Louisiana Paralegal Career and Salary Guide

Louisiana has no statewide requirements for paralegals. This guide is designed to answer your questions about how to become a paralegal in Louisiana with outlook and salary information, career resources, and more.

Table of Contents

• How to Become a Paralegal in Louisiana
• Paralegal Certification
• Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook
• Paralegal Resources

How to Become a Paralegal in Louisiana

Since Louisiana paralegal certification is voluntary, paralegals in the state may take a variety of career paths. Most paralegals land their first position through a combination of education and experience. Following are the basic steps to becoming a paralegal in Louisiana:

1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.

Obtaining a formal education earned through one of the Louisiana paralegal programs can greatly improve your hiring potential. Several schools in Louisiana offer paralegal certificates, associate degrees in paralegal studies, and paralegal bachelor’s degrees. Currently, three Louisiana paralegal programs are approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).¹

2. Gain experience.

Gaining on-the-job training, including internships and job shadowing, is another important step for many Louisiana paralegals. These opportunities are often offered as part of formal paralegal education programs. Some paralegals begin their careers in entry-level positions like legal document preparers or legal secretaries, allowing them to work up the career ladder.

3. Seek certification, if desired.

Obtaining voluntary certification and paralegal credentials through national or state organizations can give candidates an edge in the hiring process. Read more about Louisiana certification below.

Paralegal Certification in Louisiana

Upon graduation from one of the paralegal schools in Louisiana, prospective paralegals are also encouraged to seek national certification through organizations such as the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA, the Paralegal Association) or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). Though national certification is voluntary it represents a paralegal’s commitment to a professional standard of excellence. Refer to each organization’s website for eligibility requirements and general information. Prospective paralegals and legal assistants are also encouraged to consult with the Louisiana paralegal associations listed below.

Louisiana Certification

Although Louisiana has no mandated paralegal certification requirements, the Louisiana State Paralegal Association (LSPA) offers the Louisiana Certified Paralegal (LCP) credential. An LCP is an experienced paralegal who has completed formal paralegal training or a college degree. Candidates must also pass an exam, which is administered twice annually, to earn the LCP designation. You can learn more about this program through the LSPA.

Louisiana Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported 4,860 paralegals and legal assistants employed in Louisiana, earning an average annual salary of $53,980.³ The New Orleans-Metairie metropolitan area had the fifth-highest concentration of paralegal jobs in the country.³ Paralegal employment in Louisiana is projected to grow by 4.9%, slightly higher than the national average of 4.2%.² Louisiana is expected to see average growth, with an estimated 610 average annual paralegal job openings.²

Louisiana Paralegal Salary by Metro Area

Law firms are the primary employers of paralegals and legal assistants in Louisiana, although corporate legal departments, businesses, and government agencies also often rely on paralegal support. Large law firms engage in a variety of practice areas and may have promising opportunities for paralegals wishing to focus their careers in a specific area of law or who are seeking a larger work environment. Individuals seeking a smaller or more generalized work environment may find promising Louisiana paralegal jobs at small to medium-sized local firms.

LinkedIn is a great resource for searching for paralegal jobs in Louisiana. On LinkedIn, you can search by geography (state or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, and companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in Louisiana with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:

• Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers
• Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys
• Jones Walker LLP
• Kean Miller LLP
• Louisiana State University
• McGlinchey Stafford
• State of Louisiana
• Tulane University

For more information about paralegal careers, take a look at our careers page.

Paralegal Resources

Here are some resources to help paralegals in Louisiana with professional development, networking, and career growth.

Paralegal Associations in Louisiana

These are volunteer organizations, typically with elected boards, that focus on professional development and networking for a specific geography and/or area of law.

• Lafayette Paralegal Association, Inc. (LPA): Serves paralegals in the greater Lafayette metropolitan area through regular socials, educational luncheons, and other professionally-oriented events.
• Louisiana State Paralegal Association (LSPA): Serves paralegals statewide and offers its members access to regular networking opportunities, continuing education, and more.
• New Orleans Paralegal Association (NOPA): Holds monthly meetings for its members as well as periodic education seminars and socials.

Additional Resources

• Lafayette Bar Association (LBA): Offers an employment portal that includes many Louisiana paralegal jobs, the majority of which are in the Lafayette area.
• Law Library of Louisiana: Holds approximately 150,000 volumes with a focus on law, including law in other states and the federal government, as well as an online collection of legal research guides.
• Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA): Maintains a jobs board that includes Louisiana paralegal jobs from across the state.
• Louisiana State University Law Library: Welcoming legal professionals and the general public, the library’s collections include over 850,000 volume equivalents and 109,000 volumes of court records.
• Louisiana Supreme Court: Provides links to court rules, programs, and news releases, and access to the court’s docket, filing requirements, fees, and forms.
• Paralegal411 Jobs Board: You can search for paralegal jobs in Louisiana on our jobs board.
• State Library of Louisiana: One of the largest libraries in the United States, offering many sources of law from the state to the international level.

References:
1. American Bar Association Directory of ABA Approved Paralegal Education Programs: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/paralegals/paralegal-resource-directory/
2. Projections Central Long Term Occupational Projections, 2022-2032: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages, Paralegals and Legal Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes232011.htm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm