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Assist lawyers by researching legal precedent, investigating facts, or preparing legal documents. Conduct research to support a legal proceeding, to formulate a defense, or to initiate legal action. (O'Net 23-2011.00)
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| Reported job titles:
Bankruptcy Assistant,
Certified Paralegal,
Closing Agent,
Complex Commercial Litigation Paralegal,
Contract Preparer,
Contracts Specialist
(view all job titles)
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Career Video
for Paralegals and Legal Assistants |
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| Locations
| May 2012 |
| hourly rates |
annual rates |
| Average |
Median |
Midrange |
Average |
Median |
Midrange |
| Vermont |
$ 20.25 |
$ 19.01 |
$ 16.13 -
$ 22.71
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$ 42,110 |
$ 39,540 |
$ 33,550 -
$ 47,230
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| Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan NECTA |
$ 21.79 |
$ 19.68 |
$ 17.21 -
$ 23.95
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$ 45,330 |
$ 40,930 |
$ 35,810 -
$ 49,820
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| Southern Vermont Balance of State |
$ 17.17 |
$ 15.91 |
$ 13.41 -
$ 19.69
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$ 35,720 |
$ 33,100 |
$ 27,890 -
$ 40,950
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| Northern Vermont Balance of State |
$ 22.18 |
$ 21.68 |
$ 19.50 -
$ 23.93
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$ 46,130 |
$ 45,090 |
$ 40,550 -
$ 49,770
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source: Occupational Employment Statistics, Vermont Labor Market Information, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released May 2013. |
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| Location |
Employment |
Annual % change
(compounded) |
Annual job openings
(due to growth and
net replacements) |
| 2010 |
2020 |
| Vermont |
606 |
652 |
0.7% |
14 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan NECTA |
301 |
316 |
0.5% |
6 |
| Southern Vermont Balance of State |
192 |
211 |
0.9% |
5 |
| Northern Vermont Balance of State |
117 |
129 |
1.0% |
3 |
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source: Employment Projections, Vermont Economic & Labor Market Information, in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, statewide estimates released August 2012, area estimates released April 2013. |
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| Industry |
Vermont |
2010
Employment |
Percent
of Total |
| State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals |
102 |
17% |
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source: Employment Projections, Vermont Economic & Labor Market Information, in cooperation with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released August 2012. |
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Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. |
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Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits. |
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Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements. |
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Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of case. |
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File pleadings with court clerk. |
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Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents. |
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Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing. |
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Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases. |
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Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas. |
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Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2009 |
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English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
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Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. |
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Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. |
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Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
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Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2009 |
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Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
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Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
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Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
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Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
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Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
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Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
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Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
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Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
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Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
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Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated July 2004 |
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Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
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Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
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Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
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Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
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Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
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Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
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Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
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Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
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Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
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Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2009 |
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Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
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Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
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Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
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Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
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Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
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Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
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Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
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Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
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Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
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Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2009 |
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Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. |
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Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. |
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Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2008 |
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Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
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Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
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Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
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Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. |
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Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. |
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Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
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Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. |
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Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
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Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. |
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Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2009 |
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| No state licenses listed for this occupation.
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Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed |
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Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. |
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Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
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Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. |
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants updated June 2009 |
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Related Instructional Programs |
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- Legal Assistant/Paralegal
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| | Search for schools offering these programs at |
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| source: National Center for Education Statistics 2000 Classification of Instructional Programs
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| Labor Exchange Information |
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A source for occupational characteristics, such as age, gender, race, and years of education
and an alternative source for occupational wage rates.
Limited to people looking for jobs and the jobs advertised through VDOL
Vermont Job Link. |
| Look for statewide information over the latest 12 months for Paralegals and Legal Assistants . |
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| Occupational Outlook Handbook |
| The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations. |
| Handbook occupations related to Paralegals and Legal Assistants : |
| Paralegals and legal assistants |
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| O*NET™ Online |
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O*NET Online is an interactive web site for those interested in exploring occupations through O*NET, The Occupational Information Network database.
All of the descriptive information on this page comes from the O*NET database, version 14.0, released July 2009.
The O*NET database takes the place of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) as the nation's primary source of occupational information. |
| For additional information on Paralegals and Legal Assistants , go to
O*NET Online Detail Report. |
For the O*NET Online home page, go to 
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| source: Occupational Information Network: Paralegals and Legal Assistants |
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