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Pennsylvania Paralegal Career and Salary Guide

While there are no statewide standards or certifications required for paralegals in Pennsylvania, many jobs in the field require a combination of paralegal education and experience. On this page, you will find information on how to become a paralegal in Pennsylvania, salary and career outlook, and career resources.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Paralegal in Pennsylvania

As there are no statewide standards or regulations for becoming a paralegal in Pennsylvania, prospective paralegals and legal assistants can follow various paths to become legal professionals. Here are the basic steps to becoming a paralegal in Pennsylvania:

1. Earn a degree or certificate in paralegal studies.

Though there are no minimum educational requirements for paralegals in Pennsylvania, prospective paralegals and legal assistants are strongly encouraged to seek formal training or education in the field before seeking employment. These programs generally give students a background in substantive legal areas as well as practical training in professional skills. To become more competitive as candidates for paralegal positions, most professionals start by completing one of the many paralegal programs in Pennsylvania offering certificates in paralegal studies, associate degrees in legal studies, and bachelor’s in paralegal studies. Currently, the American Bar Association (ABA) has approved 10 paralegal programs in Pennsylvania.1

2. Gain experience.

Through paralegal educational programs, candidates can participate in on-the-job experiences such as internships and job shadowing. Law firms and corporate legal departments in Pennsylvania may also offer real-world opportunities through internships or on-the-job training. Some paralegals start in positions such as legal secretaries and move up as they gain experience.

3. Seek certification, if desired.

Although obtaining certification is optional for Pennsylvania paralegals, voluntary paralegal certification can be highly desirable for employers seeking committed and knowledgeable paralegal candidates.


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Paralegal Certification in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania state law does not currently regulate the education, training, or employment of paralegals and legal assistants. Within Pennsylvania, paralegals and legal assistants are classified as legal paraprofessionals and are permitted to perform certain legal tasks under the direct supervision of a qualified attorney.

Although certification is not required, obtaining voluntary paralegal certifications demonstrates commitment, and may 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. For more information on national certification options, take a look at our guide Steps to Become a Paralegal.

Pennsylvania Certification

After completing a degree program, paralegals may pursue Pennsylvania paralegal certification through the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations (KAPA) to enhance their credentials. KAPA’s Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal Credential Program (PaCP) is a voluntary certification program designed to ensure a continuing standard of excellence for paralegals and legal assistants in Pennsylvania. To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Hold an ABA-approved bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies and one year of substantive paralegal experience
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited school and a certificate or associate degree from an ABA-approved program and one year of paralegal experience
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited school and three years of paralegal experience
  • Hold an associate degree in paralegal studies from a paralegal program and five years of paralegal experience
  • Hold a certificate from a paralegal program and five years of paralegal experience
  • Hold a designation of Certified Legal Assistant (CLA), Certified Paralegal (CP), or Registered Paralegal (RP) and two years of paralegal experience

You can learn more on the KAPA website.

Pennsylvania Paralegal Career and Salary Outlook

Projected Job Growth

4.8%

Paralegals in Pennsylvania from 2022-20322

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Pennsylvania recently employed 12,530 paralegals and legal assistants across the state, earning an average annual salary of $65,940.3 The Philadelphia metropolitan area had the sixth-highest employment level of paralegals and legal assistants of metro areas in the US.3 The United States is projected to experience a 4.2% job growth rate for paralegals and legal assistant jobs, close to the projection of 4.8% growth for these professionals in Pennsylvania.2 Pennsylvania is expected to add 530 paralegal and legal assistant jobs over that period, amounting to 1,190 average annual openings.2

Pennsylvania Paralegal Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaNumber Employed4Average Annual Salary4
Statewide12,530$65,940
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton390$58,910
Harrisburg-Carlisle810$59,830
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington9,320$71,110
Pittsburgh2,260$64,280
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre240$64,870

Paralegal Employers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania paralegals and legal assistants find work at corporations, banks, government agencies, and private law firms throughout the state. Regional or national law firms generally support the largest number of paralegal support staff and may have good opportunities for recently certified paralegals and legal assistants. Additionally, various government agencies and financial organizations may offer positions for recently certified paralegals looking to build experience in a variety of legal areas.

LinkedIn is a good research resource where you can search on geography (Pennsylvania or city-level) for “paralegal” to find networking opportunities, job postings, and companies most associated with users identifying as paralegals; companies in Pennsylvania with the most LinkedIn users as paralegals include:

  • Burns White LLC
  • City of Philadelphia
  • Dechert LLP
  • Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
  • Pepper Hamilton LLP
  • Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
  • Voce

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

Paralegal Resources

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

Paralegal Associations in Pennsylvania

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.

Additional Resources

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