Oregon Labor Market Information System
Occupational Information Center
Occupational Report for Paralegals and Legal Assistants (23-2011) , Oregon Statewide
Occupational Description

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.

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Employment Outlook for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Statewide Employment Analysis Employment in this occupation in 2010 was somewhat larger than the statewide average for all occupations. This occupation is expected to grow at a somewhat slower rate than the statewide average growth rate for all occupations through 2020. The total number of job openings is projected to be somewhat higher than the statewide average number of job openings for all occupations through 2020.

Reasonable employment opportunities exist for trained workers.

Data Sources and Limitations
Current Employment Department Job Openings for Paralegals and Legal Assistants There are 4 current openings for this occupation. Openings 1 through 4 are listed below.
Job Title Date Posted Location Wage Offered
Paralegal 5/17/13 Hillsboro DOE, Neg.
Legal Assistant 5/13/13 Salem $3,000/mo DOE, Neg.
Contract Specialist / IP and Corporate Paralegal 4/29/13 Beaverton DOE
Paralegal/Legal Admin 2/17/13 Mcminnville
Job Openings from the Web for Paralegals and Legal Assistants The following job openings have been automatically extracted from various sites across the Web. These links are provided as supplemental resources. However, the Employment Department cannot validate these openings nor endorse any of these external sites. Some of these jobs may no longer be open. In some cases, a single opening may be posted on multiple sites.

There are 66 current openings for this occupation. Openings 1 through 26 are listed below.

Job Title Date Posted Location Employer
27D Paralegal Specialist 5/16/13 Clackamas Army National Guard
Corporate Paralegal 5/15/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Litigation Paralegal 5/15/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Litigation Paralegal 5/14/13 Portland PORTLANDPARALEGALJOBS
Litigation Paralegal 5/14/13 Portland PORTLANDLEGALSTAFFJOBS
Litigation Paralegal 5/13/13 Portland PORTLANDLEGALSTAFFJOBS
Litigation Paralegal 5/13/13 Portland PORTLANDPARALEGALJOBS
Paralegal 5/13/13 Bend Les Schwab
Legal Assistant (Prosecution) 5/12/13 Salem City of Salem
Litigation Paralegal 5/12/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Corporate Paralegal - Underwriting 5/10/13 Portland Charter School Capital Inc.
REAL ESTATE LEGAL ASSISTANT 5/9/13 Portland Nike
Litigation Paralegal 5/9/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Intellectual Property Paralegal 5/8/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Intellectual Property Paralegal 5/7/13 Portland PORTLANDLEGALSTAFFJOBS
Litigation Paralegal 5/7/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Intellectual Property Paralegal 5/7/13 Portland PORTLANDPARALEGALJOBS
Litigation Paralegal 5/7/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Intellectual Property Paralegal 5/6/13 Portland PORTLANDLEGALSTAFFJOBS
Intellectual Property Paralegal 5/6/13 Portland PORTLANDPARALEGALJOBS
Litigation Paralegal 5/5/13 Portland Law Firm Staff
Family Law Paralegal to Jacy Arnold 5/5/13 Eugene Arnold Law
Contract Law Corporate Intellectual Property Paral 5/4/13 Portland PORTLANDPARALEGALJOBS
Contract Law Corporate Intellectual Property Paral 5/4/13 Portland PORTLANDLEGALSTAFFJOBS
Contract Law Corporate Intellectual Property Paral 5/3/13 Portland PORTLANDPARALEGALJOBS
More Jobs
State of Oregon License Information for Paralegals and Legal Assistants No statewide license is required for this occupation.
Wages for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Region ---------------- 2012 Wages ----------------
Percentiles (hourly wages) Avg
Hourly
($/hr)
Avg
Annual
10th 25th 50th
(median)
75th 90th
Oregon Statewide $15.40 $19.21 $22.70 $28.41 $34.82 $24.18 $50,289
Clatsop / Columbia / Tillamook 16.15 17.70 19.10 23.58 31.53 21.46 44,632
Multnomah / Washington 19.12 21.04 25.17 31.44 36.37 26.53 55,185
Marion / Polk / Yamhill 13.63 16.21 19.50 22.94 26.53 19.99 41,576
Benton / Lincoln / Linn 13.11 14.90 17.13 19.68 22.89 17.64 36,686
Lane 14.73 19.47 22.80 28.14 35.37 24.39 50,728
Jackson / Josephine 15.56 16.92 19.25 24.01 27.69 20.63 42,895
Gilliam / Hood River / Sherman / Wheeler / Wasco 13.52 15.15 16.46 17.75 18.31 16.38 34,069
Crook / Deschutes / Jefferson 16.09 19.17 21.77 25.14 28.49 21.94 45,632
Klamath / Lake 14.22 15.78 17.02 18.26 19.00 16.96 35,264
Baker / Union / Wallowa 17.20 20.94 24.54 26.87 28.27 23.51 48,907
Clackamas 19.40 21.67 27.04 32.54 36.40 27.35 56,894
Data Sources and Limitations
Regional Employment Projections for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Region Employment Change % Change Projected Annual Openings
2010 2020 Growth Replacement Total
Oregon Statewide 2,081 2,404 323 15.5% 32 32 64
Multnomah / Washington 1,198 1,396 198 16.5% 20 19 38
Marion / Polk / Yamhill 346 379 33 9.5% 3 5 9
Lane 149 179 30 20.1% 3 2 5
Clackamas 92 113 21 22.8% 2 2 4
Jackson / Josephine 83 96 13 15.7% 1 1 3
Crook / Deschutes / Jefferson 55 61 6 10.9% 1 1 1
Benton / Lincoln / Linn 41 48 7 17.1% 1 1 1
Douglas 35 41 6 17.1% 1 1 1
Morrow / Umatilla 30 35 5 16.7% 0 0 0
Klamath / Lake 27 29 2 7.4% 0 0 0
Grant / Harney / Malheur 24 29 5 20.8% 1 0 1
Clatsop / Columbia / Tillamook 23 25 2 8.7% 0 0 0
Baker / Union / Wallowa 23 27 4 17.4% 0 0 1
Gilliam / Hood River / Sherman / Wheeler / Wasco 17 20 3 17.6% 0 0 1
Coos / Curry 16 18 2 12.5% 0 0 0

These estimates do not include self-employment. Replacement openings are caused by existing workers permanently leaving their occupation. Many additional job openings occur due to job changes within occupations.
Data Sources and Limitations
Industries of Employment for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
Industry
Click links to view Infogroup employers
Ownership 2010
Employment
Manufacturing Private 17
Finance and Insurance Private 57
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities Private 18
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities Private 35
Insurance Carriers Private 33
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Private 1,542
Legal Services Private 1,521
Management of Companies and Enterprises Private 40
Federal Government (Non-Postal) Federal 94
Public Administration State 96
Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities State 69
Administration of Human Resource Programs State 24
Public Administration Local 172
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support Local 168
Educational Requirements for Paralegals and Legal Assistants Workers typically need an Associate's degree to enter this occupation. Those with a Bachelor's degree have a competitive advantage in the labor market.
Skills for Paralegals and Legal Assistants
  • Analyze Evidence
  • Analyze Legal Questions
  • Apply Active Listening Techniques
  • Apply Case Logic And Precedent
  • Apply Confidentiality Procedures
  • Apply Knowledge Of Judicial System
  • Apply Legal Concepts To Medical Reports And Documents
  • Apply Research Methodology To Legal Cases And Issues
  • Assist With Business And Managerial Research
  • Assist With Legal Research
  • Compile Information For Court Cases
  • Compose Business Correspondence
  • Conduct Investigations And Research
  • Conduct Legal Research
  • Conduct Record Searches
  • Draft Legal Pleadings
  • File Documents In Court
  • Follow Principles Of Business Law
  • Gather Physical Evidence
  • Interpret And Apply Contract, Property And Insurance Laws
  • Interpret And Apply Copyright Laws
  • Locate Persons (Skip Tracing )
  • Maintain Reference Library
  • Obtain And Maintain Legal Forms
  • Obtain General Information In Legal Office Setting
  • Obtain Information From Clients, Customers, Patients Or Others
  • Organize And Work With Detailed Records
  • Organize Legal Information And Records
  • Plan And Assign Duties To Employees
  • Prepare Court Exhibits
  • Prepare Legal Briefs And Affidavits
  • Prepare Legal Correspondence
  • Prepare Legal Documents
  • Process And Prepare Business Forms
  • Process Records And Maintain Forms And Files
  • Research Work-Related Topics Using Library Resources
  • Understand, Use, And Communicate Technical Information
  • Use Computers To Enter, Access And Retrieve Data
  • Use Correct Grammar, Punctuation And Spelling
  • Use Interviewing Techniques
  • Use Legal Terminology
  • Use On-Line Search Techniques
  • Verify Investigative Information
  • Work As A Team Member
Schools and Training Providers for Paralegals and Legal Assistants The training providers listed below offer programs related to this occupation. This information is updated once per year. Anyone interested in a particular program should check with the training institution regarding its availability. Listing these training providers does not necessarily constitute or imply their endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the State of Oregon.

ITT Technical Institute-Portland
9500 NE Cascades Parkway
Portland, OR 97220
Phone: (503) 255-6500
Programs of Training:
Everest College
425 SW Washington Street
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 222-3225
Programs of Training:
Umpqua Community College
1140 College Rd.
Roseburg, OR 97470-0226
Phone: (541) 440-4600
Programs of Training:
Sumner College
8909 SW Barbur Boulevard, Suite 100
Portland, OR 97219
Phone: (503) 223-5100
Programs of Training:
Treasure Valley Community College
650 College Blvd
Ontario, OR 97914
Phone: (541) 881-8822
Programs of Training:
Heald College
6035 NE 78th Ct.
Portland, OR 97218
Phone: (503) 505-5428
Programs of Training:
Portland Community College
12000 SW 49th Avenue
Portland, OR 97219-7132
Phone: (503) 244-6111
Programs of Training:
Pioneer Pacific College
27501 SW Parkway Ave
Wilsonville, OR 97070-9296
Phone: (503) 682-3903
Programs of Training:
Career Pathway Roadmaps for Paralegals and Legal Assistants These Oregon community colleges have defined career pathway roadmaps to facilitate entry into this occupation:

Blue Mountain Community College
Umpqua Community College
Related Occupations The scores listed below indicates how closely the skills for Paralegals and Legal Assistants matches the occupation in the list. A score of 100% means the occupations have identical skill sets. A maximum of 10 occupations are displayed below.
Occupation Skill Overlap
Legal Support Workers, All Other 85%
Law Clerks 71%
Lawyers 42%
Arbitrators, Mediators, And Conciliators 31%
Title Examiners, Abstractors, And Searchers 31%
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, And Hearing Officers 30%