paralegals complete more education to qualify for their roles, they tend to earn more. The average annual salary for a legal assistant is $52,530 per year , while paralegals earn $43,494 per year . Paralegals who hold a paralegal certificate can also potentially earn a higher salary.
Who makes more money, a legal secretary or a paralegal?
Paralegals conduct legal research, draft documents, interact with clients, manage cases. Median salary around $60,000. Legal Secretaries handle admin tasks like scheduling, filing, typing correspondence under attorney supervision. Median salary around $40,000.
Which is higher, paralegal or legal secretary?
Paralegals are not authorized to provide legal advice or represent clients in court, but they are an essential part of the legal team and help to ensure that cases are prepared effectively and efficiently. They have higher credentials than a legal assistant.
What type of paralegal gets paid the most?
- Paralegal Manager. $104,775. ...
- Legal Project Manager. $87,375. ...
- Intellectual Property Paralegal. $86,800. ...
- Nurse Paralegal. $82,687. ...
- Employment and Labor Law Paralegal. $80,685. ...
- Government Paralegal. $78,478. ...
- Senior Paralegal. $69,995. ...
- Corporate Paralegal. $66,134.
Is it worth being a legal secretary?
There's Good Income Potential. The income potential is quite good for a career that only requires an associate's degree. The BLS reports that the median yearly salary for legal assistants and paralegals in 2023 was $60,970. This is more than some careers that require much more extensive education.
The Difference Between Legal Assistant and Paralegal
Do legal secretaries go to law school?
While completing formal training is voluntary, some law firms prefer legal secretaries who have completed a degree program or postsecondary certificate. Legal secretary programs may focus on legal research, billing procedures, state and federal court systems, court filings and law office procedures.
What is better 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.
Can paralegals make a lot of money?
In California, the average salary for paralegals is close to $13,000 more than the national average, $79,210 vs. $66,460.
What degree do most paralegals have?
According to a 2021 Zippia survey, 29% of paralegals have an associate degree while 51% hold a bachelor's. In some employment markets, an associate degree may be the appropriate level of paralegal training to enter the field.
Do legal secretaries go to court?
A typical day as a legal secretary begins with setting priorities. Next, the work is addressed according to priority. Work can include any number of things ranging from attending legal meetings to filling out trial and courtroom requests.
How to become a legal secretary with no experience?
Earn the Required Credential
High school is the minimum requirement, but some law firms might ask for an associate's degree. Completing a paralegal or legal secretary course is a surefire way of being noticed by potential employers. You can find courses online or at community colleges and vocational schools.
Why do attorneys make more than paralegals?
More responsibility: Lawyers can provide legal advice to their clients and usually have more duties than paralegals, including arguing cases in court. This responsibility can help many lawyers find fulfillment in their roles. Prestige: Many people admire and respect lawyers for their legal expertise and training.
Is a paralegal above a legal secretary?
Paralegals are more involved in court processes and hold more responsibilities since they are highly visible within the law community. Legal secretaries, on the other hand, play a supportive role through helping with document preparation and other duties.
Which legal profession pays the most?
- Patent attorney: $180,000.
- Intellectual property (IP) attorney: $162,000.
- Trial lawyer: $134,000.
- Tax attorney: $122,000.
- Corporate lawyer: $115,000.
- Medical lawyer: $113,000.
- Real estate lawyer: $98,000.
- Family lawyer: $93,000.
Do paralegals go to court?
Paralegals working alongside attorneys in the courtroom is becoming the new normal. As the go-to person for seemingly countless duties, paralegals oversee many aspects of going to trial. Here some key paralegals skills for thriving in court: Make a good first impression.
Do legal secretaries or paralegals make more money?
Since paralegals complete more education to qualify for their roles, they tend to earn more. The average annual salary for a legal assistant is $52,530 per year , while paralegals earn $43,494 per year . Paralegals who hold a paralegal certificate can also potentially earn a higher salary.
What are the disadvantages of being a paralegal?
Lower salary: The average paralegal's salary is much lower than the average lawyer's, even with a lot of experience. Limited responsibility and control: Paralegals do the grunt work for lawyers, but they don't have autonomy with cases or control over their workload.
Are paralegals in demand right now?
Demand for Paralegals by Region
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.
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.
Is a law clerk better than a paralegal?
Law clerks have typically completed law school, while paralegals only have a relatively small amount of technical education in the field. Also, paralegals are confined to research and legal writing under the supervision of an attorney – they cannot provide legal advice.
What type of person makes a good paralegal?
- Highly organized (this is on 99% of the lists you'll find)
- Good communication skills (another popular “trait or characteristic” associated with paralegals)
- Excellent research and writing skills.
- Ability to multitask.
- Good computer skills.
- Pays close attention to detail.
- Works well independently.
What is higher than a secretary?
A business administrative assistant typically has a higher level of responsibility than a secretary. They are often responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a business, such as scheduling meetings, coordinating travel arrangements, and managing budgets.
Is secretary job stressful?
Secretaries frequently handle stressful situations, from managing tight schedules to dealing with challenging client requests. A balanced work-life approach is essential for preserving their mental and emotional health, allowing them to remain composed and effective under pressure.
Which secretary is most powerful?
The highest-ranking cabinet member (after the vice president) is the Secretary of State, who is fourth in line of succession to the president, following the vice president, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate.