The Role of a Criminal Law Paralegal
Criminal law paralegals are the backbone of criminal law firms. They not only handle legal research, but in many cases, work directly with expert witnesses to prepare their testimony and streamline the communication process. Criminal law paralegals are the most trusted people, after the attorneys themselves , with the privileged information held by criminal defense firms. Their understanding of the law as it relates to the case at hand allows them to seek out further research and fully understand how to convert the theory of law into applications with a high degree of accuracy. These specialists conduct in depth interviews of witnesses and suspects being held in police custody. The deposits by these individuals can make a significant difference in judgment or sentencing. At the very least, the criminal law paralegal provides exceptional insight into the workings of the case under review. These are skills that are needed by the criminal law paralegal, as well as the attorneys of the firm.
Criminal Law Paralegal Average Earnings
Depending on the state and city, the average salary for criminal law paralegals will vary. In California, for example, the median hourly wage is $26.65 or an annual salary of $55,545. Brooklyn in New York has the highest hourly average compared to other large cities in the U.S at $29.32 an hour or $61,391 a year.
Criminal law paralegals in Colorado earn the second highest average salary in the country with $58,157. In the northeast, Connecticut and Massachusetts are also known to have high salaries for criminal law paralegals with $27.50 an hour and $27.06 respectively.
Illinois ($54,533), Ohio ($46,739), and Pennsylvania ($45,000) round out the top five states that currently have the highest average salaries for criminal law paralegals in the U.S.
Variation in Earnings for Criminal Law Paralegals
Several variables play a crucial role in determining just how much of an earning potential a paralegal has when working within criminal law. For example, years of experience often dictate salary and advancement, while continuing education is likewise of importance. Again, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that "employment opportunities for paralegals and legal assistants should be best for those who demonstrate critical thinking skills and good communication skills." The industry of specialization and area of experience can also have a major impact on the earning potential of a criminal law paralegal. Corporate lawyers, for instance, may pay their paralegals quite well, particularly if these firms work with a large number of businesses and contracts. Alternatively, public defenders and criminal attorneys, though they offer valuable service to those in need of criminal representation, often do not receive high fees for their work and cannot therefore provide (and pay) the same caliber of staff. As an example of this, a large firm with plenty of clients offering services in many areas will have the opportunity to pay their criminal law paralegals a higher salary than a small practice that only handles criminal cases and has a medium-sized client base. According to the Bureau, "those working in court systems or with the government earned the lowest median annual wages, reflecting the limited budgets of local, state, and Federal governments." Therefore, paralegals in the criminal law arena may choose to either work for high-paying corporate law firms, or work from the bottom up in a public defense office and build their skills, experience, and contacts in order to find a higher-paying position later on.
Geographic Earnings Variability
Like most jobs in America, the location of the job has a huge impact on wages. The top paying metropolitan areas for criminal law paralegals are Washington, D.C., Dallas, Houston, and San Francisco. The District of Columbia average is $71,730, followed by Dallas with $69,870, Houston with $65,700, San Francisco with $63,650, and Minneapolis with $63,040. Wages in New York tend to be higher due to the cost of living. Generally speaking, large cities in the south pay better due to aggressive competition for talent, most especially in Texas and Florida where paralegals enjoy the highest wages nationwide. However, California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts are not far behind. In addition, many companies and smaller municipalities, including some in Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, and Kansas, have taken advantage of slumping unemployment to pay their criminal law paralegals significantly above the national average at $54,140+. Even those individuals without several years of experience enjoying wages of $48,000+ in Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa. As expected, smaller communities in more rural areas of the country pay the least to criminal law paralegals with the southeast region of the country having the lowest average at $52,560.
Experience and Earnings
As is the case in any profession, years of practice contribute significantly to paralegal salary expectations. In the case of criminal law paralegals, for whom employment opportunities are expected to be particularly strong, longevity on the job should prove lucrative.
In 2012, the BLS estimated that seasoned criminal law paralegals earned an average of $67,040 per year. Broken down by experience level, this translates to $56,870 per year among criminal law paralegals with 1-4 years of experience; $66,080 per year for those with 5-9 years of experience; and $87,400 per year for those with 10-19 years of experience . Additionally, according to PayScale, criminal law paralegals with 20 years or more experience and expertise earned an average of $85,000 in 2013.
Although only a subset of all paralegals educationally trained in criminal law, those working exclusively in this area are well-compensated for the expertise required to maneuver complex cases. Those paralegals who specialize in criminal law, as with other types of paralegals, generate more revenue for firms, and thus earn higher salaries – as evidenced by the 10% premium paralegals who earned at least $68,900 in 2013 made over those who earned an average of $61,100 annually, as reported by PayScale.
Education and Certification
While becoming a criminal law paralegal is an enticing prospect for many legal assistants, the path toward this career is not necessarily easy or straightforward. For those just beginning their higher education, an associate degree in a relevant field—such as criminal justice—may be an effective choice. While most paralegals in criminal law do not hold certificates or degrees in paralegal studies, some do choose to go this route, as it is often perceived by employers to be highly desirable among candidates. Some of the top educational institutions for paralegals include:
Those who are already working in entry-level jobs as legal assistants and who have aspirations of paralegal work may wish to seek out an accredited school that offers paralegal training and courses relevant to criminal law. Additionally, students should ensure that they are selecting a school that is approved by the American Bar Association.
Certification has become increasingly valuable in the legal profession lately, particularly as employers seek to differentiate themselves from their competitors in a crowded industry. For paralegals, certification provides a means of obtaining an advantage over candidates with similar experience levels and backgrounds. Although certification is not required to work in many states, which are governed primarily by standards in their own jurisdictions, some employers may choose to hire only those that have successfully completed certification requirements. Therefore, paralegals wishing to work in criminal law might benefit by completing continuing education courses in criminal law and related fields, so that they can successfully sit for the certification exam.
Aspiring criminal law paralegals may wish to focus their education and certifications on relevant coursework and training. For example, they may wish to enroll in coursework relating to the criminal justice system, including evidence, arrest and search, and legal research. Additionally, certification in specialized fields like collection, contract, litigation, and social security may be helpful for prospective paralegals, through programs offered by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Career Mobility
Experience is the primary avenue for pursuing career advancement in criminal law paralegal positions. When you first enter the field you will likely start out as a generalist, but with experience, you are more likely to be provided with opportunities to work with particular types of criminal cases, or on specialized assignments on larger cases. For example, you may be selected to work primarily with homicide cases, which will likely increase your earnings potential as lawyers are always more likely to pay a premium for positions with greater responsibility.
Promotions to supervisory or management levels are also an option in criminal law. Those who have demonstrated impressive work performance and strong leadership capabilities will find significant opportunities for higher salaries as they advance to partner or of counsel levels.
Finally, criminal law paralegals who specialize in technologically-based or commercially-based crimes will see some of the highest earnings potential. For example, forensics experts and those who specialize in intellectual property matters will be highly sought after for their skills, and thus demand, will increase their salaries.
Conclusion: Paralegal Career Maximization
Understanding and maximizing your value as a criminal law paralegal is essential to achieving and exceeding the average salary range of $45,000 – $70,000 per year. Lateral moves to growing law firms, advanced certifications, and niche expertise can help you secure the compensation and benefits you deserve for your hard work and dedication. The following takeaways will help you enhance your skills and become a sought-after professional:
Stay up-to-date on industry trends with the latest newsletters, blogs, eBooks, and on-demand events.
Refine your practice areas by pursuing on-demand training to build your knowledge base using 24/7 study guides.
Network through LinkedIn , alumni connections, and professional associations to get a better sense of the work environment, culture, and benefits offered at specific firms.
Make a lateral move or change to a different practice group to further develop your key competencies.
Pursue new certificates in highly specialized areas such as bankruptcy, family law, criminal law, real estate, or immigration law.
Consider a career in academia as a legal presenter or paralegal educator.
All of these strategies will help you stay relevant, expand your skillset, and adapt to the ever-changing legal landscape, and give you the leverage you need to negotiate for better compensation, benefits, and opportunities.