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What is a senior paralegal and how to become one
A senior paralegal is a highly experienced and knowledgeable legal professional who provides support to attorneys in a law firm or legal department. They are responsible for performing various tasks, including conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, managing case files, and communicating with clients. Senior paralegals typically have several years of experience and possess advanced skills in areas such as litigation, corporate law, or intellectual property.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Paralegal?
Emily Allen-Hornblower
Associate Professor of Classics, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
I mean, who studies Classics? Who willingly subjects themselves to the rigors of Latin or Greek - or both? Who commits to navigating the intricacies of an interdisciplinary path that combines some of the most vital areas of inquiry for our time: social and cultural history, political science, philosophy, psychology, literary studies, material culture?
A go-getter. Someone who is passionate. And is Driven.
And you know what? Employers know that. They see that on your CV, and they think, wow - here is someone interesting and hard-working and who thinks out of the box. And they are right. Xerox saw that. Macy's saw that. The Air Force Intelligence Officer who hired one of our (female!) undergraduates as an officer saw that. The software engineer who hired another one of our grads to join his team as a full-time software engineer saw that. Oxford University Press in New York City saw that - and hired another recent grad as a full-time intern in their Higher Education Editorial Development department. SO: Classics majors, think big and broad. There is no restricted path for what is next.
So - Graduating seniors in Classics (and other Liberal Arts degrees), as you prepare to go forward into the world, you have good reason to go forth with pride, and enter the world after college, with all its question marks and inevitable bumps in the road, with confidence.
A Classics major is excellent preparation for the pursuit of a wide range of careers in a large number of fields, including, but not limited to, government, law, education, business, journalism, library science, publishing, foreign service, finance, the entertainment industry, museum, and preservation work, pharmaceutical sciences, music, and the arts, foundations, technology, web design, and labor relations. So think broadly. You've got this. "
Avg. Salary $60,125
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 14%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%
Asian 5.62%
Black or African American 8.92%
Hispanic or Latino 19.92%
Unknown 4.79%
White 60.35%
Genderfemale 76.72%
male 23.28%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a Senior Paralegal?
Pros
Opportunity to work on complex legal cases
Exposure to senior attorneys and clients
Opportunity to develop specialized knowledge in a specific area of law
Chance to work for prestigious law firms or corporations
Ability to make a meaningful impact on clients' lives
Cons
Need to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Potential for conflict with attorneys or clients
Possibility of exposure to emotionally charged situations, such as family law cases
Required continuing education and training to stay current with legal developments
Legal industry may experience economic downturns that impact job security
Senior Paralegal career paths
Key steps to become a senior paralegal
Explore senior paralegal education requirements
Start to develop specific senior paralegal skills
Skills 
Percentages Legal Research 13.28% Litigation 13.28% Law Firm 6.73% Subpoenas 5.45% PowerPoint 4.00% Complete relevant senior paralegal training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior paralegals learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior paralegal based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior paralegal resumes.Research senior paralegal duties and responsibilities
- Achieve sole responsibility for administration of all estates and guardianships.
- Respond to active litigation in collaboration with internal custodians and external counsel, including responding to discovery requests and subpoenas.
- Handle all corporate matters including annual shareholder documentation and shareholder meetings, prepare contracts and coordinate execution, and provide litigation support
- Edit and proofread initial drafts, transcribes dictation and perform cite checking, copy assembly/attachments for filing and/or mailing.
Get senior paralegal experience
Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become a senior paralegal. The most common roles before becoming a senior paralegal include paralegal, legal assistant team lead and litigation paralegal.Prepare your senior paralegal resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior paralegal resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior paralegal resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Senior Paralegal Resume templates
Build a professional Senior Paralegal resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Senior Paralegal resume.
Apply for senior paralegal jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior paralegal job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Senior Paralegal Job
Jess Greer
Senior Paralegal, Van De Poel, Levy, Thomas LLP
Began as Litigation Support, moved on as a paralegal once I had enough trial experience. Was eventually promoted to senior status at same firm. My starting salary as litigation support was $40,000. Starting salary as a litigation paralegal was $60,000. Ending salary as a senior litigation paralegal at small firm in the east bay was $85,000
Average senior paralegal salary
The average Senior Paralegal salary in the United States is $60,125 per year or $29 per hour. Senior paralegal salaries range between $38,000 and $92,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do senior paralegals rate their job?
Senior Paralegal reviews
Working with good people & good clients trying to help them
Like to work in good atmosphere
Learning and understanding how the Corporate world operates. I also like the stability of the work on a day to day basis.
Autonomy, independence, salary, substantive research projects.
My work is often task-based, so I don't get the full picture.
Updated January 8, 2025
