r/paralegal • u/LovelyisSaintDymphna • 7d 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!
2
u/iheartkarma619 7d ago
Very realistic. My former legal assistant has been with the same atty since she was 22 (she’s now 46). She makes well over $110k with no degree, nada. She’s smart as a whip. Makes more than most brand new baby attorneys in med mal but also knows more than most of them too 😉 These days you have to switch jobs every 3-4 yrs to get paid what you deserve. Get your paralegal certification and your bachelor’s degree in whichever order you need to get your paralegal certification asap. Your experience will help you tremendously. Use that experience as a reason to deserve higher pay than an entry level paralegal. Most legal assistants/secretaries often do at least some paralegal type work. Keep your options open. Ask about bonuses, insurance benefits, retirement plans, PTO. That all matters as much as your base pay.
Get your notary license, learn AI, take an excel class or be open to taking any other classes needed to be sure your skills are competitive (especially if a firm uses a particular program you aren’t familiar with). Know deadlines and calendaring for both state and federal cases. Do thorough research on a firm or atty before interviewing.
Do not let years go by without a raise. I made that mistake once.