Paralegals and Legal Assistants Go Back to List 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Analytical or scientific software

Tasks
	Prepare legal documents, including briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
	Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
	Call upon witnesses to testify at hearing.
	Direct and coordinate law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
	Keep and monitor legal volumes to ensure that law library is up-to-date.
	Appraise and inventory real and personal property for estate planning.
	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.
	File pleadings with court clerk.

Skills
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	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.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Knowledge
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
	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.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	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.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Search for Jobs on Connecticut's Labor Exchange (CTJOBcentral)
	(Please note that some searches may not produce any results.)

Education & Training   Education:   Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.   Related 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.

View Related Programs on Connecticut's Education & Training ConneCTion site.

Browse Through a List of Businesses That Employ People With Your Same Skills
	Potential Employer Search

Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $69,897.00 $33.60  $23.65  $25.07 - $39.06  Bridgeport/Stamford $76,097.00 $36.58  $25.23  $24.69 - $43.04  Danbury $62,763.00 $30.18  $22.04  $23.59 - $35.56  Hartford $70,416.00 $33.85  $24.13  $27.43 - $39.11  New Haven $67,696.00 $32.54  $25.20  $27.53 - $38.48  New London/Norwich $59,284.00 $28.51  $20.86  $23.26 - $33.14  Waterbury $59,378.00 $28.55  $20.98  $22.76 - $32.41  Torrington $57,072.00 $27.44  $20.56  $22.74 - $31.79

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   624   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow faster than average, and the number of annual openings will offer excellent job opportunities.

Related Occupations
	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
	Tax Preparers
	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
	Legal Secretaries
	Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
	Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks
	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
	Brokerage Clerks
	Municipal Clerks
	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers

	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.