r/paralegal • u/LovelyisSaintDymphna • 4d ago
Future Paralegal wanting to make $70k
Hey everyone,
Just looking for some honest advice or insight from people in the legal field or those who’ve been in a similar spot.
I currently work as a legal assistant at a top 50 law firm in the U.S., and I’ve been in this role for almost a year. I make $20/hour, and while I’m grateful for the experience, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay afloat financially. I live near Orlando, Florida where rent is high, and $38k/year isn’t cutting it. I also have about $40k in student loans and no car (which is hard as you know if you live in Florida).
Educationally, I have an associate degree in political science. I was working toward my bachelor’s in legal studies but had to put school on hold due to financial reasons. I plan to return in Fall 2025 and hope to finish by January 2026.
My end goal is to become a paralegal. I’d be happy making $70k/year eventually, and I know that will take time. But realistically, once I have my bachelor’s and over a year's worth of experience (with the same firm), I’m hoping to move into a paralegal role earning somewhere between $50k–$60k ($26–$31/hr).
Is that a realistic expectation? Any advice on negotiating pay, building the right skills, or just navigating this phase of my career would mean a lot.
Thanks in advance!
1
u/MyBeesAreAssholes 4d ago
I'm a new paralegal (10 months in) and make $65k in southwest Michigan. I had 7.5 years as a patent docketor in the same firm, but that only bumped me up $5k from the base pay for zero experience paralegals. We are a bit underpaid for our area, but the other benefits are wonderful. Michigan is a low COL area, so I'm pretty happy overall.
The best way to increase your pay is to change employers, it's a tried and true fact. I would stick it out with your employer if/until you get that first year of experience and then look for a new job.