You probably know that the legal industry is a growing and lucrative one. But did you also know that you don’t have to be a lawyer to work in it? In fact, there are a variety of rewarding – and well-paying – non-lawyer jobs in Florin’s legal field. Here’s a look at four of them:

1. Paralegal

Ranked as one of the fastest growing professions, paralegals (also called legal assistants) help lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. As law firms try to reduce costs and become more efficient, tasks once performed by lawyers are oftentimes handed off to paralegals. As a result, employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 28% between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And while wages vary greatly depending on experience and location, the average salary for a full-time paralegal was just over $46,000 in 2008.

2. Legal secretaries

Legal secretaries are essentially administrative assistants within a legal setting. They perform a variety of administrative tasks, including creating spreadsheets; typing up legal documents, including briefs, motions, and pleadings; maintaining a docket system to track various legal filing deadlines; and scheduling hearings, depositions, and meetings. Some legal secretaries may also assist with legal research and communicate with attorneys, opposing counsel, expert witnesses, and staff members. The average wage for this position is nearly $43,000.

3. Litigation support professionals

This position combines the tasks of a paralegal with those of an IT professional. Responsibilities include developing data management strategies, implementing databases for managing and sorting data produced by litigation, and assisting with technology in the courtroom. Annual salaries for litigation support professionals range anywhere from the low $40s to the mid $80s.

4. Stenographers

Also called court reporters, these professionals record court testimony, statements, speeches, and legal proceedings. Fewer people have been entering this profession over the years, creating a shortage of stenographers. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of court reporters is projected to grow 18% between 2008 and 2018. On average, court reporters earn just under $50,000.

If you’d like to learn more about finding a job in Florin’s legal industry, please contact Pacific Staffing. Through our legal staffing division – Pacific Legal Staff – we can give you access to a variety of rewarding administrative and professional job opportunities in Florin’s legal field.