Two Titles, One Federal Occupation
Paralegal vs. Legal Assistant: One Job, Two Titles
Paralegal vs. Legal Assistant At A Glance
- To BLS the two titles are one occupation, Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011), with a median of $62,890 in May 2025.
- O*NET lists Legal Assistant among the job titles people in that occupation report, beside Paralegal and Litigation Paralegal.
- The ABA took "legal assistant" out of its definition of a paralegal in 2020, to reflect the substantive work paralegals do.
- Where an employer means secretarial work by "legal assistant", the federal match is another occupation: legal secretaries and administrative assistants (SOC 43-6012), with a $55,570 median.
- NALA says the two titles are often used interchangeably, much like attorney and lawyer.
Paralegal vs. legal assistant is a question about words more than about work. The federal classification treats the two titles as one job, the profession's own bodies have settled on one of the two words, and the confusion comes from a third job that sometimes borrows the title. This page takes them in that order.
Is A Legal Assistant The Same As A Paralegal?
In federal statistics, yes. BLS publishes one set of figures for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, SOC 23-2011, and defines the occupation this way:
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. Excludes "Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants" (43-6012).
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 23-2011, May 2025
The last sentence does the sorting. Legal secretaries are a separate occupation, and legal assistants are in this one. O*NET's sample of the job titles people in the occupation report lists Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Litigation Paralegal and Paralegal Specialist. And NALA, the paralegal association, says plainly: "The terms legal assistant and paralegal are often used interchangeably, much like the terms attorney and lawyer."
Why The ABA Stopped Saying Legal Assistant
The ABA's definition of a paralegal named both titles until 2020. The one its House of Delegates adopted that February uses one:
A paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals, current definition, adopted 2020
The ABA gives its reason: "This updated definition removes the term 'legal assistant' in order to reflect terminology that more accurately represents the type of substantive work that paralegals perform." NALA's code of ethics takes the same line: "NALA realizes that the terms legal assistant and paralegal are used in the United States." It goes on: "NALA recognizes and supports paralegals, regardless of title; however, as an organization, we primarily use the term paralegal." So the professional bodies say paralegal, both titles stay in use, and the paralegal vs. legal assistant question becomes one about the job behind the title.
When Legal Assistant Means Legal Secretary
An assistant title on its own doesn't settle which job it is. O*NET's sample of titles reported by legal secretaries includes Legal Administrative Assistant, Legal Practice Assistant and Legal Office Support Assistant. BLS classifies that work as its own occupation, SOC 43-6012:
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 43-6012, May 2025
The task lists show where the two jobs part. These are O*NET's highest-rated tasks for each, with their importance out of 100:
Paralegal Or Legal AssistantOne BLS Occupation
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system. (85)
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements. (83)
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases. (77)
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits. (74)
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases. (73)
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents. (72)
Legal SecretaryA Separate BLS Occupation
- Organize and maintain law libraries, documents, and case files. (84)
- Mail, fax, or arrange for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials. (83)
- Prepare and distribute invoices to bill clients or pay account expenses. (83)
- Prepare, proofread, or process legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements. (82)
- Receive and place telephone calls. (78)
- Schedule and make appointments. (75)
Both columns prepare legal documents. Around that, the paralegal's list runs to investigating facts, getting ready for trial and meeting clients, and the legal secretary's to correspondence, invoices, phone calls and appointments. Firms draw the same line when they bill. NALA: "In a law firm setting, a paralegal's time spent on substantive legal work is often billed to clients at a lower rate than the market rate. This distinguishes paralegals from other non-lawyer staff members."
Paralegal vs. Legal Assistant Pay
Because the two titles are one occupation, BLS publishes one set of pay figures for both. The pay comparison that matters is with legal secretaries, from the same May 2025 release:
| Annual pay, May 2025 | Paralegals and legal assistants | Legal secretaries |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $44,740 | $36,500 |
| 25th percentile | $50,340 | $44,450 |
| Median | $62,890 | $55,570 |
| 75th percentile | $80,080 | $71,970 |
| 90th percentile | $101,500 | $91,730 |
| Mean | $69,700 | $60,620 |
| On payrolls | 392,880 | 156,280 |
At the median the paralegal side earns $7,320 more, $62,890 against $55,570. The ranges overlap a long way, though: the best-paid tenth of legal secretaries earn more than $91,730, which is above the paralegal 75th percentile of $80,080. Percentiles describe the spread of pay in each occupation at one time, not the steps of a career. Paralegal salary by state has the same figures for every state.
Training For Each Title
For paralegals and legal assistants, BLS says: "Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate's degree or certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation." It adds: "Employers sometimes hire candidates who have no legal experience or legal education and train them on the job." Legal secretaries come in by a different mix of routes. Asked what a new hire needs, 48% of O*NET's respondents in that job named an associate's degree, 17% a high school diploma and 14% a post-secondary certificate.
If the paralegal side of the paralegal vs. legal assistant line is the one you want, the paralegal certificate and the associate degree are the two usual starts.
Common Questions About The Two Titles
Paralegal vs legal assistant: is one title higher?
What is the difference between a paralegal and a legal secretary?
Does a legal assistant need a degree?
Can a legal assistant become a paralegal?
Sources For The Title And Pay Figures
- Definitions and pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011) and Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6012).
- Reported job titles, tasks and education: O*NET OnLine, Paralegals and Legal Assistants (23-2011.00) and O*NET OnLine, Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (43-6012.00), updated 2026.
- Entry education: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Paralegals and Legal Assistants, page last modified August 27, 2026.
- The definition and its change: ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals, Current ABA Definition of Paralegal, adopted February 2020.
- The titles in use and billing: NALA, Paralegal Info and NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
- Every source read on October 5, 2026.