Oregon Paralegal Career and Salary Guide

Generally speaking, entry-level paralegal jobs in Oregon require an associate’s degree or certificate in paralegal studies. On this page, you will find important information on becoming an Oregon paralegal, including the best steps to take, certification options, Oregon career and salary outlook, and professional resources.

Table of Contents

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

How to Become a Paralegal in Oregon

Since paralegal certification in Oregon is not required to begin a career in the state, there are several career paths that legal professionals can follow. Most Oregon paralegals have a combination of education and experience.

1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.

Earning a paralegal certificate or associate degree in paralegal studies from one of the paralegal schools in Oregon can help potential paralegals build their legal skills and become competitive for applicants for paralegal positions. Currently, Oregon has one approved American Bar Association (ABA) program.¹

2. Gain experience.

Some paralegals work their way up the career ladder by starting as legal document preparers or legal secretaries. Gaining practical experience through internships, job shadowing, or on-the-job training is an important step in becoming a paralegal. Not all programs require experience for degree credit, but taking advantage of real-world opportunities is recommended to make paralegal candidates more competitive. Not only does this type of work experience offer invaluable skill development, but it can also create networking opportunities.

3. Seek certification, if desired.

Although Oregon does not require licensure or certification for paralegals, pursuing voluntary certification can help paralegals in their job search. Certification is available for Oregon paralegals at both the state and national levels.

Paralegal Certification in Oregon

Oregon, like most states, does not have certification requirements for paralegals. Paralegals and legal assistants are defined as legal paraprofessionals and are authorized to perform legal tasks with the direct supervision of a qualified attorney.

Although certification is not required, obtaining voluntary paralegal credentials can demonstrate commitment to the profession and provide networking opportunities. National organizations offer certification programs to maintain a consistent level of competency within the paralegal profession nationwide. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA, the Paralegal Association); the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA); and the American Alliance of Paralegals Inc. (AAPI) offer voluntary certification programs that are widely accepted by the industry as preparing candidates for professional excellence. Obtaining voluntary certification from these associations is highly recommended and well-respected by paralegal employers. Prospective Oregon paralegals should also consult the Oregon paralegal associations listed below. For more information on national certification options, take a look at our guide Steps to Become a Paralegal.

Oregon Certification

Oregon paralegals who meet specific qualifications can become Licensed Paralegals (LPs), allowing them to provide limited legal services in housing and family law. LPs are approved by the Oregon State Bar. To qualify, applicants must meet one of the following criteria: hold an associate degree in paralegal studies, hold a bachelor’s degree in any field, hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, hold national paralegal certification, have at least five years of full-time paralegal experience, or have an approved education waiver.

Additionally, applicants must complete 20 hours of professional education courses approved by the Admissions Department within 18 months before licensure. They must also accumulate 1,500 hours of substantive paralegal experience during the same period, with 500 hours completed within the last five years. Applicants must choose one endorsement area, Family Law or Landlord-Tenant Law. The Family Law Endorsement requires 500 hours of family law experience within the past 12 months and the Landlord-Tenant Endorsement requires 250 hours of landlord-tenant law experience within the same timeframe.

Eligible paralegals must then pass a three-part assessment, which includes:

• A portfolio featuring 12 different work samples that demonstrate competence
• An exam on legal ethics and professional responsibility
• An exam on the LP scope of practice

Additionally, the Oregon Paralegal Association (OPA) offers the Oregon Certified Paralegal (OCP) credential. The OCP program strives to establish a uniform standard for paralegals in Oregon. Applicants may or may not currently hold the title of “paralegal,” but they must have worked for an Oregon legal office for at least the past 12 months, be performing legal work under a lawyer’s supervision, and have experience in providing legal assistance. Prospective OCPs must be at least 18 years old and either be certified paralegals with a national organization or possess a combination of minimum education and experience requirements including:

• An associate degree in paralegal studies from an ABA or institutionally accredited school, with four years of experience
• A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an ABA or institutionally accredited school, with two years of experience
• A bachelor’s degree in any subject from an accredited school, with a post-baccalaureate certificate in paralegal studies as well as two years of experience (one of which must be in Oregon)

For more information, consult the OPA website.

Oregon Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that 5,010 paralegals and legal assistants worked in Oregon, earning an average annual salary of $69,100.³ Projections Central estimates 4.2% growth for paralegal and legal assistant jobs nationwide, and job growth for paralegals in Oregon should be slower, at 1.7% over the same period.² This amounts to an average of 540 annual paralegal job openings over that period.²

Oregon Paralegal Salary by Metro Area

Paralegal Employers in Oregon

Large law firms may be a good starting point for finding paralegal jobs in Oregon. Paralegals seeking roles outside traditional law firms may find rewarding opportunities in corporate legal departments. Government agencies, banks, and other financial institutions may also offer paralegal jobs in Oregon. LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search on geography (Oregon or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, also companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in Oregon with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:

• Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Nike
• Oregon Department of Justice
• Schwabet
• State of Oregon
• Tonkon Torp LLP

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

Paralegal Resources

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

Paralegal Associations in Oregon

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

• NALS of Oregon: Holds regularly scheduled meetings, continuing education opportunities, and professional development seminars to encourage all members to uphold the high standards of the legal profession.
• Oregon Paralegal Association (OPA): Seeks to promote the paralegal profession and professional development of paralegals and legal assistants throughout the state, offering a full roster of events and opportunities to its members.

Additional Resources

• Oregon Judicial Department: Provides access to all courts in the state’s jurisdiction, including court dockets, forms, and e-filing systems for all state courts.
• Oregon State Bar: Strives to regulate and uphold high standards for legal professionals in Oregon, and offers a career center for legal professionals.
• Paralegal411 Jobs Board: To search for paralegal jobs in Oregon, be sure to visit our jobs board.
• State of Oregon Law Library Digital Collection: Provides access to primary sources on state and federal law, including historic legal documents and electronic resources.
• Oregon Council of County Law Libraries: Allows visitors to access individual county libraries and provides access to legal research links and online public catalogs, among other research resources.
• University of Oregon John E. Jaqua Law Library: Located on the main campus in Eugene, this law library is open to the general public for research purposes and includes major collections such as Oregon Law, Ocean and Coastal Law, Employment Law, and Indian Law and Culture.

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